[tl_boy]

do y'all think the 335i is a good buy after the experience that we e90 owners have faced (esp. 330i owners)?

i am considering a 335i, but what if i buy it and bmw comes out with something else so soon? i wouldn't have minded it if they came out with something 3-4 years later, but not 1 year later! has bmw lost its credibility to some extent? the 335i seems like a HOTTT deal, but the 325i seemed like one to me too!

[Ninjaneer]

Yay, another one of these threads... that's been discussed to death.

No offense, but all you 325i/330i buyers bought your cars because you were (or should've been) convinced with your decision at the time. The thing is, no matter what you buy, there's always a better car. Heck, even some E92 owners are somewhat pissed that the E90 got their same engine. BMW didn't promise anything, so no one should've felt privileged to any exclusivity.

BTW to answer your question... BMW is coming out with something relatively soon... the M3 So why not save up for that instead of a 335i?

*edit: BTW, I was set on getting a 330i, but was late in the game and production had ended on those models, so I naturally had to go with a 335i. I knew about it but was still going to go with a 330i if it wasn't for the inability to locate one with my specs.

[ages944]

seriously, enough of these threads already.

Let's not forget that the same thing happened to the E46 guys as well. The first models to be sold in the states were the 323i and 328i. Within the next model year or so after launch, BMW put out the 325i and 330i. It's no big deal.

[froman]

The other guy's girlfriend always seems hotter, get over it! I just bought a 325i three months ago. 330i was too expensive, 335i is way too expensive. I'll get one next time. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the hell out of my 325! (except for the @#$@$@ runflats)

[froman]

cool, my 100th post

[noro]

They have done this over and over, remember the e46 323 to 325 and 328 to 330. Get over it! Do you expect the car company to stop pressing down on the comptetition just because it hurts your feelings that your car is outdated?

BMW usually is on a 7 year model plan and 5 year engine plan. Which means that the e92 is going to last till 2013 and the engine with the current HP rating till about 2010.

[E90Fleet]

Its just BMW USA not wanting more than2 engine models

Rest of the world keeps the 325i and 330i and just adds the 335i ontop, but for some reason they think the USA market wont like it if there were more than 2 choices

[Dalex]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Its just BMW USA not wanting more than2 engine models

Rest of the world keeps the 325i and 330i and just adds the 335i ontop, but for some reason they think the USA market wont like it if there were more than 2 choices

Sorry, don't mean to keep this thread alive but...

In my Strategy course the Prof said that Starbucks saturates a given market because they would rather cannibalize their own sales instead of allowing a competitor take away market share.

I wonder how a model line up of say 325 > 330 > 335 would fair against the IS250/350, '07 G35 and '07 Acura TL etc??

I understand the whole upscale thing that is being touted for the 328/335, but wouldn't the overall Operating Earnings of BMWNA benefit by spreading out its net?

[SteVTEC]

good grief.

the only credibility for BMW to lose "as a leader" would be to continue marketing top-end high priced cars with such huge deficits in power vs their competition. personally I'd love to see a 330 offered with the 335 in the US, but oh well.

[PorscheBMW]

I purchased a 525i in 1989 and drove it for 15 years. Got two kids through college. I saw the 540i introduced and an new body style. Get the car configured like you want it, get the right color combination and just enjoy it. There's always something new. I just bought a 335i fully loaded. I would have bought a 335xi if it had been available, but it wasn't. Now I'll drive the 335i for quite a while, but I made my decision and I won't look back. www.******.com

[txusa03]

I would not go out and buy the e90 335i just yet for those who already have e90 325 or 335. What is the point if you are using your car for daily commute. Many of you already have tons of mod on your car already. Just enjoy your 06 model for a few more year and stop thining about what could have been had you waited. Life waite for no one, so if you already had an 06 e90, it was meant to be. Stop dwelling on it or second guess or but too much thought into it folks... Just my 2 cents.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by Dalex

Sorry, don't mean to keep this thread alive but...

In my Strategy course the Prof said that Starbucks saturates a given market because they would rather cannibalize their own sales instead of allowing a competitor take away market share.

I wonder how a model line up of say 325 > 330 > 335 would fair against the IS250/350, '07 G35 and '07 Acura TL etc??

I understand the whole upscale thing that is being touted for the 328/335, but wouldn't the overall Operating Earnings of BMWNA benefit by spreading out its net?

I think BMW NA are simply using an upgrade strategy (you know you have 4 sizes of OJ in the grocery store, delete the smallest size and your sales go up because the middle size is the new small).

The market for sports deans is evolving and somewhat more than 215bhp is neede now to even get in the game. The 328 is close to the old 330 and you can be sure that within a year or so the bottom end 3 series will effectively match or exceed the 330 performance. The market is different here, no-one will buy a 150bhp 320i and there is no need to lower the price of the 328 and it is too close to the 330 to have a meaningful differentiation from the 330. On the other hand the 335 price is constrained by the value of the BMW brand over and above the technical features and benefits offered by Lexus and Infiniti and to some extend Acura too.

[dejav0o]

Like what others said... BMW has done this in the past with the 323 and 328. But in reality, I'm sure most people probably can't even tell the difference between the 330 and 335, they just see it all as a 3 series. It's only the enthutiast in us (people in the forums) that take notice that that badging.

Plus, not sure about you, but the 330 was the very most I wanted to pay for my car. Granted the 335 is only a couple thousand more, but with that mentality, I could've convinced myself to reach for a porsche.

[just4kickz]

stick with ur car now, wait for m3 thats what i plan to do

[Vise]

Originally Posted by ages944

seriously, enough of these threads already.

Agreed.

[shragon]

it's been done in the past many times, with various models. get over it people.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by tl_boy

do y'all think the 335i is a good buy after the experience that we e90 owners have faced (esp. 330i owners)?

i am considering a 335i, but what if i buy it and bmw comes out with something else so soon? i wouldn't have minded it if they came out with something 3-4 years later, but not 1 year later! has bmw lost its credibility to some extent? the 335i seems like a HOTTT deal, but the 325i seemed like one to me too!

It's a 3 series with 300+ hp!! It's an absolutely incredible car. Who the hell cares if they come out with something else in a year, with a drop more hp and a bigger badge number.. You'll have an amazing f'ing car!! I don't understand people who think they have a clunker because they don't have the biggest badge number.. There's always going to be a better car, soon the m3 will come out. But wait, even when that comes out, there's ferrari, lamborghini... There's always going to be a better car*!! Get the car, drive it, love it, enjoy every second of it!!! These are incredible cars, even the base 325's!!!



/end of bored rant

*Unless you're driving a Formula 1 car

[phantom701]

Originally Posted by Dalex

Sorry, don't mean to keep this thread alive but...

In my Strategy course the Prof said that Starbucks saturates a given market because they would rather cannibalize their own sales instead of allowing a competitor take away market share.

I wonder how a model line up of say 325 > 330 > 335 would fair against the IS250/350, '07 G35 and '07 Acura TL etc??

I understand the whole upscale thing that is being touted for the 328/335, but wouldn't the overall Operating Earnings of BMWNA benefit by spreading out its net?

Your prof is half right about Starbucks, but that's a different topic.

Since you are taking a class, I would suggest that you dig up some data related to the vehicle pricing. You should be able to find them easily on this site or on www.bimmerfest.com. Do a pricing spread comparison between 328, 330, 335. Then compared against the Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti. Show us what you've learned from the class.

[BMW F22]

I am in no way affected by the fact BMW released the 335 a year after I got my 330. It makes no difference to me cus they're both the same car except one is faster than the other.

[NoMods]

how about just wait for the 2011 model year...

[PMP]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

I am in no way affected by the fact BMW released the 335 a year after I got my 330. It makes no difference to me cus they're both the same car except one is faster than the other.

I'm picking up my brand new 330i on Saturday.

I'm annoyed with the dealer (I asked a direct question, what is going to be different on the 2007 model and was told nothing).

That said, I actually prefer the non-turbo car. I figure I got a car with more options and a more powerful engine than the 328i for about what you'd pay for a new 328i. That works for me.

I'd prefer the more powerful motor but I really can't stand turbo engines. I'm sure this one is really good but I doubt they have completely eliminated the turbo lag. Besides, the 330i is already way too fast for city streets.

Live and learn but no point in worrying about it.

[Dalex]

Originally Posted by phantom701

Your prof is half right about Starbucks, but that's a different topic.

Since you are taking a class, I would suggest that you dig up some data related to the vehicle pricing. You should be able to find them easily on this site or on www.bimmerfest.com. Do a pricing spread comparison between 328, 330, 335. Then compared against the Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti. Show us what you've learned from the class.

Ya know I did quite a bit of research before I decided on the 330xi - I'm picking her up this Saturday!!

Anyway, I have no issue with the the 328/335 E90's. If you had a business and had some competitive advantage that allowed you to charge a premium for your product that would be kick ass.

The Acura TL is not not a true sports sedan (though that's how the '04 was agressively billed). I don't mean to knock the TL, I happen to think that is a very respectable and capable vehicle. But it's truly not in the same class as the 3 series. Hence the lower price point of $33 - $35k.

The '06 G35 was/is a very good Japanese contender to the 3 series, and for those who do a cost benefit analysis and find that at an aprox $10k price variance is too large of a differnce to pay... well, their buying preferences/priorities are different than those of the 3 series enthusiast. There is nothing wrong with that, some may even believe that they are getting a better deal. But it's not a true apples to apples comparison.

The IS250/350 is a little different though. The cars are not the same (E90 vs. IS), anyone who has driven them would agree. Again, it will depend on your personal preference. With the IS you have solid engineering and technical prowess on paper and in a straight line. But the actual driving feel and driver input/feedback/control loop is not the same. Again, there's nothing wrong with this. I have a friend who loves cars and we can talk for hours and hours about different makes/models etc, but he preferes the feel of the IS over the 3 series. He preferes the posh interior and airy disconnected kind of feeling you get when you drive it. It's just his preference. The IS is a competitor but Lexus is seeking to redefine the segment while everyone else has been trying to immitate it (BMW).

Fully loaded TL ~ $36K
Fully loaded '06 G35x ~ $36K
Fully loaded '07 G35x ~ $38k
A very nicely loaded IS ~$45k
A very nicely loaded '06 330xi ~ $45k
A very nicely loaded '07 335i ~ $48k

If we are to be truly honest with ourselves, we would have to understand that in it's truest essence (i.e. Ultimate Driving Machine), the BMW does not have any peers. If we want to consider stats, gas mileage, residual value after 7 years, total cost of ownership, quality, after sales service, etc... well then we have a broader playing field (though I would still say that in the aggregate, the 3 series has them all beat)

Bottom line: BMW can charge more because they defined the segment. Until some can consistently knock them out, they will continue to be able to charge a premium. OR, if the market changes (i.e. buying trends shift to a placid driving experience that is devoid of emotion) then BMW will no longer be able to charge a permium for its offerings.

Sorry so long, but I wanted to make my prof proud

After I pick up my car on Saturday, I will be unavailable for the rest of the weekend!!