BMW’s U.S. Sales Rise, Outselling Mercedes

And MB was the highest are $3808, which was actually DOWN 9% from the previous month's $4184. Glass houses, my friend.

prices are up across the board on all BMW models. furthermore, most models (except top models like S and CL-class) of BMW are priced at a premium to competitors (just look at 5-series pricing vs. E, A6 or GS). and incentive amounts are similar on all luxury cars.

net/net: BMWs less discounts sell at a premium to competitors less discounts.

here's some more info math whiz. fully loaded models as built on each corporate site:

maxed GS460: 59,190
A6: 66,205
E550: 76,870
550i: 89,950

so let's do some fun math: $89,950 - 3,500 = 86,450. so assuming the lexus GS sells AT STICKER (never happens), that would mean the 550i sells at a premium of as much as $27,000 to the GS460. even if BMW gave $10,000 off (which they don't), they would STILL sell at a premium to everyone.

NET sales prices is what matters, NOT discounts compared in a vacuum.

patriot:

go build a panamera. you can blow $50k on options without blinking. a reasonably well-equipped panamera 4S will run about $120k. the turbo STARTS at $137,000. it's a vastly more expensive car than a 550i.

and fyi, the GT-R and R8 aren't a 4-door sport sedans. different market. irrelevant.

patriot: uh, no you can't. the BASE price without even destination charge of a V8 panamera is $90,300 and EVERYTHING is extra. you'd need to put more than $30k in options to make it equal to the 550i's equipment level.

patriot:

comparing apples to oranges. compare by MODEL as you stated...a panamera V6 to a 535 or a panamera S to a 550i in order to make sense.

by your logic, why would anyone spend $200,000 on a loaded panamera turbo S when they could just buy a base V6 with no options for $80,000? could it be...just maybe...that some people who buy these cars prefer the high performance version? hmmm.....

Wait till the new 3 debuts and sales are going to skyrocket. Based on the available cars, BMW will own the luxury segment for 5 years or more.

Seriously, what difference does it makes if Merc or BMW are ahead of each other in sales, especially in such small percentages and periods of time?

what matters is who sells better cars and at premium prices. what's foolish is comparing sales volume of less expensive cars to much more expensive cars (cheaper cars almost always sell more volume, except in the case of many BMW models).

EDIT, 1911 has no source.

Which plebeian cars does BMW offer?

Audi A1, A2, A3, Q1, Q3. Mercedes A-class, B-class, CLC, etc. Perhaps you've heard of them? Everyone is making smaller, cheaper cars. It's hardly a BMW-only phenomenon, in fact if anything BMW is late to the party. BMW doesn't get to count Mini Cooper sales, while Audi and Benz do count the cars they sell that compete against the Mini Cooper.

Ok BMW BRAND Sales: 20,815 7=776 So 5 and 3 series (are the best performers) 5=4,294 (including the 5GT)
3=8,775
Yes you won't like it, but cold numbers say that BMW is not considered a luxury car, cause almost half of the sales are 3 series, The number tell the story as you can see in this numbers. Now the price of the BMW in fact is 45,000 in the entry level, for MB E is 49,000. 5 Series FULL loaded 90,770 , E Full loaded 82,000, So as you can see the price of the 5 is inflated by the accessories. MB could do something like that that but they do not use to do it.
MB BRAND Sales: 20,728 S=981 (and it is the old one)
E=5,628 (and there is not EGT there)
c=4,728
now If we take each segment, do not get it wrong , MB Is a luxury car company , BMW still a long shoot behind MB. Almost half of the BMW sales are 3, so can you honestly say that they are making more money than MB? , yes ONLY if you help them with Mini numbers.

given that nearly every bmw model is MORE EXPENSIVE than the comparable mercedes, how exactly is mercedes a 'luxury car company' while bmw is not?

patriot: i have NEVER commented on audi's pricing. and i don't think they're overpriced. in fact, several audi models are very well priced (A5 vs. E-class coupe, A7 vs CLS550, etc).

patriot: please do articulate your precise issue with my logic. and explain your logic.

"E=5,628 (and there is not EGT there)"

no, but there is an E-wagon in there, PLUS the E-coupes and E-convertibles are also included. The 5-Series is sedan and GT only. I'd be willing to bet the sedan to sedan numbers are pretty much identical.

For the records: I really expect good things of the new 3 series cause as you can see, BMW is depending a lot of that line.

All of people are walk into that BMW showroom because of the four years/40k miles of free service and drive off with a pretty good lease payment.

MB needs new product, plain and simple. The ML always looked like a butch minivan, women whom by the C-Class are switching over to other products and the E-Class has continued to migrate north in price, but south in styling.

The SLK was never a great seller and the SL needs a refresh.

"All of people are walk into that BMW showroom because of the four years/40k miles of free service and drive off with a pretty good lease payment."

this is truly an ignorant statement by someone who knows little about cars. service is most definitely NOT the reason one buys a bmw. it's about engines, styling, handling, seats, technology, etc.

and if by pretty good lease payment you mean more than the comparable mercedes, lexus or audi---then yes your are correct.

i drive an F10 535i at present. what do you drive?

patriot: those gimmick offers are put out by EVERY car company. go try and buy the cars they advertise. and let us know which car company ISN'T promoting offers all over the media.

and my point about sharing what i drive is simple: the person above is telling me why people buy the brand of car that I DRIVE. how exactly does he know this?

oh jesus...again, no logic. how is it possible that someone will buy a car for particular reason--marketed lease deals--if every other maker is also offering lease deals. if it's universal, it's not a point of differentiation. illogical.

re: service. you can buy 3-years of service on any mercedes for about $800. so you're saying that $800 is the reason buyers select cars ranging from $40-100k+. again, illogical.

people buy products because, well, they're good products at a price that's inline with the features delivered. apparently, many people believe that BMWs are worth buying at premium prices. that's the net/net.

@enthusiastx11

If you think the main reason why people buy BMW's is for their performance, then you are truly a narrow minded person who has no grip on reality! Most BMW owners by their cars for their status, not the performance.

Secondly, you drive a 535. It's a great car, but if you were really into the performance, you would have gone with a 550 or a M5.

Third, most consumers are sheep, they buy what their friends buy or what they think will make them into the person they want to be, which I think is your case.

Also, if do not think that a significant portion of BMW customers are enticed into their dealership by attractive lease offers and four years/40,000 miles of free service, why do they continue to offer them. BMW could literally save tens of millions of dollars/euros A YEAR by discontinuing them and relying only on their performance mantra.

Fourth, if choose to spend $40k on a car, I would not choose any of your options! My car does not define, it simply an expression of a portion of my personality. I will say that I could buy and finance a 535 much cheaper than my current car!

As to your argument that you could buy a car that costs more than a 3 series does not make you a poser, IT IS FALSE! You are a poser because you choose to buy a car that I am sure all your friends drive or recommended. If you are all about the performance and fun to drive quotient, why did you not buy a M3?

I bet you drive an automatic!

enthusiastx11: I can create a table that will show that most of MB are more expensive than most of the BMWs, So as I say BMW depends a lot of the accessories for profif. Second most of the BMWs sold are cheap 3 series (which tell us the when people looks for luxury cars, they are no seeing BMW). In the case of MB most of sales do not depends of the C. You see a lot of luxury cars, very expensive cars, that provide a bigger profit margin. BMW is the car that you buy when you can not afford (Talking of luxury cars) in MB also there is nothing from BMW to outclass the SL, CLS, CL, S65, SLS and the entire AMG line (which also is more expensive than the entire M line). Alos for the records I like the BMW Products but I see what the people see. If you buy an MB is cause you have a cost no object condition. IMO There is no better deal that 3 series with free maintenance in 4 years. Some MB models are overpriced and the maintenance is not cheap but even with that in mind, the people still buying more Luxury cars from MB than from BMW (If you do not like it, that won't change the reality). Please: SPY BEFORE YOU BUY...
FYI I would buy a 5 over the E any day.....but as you can see most of the people still prefer the E.

1) most people don't "prefer the E", the E has higher volume because the figures include E-wagons, E-coupes, and E-convertibles. Benz is also pulling an all-out assault on sales -- if you have a car in the family that's remotely considered a luxury brand, you get a $4000 conquest bonus on an E-class. Doesn't have to be a new or recent car, either. Got yourself a 10-year old Saab? Here's $4000.

2) Benz's #1 seller is the C-class, just like BMW's is the 3-Series. Anything said to the contrary is fallacy.

To look rich and be rich is not the same, but If I follow your line, there is a lot more BMW owners that want to look rich. In the case of MB, there is a lot more people that prefer and can afford luxury cars... cause as you see not to much people buy Cs, As or Bs.

BMW and mercedes have the highest average incomes of any mainstream premium brand (i.e. not aston, rolls, etc). you may be right about them wanting to appear well off...but they actually are well off.

why are all entry luxury cars for poseurs? that's just plain ignorant. i drove 3-series for years because they are so much damn fun--even though i could afford a car that costs more. isn't that the opposite of posing?

some of them are fantastic cars regardless where they stand in their respective brand's pecking order. which would you drive if you had $35-40k to spend on a sedan: toyota avalon, lexus IS250, mercedes C300, bmw 328i. and why.