With SO Many BMW 3-Series On The Road WHY Do They Still Have Such Cachet?

The 3-series is so amazing and popular because it appeals to everyone. Absolutely everyone. It can carve corners, coddle its occupants in luxury, haul the family and its luggage, have AWD, get decent gas mileage, and even serve as prestige jewelry.

that must be with a massive downpayment. my 2008 335i sedan was $650/month. my 2011 535i is $950/month.

and if you could get a bmw for the price of a honda, why would anyone drive a honda?

@enthusiastx11

Many people don't realize that the leasing rates of an Accord V6 with leather and a base 328i aren't all that different. And, of course, the money down always matters. But recently, BMW is pushing great leasing/financing rates.

It's clear some people are willing to pay more than others for the same luxury car. Final costs depend on individual credit score, APR, down payment, trade-in value, regional incentives, and negotiate cost of vehicle (yes, you can pay less if you simply ask). Dealers will NOT duplicate the same car deal with their customers --- it's almost impossible. If one guy looks like he got hosed, the guy before him probably got a ridiculously great deal.


So to pay $650/mo for a 3er is fine for one guy, but not the other. There are too many other factors for that "particular" sale we don't know --- or care about. Is the guy happy with his 3er, maybe. Let it go.

patriot: really? a 7 for $829? tell me where i can get that and i'll run to the dealer right now!

this thread isn't about toyota.

Nor is it about an appliance.

The 3 series sells because its an aspirational vehicle. People feel as if they've made it when the spurge on a 3 series.The 3 has cache, women love it for the style, men love it because women love it and the because of the perceived power and status.
In addition BMW keeps lease rates low and offers free maintainence. I would be interested in seeing the breakdown between leases and sales as well as the breakdown between 335's and 328's sales.
T

it's not aspirational. it's the best in the class. what would you drive instead in the class?

Well lets see...I'm kind of a Benz guy...I have a 2011 E550 convertible now. In this class my personal choice would probably be an Audi S4. The current 3 is really old and due to be designed very soon, the C class is cool but kinda a chick car to me the Infiniti is an also ran, Acuras are just ugly and i'm no soccer mom so the volvo is out.
T

quite simply because it's a class-leading product. there's a reason it's been on the car & driver 10 best list for 20 years and is owned by more automotive journalists than any other car.

for me 3 ser is excellant in : reliability,safety,effecieny,driving control.

But comfort wise ..... its like a tight shoe !!
I d rather buy a main stream mid-size jap car instead.

Cheap lease rates

Cause if you can not afford the MB the next best buy is the 3 series , Cheap lease rates and free maintenance?....at least , thats happen here an in several other countries including USA...and Also honestly is the best sport sedan in the class. MB is more luxury oriented. BMW is more oriented to the driver. Sadly BMW is starting to be to bland and MB too hard so the separation is desappearing..just look at the new 5 is around 500 pounds heavier than the E class. I hope they stop following each other cause we (customers) will be the real lossers

The 3 series offers some of the smoothest/most refined engines money can buy, great handling, and good looks. Its pretty simple.

A lot of people may have bought it because of the badge & perceived status, but once they have it they will realize that it just performs and handles better than anything else in its class.
And the next BMW they buy is because they have come to love that performance and handling.
Several mambers of my family are proof of that.

Tottally agree with you AgentOrange!I still remember going with my older sister to buy a new car, and She decided to test-drive a used 1987 BMW 325 that was in the pre-owned section instead.It was love at first drive! It was also the very first time I drove one and since then We both drive only BMWs, and there are a nephew and an in-law that drive BMWs too, and we all LOVE the experience every time!

It's just the badge. BMW did an excellent job marketing that badge through the 80s and 90s. I desired them too for years. But now, the only reason I would choose one is to impress people with the badge. I'm not saying it's not a great car. But there is just so little differene between all the cars in its class, every one has a compelling reason to buy it and at least one or 2 strikes against it. But if you buy the BMW, it has the added benefit of being able to impress ALL of your friends (and potential dates).

3-series handling is overrated. The car doesn't even have a Limited-Slip diff.

Please tell us what handles better in its class.
Will be news for us all.

Did I say that it wasn't the best handling car in its class? Any car thats a true handling car has an LSD. There's a reason why BMW equips the M models with LSDs. 3-Series is nice but there are better handling cars out there.

LexS:
You said the 3 series handling is overrated. We are talking about "entry level luxury class." No shit its overrated compared to 458 Italia but whats the point in discussing that?
1911: An EVO or STi isn't in the same class either. Do they offer a folding hardtop, 8300 rpm V8, or luxury interiors? Thats like me saying go cart would own an EVO or STI. Who cares if you don't want one. Nobody is going to cross shop a 3 Series and EVO

If were talking about entry level, then how good can the handling actually be?

Apparently best in class

Best in a class of entry level vehicles? Yeah.. That sounds like world-class handling.

Like I said. Overrated.

Ok your right. Off to sell the M3 and use the Lotus for the daily comute and the kids will have to walk to school. Thank God you enlightened me.

Now you're equating an M3 with the regular run-of-the-mill 3-series. Nice try and Fail. The M3 has a limited slip diff. The other 3-series models (the car that were actually talking about in this thread) don’t. The M3 isn't overrated, the regular 3-series are. Got it?

Ummm hellllo.
You just said "what we're actually talking about"
Scroll up and re-read what we are talking about. OK you probably wont so I will tell you. "In the entry level luxury class the 3 is blowing the other guys out of the water" Why?
According to you this topic is about "world class handling".
Nobody else is. OFF Topic.
Got it??

"In the entry level luxury class the 3 is blowing the other guys out of the water"

- So why the hell did you bring up the M3?

Because you convinced me to sell it.
It is a 3 series after all.

It isn't about "world class handling". But if the 3-series is the best handling car out of entry level vehicles, then its handling is not "world class". Anything other than entry level praise is overrating the 3-series handling.

"Because you convinced me to sell it.
It is a 3 series after all.": — vonbeeler

- A highly modified 3-series with an LSD. Which makes it ok. But for some reason you think that an M3 is the same as a 328i. Which is insane.

AGREEMENT on your first point.
On Second yes An M3 is a 3 series but a 3 series is not an M3:)

:)

I love these comments about cheap lease rates as if other luxury makers dont have leases, shows how ignorrant you are lol either way I love it there has to be order on here....

BMW's maintain their cachet just the way a good looking, well dressed woman always garners admiring looks. Attractive is as attractive does.