2008 BMW M3 Pricing Leak???

"Multiple BMW chat forums and Leftlane News readers are reporting that BMW North America has given dealers preliminary pricing details for the 2007 BMW M3 coupe. The car is expected to make its official debut before the end of the year — possibly at the Paris Motor Show in September. If the data is to be believed, it would position the M3 about $10,000 above the new 335i coupe. Base U.S. price is listed at $53,975 with a carbon fiber roof, 18" wheels, and adaptive headlights as standard equipment. Purchasers will be able to chose between a SMG III and six-speed manual transmissions, with neither costing more than the other. While LLN can not independently verify this information, one possible reason for its early release to dealers could be in order to enable pre-orders for what is sure to be a hot-seller. [see also: recent spy shot gallery]. See the full pricing sheet after the jump…

Major Standard Equipment
4.0L V8 307kW 420Nm (bi-VANOS 3rd gen.) engine
Adaptive Xenon Headlights
Carbon Fiber Roof
SMG III 7-Speed transmission with DRIVELOGIC
18" M Double Spoke Alloy Wheel
18×8F/18×9R with P235/45ZR18 Front, P265/40ZR18 Rear Performance tires.

Invoice $49,117 Base Price USA Port of Entry $53,975

Vehicle Options List
Metallic paint $475
Nappa leather $1,450
Carbon fiber trim $300
Aluminum trim NC
Comfort Access $500
M Multifunction Seats with Active Width Adjustment $1,900
Front Heated Seats $500 / ZCW
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Head-Up Display $1,000
Navigation System w/I-Drive $2,100
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Rear Park Distance Control $350
19" M Double Spoke alloy wheel $1,750
19×8.5F/19×9.5R with P235/40ZR19 Front, P265/35ZR19 Rear Performance tires.
Logic 7 sound system $1,200
SIRIUS Satellite Radio $595
High Definition Radio $500
Premium Package (ZPP) $3,100
Cold Weather Package (ZCW) $750
6-speed manual transmission NC
Rear Spoiler Deletion NC"
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GermanNut - 10/28/2006 12:47:05 AM

+1 Boost

If this were true, the M3 would undercut the RS4 by $13K.

That is a HUGE price gap.

chewy - 10/28/2006 1:11:47 AM

+1 Boost

WELL, this is OLD (incorrect?) news. The new BMW M3 DID NOT make its debut at this year's Paris autoshow. Next year. BTW, optioned out, the M3 per this price sheet would only be a couple of thousands cheaper than the RS4. However, just as I said before, the price list "looks" official, the new M3 will probably have a relatively low price, but a VW Jetta will have more standard equipment.

kart1 - 10/28/2006 1:28:55 AM

+1 Boost

So this is incorrect??? The RS4 starts off at 66k, yet the current M3 costs 49k. Would the price jump 17k over a redesign. I know this is old, but edmunds.com also said that the M3 was supposed to come out at the Paris Auto Show, it didn't. I don't know it looked authentic.

chewy - 10/28/2006 2:05:50 AM

+1 Boost

Well, this is just old news. Like I said it does lookd official, just old.

S4cabriofox - 10/28/2006 11:02:28 AM

+1 Boost

"The RS4 starts off at 66k, yet the current M3 costs 49k. Would the price jump 17k over a redesign"

No, but it wouldn't only go up $4K for a big new engine, better features and more interior space on the new model.

I can see it more at $55-60K base.

But this new M3 will be sweet. Can't wait.

sewingmachine - 10/28/2006 1:16:13 AM

+1 Boost

cant wait to see this car, cf rood too sweet.

sewingmachine - 10/28/2006 1:16:33 AM

0 Boost

rood = roof

S4cabriofox - 10/28/2006 11:03:26 AM

-1 Boost

Wow.

Can you say rip-off?

I mean, it's a sweet car, but that's almost M5 territory!

The RS4 would actually be less than that! $73K loaded!

S4cabriofox - 10/28/2006 11:05:31 AM

+1 Boost

I don't know which one I would buy.

My needs and the cars are part of the equation, remember? And I haven't driven the new M3, of course.

But I may need AWD, and the RS4 is unequivocally the best Audi ever, so I don't think I'd be missing out on much if I bought it over the M3, especially with all that torque...

But again, I'd have to drive the M3. I was thinking about flipping my S4 and going for the RS4, but I would miss my convertible too much. And I'm not going to Germany only to ship an RS4 convertible here for $15,000 extra.

RefuG - 10/28/2006 9:57:26 AM

+1 Boost

Ive seen/driven a couple of 335i coupes and it looks/drives like nothing else. Cant wait for da M.


G

NARunner - 10/28/2006 11:00:47 AM

+1 Boost

I saw this same "price sheet" about 2 months ago. I doubt the validity of this.

I guess the pricing makes sense, but I doubt that there is anything official about it.

S4cabriofox - 10/29/2006 1:18:53 AM

+1 Boost

I would say it's more money than this. Significantly more. Like $58K base, my guess.

One of the main reasons the current M3 is so inexpensive (for this class) is because it had a Porsche-like array of standard features... ahem, none. You had to pay extra for power seats and an alarm system, let alone leather seats (cloth was standard).

If BMW wants to play hard, they have to price hard, and the one thing that will bring the price up is putting on more options. And the M3 needs it if it wants to kill the RS4, the best sports-sedan in the world.

S4cabriofox - 10/29/2006 1:21:24 AM

0 Boost

^^^And yes, it's regarded by many as being better than the M5.

For example, a CAR magazine journalist had an RS4 for a four-seasons test. He was enamored with it, and just for kicks, brought it and an E60 M5 along for a day at the track. He said the M5 was fast, but not nearly as satisfying to drive as the RS4, and that it really showed that Audi can create a better car than a BMW M model. He pretty much said the M5 felt big, crude and not much fun, and the big-ness equated to handling not nearly as agile as the RS4's.

NARunner - 10/29/2006 1:03:26 AM

+1 Boost

but what about the premium for an RS car over the M5 For instance, the 2003 E39 M5 started around $70,000 (I think, off the top of my head) and the RS6 about $82,000...roughly 17% more than the M5. Since the new RS4 comes in at base of $66,000, keeping with a similar pricing model would place the M3 at around $56,000 to start (plus or minus destination). So a POE cost of 54-55K plus destination charge doesn't seem THAT far out of the realm of possibility.

And I would expect a similar porschesque option strategy as the current M3, making a well-equipped M3 coupe ring in at around $62-65K.

In a way, though, that pricing model doesn't make sense because it puts the M3 very close to the M roadster/coupe pricing, so basically I'm just blowing smoke here and we should all just wait until BMW comes out with some official releases, which won't be till after the unveiling anyway

Larry - 10/29/2006 11:30:01 AM

+1 Boost

no S4 the ripoff is that rebadged jetta that you drive.

S4cabriofox - 10/29/2006 1:15:49 PM

0 Boost

Oooh, burn!

I am so embarrassed! Wow!

What an original comment!

audirevolution - 10/29/2006 9:32:57 PM

+1 Boost

I wonder if larry is logical.
I'm pretty sure logical said that ignorant comment before.

Mark - 10/30/2006 7:07:12 AM

+3 Boost

If Larry isn't logical they live in the same house.

S4cabriofox - 10/30/2006 10:33:11 PM

+1 Boost

Larry and AmazingBimmer are both thoughtful reincarnations of logical.

I always have to wonder if they're just jokes produced by the website to start flame wars.