Inflation considered, it is now less expensive to buy a BMW in 2024 vs 2000

[IndyRed128i]

2000 BMW 328I MSRP- $33,400


If in
2000
(enter year)
I purchased an item for $
33,400.00

then in
2024
(enter year)
that same item would cost:
$61,008.34

Cumulative rate of inflation:
82.7%


2024 BMW 330I Base MSRP- $44,500

[tturedraider]

You have to use an M340i for comparison, because the 2000 328i had an inline six and was the top of the line model. It’s still less expensive. I used to post these comparisons fairly regularly at the beginning of new model years when everyone would lose their mind over the price increase. The reality is BMW has held the line on prices very well over the years and the cars of yesteryear were not nearly as well equipped as they are today.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

You have to use an M340i for comparison, because the 2000 328i had an inline six and was the top of the line model. It’s still less expensive. I used to post these comparisons fairly regularly at the beginning of new model years when everyone would lose their mind over the price increase. The reality is BMW has held the line on prices very well over the years and the cars of yesteryear were not nearly as well equipped as they are today.

Not sure I agree, the 335/340i models were a step above the 328/330i models.

E46 328/330i feels very much in line with G20 330i to me.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by MJBO

Not sure I agree, the 335/340i models were a step above the 328/330i models.

E46 328/330i feels very much in line with G20 330i to me.

E46 330i was top of the line at the time. The only car above it was the M3.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

E46 330i was top of the line at the time. The only car above it was the M3.

The turbocharged era brought a new level of “standard” 3 series, which I feel sits above the newer generations of the 330i.

The M3 pushing up and up in capability and power left room for a new level in between.

[wtwo3]

Ah yes.... this is classic. People start losing their minds about how expensive cars are but fail to consider inflation. Adjusted for inflation the cars these days are no more expensive than they were 20+ years ago.

[floridaorange]

Buy cars from 2008 and get the best of both worlds

[celsdogg]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

E46 330i was top of the line at the time. The only car above it was the M3.

Originally Posted by MJBO

The turbocharged era brought a new level of “standard” 3 series, which I feel sits above the newer generations of the 330i.

The M3 pushing up and up in capability and power left room for a new level in between.

I gotta agree with Chihuahua here, but it might be US-centric.

Under the M3, BMW USA always had two engine options in the 3 series with a lineage like this:

E46 328i/330i > E90 330i/E90 335i > F30 335i/340i > G20 M340i
E46 323i/325i > E90 325i/E90 328i > F30 328i/330i > G20 330i

Occasionally, they would import a more entry level option for three lines such as the E36 318i, F30 320i, etc. Come to think of it, they often imported 2 petrol engine options for each series, sometimes 3.

Again, US-centric, but the range topper (under the M3) would mostly be the same worldwise.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by MJBO

The turbocharged era brought a new level of “standard” 3 series, which I feel sits above the newer generations of the 330i.

The M3 pushing up and up in capability and power left room for a new level in between.

What turbocharged E46 did you have in Australia? We didn't see a turbo'd 3-series until the E90 335i. I think I get what you're getting at though, comparing MSRP on a current 340i might be a better apples to apples comparison. We'd still come to the same conclusion though, BMWs pricing isn't as insane as some people make it out to be, at least here in the US.

[DrVenture]

Where are you getting a 82.7% inflation increase in 4 years?

Also different items have different inflation rates. New and used cars have different inflation rates.

As others have said, cars have more content/features every year, it is not apples-to-apples.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by DrVenture

Where are you getting a 82.7% inflation increase in 4 years?

24 years

[DrVenture]

Originally Posted by chassis

24 years

LOL - my bad!

[dradernh]

Separate from the issue of trying to effectively compare generally equivalent BMW models across the years, this is where you go to get inflation-adjusted data: https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl.

Note: it's been decades since I dove in so deeply, but back then bls.gov allowed you to do comparative evaluations by fairly discrete sub-regions of the country. So, for example, overall inflation in Iowa City might be different enough from, say, San Jose, CA, during the period being examined to make a difference to the person querying the data. I found this breakdown very useful for my specific need when I was last in there.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by IndyRed128i

2000 BMW 328I MSRP- $33,400


If in
2000
(enter year)
I purchased an item for $
33,400.00

then in
2024
(enter year)
that same item would cost:
$61,008.34

Cumulative rate of inflation:
82.7%


2024 BMW 330I Base MSRP- $44,500

Compare BMW models of similar size.

A circa 2000s 3-series would be comparable to the current 2-series.

5-series would be comparable to the current 3-series.