bimmerfile bimmercast E90 M3 rumor

[CJF]

i was listening to the bimmerfile.com bimmercast yesterday, it was the year in review webisode. at any rate, at the very end the two guys were talking and one of them mentioned that he felt that there would be a few "suprises" for 2011 in terms of models being deleted. then the other guy immediately presumed this meant there would be no E90 M3 in 2011. in other webisodes with the same two guys, it seems like this has been alluded to, so it did not take me too aback when this conclusion was jumped to.

i had assumed that BMW would not produce a next generation M3 in sedan, but this is a different thing entirely.

did anyone else catch this? anyone have news/rumor in this regard?

let me be clear that i have no information other than what i heard on the aforementioned webisode.

[mkoesel]

There have been suggestions that the sedan sales have been poor - search and you will find a long thread on it with, IIRC, some numbers. However, as I remember it the numbers were not as bad as some people were speculating. Numbers on the forum are pretty high relative to the coupe, although that may be no reflection of worldwide sales numbers.

[CJF]

yeah, i had read that thread detailing the miserable (their word not mine) sales of the sedan. i guess the question is, are those number so terrible to pull the sedan mid-cycle. what is the opposite of life cycle impulse?

[FrenchBoy]

No sure what the benefits of stopping the sedan and continuing on with the Coupe and Vert would be. All the non-recurring cost of making the sedan is over with. Just make it available until the new one comes out.

As a side note, I do listen to the Bimmerfile podcast and really enjoy these guys. I believe that one of the 2, Michael, owns an E90 M3. Is he a forum member?

[CJF]

from a cost of production standpoint, you make a goodpoint about stopping (or not) the production of the sedan. this comment keyed me to other production issues, such as needing space or tooling capabilities for another product? there is opportunity cost associate with a low producing model i assume as they could use that production capacity for a more profitable and/or higher producing model. i have to assume it is not cheap or easy to re-tool a portion of the production process for another model. i guess this line of thinking lends itself to both sides of the argument in ways.

it was indeed Micheal, who does own an e90 m3, that made the statement. much to the dismay of Gabe- who purports to be buying an e90 m3 in two years should he have the chance.

[Technic]

What I think it could happen is that the MY2011 will be the last year of the M3 Sedan just because it could be the last year of the 3 Series Sedan as well.

Removing the M3 Sedan before its scheduled timeline -before the E90 itself is gone- equals an immediate 30% reduction in M3 sales, in a time that the M3 is selling less than what was expected at least in the USA.

I don't think so.

[SpencerM3]

I honestly think every E90 owner in the US is a member/poster here, cause there seems to be a lot!

[Definitive]

Ahhh, M3 sedan... Not 3 sedan. Well I would be really pissed, cause I plan to order in april and that would be a 2011. I hope my dealer knows whats up soon.

D

[adc]

Originally Posted by Technic

What I think it could happen is that the MY2011 will be the last year of the M3 Sedan just because it could be the last year of the 3 Series Sedan as well.

+1, makes sense.

Removing the M3 Sedan before its scheduled timeline -before the E90 itself is gone- equals an immediate 30% reduction in M3 sales, in a time that the M3 is selling less than what was expected at least in the USA.

More like 20% perhaps? That was my impression of the sales percentage of the sedan...

In any case, it may be a different story worldwide, where the M3 is significantly more expensive than in the US. In those countries people might vastly prefer the Coupe because it's considered more prestigious (what with the carbon roof etc.) and the convertible for obvious reasons. If this is indeed the case - and I am just speculating here - then the overall sedan sales may be lower than the US numbers suggest, which can mean BMW may decide to pull the model after all. It's not just a question of absorbing the initial tooling and R&D costs but also promotional costs, manufacturing costs for producing sedan-only parts in small batches and stocking them, maintenance/training/warranty issues etc.

Who knows...

[autospiel]

Totally agree with Technik's supposition. The E36 coupe/convertible (M3 included) soldiered on for a year after the E46 sedan replaced the E36 sedan (M3 included). Same thing happened with the E46/E90 transition (sans E46 M3 sedan). It makes no financial/logistics sense to continue producing the E90 M3 once production of the F30 (sedan) begins. And the F30 is slated for Frankfurt 2011 launch (with production presumably to begin shortly thereafter).

[Technic]

Originally Posted by adc

More like 20% perhaps? That was my impression of the sales percentage of the sedan...

In any case, it may be a different story worldwide, where the M3 is significantly more expensive than in the US. In those countries people might vastly prefer the Coupe because it's considered more prestigious (what with the carbon roof etc.) and the convertible for obvious reasons. If this is indeed the case - and I am just speculating here - then the overall sedan sales may be lower than the US numbers suggest, which can mean BMW may decide to pull the model after all. It's not just a question of absorbing the initial tooling and R&D costs but also promotional costs, manufacturing costs for producing sedan-only parts in small batches and stocking them, maintenance/training/warranty issues etc.

Who knows...

I thought that the Sedan was like 27%-30% of the M3 sales, but even a 20% sales drop is quite high for the only volume seller of the M Division, IMO. Especially when the initial goal was to move "100,000" of these suckers in the production run.

Unless, of course, that currently the Sedan is selling much more lower than even 20% as the last posted sales figures were 6+ months ago. This could mean nice production savings and even more profit as they can then position the Coupe and the Convertible at a premium (higher) MSRP price to compensate for the lower total volume.

[bavarian19]

I would rather own an E90 M3 than an E92, but maybe that's just me.

[freaky]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

I would rather own an E90 M3 than an E92, but maybe that's just me.

+1

[Definitive]

e90 ///M3 FTMFW!!! I almost hope the kill the e90 for 2011 so I have to order mine now instead of 4 months from now. Hehe

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by autospiel

And the F30 is slated for Frankfurt 2011 launch (with production presumably to begin shortly thereafter).

Just curious, where did you hear that. That is definitely news.

As has been discussed elsewhere, for a normal platform run (in modern BMW times, anyway) the E90 would go to MY 2013. If the F3x is really making an appearance in Frankfurt under the 3 series name (and not some concept car or styling exercise) then certainly the suggestions that the E9x will get cut short are becoming more likely.

Edit: Now let me take back what I just said. Too early, mind not yet fired up.

First I meant to say MY 2013 for the first year of the F30, not the last year of the E90.

Second, If the F30 launches in Frankfurt in September 2011 (I had originally read your words as 2010 there, my fault) then everything is following the normal course of things. Remember, in late 2011 the E9x will already have switched to MY2012. This means that the F30 would go on sale in the US as a MY2013 in early 2012, just like the E90 did as a MY2006 in early 2005. Sure BMW could still put the car for sale immediately when it is show in Frankfurt, for the 2012MY. But that would be abnormal and unlikely IMHO.

In other words all of this should have no bearing on whether the E90 M3 is produced for calendar year 2011 or even early calendar 2012 since the E90 3 series should still be in production then.

[MachineDriver]

My CA is saying that they will drop the e91 in the US this year (for 2011). I never believe anything he says tho.

[ase2dais]

a 4dr //M3 is like having a Baby //M5
1 SpaceG with 18" pls!

[ersin]

Originally Posted by MachineDriver

My CA is saying that they will drop the e91 in the US this year (for 2011). I never believe anything he says tho.

Oooooooo. Very sporty. So, we're getting this first, before the rest of the world?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ersin

Oooooooo. Very sporty. So, we're getting this first, before the rest of the world?

LOL, but I think he meant "drop" as in discontinue, not drop as in "debut".

I think he was talking about either the e91 3 series, or he meant to type e90 and was seconding the whole e90 m3 discontinuation rumor.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

LOL, but I think he meant "drop" as in discontinue, not drop as in "debut".

I think he was talking about either the e91 3 series, or he meant to type e90 and was seconding the whole e90 m3 discontinuation rumor.

I took it for sarcasm. Although, there is an M5 wagon, just not in the US.

[GotGas]

Should BMW drop the M3 convertible too?

I don't think they sold more M3 vert than M3 sedan. I love M3 sedan.

[akssriva]

Originally Posted by GotGas

Should BMW drop the M3 convertible too?

I don't think they sold more M3 vert than M3 sedan. I love M3 sedan.

+1.