$16k Pricedrop on M3/M4 + extra standard option :(

[Sash///M]

Hey guys...
I picked my M4 up about a month ago from a Melbourne dealer and this new price drop has really gotten to me.... if you all decide to do a group letter or anything please let me know.
If they give us some sort of financial compensation that would be ideal, otherwise I would settle for a full M Performance exhaust with carbon tips and a carbon rear diffuser!!
I

[BavarianDevil]

This must be an Aussie thing. Maybe they overcharged which is not uncommon in non US countries. However doubt anyone is going to get refunded any money. My ordered M4 which I picked up on 7/25/15 was discounted from $83,850 to $79K. It was negotiated up front. I bought it from the same dealer I has bought my previous BMW so I did get a loyality discount.

[roders]

One major difference is Australian configs (even though we pay more due to taxes), do have a lot more Standard Included options when compared to the US and overseas markets.

One thing on top of the price drop is that the new configs all now get LED Headlights as standard which was a $2k option.

I'll be calling the 13 number first thing in the morning.
While the dealerships are at the mercy of BMW Australia and not able to directly compensate I hope BMW Australia does something to a lot of us who support them with their top end models.
Thanks to all for supporting this issue.

Regards
Rod.

[roders]

Contact made to BMW Australia, details given and confirmed they are pooling everyone's details together.
Hope they give us "something"
Even if it's a special Trade-in consideration value like what McLaren did for their Australia clients which were effected when they did a $100k Price drop on the MP4-12C's.

[KKS]

Has anyone got an email back from BMW Australia basically saying not their problem, contact your dealer?

[roders]

Yes I just checked my mailbox and got a very generic "sorry these things happen" email and to go contact your dealer.
Surprised after what seemed to be a very helpful and willing conversation when calling them.
I contacted the M Specialist SA first.....who advise they were at the mercy of BMW Australia......
I think it's time for more people to get together.

[MrMoo]

I just checked after reading this thread. Got the exact same email. I feel like if we ask our dealer they'll point the finger at BMW Australia and it will go back and forth until you give up?

[KKS]

Yeah, very different tone to what they said over the phone.

What can we do?

[WAY]

So what did the email say exactly guys? Can someone cut and paste?

[Joey13]

I mentioned in support of another's comment before that one must be careful sometimes saying too much on the open forums as it is quite a common car company strategy to gather marketing and product research response by monitoring the "chatter". Yes this sounds like conspiracy theories but several companies have admitted it claiming of course that they like to get the feedback etc........ Hence yes some things should be discussed privately. However if someone from BMW is monitoring (even posting for all we know) I for one am not going to change what I want which AGAIN IS just the large discount that I would have received. By reducing the price so much they imply that they had a very large margin initially, had picked the wrong price point and further they should have enough funds to repay the customers they have overcharged. They likely are hoping that many customers will think it is all too hard and that they will just give up. I don't know why anyone that really would accept that poorly worded email that eloquently was ambiguous and really said nothing. It is the classic "let's tell them no first and a lot of customers will go away" .

I will post the rest up soon but they used a couple of pointless phrases such as
"All manufacturers adjust their prices regularly" - adjust by a few hundred or maybe a couple of grand sometimes but by $15-30k. Tell me that is an adjustment ?

[Joey13]

Dear Mr X

Thank you for your contact.

As you may be aware, all car manufacturers regularly update the recommended pricing and specification of their vehicles to maintain competitiveness in the market. Based on the principle of continuous improvement, BMW Group Australia is constantly refining our model packaging to ensure we continue to offer the best possible products to our customers.

As a vehicle distributor, BMW Group Australia?s has appointed a network of dealers to implement the retail transactions of our product, and part of the dealer?s role is to manage the introduction and transition of product updates with customers. In the first instance, we suggest you contact your dealer to discuss your query.

Should you wish to discuss this further with BMW Group Australia, please contact our customer interaction centre on
------------------------------------------

[slowie]

I received the same, I will be going in to see the DP next week and take this further, I am also seeking legal advise.

[Joey13]

I hate to be just posting continually how wrong ethically and morally this $20-30k loss of value of anyone's M4/3 actually is but I just think the profound damage this may have on us all can not be overstated. Consider these factors ,

INSURANCE
- If The market value of your vehicle that was say $170k a few days ago and that it is no longer even close because of the factory discount what are the implications

FINANCE
- finance companies don't like it when their asset is now say $25k unsecured

Just a few things to remind us why a palm off is not ok

[roders]

Very good point on the Insurance and Finance, did not even thing of those issues.
Being in Perth too I'd be interested to see if you get a different reply Slowie.
But looks like both dealers and BMW AU are trying to wash their hands of it.

[WAY]

Hey guys, with the price drop on the M3, I decided that I should just make an offer to buy another one for the missus. So we will soon be proud owners of a silverstone M3 as well as my YMB one. I think the missus will be happy as she used to love her silverstone E90 M3. Just trying to turn a bad situation into a less negative one!

[robbo mcs]

Originally Posted by WAY

Hey guys, with the price drop on the M3, I decided that I should just make an offer to buy another one for the missus. So we will soon be proud owners of a silverstone M3 as well as my YMB one. I think the missus will be happy as she used to love her silverstone E90 M3. Just trying to turn a bad situation into a less negative one!

Dollar cost averaging M3's, you are a crazy man Wayne

[purecrema]

Originally Posted by WAY

Hey guys, with the price drop on the M3, I decided that I should just make an offer to buy another one for the missus. So we will soon be proud owners of a silverstone M3 as well as my YMB one. I think the missus will be happy as she used to love her silverstone E90 M3. Just trying to turn a bad situation into a less negative one!

I luv your thinking

[Alpine*]

Way the baller

[roders]

Buy more average down

Still no movement from either BMW AU or Dealships..... we are all in limbo atm.

[Wobba]

Originally Posted by Joey13

I hate to be just posting continually how wrong ethically and morally this $20-30k loss of value of anyone's M4/3 actually is but I just think the profound damage this may have on us all can not be overstated. Consider these factors ,

INSURANCE
- If The market value of your vehicle that was say $170k a few days ago and that it is no longer even close because of the factory discount what are the implications

FINANCE
- finance companies don't like it when their asset is now say $25k unsecured

Just a few things to remind us why a palm off is not ok

Unfortunately, this is happens all the time. In 2013, McLaren slashed the price of the MP4-12C by a whopping $100k, from $490k to $390k.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257E92000135B6

Although already covered, here's some further info on the M3/4 price cut. Interestingly, according to BMW the price cut had nothing to do with lacklustre sales nor the C63:

"... far from struggling with M-enhanced cars in Australia, the company had sold more M vehicles to date in 2015 as it did in all of 2014. So far this year, the growth in M vehicles has been driven by the M4 which arrived in the second half of 2014."

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257E9000827A47

[roders]

Originally Posted by Wobba

Unfortunately, this is happens all the time. In 2013, McLaren slashed the price of the MP4-12C by a whopping $100k, from $490k to $390k.

Only difference is McLaren Australia gave ALL their owners effected by the $100k price drop a special trade-in consideration against a new McLaren when they go to sell it. A good solution, as it keeps the seller loyal to the brand and gives the owners piece of mind they are going to be hurt as bad by the $100k price drop.
I would be happy to a $20k credit against a future BMW purchase on top and beyond the standard contract price.

[Wobba]

Originally Posted by roders

Only difference is McLaren Australia gave ALL their owners effected by the $100k price drop a special trade-in consideration against a new McLaren when they go to sell it. A good solution, as it keeps the seller loyal to the brand and gives the owners piece of mind they are going to be hurt as bad by the $100k price drop.
I would be happy to a $20k credit against a future BMW purchase on top and beyond the standard contract price.

I was responding to Joey13's comments regarding the impact of the price cut on finance/insurance. A trade-in credit won't help in this instance. In the eyes of the insurer/finance company, the car is still devalued by up to $30k.