Anyone else think Individual paint is shady practice?

[stooker]

I'm probably an outlier, judging by the countless threads about Individual paint on this site, but I find the whole thing a bit of a scam, and the hype surrounding it is a product of a self-licking ice cream cone.

While I can appreciate the ability to get pretty much any color on the spectrum for an F8x by going Individual, it irks me that standard color options are limited to the point I believe it is purposefully done to feed demand for Individual paint. Plus, I find the ensuing hysteria about individual colors by fans a bit perplexing, like, Derek Zoolander "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills" perplexing.

Would prospective buyers be inclined to purchase a car in San Marino Blue with a $5K markup (and longer wait), if, say, Interlagos or LeMans blue was offered as a standard color? I'd guess 99% would say no.

Smart business move by BMW, I guess, but I find it ironic that you have to go "individual" for an F8x to get certain colors that are standard for other BMW models. That irony is further compounded by the fact that colors like AY, SO, and YMB, which I consider to be more "individual", i.e. unique and truer to the purpose of Individual, are standard colors.

Is it just me???

/rant

[cca101]

I'll share this sentiment with you, I was pretty bitter about spending 5k on grey black... so I spent 0 and got Alpine white. Adding to the insult are the great big orange reflectors for these nonsense US laws and 5k is a tough one to swallow.

[SMGCFP]

I have an individual color. (San Marino Blue) By offering more standard colors, it drives up the cost of the car. The more involved with the build process the more cost. I learned this when I visited the BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC where they build the X3, X4, X5, X6, and soon the X7. The X1 is built in Mexico or South America I think (not relevant at all btw). Anyway, is it a scam? No it isn't. It's something they offer for a cost, depending on whether or not they have the template, and how often that template is used. It's up to us to determine value. If people don't buy it, they will charge less or discontinue the program.

To your question about the blues, yes, my E92 was Interlagos and I wouldn't have spent 5k on San Marino if I could get Interlagos. If I wanted a shade of royal blue this time around, I either had to buy an M6 or spend an extra 5k. I couldn't even get Interlagos, they denied me. Did it suck? Yeah. Have I spent 5k on dumber things? Yes. Think Vegas.

[Nimgaard]

I dont find it to be bad practice, after all it makes manufacturing sense to have a set of standard colors.

What bothers me is that they have few standard colors, and some of them are very special. I want my car red, and i dont think there is any red option for M3/M4. Sakhir Orange is way to much for me, and not really a red color.

Ended up ordering an Imola red M4, which im very happy with. But i feel they could have offered a few more base colors, and changed some of the crazier ones for more basic ones.

[allinon72]

It is standard practice for an auto maker to offer a half-dozen standard colors. It's a production issue and it doesn't really matter if another model offers a different color standard - that's a different production line and maybe even a different plant altogether.

We're probably lucky that the Individual program even exists. There are a whole lot of owners of other vehicles that would LOVE the privilege of paying extra for a unique color.

[sandjam]

Actually, go to any manufacturers site and they all have just a handful of standard colors. Most of them you either take one of those colors or don't buy the car. At least BMW gives you an option (yes expensive one).
I am a blues guy and I have passed on other manufacturers cars because they didn't offer a blue at all. I really did not want to spend the 5000.00 for my individual blue, but I am so glad I did as I love the color and probably would have traded the M4 in already if I had gotten one of the standard ones, none of which I liked.

Plus I am not sure how many individuals there really are in comparison to the actual number of M's produced. I bet its not as high as it seems. Most people probably take one of the standard colors.

[HPIA4v2]

BMW could offer more color as part of standard paint colors Butttttt....... are we ready if all cars will cost $500 more to compensate mfg process to do so.
Ask you Industrial Engineering friend for complete explanation.

I am amaze already how BMW allows custom to order cars as far as option goes and complete my car in 3-mo time from order time until I receive the car (faster on non-m cars). Every time I shop at Lexus or even Audi, they always look me funny asking for ordering cars

[48Laws]

Originally Posted by allinon72

It is standard practice for an auto maker to offer a half-dozen standard colors. It's a production issue and it doesn't really matter if another model offers a different color standard - that's a different production line and maybe even a different plant altogether.

We're probably lucky that the Individual program even exists. There are a whole lot of owners of other vehicles that would LOVE the privilege of paying extra for a unique color.

Rather, it’s a manufacturer’s upsell. With all of the options BMW offers, i don’t see how changing a paint can in an automated machine is an issue. All bs.

[48Laws]

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

BMW could offer more color as part of standard paint colors Butttttt....... are we ready if all cars will cost $500 more to compensate mfg process to do so.
Ask you Industrial Engineering friend for complete explanation.

I am amaze already how BMW allows custom to order cars as far as option goes and complete my car in 3-mo time from order time until I receive the car (faster on non-m cars). Every time I shop at Lexus or even Audi, they always look me funny asking for ordering cars

The current M3/4 are already nearing mid $80k on the lot. That’s a huge jump from
What the same car costs in 2015. Worrying about $500. Customers are already being soaked.

[SMGCFP]

It's why the Las Vegas strip casinos offer only 6:5 Blackjack at the lower betting levels. People play it. If people stopped playing it, they would be forced to go back to 3:2. BMW offers it because people pay it. It's a manufacturer's upsell. Exactly. PAy it or don't pay it. BMW is a corporation in business for their shareholders. No one is getting "soaked". If you don't see value, don't buy it. If enough people don't buy it, they will change course.

[FirstF80InSpace]

I think BMW is shady period. Lol.

[cotmfk]

BMW did it right, IMO. I think it's super awesome you can get any color you want.

And to your point - BMW already offers a really nice grey (Mineral Grey) - yet a ton of the individual builds are different greys. Grigio Telesto is the besto, though! haha

[Wills2]

The pricing is crazy but then again that gives the colour exclusivity which is what the person paying top dollar wants.

On the flip side they become good value in the second hand market.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by FirstF80InSpace

I think BMW is shady period. Lol.

I laughed.

It's funny to me because you can't deny it is difficult to trust them lately with the current marketing material, warranty/service policy, and product mix that are all over the place.

For example, that new X4 video just makes your skin crawl, right? Exactly what sort of mentality does it require to watch that and say - "Yeah, you nailed that BMW - solid choice for a promo!"? I feel like I have to do a few shots of Jaegermeister if I want to approach a BMW dealership. It's like a walk of shame now, LOL.

Anyway, to answer the OP, is BMW Individual itself shady? No. But as it applies to a strategy whereby they allegedly carefully rule out desirable colors from the past that could otherwise have been offered as standard because that they know will be popular a $3500 to $5000+ up-sell through Individual? Yeah, that's a bit sketchy. Shrewd business to be sure, but it does leave you feeling like they are trying to pull people into the dealership with a certain MSRP and then fleece the bejesus out of you with ridiculous option pricing.

[stooker]

Originally Posted by Wills2

The pricing is crazy but then again that gives the colour exclusivity which is what the person paying top dollar wants.

On the flip side they become good value in the second hand market.

BMW is artificially making colors that are not really that special, desirable through exclusivity. Yes, there are extreme colors that meet the "individual" purpose/intent, but many of the colors that are often drooled over on this site are fairly basic (that's where the "crazy pills" come in for me).

A color should be "individual" because of the inherent uniqueness of the color, not by making it exclusive through not offering it otherwise. Like my previous example, people wouldn't give two shits about SMB if any of the other similar blues was offered as standard.

Again, glad buyers have the option, and value is in the eyes of the beholder, but still shady business to artificially create demand like that.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by 48Laws

Rather, it’s a manufacturer’s upsell. With all of the options BMW offers, i don’t see how changing a paint can in an automated machine is an issue. All bs.

Of course it's an "upsell", they aren't going to offer it out of the kindness of their hearts. And it's a lot more than just "changing the paint can." That is a very elementary view of the type of automation required to mass produce a vehicle.

[erictrainer]

Gotta pay to play. As much as I'd love a Dakar Yellow or a Mint Green F80, I like Yas enough to where it is not worth it to me. But if Yas weren't an option I'd seriously consider Individual. On my ideal build the way I see it is what would I rather have, competition package or Individual color...I'd pick Yas with competition everyday.

[48Laws]

Originally Posted by SMGCFP

It's why the Las Vegas strip casinos offer only 6:5 Blackjack at the lower betting levels. People play it. If people stopped playing it, they would be forced to go back to 3:2. BMW offers it because people pay it. It's a manufacturer's upsell. Exactly. PAy it or don't pay it. BMW is a corporation in business for their shareholders. No one is getting "soaked". If you don't see value, don't buy it. If enough people don't buy it, they will change course.

Perhaps, you lost track of my message. Being “soaked” was in reference to how the M3/4 are nearly a $90k car on most lots. These aren’t even individual orders. Retail psychology suggests that when people see a higher price, they assume it’s better with virtually minimal changes from the previous year. The notion that BMW will change course if “enough” people don’t buy it is laughable.

[48Laws]

Originally Posted by allinon72

Of course it's an "upsell", they aren't going to offer it out of the kindness of their hearts. And it's a lot more than just "changing the paint can." That is a very elementary view of the type of automation required to mass produce a vehicle.

The notion of scaricity and faux-industrial complication you suggests in an industry that has mastered mass-produced vehicles of dozens of variations, is very ignorant of you. The M division is a faux-boutique massed produced vehicle. Show me how a variation of a blue, for example, legitimately equates to $5000 to the consumer. call it what it is....fake special. Something like a mechanical variation, a la carbon brakes for $8k, is far more arguable.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by 48Laws

The notion of scaricity and faux-industrial complication you suggests in an industry that has mastered mass-produced vehicles of dozens of variations, is very ignorant of you. The M division is a faux-boutique massed produced vehicle. Show me how a variation of a blue, for example, legitimately equates to $5000 to the consumer. call it what it is....fake special. Something like a mechanical variation, a la carbon brakes for $8k, is far more arguable.

That's just stupid man, c'mon. If it were as easy as switching the paint around, every automaker would offer any color under the sun for free. Stop it.

[48Laws]

Originally Posted by allinon72

That's just stupid man, c'mon. If it were as easy as switching the paint around, every automaker would offer any color under the sun for free. Stop it.

And what metric are you using to suggest that? Don’t confuse bean counting with complicated automated processes.

[stooker]

Originally Posted by 48Laws

The notion of scaricity and faux-industrial complication you suggests in an industry that has mastered mass-produced vehicles of dozens of variations, is very ignorant of you. The M division is a faux-boutique massed produced vehicle. Show me how a variation of a blue, for example, legitimately equates to $5000 to the consumer. call it what it is....fake special. Something like a mechanical variation, a la carbon brakes for $8k, is far more arguable.

Fake special, that about sums it up.