Individual Color

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by Railgun

With regards to the actual value, I'm keeping it in context with the thread, so in dollars. If I was talking a different currency, I'd indicate as such. I'm also taking tax out of the picture to keep it in line with US pricing given tax is always after the fact, not up front. With regards to the car out the door, it's actually $71,318.50 (exchange rate right this moment) without tax. Yes, still more expensive than the US, but we also have different standard options. But that's a little OT.

As for the a la carte, in this case, there's no difference. Paint is paint. As an option, it's still a one off color that's not dependent on any other option.

With regards to deleted posts, I've actually started a thread in the appropriate forum regarding another deletion, but zero response. I'll take that offline.

Just to clarify, the first column is the actual cost, second the tax on top (yay 20%) and the last, total. The exchange rate today brings it to about $2100.

That's a great deal for a SMB car! Congrats!

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by Railgun

I appreciate the fact that I may be over stating the situation, but let's be honest, it's paint. The value of which cannot realistically be vastly different in one market over another. It's the same car (sans steering wheels on opposite sides and a few other tit bits). The difference in pricing for most options is pretty much on par with each other. Believe me, I'm the first one to say you can't simply convert the price of a thing in one country to determine its value in another.

For example, CCBs are £6250 including tax, which is about £5200 without tax, which is about $8k. So about the same price without tax here as in the US. Interesting isn't it? Of course, you're forced to buy $1200 wheels to fit, whereas the 20" here are standard.

But for all intents and purposes, we're talking about an intangible item. The car is going to be painted one way or another. SMB in the UK is the exact same paint, process, and cost to the company as it is in the US.

I wasn't necessarily talking about hard costs -- and I agree -- paint material cost is paint material cost, and yes, the cost to paint the car is likely the same in many cases.

However, there's more than just paint material and painting labor that goes into pricing the paint option. BMW may feel the need to make the individual program more exclusive in the US than in the UK. That's just one example. Different markets require different angles to sell vehicles. This is no different from any other manufacturer. Additionally, my guess is they have to stop production lines and it is less efficient to paint a vehicle with a non-production slotted color. In some cases, BMW will paint two vehicle chassis per single car ordered. So there's another cost as well.

Either way -- I would love to pay $2k instead of $5k

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by Railgun

It is £57k with tax. ~£46k without tax. I appreciate that it's the actual cost, but to really compare, folks in the US should include their state's tax on top. Still a ton more here relatively speaking, but the gap lessens.

Did not know the 57K msrp was with tax - learned something new today. Thanks. There is a definite paint cost disparity, evidently, as your std. metallic colors are 0 cost, and your P1 individual colors are £950.


When comparing with the states, some have 0% sales tax, so 62k msrp = 62k OTD, others up to 7.5%, so 62 = 66,650 OTD.

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by Railgun

They certainly do. But that's the same process regardless of where the order came from, hence the huge buildup/backlog of those orders and many, including me, getting pushed to 2016.

Yep. Was thinking perhaps Q/C is different depending on what country it's going to.

I was more than willing to pay 5k as well for a custom color (frozen japan red -- look it up on the E92 M3, so sick!). The only reason I stopped was because it was going to also bump me to 2016, and my wife wouldn't be able to go unless it was between the months of June and early August.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Railgun

If it's more that 2k for that, it's being ripped off.

No - You're not...

There are several types of "Individual Paint"...

FACTORY Individual Paint costs $2K. These are the colors that are listed on the official car build page as being "Individual" colors.

TRUE Individual Paint costs $5K. This is effectively ANY color that BMW offers (or has offered) in any of the product line...

Then there is RESTRICTED Individual Paint which still costs $5K but can only be done with some very restrictive scheduling due to the special painting equipment required. (The Fire Orange paint on my 2016 M4 order is a "Restricted" paint and BMW can only paint one single car per week - worldwide - with this color!). This can obviously add considerable time to an order. My 2016 is currently scheduled for week 38 production (3rd week in Sept) - which is not bad since any/all M4 individual paint orders at the Munich plant have been pushed back to the 1st week of Sept anyway...

Then there is CUSTOM Individual paint where you come in with something you want a custom match for. The proverbial example is your wife's favorite lipstick, etc. I think that price depends on how hard it is to match and produce the specific color...

[MRCUR]

Originally Posted by Railgun

I still find it hard to believe there is an effective $3k discrepancy between US and UK pricing on that. Either BMWs pricing model is broken, or I got extremely lucky.

I wouldn't be so surprised by the discrepancy. I'll just toss in another point with my own order - my individual paint is $5,000.

[f82fanatic]

Originally Posted by Railgun

I appreciate the fact that I may be over stating the situation, but let's be honest, it's paint. The value of which cannot realistically be vastly different in one market over another. It's the same car (sans steering wheels on opposite sides and a few other tit bits). The difference in pricing for most options is pretty much on par with each other. Believe me, I'm the first one to say you can't simply convert the price of a thing in one country to determine its value in another.

For example, CCBs are £6250 including tax, which is about £5200 without tax, which is about $8k. So about the same price without tax here as in the US. Interesting isn't it? Of course, you're forced to buy $1200 wheels to fit, whereas the 20" here are standard.

But for all intents and purposes, we're talking about an intangible item. The car is going to be painted one way or another. SMB in the UK is the exact same paint, process, and cost to the company as it is in the US.



It is £57k with tax. ~£46k without tax. I appreciate that it's the actual cost, but to really compare, folks in the US should include their state's tax on top. Still a ton more here relatively speaking, but the gap lessens.

I see your argument, but I will go ahead and politely point out that I believe the US buyers are not getting ripped of. The prices are different because of the "willingness to pay" of the us consumer vis-a-vis that of the UK consumers.

Some BMW data monkeys probably did hard consumer data analysis and verified that there is a high propensity for buyers in the US to buy these "special" colors at this price, and maybe not so much in the UK. If they are willing to pay for these colors, then they are not being ripped off! Why should it matter if somewhere else in the world somebody else is paying less? I don't buy the "equitable" price argument because the car is priced different everywhere in the world.

Anyway, if we bring this level down to a more basic level, I do understand the outrage. I would not pay for a 5k color, but I would 2k...

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by f82fanatic

Anyway, if we bring this level down to a more basic level, I do understand the outrage. I would not pay for a 5k color, but I would 2k...

He is not paying $2k for the paint either.
I think some of the confusion in this thread stems from the fact that RailGun is in the UK therefore all his prices and in UK £.
So when you convert 2000£ to USD, it's actually $3100
Still less than $5k, but when you consider the fact that the car is cheaper in the US, it puts things into perspective.

And you can always do ED and pay 8% less for all options, including the individual paint.

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by f82fanatic

Anyway, if we bring this level down to a more basic level, I do understand the outrage. I would not pay for a 5k color, but I would 2k...

I understand your stance, but after seeing what people do to their cars post-delivery (4K on wheels, 2K on tires, 2K on aesthetic parts, 5K+ for exhausts!), I can't understand the 5K paint charge being seen as exorbitant. It makes your car more unique - less likely to see another one.

The price of admission is justifiable to some and not to others. But seeing (not you, necessarily) people scream about the individual color cost, then seeing their threads with 2 or 3 sets of wheels in a year makes me question their internal weighing measures.

To each their own, but at 5K of 93K MSRP car it's a small drop for some individuality - to me at least. I won't spend 7K on an exhaust, but would spend 3500 - so it really is each persons call.

[RowanBuds]

Originally Posted by AlexN

He is not paying $2k for the paint either.
I think some of the confusion in this thread stems from the fact that RailGun is in the UK therefore all his prices and in UK £.
So when you convert 2000£ to USD, it's actually $3100
Still less than $5k, but when you consider the fact that the car is cheaper in the US, it puts things into perspective.

And you can always do ED and pay 8% less for all options, including the individual paint.

Railgun has already stated that he was making all pricing references as converted to USD to give more apples to apples comparison.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by Mr.SugarSkulls

I'm waiting for someone to be brave enough to do a frozen Singapore grey.

I wanted to...but then I got cold feet and went with the safe bet, frozen black.

Real safe lol. Looks awesome though

[Mr.SugarSkulls]

Originally Posted by Naz24

Real safe lol. Looks awesome though

It's a proven winning formula!

Imagine ordering a 140K car, putting up with the 4-6 month wait time and not liking the individual color the moment you see it?

Id cry a little.

Oh who am I kidding, I'd bawl like a little girl.