[Ramos]

Let's just recap what we have lost over the last couple of years from what made BMW a great value proposition in addition to being great cars.

1) Maintenance plan length shortened to 3 years
2) Maintenance plan no longer covers wear items such as brakes and wipers
3) Euro Delivery discount dropped from 7% to 5%
4) Lease residuals continue to go down
5) Multiple Security Deposit (MSD's) program scrapped
6) Lease return nit picking (Technically this was never a perk, but I have always gotten away with minor damage and excess mileage as long as I got the next BMW.. This is no more. They are now super strict on this to try and push their lease end coverage plans)

What am I missing?
I mean I guess they are now shifting focus from volume to profitability per car, but still I feel that so much of what drew me to BMW is gone.

Let's not even start with the cars themselves with the advent of turbos, FWD, ever larger and softer cars etc, etc.

Truly the M2 is the last "real" BMW I'm afraid.
Flame suit on

[Maynard]

Not quite ready to declare them dead, but they are shifting fast towards upscale-corolla territory. I think the 2 series is seriously underrated, but in a way I'd rather that, vs. it being so popular you see them at every stoplight.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Ramos

Let's just recap what we have lost over the last couple of years from what made BMW a great value proposition in addition to being great cars.

1) Maintenance plan length shortened to 3 years
2) Maintenance plan no longer covers wear items such as brakes and wipers
3) Euro Delivery discount dropped from 7% to 5%
4) Lease residuals continue to go down
5) Multiple Security Deposit (MSD's) program scrapped
6) Lease return nit picking (Technically this was never a perk, but I have always gotten away with minor damage and excess mileage as long as I got the next BMW.. This is no more. They are now super strict on this to try and push their lease end coverage plans)

What am I missing?
I mean I guess they are now shifting focus from volume to profitability per car, but still I feel that so much of what drew me to BMW is gone.

Let's not even start with the cars themselves with the advent of turbos, FWD, ever larger and softer cars etc, etc.

Truly the M2 is the last "real" BMW I'm afraid.
Flame suit on

You're not the first and you won't be the last to say a certain BMW is the last 'true' BMW. People have said that about almost every generation BMW through the years.

When happens when BMW goes electric only?(only a matter of time) Will the previous generation of cars be the last 'true' BMW's?

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Not quite ready to declare them dead, but they are shifting fast towards upscale-corolla territory. I think the 2 series is seriously underrated, but in a way I'd rather that, vs. it being so popular you see them at every stoplight.

The next corolla is going to be made by BMW.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The next corolla is going to be made by BMW.

There was a rumor that they would supply engines for the next generation of Corolla's. Nothing confirmed.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

There was a rumor that they would supply engines for the next generation of Corolla's. Nothing confirmed.

They're also making the Supra hybrid or at least the Supra hybrid will have the B58

[Bluewater328iT]

Another big loss of value is that they are producing so many cars, it is deflating the value of the used cars, specifically the E90 series.

[zerofighter]

Originally Posted by Ramos

2) Maintenance plan no longer covers wear items such as brakes and wipers
3) Euro Delivery discount dropped from 7% to 5%
4) Lease residuals continue to go down
5) Multiple Security Deposit (MSD's) program scrapped
6) Lease return nit picking (Technically this was never a perk, but I have always gotten away with minor damage and excess mileage as long as I got the next BMW.. This is no more. They are now super strict on this to try and push their lease end coverage plans)

I'm not sure what you guys are complaining about but in Canada; we get no automatic discount on ED (aside from whatever you negotiate off), no MSDs, and our maintenance never includes brakes/wipers.

Lease returns are always nit picked in general.

[Maynard]

But you get to live in Canada. That is worth more than discounted ED; right now it is on a par with a lifetime supply of thorazine (or at least 4 years worth).

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Maynard

But you get to live in Canada. That is worth more than discounted ED; right now it is on a par with a lifetime supply of thorazine (or at least 4 years worth).

[tock172]

Yet they still more cars every single quarter.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Maynard

But you get to live in Canada. That is worth more than discounted ED; right now it is on a par with a lifetime supply of thorazine (or at least 4 years worth).

And we also get the Group M EU delivery.

[bd307]

There must be that someone who says "xxx will be the last great BMW" when the new gen comes around.

Remember when this whole turbo thing got on the scene? See how people are appreciating it now (majority of them).

Same shit different days ehh

[aerostar]

Are they really super strict on return leases now?

This will definitely be a factor in me upgrading to a M3...

[Germanauto]

The #1 thing you are missing:

No longer fun to drive save for a couple of the ///M models.

Hello Porsche.

[bueller]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

The #1 thing you are missing:

No longer fun to drive save for a couple of the ///M models.

Hello Porsche.

This is my take as well...

I bought an F31 as a highway cruiser and dog hauler. It is a capable car, comfortable, decent to drive in sport mode, I will miss it when my lease is up. I think I will just go Golf Sportwagen for half the price.

I was considering the M2 but went GT4 instead.

B.

[P1]

They have also become more strict on replacing items under warranty, and with this, I mean items that shouldn't wear out as quickly as they are. I had a 2004 Dodge truck and the leather on the steering wheel was prematurely wearing, and Dodge replaced it no questions asked. If the same thing happens on my BMW, they will write it off as "normal wear and tear". Wasn't the case not too long ago.

[3rdcoast228i]

No longer fun to drive?

I don't know about that... Think there could be some desensitization there. When you can afford a Porsche then yeah the average BMW isn't as fun to drive.
And when you can afford a Lamborghini or Ferrari, then the Porsche may not be as fun to drive.

Not defending BMW tho, they have slipped on some things that made their cars fun.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Ramos

Let's just recap what we have lost over the last couple of years from what made BMW a great value proposition in addition to being great cars.

1) Maintenance plan length shortened to 3 years
2) Maintenance plan no longer covers wear items such as brakes and wipers
3) Euro Delivery discount dropped from 7% to 5%
4) Lease residuals continue to go down
5) Multiple Security Deposit (MSD's) program scrapped
6) Lease return nit picking (Technically this was never a perk, but I have always gotten away with minor damage and excess mileage as long as I got the next BMW.. This is no more. They are now super strict on this to try and push their lease end coverage plans)

What am I missing?
I mean I guess they are now shifting focus from volume to profitability per car, but still I feel that so much of what drew me to BMW is gone.

Let's not even start with the cars themselves with the advent of turbos, FWD, ever larger and softer cars etc, etc.

Truly the M2 is the last "real" BMW I'm afraid.
Flame suit on

My two cents coming from a long time owner.

#1 - Not a big deal. This doesn't hurt the typical leasee and it's one oil change for CPO owner.

#2 - Brakes typically last over 50k miles and wiper blades last almost just as long (Mine are at 3 years and doing fine).

#3 - Ya. This is a bummer.

#4 - That's a function of demand. Higher supply equates to a lower price. BMW has to protect their margins. Also the used market for base models doesn't really acknowledge the value between say a vehcile that has Luxury line , M-sport line, or No line. BMW looses money subsidizing these features.

#5 - Probably a hassle for them.

#6 - This is a function of #4. BMW must enforce their contracts in order to help insure the expected residual value of their used vehicles.