[Mark]

BMW Brand	May 2009	May 2008	% Change	YTD 2009	YTD 2008	% Change
BMW Brand	18,383	25,469	-27.8	76,819	110,569	-30.5
BMW Passenger Cars	14,785	19,884	-25.6	61,851	86,967	-28.9
BMW Light Trucks	3,598	5,585	-35.6	14,968	23,602	-36.6
MINI	4,610	6,312	-27.0	16,780	21,189	-20.8
TOTAL	22,993	31,781	-27.7	93,599	131,758	-29.0

- Overall sales (BMW and MINI) down 27.7 percent in May
- BMW brand reported best month so far this year
- BMW 3 Series hits two million milestone since its introduction in the US in 1976

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – June 2, 2009... The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported May sales of 22,993 vehicles, a decrease of 27.7 percent from the 31,781 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 93,599 vehicles, down 29 percent, compared to 131,758 vehicles sold in the same period a year ago.

BMW Brand Sales
With 18,383 vehicles sold, the BMW brand reported its best month so far this year. Compared to the 25,469 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago, this is a decrease of 27.8 percent. Year-to-date, BMW brand sales were down 30.5 percent to 76,819 vehicles compared to 110,569 vehicles sold in the same period of 2008.

“This month, the Northeast and Midwest showed signs of buyers' interest and that's a positive aspect for the entire premium market,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. “As we have been seeing all year, customers remain cautious, and when they shop for premium products they are buying brands that have a history of value, dependability and enduring quality. This has helped sales in our core 3 Series, 5 Series and X5 range.”

The company’s Ultimate Service including the four-year, no cost maintenance program combined with one of the highest residual values in the industry further contributes to BMW being a safe and secure purchase in this environment.

In May, the BMW 3 Series reached an important milestone in the U.S. with over two million units sold since the launch of the first 3 Series (320i) in November 1976. The BMW 3 Series has remained the unrivaled benchmark in the premium segment for more than 30 years.

Click to see additional video commentary by Rich Brekus, General Manager – New Car Sales, BMW of North America, LLC regarding BMW’s sales performance in May.

BMW Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
Sales of BMW’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are up 8.3 percent, to 10,410 CPO vehicles versus 9,616 vehicles reported last May 2008. Year-to-date, CPO sales are up 9.8 percent, to 48,410 over the 44,077 reported in the same period of 2008. Since the beginning of the year, BMW has seen a strong performance of its certified used car business with May being the second best month in the history of the CPO program.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 4,610 automobiles, down 27 percent from the 6,312 cars sold in May 2008. Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 16,780 automobiles, a decrease of 20.8 percent, compared to the 21,189 cars reported in May 2008.

“In May, the small car market continued to be soft due to restraint in new car purchases and gas prices that are around 40 percent lower than a year ago,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA. “Nonetheless, once again last month, MINI sales improved over the previous month and we continued to outperform the segment by a wide margin.”

[boymonkey]

That's quite a drop.

[BMWI6]

Damn, thats a big drop. It doesn't surprise me though. With current conditions and BMW not being atop of their game it was bound to happen.

[imported_mega]

wow mini dropped too

but cpo sales up matches the news reports of the used car market

[island111]

With all the problems with the Turbo cars I can see why. As a loyal BMW owner since the early 70's I for one would never buy another after the way BMW treated me with my 335 conv. Sorry but this is how I feel. It's shame when somone buys a new BMW every other year and has to put with with it's NORMAL!

[BMWPower06]

I bought a BMW in May (just over a week ago)

A 2006 M5

[Bimmer Nerd]

Originally Posted by BMWPower06

I bought a BMW in May (just over a week ago)

A 2006 M5

congrats

[GhostyM]

The red M5 correct?

Sick!

[imported_mega]

anyone seen the numbers for each series, ie 1, 3, 5, 7

[SHOWTIME]

Originally Posted by island111

With all the problems with the Turbo cars I can see why. As a loyal BMW owner since the early 70's I for one would never buy another after the way BMW treated me with my 335 conv. Sorry but this is how I feel. It's shame when somone buys a new BMW every other year and has to put with with it's NORMAL!

just curious cuz I'm thinking of gettting into one in a few months...what was the problem with your 335i? and why weren't they treating you right?

[DON MORRISON]

I had a 09 lexus IS350 on order.$40,000 car with $5,000 margin and dealership only gave me $500 off since I was ordering the sport handling package and they did not want to get stuck with it,their sales are down 35%.I drove a 335i and was sold and ordered 335i and cancelled lexus order.Dealership gave me $2300 off on a more expensive car with only about $4,000 margin vs the lexus with $5,000 margin.I use to feel BMW had a holier than thou , we are the only game in town,but it was the lexus dealership in CHARLOTTE that had this attitude and bmw treated me right and service dept.seems responsive to customer needs.335i may not be as reliable as the is350 but it is much more of a car and dealership earned my business.First bmw!

[GnokGnik]

BMW sells light trucks?

[lyndon_h]

Originally Posted by GnokGnik

BMW sells light trucks?

X5,X3

[lablueboy]

Originally Posted by island111

With all the problems with the Turbo cars I can see why. As a loyal BMW owner since the early 70's I for one would never buy another after the way BMW treated me with my 335 conv. Sorry but this is how I feel. It's shame when somone buys a new BMW every other year and has to put with with it's NORMAL!

+1 Totally agree.. If they fix the NORMAL issues, they would have a lot more returning customers...

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by island111

With all the problems with the Turbo cars I can see why. As a loyal BMW owner since the early 70's I for one would never buy another after the way BMW treated me with my 335 conv. Sorry but this is how I feel. It's shame when somone buys a new BMW every other year and has to put with with it's NORMAL!

You should try Mercedes or Acura, i can vouch for fastidious attention to detail from both.

[Big Top Gt]

Originally Posted by boymonkey

That's quite a drop.

It's a big drop, but if you talk to a dealer about buying a car you'd think they were the ONLY ones actually selling cars in this market.

It's more than "a little" frustrating.

I feel like prices go up, but paychecks are going down. I can't see how ANYONE is buying, given the hostility of the environment.

[darkcloud]

^ let alone they keep dicking with the APR. just put it at .9% or 1.9% and let it set for a few months. No need to adjust that monthly. If they want to adjust incentives like Free Auto or first 2 month payments on us type things then fine, but leave the damn apr's alone.

Let alone that all cars prices have become so f'n bloated. car's prices have gone up way too much, it's kinda sad

[lib]

Originally Posted by imported_mega

anyone seen the numbers for each series, ie 1, 3, 5, 7

 Sales BMW of North America, LLC, May 2009

                                                   YTD      YTD
                          May 09  May 08    %     May 09   May 08    %

    1 Series               1,010   1,765  -42.8%   4,575    4,386    4.3%
    3 Series               8,621  11,913  -27.6%  34,525   50,327  -31.4%
    Z4 Roadster and Coupe    334     549  -39.2%     459    3,229  -85.8%
    5 Series               3,904   3,899    0.1%  18,050   19,572   -7.8%
    6 Series                 268     661  -59.5%   1,852    3,083  -39.9%
    7 Series                 648   1,097  -40.9%   2,390    6,370  -62.5%
    BMW passenger cars    14,785  19,884  -25.6%  61,851   86,967  -28.9%
    ------------------    ------  ------  -----   ------   ------  -----
    X3                       991   2,125  -53.4%   2,497    8,092  -69.1%
    X5                     2,198   2,728  -19.4%  10,825   14,123  -23.4%
    X6                       409     732  -44.1%   1,646    1,387   18.7%
    BMW light trucks
    (SAVs)                 3,598  5,585   -35.6%  14,968   23,602  -36.6%
    ---------              -----   -----  -----   ------   ------  -----
    BMW brand             18,383  25,469  -27.8%  76,819  110,569  -30.5%
    ---------             ------  ------  -----   ------  -------  -----
    Cooper /S Hardtop      2,855   4,239  -32.6%  11,041   14,489  -23.8%
    Cooper /S Convertible    766     878  -12.8%   1,742    2,758  -36.8%
    Cooper /S Clubman        989    1195  -17.2%   3,997    3,942    1.4%
    MINI brand             4,610   6,312  -27.0%  16,780   21,189  -20.8%
    ----------             -----   -----  -----   ------   ------  -----
    TOTAL BMW of
     North America, LLC   22,993  31,781  -27.7%  93,599  131,758  -29.0%
    ---------------       ------  ------  -----   ------  -------  -----

[Heinzftw]

Originally Posted by lib

 Sales BMW of North America, LLC, May 2009

                                                   YTD      YTD
                          May 09  May 08    %     May 09   May 08    %

    1 Series               1,010   1,765  -42.8%   4,575    4,386    4.3%
    3 Series               8,621  11,913  -27.6%  34,525   50,327  -31.4%
    Z4 Roadster and Coupe    334     549  -39.2%     459    3,229  -85.8%
    5 Series               3,904   3,899    0.1%  18,050   19,572   -7.8%
    6 Series                 268     661  -59.5%   1,852    3,083  -39.9%
    7 Series                 648   1,097  -40.9%   2,390    6,370  -62.5%
    BMW passenger cars    14,785  19,884  -25.6%  61,851   86,967  -28.9%
    ------------------    ------  ------  -----   ------   ------  -----
    X3                       991   2,125  -53.4%   2,497    8,092  -69.1%
    X5                     2,198   2,728  -19.4%  10,825   14,123  -23.4%
    X6                       409     732  -44.1%   1,646    1,387   18.7%
    BMW light trucks
    (SAVs)                 3,598  5,585   -35.6%  14,968   23,602  -36.6%
    ---------              -----   -----  -----   ------   ------  -----
    BMW brand             18,383  25,469  -27.8%  76,819  110,569  -30.5%
    ---------             ------  ------  -----   ------  -------  -----
    Cooper /S Hardtop      2,855   4,239  -32.6%  11,041   14,489  -23.8%
    Cooper /S Convertible    766     878  -12.8%   1,742    2,758  -36.8%
    Cooper /S Clubman        989    1195  -17.2%   3,997    3,942    1.4%
    MINI brand             4,610   6,312  -27.0%  16,780   21,189  -20.8%
    ----------             -----   -----  -----   ------   ------  -----
    TOTAL BMW of
     North America, LLC   22,993  31,781  -27.7%  93,599  131,758  -29.0%
    ---------------       ------  ------  -----   ------  -------  -----

Mini's still seem to be selling very well as are the 1 and 3 series. BMW just needs to fix a few basic problems and get their financing right. In these hard times it would be nice just to know that the seller is doing a bit more for you, rather than feeling like your being verbally and mentally raped at a dealership.