Will the 2014 M3 be a one year model like the 2008 e90 M3???

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by 535DMSport

It doesn't work like that in The Netherlands.

For example, an LCI will depreciate much faster than an early model car because of the fact that when you decide to sell the LCI again after, lets say 3 years, the new model is approaching.

Yeah but the non lci depreciates some when the lci comes out. And an m car lasts until the next mcar comes out. A new 3 series or 4 series didnt do anything to the current m3.

Im pretty sure most people even when buying used the first thing they think of is MUST HAVE LCI tail lights.

So if not by depreciation alone, lack of demand will force prices down as well. Wait, that is depreciation.

[Raikkonen]

Now that we know these cars will carry a "2015" designation, and they'll be available early next Summer, this essentially guarantees the 2016 will be the LCI model year.

I say this because the F30 will never go into a 5th model year (2016) without a refresh.

This means the initial M3/M4 will be sold for one model year before a refresh, even though that model year will last a year and a half.

The M4 may go an extra year or two because of the delayed 4 series introduction however.

I'm not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it will in fact be a somewhat similar situation to the "unique" 2008 e90 M3.

[M3PGH]

f10 m5 was refreshed one year after f10 m5 was introduced with multiple changes but most important were the competition package that improved handling which was a week point , also LED head lights became available

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Raikkonen

Now that we know these cars will carry a "2015" designation, and they'll be available early next Summer, this essentially guarantees the 2016 will be the LCI model year.

I say this because the F30 will never go into a 5th model year (2016) without a refresh.

This means the initial M3/M4 will be sold for one model year before a refresh, even though that model year will last a year and a half.

The M4 may go an extra year or two because of the delayed 4 series introduction however.

I'm not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it will in fact be a somewhat similar situation to the "unique" 2008 e90 M3.

While none of us can see the future, I think Raikkonen hit the nail on the head (especially given how easily predictable BMW's production cycles have become). What he said is exactly how I expect it to go down. Same as the E90M, same as the F10M.

[F9T]

Originally Posted by M3PGH

f10 m5 was refreshed one year after f10 m5 was introduced with multiple changes but most important were the competition package that improved handling which was a week point , also LED head lights became available

Competition package was available two years after launch. Also, based on available info. at this time the M3 with have an LED light option.

[tlp]

LCI isn't only about LED tails that have been historically retrofit-able. It's also about upgrades and technology improvements to the NAV and iDrive system. I will consider the car when LCI and ZCP present themselves which will probably be 2-3yrs from now. On the other hand the Comp Package for the F10 M5 came very quickly in the lifecycle which could happen to the M3/M4 as well. ZCP came so fast for the F10M5 I would have been pissed if I was an early adopter. Yet another reason not be a beta tester.

[midlifecrisis]

As the owner of an early '08 E90, on balance I don't regret buying it when I did. Yes, I liked the look of the LCI cars after the first model year, and especially the later ZCP cars. However, that was more than offset by the thrill of enjoying the car for a year longer than the people who waited.

It was also fun talking to people who'd stop me at the gas station or 7-11 and ask about the car. I got a lot more of that during the first year when there weren't many E9X M3s around.

As far as reliability is concerned, it wasn't an issue with my early E90. I don't baby it, and at 63,000 miles it has been among the most trouble-free cars I've ever owned. The biggest issues occurred last month, when I had to replace the thermostat and had a fuel pressure code. After 5 1/2 years, that isn't bad at all!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Raikkonen

Now that we know these cars will carry a "2015" designation

...

it will in fact be a somewhat similar situation to the "unique" 2008 e90 M3.

Remember, the E92 M3 launched in early 2008 in the US as an MY2008. The E90 itself trailed the coupe by a couple months, coming mid 2008. And even then, DCT was just coming onto the market, so most initial E90 M3 were 6MT - you had to wait if you wanted DCT because precious few were built with that transmission for MY2008. Then, the E90 3 Series and M3 LCI came in late 2008 for MY2009. So the pre-LCI E90 M3 had only a few short months of existence.

Contrast that to the F80/F82 which are launching as MY2015 in mid 2014. Plus the F80 should be there right away with the F82 and so will DCT. And we should not expect the F30/F80 LCI until MY2016 in late 2015.

So yes it will still be one model year for the F80 before the LCI but it will indeed be a full model year rather than just four months or so like it was for the E90 M3. In fact it will quite likely be over twelve months of availability by the time MY2016 and the LCI arrive.

[Raikkonen]

While I agree with all of you, as an early adopter of a 2006 330i, I was very disappointed when BMW announced their twin-turbo six after a single model year. This coming AFTER I had just made a personal, $50k investment.

My only point is that some people may want to enjoy having a current car for three calendar years, as opposed to one model year, especially after having made a $75k investment.

Keep in mind, we can always dissect exactly what the scenario was when these cars were released, but now, 5-6 years later, if I were in the market for an e90 M3, I would look only at 2009 and later model years. The same being true for an e46 M3; I would buy the latest year and best model available.

The same holds true for a 2006 330i or 2007 335i. If I were in the market today, I don't even think I would consider the 330i, especially if prices are the same.

For people who sell their cars several years after purchasing them, factors such as these are very important.

[midlifecrisis]

I see your point. BMW has a history of introducing new engines a couple of years after they bring a new 3 series. I had the same thing happen when my E46 328i was replaced with the 330i. Come to think of it, the same thing happened with my X3. While there are going to be changes with an M3, I don't think they'd be as major as a total drivetrain replacement.

[khanyam4]

Originally Posted by Raikkonen

I'm just curious if the 2015 M3 will receive the LCI treatment, making the 2014 an odd duck, like the 2008 e90 M3?

if that's the case, wouldn't it be worth waiting a year to be at the beginning of a longer product cycle with the added cosmetic enhancements of the LCI?

Just a thought.

Sorry if this has been discussed...

What's more important to you first to play or lci changes

[MaX PL]

what were to the LCI changes for the E90/92 after the first year?
i wasn't into bmw at the time so don't know.

[gee-m-w]

The F80 is the LCI for the F30. Another way to look at it is that F30 changes may not propagate to the M3.

Only one thing matters in America - when you have a new car it had better be a new model. I never understood someone who buys a 2012 M3 when they've been making that body style since the year 2005. That means the car was basically designed on some computer a decade ago. It's old technology.

I bought the first year S4 and the first year E90. I had zero problems on either.

[jbockrd]

Originally Posted by KevN27

Meh... I don't mind the little things too much. I rather the car staying fresh for 6 years than 4 (generation change).

I'm with you!! and if your tail lights not being LED are the reason for the delay of purchase you are either spending to much time behind your car and not driving it or you are not really seeing the big picture of all the other cool things this car is offering us. I am number 3 in line and can't wait

[///M1]

4 letters: YOLO.

You Only Live Once, and while in many cases patience is a virtue, you might find yourself perpetually waiting because that's what 'logic' suggests. Let me wait for the 2016 MY as it will be LCI, but wait, in 2017 there will be a Competition Package, oh wait, 2018 new 3-series model is out so I might as well be getting the upcoming M3 as current one is already on a 'dated' model, etc. etc.

I'd say, if you have your eyes set on it, and can afford it, go for it. If things like not buying first model yr production model deter you because of unknowns that may creep up, that's fine, but again I don't find that to be a very valid argument on a car that has 4 yrs of warranty and free servicing included. If it is problematic, lemon it, and you're in a new one, simple as that.

Buying cars for us aficionados is less about 'rationality', and more about an emotionally driven decision. Otherwise we'd all be driving Priuses So I say buy with your heart and listen to your should more in this case than your brain

PS: the front of the E9x M3 never saw a facelift which carried to all non-M E9xs, and in one thread a while back Scott hinted that the M3/M4 will be seeing minimal cosmetic changes post LCI (i.e. less so than the standard F30)

[aajami]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

The F80 is the LCI for the F30.

F80 is not the LCI for the F30 -- not quite sure what you mean by that. The F30 LCI is coming up in the next 12-18 months, and applicable changes will propagate to the F80 at that time.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by MaX PL

what were to the LCI changes for the E90/92 after the first year?
i wasn't into bmw at the time so don't know.

The LCI for the E90 came one year after the E90M's introduction, not the regular E90. The changes for the E90 included:

• New headlights
• New taillights
• New trunk
• New side skirts
• New hood
• New front bumper
• New rear bumper
• New generation iDrive
• New wheels

[aajami]

Originally Posted by infantrytroop22

Competition package was available two years after launch. Also, based on available info. at this time the M3 with have an LED light option.

F10 M5 came out in the US in July of 2012. ZCP became available for the F10M in September of 2013.

[gee-m-w]

Originally Posted by aajami

F80 is not the LCI for the F30 -- not quite sure what you mean by that. The F30 LCI is coming up in the next 12-18 months, and applicable changes will propagate to the F80 at that time.

Everyone here is a history expert and it doesn't help us see the future.

It's not rational to assume that car companies will be completely predictable. Companies like Tesla are pushing the envelope and challenging every assumption. A company like BMW isn't just competing with Audi and Mercedes, and whatever those three incestuous manufacturers do makes them more similar than alike.

Making the M3 a completely different model designation is an inch in the right direction. BMW has an absurd number of models right now. It may not be possible to refresh every model in a big bang every 3-4 years. Maybe they will end up embracing a continuous improvement program where small changes are made each year or 1/2 year.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

It's not rational to assume that car companies will be completely predictable. Companies like Tesla are pushing the envelope and challenging every assumption. A company like BMW isn't just competing with Audi and Mercedes, and whatever those three incestuous manufacturers do makes them more similar than alike.

Making the M3 a completely different model designation is an inch in the right direction. BMW has an absurd number of models right now. It may not be possible to refresh every model in a big bang every 3-4 years. Maybe they will end up embracing a continuous improvement program where small changes are made each year or 1/2 year.

You could be entirely right. But from my perspective, BMW has not been one to take any risks in any aspect of their operations, from production to market strategy to anything else, (to give props where they're due, the one area where they do lead is making so many BMW Performance parts available after the fact) and that makes them entirely predictable.

The only hint I've seen to suggest them doing what you're is with the second minor refresh of the X1 that was just announced. My money, though, is on the same predictable and tired refresh strategy for the foreseeable future.

[MaX PL]

Originally Posted by aajami

The LCI for the E90 came one year after the E90M's introduction, not the regular E90. The changes for the E90 included:

• New headlights
• New taillights
• New trunk
• New side skirts
• New hood
• New front bumper
• New rear bumper
• New generation iDrive
• New wheels

by E90 i was referring to the M. sorry.

and i just searched and the only difference between the 08 and the LCI were new taillights and new idrive?
if so, are people here really gonna wait for such a small improvement?

[aajami]

Originally Posted by MaX PL

by E90 i was referring to the M. sorry.

and i just searched and the only difference between the 08 and the LCI were new taillights and new drive?
if so, are people here really gonna wait for such a small improvement.

The real unknown for lots of people (well, me) is the ZCP option. For the E92M and the F10M, the LCI and the Competition Package came out together. In the case of the F10M, that meant waiting 12 months got you new headlights, taillights, suspension, wheels, steering, exhaust, and a power boost.

In the case of the F13M, the Competition Package came out before the LCI (which still isn't out yet).

So it's less about waiting for the LCI, and more about waiting for the much more impactful ZCP.