[Nathan]

Here is a real strange question for you guys. I'm faced with the dilemma of reality. I can lease a 2006 M45 Sport with all the bells and whistles and 25K miles a year for only $800 a month here in IL. However, 330i fully loaded with 20K miles a year is $770 a month. What's amazing to me is that there is a 8K difference in price between the cars, yet the 330i is not that much cheaper.

Is BMW FS full of it or what? Also, i've heard that new lease incentives from BMW FS will be out on June 2nd. Has anyone else heard about this?

Also, a fully loaded 545i is only $140 more a month than a fully loaded 330i, which confuses the crap out of me (got these numbers from my dealer).

advice?

[marcus330i]

I've also heard that the leases will get better in June. The 3-series money factor is too high to be reachable for the masses. The money factor is the same as the 6 and the 7 and the M3....that's just ridiculous.

You've clearly discovered the best deal that BMW has: the 545 lease! The money factor is 0.001 vs .00255 for the new 3. That's basically 2.4% interest vs 6.1% interest. That's what makes the 545 look so good or the 3 so bad...or both. The 550i which arrives this fall has prompted BMW to make super deals on the 545. Either that or they have a bunch of those V8 engines piling up and they need to get rid of them......

Oh, by the way...you're thinking about a Nissan product because why?

[Nathan]

The only reason i looked at the M45 Sport is because i drove it two weeks ago (friend just bought one) and was amazed at how well it handled. I had expectations of *crap* and couldn't believe it. It actually seems to have more torque than the 545i.

Then my boss just traded in his Benz C32 AMG for an M45 Sport as well, and he said he loved it, so i figured, huh, more car for the same price. Don't think i'm going to get one, but its definitely made me consider the 545i.

Nathan

[Armen52]

25000 mile-a-year leases? I've never heard of such a thing at a reasonable price. Wow, I guess I don't know much about leases. Any time i looked at one with 15000 it got out of hand.

[wannabe]

Originally Posted by marcus330i

Oh, by the way...you're thinking about a Nissan product because why?

So...Infiniti is Nissan...nevermind that the G35 sedan and coupe has outpaced the 3-series since it has come out. More horsepower, more torque, already available with "keyless" functions, and competitively priced.

Nevermind the legendary Skyline, 240SX, and Z's. I realize this is a e90 forum, but BMW is NOT the only automaker to make excellent, performance-oriented cars.

Besides, all of the reviews I've read on the M45 have been nothing but praise...can't say the same about the 5-series.

Just food for thought. I'd still drive it even if it was called the Nissan M45.

[marcus330i]

[wannabe]

Forgive me, but I don't know how to put up an animation of a Nazi smiley shooting a Jewish smiley in the face. Racist

[marcus330i]

M45's only transmission option: Electronically controlled 5-speed automatic. Driver-adaptive learning algorithm senses driving style and adjusts automatic shifting accordingly. Manual shift mode offers sequentially selected manual gearshifts and Downshift Rev Matching.

Posted: 05-14-2005, 12:56 PM
wannabe
Member

Drives: 02 Civic Si
Location: Phx, AZ
Join Date: May 2005

Posts: 26
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575

"Automatics are for pregnant women and mercedes owners...go stick. Everyone will laugh at you if you get the automatic...everyone."

So, you're gonna laugh at this guy if he buys the M45....right?

[wannabe]

Of course! Although, you never know, ncoutinho, might be a pregnant woman...so maybe I won't laugh too hard.

I'd never buy an M45 because it's not my style...but if someone wanted to give me one free, I'm not gonna thumb my nose at them and say, "No I don't want that car...it's a Nissan...yuck!"

Honestly, how can you laugh at someone that wants to buy a car that only comes with an automatic? My comments were for those considering buying a car that comes standard with a manual and choosing to pay more money to get an automatic.

Besides there are supercars that only come with autos. The M5 and SLR just to name a few. If I ever laughed at anyone that could afford one of those...they could buy me and tell me to shut up.

[Robin_NL]

M5 is a 7 speed manual SMG. Not an autobox.

[mrbelk]

Originally Posted by Armen52

25000 mile-a-year leases? I've never heard of such a thing at a reasonable price. Wow, I guess I don't know much about leases. Any time i looked at one with 15000 it got out of hand.

25000 miles/year is an amazing number for lease mileage. One thing to consider is how much of cap-cost reduction on that M45 would one have to make to get the payments that low; considering that it's a $56000 car. The infiniti website lists a default $3000 downpayment on their leases. If all of the OP's numbers are correct, Infiniti must be _heavily_ subsidizing their leases. I'd be curious what the MF and residuals are for that M45-sport lease at $800/month and 25000 miles per year.

-MrB

[Nathan]

Allow me to clarify:

i'm not pregnant.
I'm not interested in buying anything Infiniti.
I am stuck in traffic 90% of the time and i must have an auto.

My boss did a $2500 down, 25K lease on 42 months for $807/month to be exact (inclusive of taxes). His tax rate is 7.75% like all CHicago suburbs.

So here i am in the room with him thinking, crap, i'm going to be paying almost the same for a much smaller car, smaller engine, smaller rims. It was sort of intimidating, which is why i'm also looking at the 545i now, what i wanted in the first place.

Infiniti must be working their rates big time.

[mrbelk]

Originally Posted by ncoutinho

Allow me to clarify:

My boss did a $2500 down, 25K lease on 42 months for $807/month to be exact (inclusive of taxes). His tax rate is 7.75% like all CHicago suburbs.

So here i am in the room with him thinking, crap, i'm going to be paying almost the same for a much smaller car, smaller engine, smaller rims. It was sort of intimidating, which is why i'm also looking at the 545i now, what i wanted in the first place.

Infiniti must be working their rates big time.

42 month lease term explains a little of that. The residual must be insane, though, to still get the payment that low.

I think that the E90 3er will be much more fun to "toss around." I currently drive a 545i/6sp with Active Steering and Active Roll Stabilization and, while it's an amazing car that can almost keep up with an E46M3 in the mountains, and that has tons of power and torque, I want to get back into a 3er.

I want something a little more "visceral," something that doesn't isolate the driver as much. The 5er (and M45, too) are both targetted at the "executive" market, where the driver likes to drive, but probably wants a more "stately" driving experience when entertaining clients, etc; hence the quieter cabin and slightly softer suspension. The 3er is still much more targetted to people who value the driving maybe a little more; so you're going to get a little more road feel and feel a little more connected to the car.

-MrB

[YYdoodle]

I agree with mrbelk. The e60 is an awesome car (performance and looks) but the e90 is so fun much more fun to drive! Someone here said it best... it's like the 5 series is driving you sometimes, not the other way around. Some people might buy the e90 just because it's the cheapest BMW they can afford and not "get the point" of what how capable of a car it is. Those who choose an e90 over an e60 like mrbelk get what the 3 series is about... being able to have an awesome driving experience, yet with the comfort a BMW gives you.

[wannabe]

I agree with Terps...a 3-series is the car to get if you want to drive. Do you guys think that waiting will result in better lease rates? I think leasing a 3-series for $770/month is insane.

Are you sure you want to lease...would buying it calculate to a lower monthly payment?

[Nathan]

I really appreciate everyone's comments in this thread. Unfortunately, buying the 330i will actually be more like $950 a month over 60 months. Interests rates are really high, and i like to lease because i usually change cars every 2-3 years. Maybe i can't do that anymore, or will have to switch brands.

[Armen52]

How does buying the 330i over 60 months come out to $950 a month? You must not be putting much down then

[Nathan]

you're right, it is $834 at 5.5% before tax. With tax in IL almost $900 a month. Thats still a lot a month for 5 years in my book.

[wannabe]

ncoutinho, do you need 20K miles/year on your lease? How much of a premium are you paying to go over the standard 12K miles/year? Didn't know if you drove a lot for work or business.

[Nathan]

Hey there.

Yeah, i drive a lot, and i really need more like 25K a year, but i settled for 20K. I work for a technology consulting firm in Chicago and make many trips to Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota, which is why i drive so many miles. I also like to change cars every two-three years or so, which is why leasing appeals to me.

Like i said before, i must have got a killer deal on my 2002 X5 because with an MSRP of 54K i pay under $700 a month for it with 20K miles a year, 2K down. This makes it a really hard swallow to pay much more for a smaller car (although i love the E90 no doubt).

[gscone]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Here is a real strange question for you guys. I'm faced with the dilemma of reality. I can lease a 2006 M45 Sport with all the bells and whistles and 25K miles a year for only $800 a month here in IL. However, 330i fully loaded with 20K miles a year is $770 a month. What's amazing to me is that there is a 8K difference in price between the cars, yet the 330i is not that much cheaper.

Is BMW FS full of it or what? Also, i've heard that new lease incentives from BMW FS will be out on June 2nd. Has anyone else heard about this?

Also, a fully loaded 545i is only $140 more a month than a fully loaded 330i, which confuses the crap out of me (got these numbers from my dealer).

advice?

As an owner to both the 330i, and M45 sport, the M45 is an awesome car, that is feature laden, handles quite good and is definetly unique. Is it a better car than the 550/545i, I dont think so, but I saved at least 10k when getting my M45 sport and have no regrets..

[gscone]

Also keep in ming that it is a V8 and gas fillups are $55 for me..