[Xinlitik]

Hey guys...

I know someone at a dealership, and he said he could get me a car for the bare minimum profit margin for the dealership. What do you think this would be for a 42k invoice car?

Thanks

[shimshimhada]

Get the exact price yourself at www.edmunds.com

[Xinlitik]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Get the exact price yourself at www.edmunds.com

That's the 42k invoice price. That's all that's available to me (that is from edmunds btw). I was asking in hope that someone who knows the inner workings of a car dealership (they get discounts from invoice some way or another) who could help me out. I assume they can do this because a mercedes dealership was offering a c230 invoice 42k for 36k (to a returning customer), so I'm trying to find out if this is some lucky chance offer or if the bimmer dealer could pull off the same.

Thanks!

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Xinlitik

That's the 42k invoice price. That's all that's available to me (that is from edmunds btw). I was asking in hope that someone who knows the inner workings of a car dealership (they get discounts from invoice some way or another) who could help me out. I assume they can do this because a mercedes dealership was offering a c230 invoice 42k for 36k (to a returning customer), so I'm trying to find out if this is some lucky chance offer or if the bimmer dealer could pull off the same.

Thanks!

OH, lawl, sorry I misread your first post. "Bare minimum profit margin" is an ambiguous term. If you have a real hook-up, maybe under $500 over invoice. $500 over invoice is already a ridiculously good deal.

[Xinlitik]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

OH, lawl, sorry I misread your first post. "Bare minimum profit margin" is an ambiguous term. If you have a real hook-up, maybe under $500 over invoice. $500 over invoice is already a ridiculously good deal.

Damn, I'm confused then. How is the mercedes dealership getting away with selling a 42k invoice car for 36k? They actually said they were getting 1.5k in profit on it. Something smells funny...

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Xinlitik

Damn, I'm confused then. How is the mercedes dealership getting away with selling a 42k invoice car for 36k? They actually said they were getting 1.5k in profit on it. Something smells funny...

1. They were probably lying about the invoice price.

2. If it's an outgoing model, the manufacturer often offers the dealers incentives to help sell a model for a really low price.

3. It's a demo car.

[KL2DC]

Mercedes-Benz is seriously giving these C-classes away...went with a colleague to check out some cars the other day and the dealer flat out said he would let a well-equipped C280 4 Matic (sticker 42k) go for $31,500. He also was willing to deal on a bare bones ML350 for $34k (sticker $41k) and I believe a C230 in the 27k-28k range (depends on options). Note: this was with diplomatic pricing though, add 2-3k back to the listed prices. Also note these were his opening prices...

What's funny is that custom orders are 3 months and longer...and you though BMW's standard 6-8 weeks were long

I believe MB has a lot of incentives built in on these cars to move them (the W-203 scheduled to be replaced soon) and the ML slowing down. That is why you get such extensive discounting. BMW as an independent works a little differently. I believe they don't have holdbacks on their pricing and certainly no manufcaturers incentives on the e90s quite yet. So $400-$500 over invoice is a stellar deal/thin profit margin. Btw I got $500 over invoice pricing on my car

[NaTuReB0Y]

employee discount?....

[KL2DC]

Also if you're interested in going even lower go the Euro Delivery approach...

[BK]

On the Edmunds pricing page, there is a link for dealer incentives after you've priced out the car. It is possible they have incentives like $XXXX dealer cash for the Benz, in which case the dealer can sell below invoice and still make money. You see this sometimes as model years come to a close. There aren't any incentives like this on the Bimmer. I, too, got $500 over invoice (same dealer as KL2DC) and consider it a very good deal.

Also of course, a dealer could sell for a lower price if you finance through them and they jack up the interest rate.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by BK

On the Edmunds pricing page, there is a link for dealer incentives after you've priced out the car. It is possible they have incentives like $XXXX dealer cash for the Benz, in which case the dealer can sell below invoice and still make money. You see this sometimes as model years come to a close. There aren't any incentives like this on the Bimmer. I, too, got $500 over invoice (same dealer as KL2DC) and consider it a very good deal.

Also of course, a dealer could sell for a lower price if you finance through them and they jack up the interest rate.

BK, just saw your sig you're right, they'd be building your car smack in the middle of the world cup Btw, what's the status on your order?

[BK]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

BK, just saw your sig you're right, they'd be building your car smack in the middle of the world cup Btw, what's the status on your order?

Scary that it is being built at that time. In my imagination, I see everyone looking up at the live feed on the televisions at the assembly floor as they work, half paying attention to what they are doing, relying on muscle memory, really, and then... GOOOOOOOOAAAALL!!!! Wrenches and other hand tools slip and pieces go flying off all the cars.

Status on my car depends on who you ask. It has been five and a half days, not that I'm counting. I told myself I'd be patient, but I check several times a day. The website still says "On Order" but the 1-800 number says "Scheduled for production with no production date set" or something like that. At least it sounds better than "On Order." I plan to give it another week or so, and if nothing has changed, I'll call Peter.

The wait is horrible!

[KL2DC]

BK,

The OC site is pretty much useless. FYI the 1-800# updates itself daily...23:00EST everyday if I am not mistaken. If you're OCD about tracking, Peter will be your best bet as he can access almost real time info through his DCS terminal. Alternatively, the live person at the 1-800 number can assist you with more timely info.

We've all been there before