[M 4EVER]

Originally Posted by clee1982

Everyone reads their own story, I would still think top priority is electrical vehicle if it doesn't want to just die...

It's just the matter off time until it takes over

[Miko M]

Originally Posted by M 4EVER

It's just the matter off time until it takes over

Sadly but true!

[frankchn]

Originally Posted by SleepingBMW

M5 with RWD ttV8 dogbox 5 seats and some cheap vents and an aux cable stereo would be cool and make people excited and hyping up the brand.

Sure, everyone who can't afford that car will be super-excited about buying one for $10k after 10 years, but no one who can actually afford it new will buy it.

Basically the car people will move on to a Caterham style small company making a cool sports car and BMW will age poorly like Chanel or Cadillac. The shareholders will squeeze every dime they can from the brand and it will go away and something new will replace it and the whole thing will start over.

You overestimate how many "car people" there actually are for BMW (or any mid-size to large manufacturer) to care. The Alpine A110, which by all accounts is a fantastic driver's car, has sales of about 2,000 last year across the whole of Europe. In good months, BMW will sell more 3 series than that in a week in Europe.

That's the bottom line. They're not cool. They're not the car to have anymore. They're a gross amalgamation of gimmicks and cheap chassis and transmissions trying to be everything for every customer at the same time. They've damaged the brand.

I don't think being cool matters. Mercedes has never been "cool" or "sporty" yet they have better sales than BMW.

[530iDriver]

It's all about the product stupid! Make the best cars and trucks in the business. Product is king.

[Mrgunfun]

Think of it as a restaurant business, if you serve tasty food, people will come.
Make products that can be appreciated (bring back the ultimate driving machine aura) and sales will go up.
Simple.

[Miko M]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

It's all about the product stupid! Make the best cars and trucks in the business. Product is king.

Originally Posted by Mrgunfun

Think of it as a restaurant business, if you serve tasty food, people will come.
Make products that can be appreciated (bring back the ultimate driving machine aura) and sales will go up.
Simple.

+1
Totally agreed, they have monthly reviews and posting which type of cars/ SAV are selling good. Also what other manufacturers are successful, it's not that hard to figure it out.

[clee1982]

among most of my friends none were that bothered by the current BMW dynamic...

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by clee1982

Everyone reads their own story, I would still think top priority is electrical vehicle if it doesn't want to just die...

Correct.

Full Electric X1/2 X3/4 would do the trick.

BMW had a great jump, but stalled out for to long, and now their at a serious disadvantage.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by am3r1ka

Translation: More 320i's

You mean more SUV's, those sell more...

[Rupes]

Originally Posted by frankchn

I don't think being cool matters. Mercedes has never been "cool" or "sporty" yet they have better sales than BMW.

Nice assessment, but I do think there is an important distinction here.

Mercedes has never been cool, but they have always been luxurious. They're successful because they've retained this image and focus over several decades. Ditto for Porsche on the premium sports market.

BMW is their schizophrenic cousin. Sometimes cool (E46 3 series), sometimes not (Active Tourer), and sometimes they go off the rails and pretend to be someone else (electric cars).

None of these things are inherently bad, but it just feels very desperate. So what's the focus, BMW? Where is the passion? After 15+ years of BMW ownership, I certainly don't know, so my next car will be from another brand that has clearly defined what it cares about.

[DCG]

It's simple as that just Design 🎨 better shit! Make it sleek, make it sexy, it must perform, it must be well-made and engineered, reliable. And most importantly it must kick ass! And for god sakes deal with the fuggly kidney grills, fire 🔥 that person ASAP!

Design cooler, sexier, sleeker Rims and I want them in Satin Black as standard!

Paying exorbitant 💸 German 🇩🇪 prices for a Mexican 🇲🇽 made 3 Series, well doesn't make sense.

[Miko M]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Correct.

Full Electric X1/2 X3/4 would do the trick.

BMW had a great jump, but stalled out for to long, and now their at a serious disadvantage.

Yeah, they started very early with i3/8 and then dropped the ball.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Miko M

Yeah, they started very early with i3/8 and then dropped the ball.

They not only dropped the ball but they kicked it completely out of bounds.

Now they're on a whole new playing field.

[vitaly]

Doesn't BMW have a sizable sales lead YTD over MB? https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/07/08/b...ne-2019-sales/. Do they need to catch up in other world markets? It's not clear what exactly he meant by narrowing the gap: volume? margin per vehicle?

BMW, in the US, still has the better lease program over Audi and MB. The residuals may no longer be as inflated with BMW (but still seemingly higher than comparable cars from the other 2) but the money factor (+ availability of MSD program) usually make the leases better.

[clee1982]

Bmw can sell more by making less but pretty sure that wasn't what shareholder was asking...

[LogicalApex]

Life is going to get increasingly hard for all luxury car makers as it is getting harder and harder to compete with non-luxury brands and this won't be letting up anytime soon. Tesla is also a testimate to reality that many customers are willing to pay luxury prices for non-luxury when it comes to EVs; meaning they value the electric drive train above all else.

For starters, a luxury brand today has to pivot and make after sales service as pleasant and smooth as possible. As that is on area non-luxury brands will find it harder to compete in the near term. Meaning, pleasant service visits from dealerships that care about customer long-term relationships which is a tricky shift as dealers are independent.

Additionally, they need to expand their electric and tech offerings to appeal to the younger buying segment who are aging up and can't see why they should jump from their Toyota over to a BMW or a Mercedes. Tech is one area I do think BMW is executing well in and I think only Tesla is ahead of them. Toyota, Honda, and others are already including a ton of advanced driving safety features as standard and there is a very small gap between luxury and non-luxury with regards to in-car technology. This is the double edged curse of the heavy R&D cost of these systems. They have to be built by venders who can sell to everyone...

So you have a Toyota Corolla with Radar Assisted Cruise Control, Automatic Steering, Car Play, SpeedL Limit Sign Cameras, Lane Tracking, etc... All standard...

Of course, building great cars that last is important too. Especially since younger buyers are keeping cars far longer and often preferring to start buying used. I tend to own my cars for 5-7 years and currently BMW prefers the 3 year lease customer. They'll need to find a way to balance those two realities.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by cstavaru

Start by redesigning the entire lineup ! Go to a BMW dealership...it's just sad compared to 10 years ago.

They've launched their strongest product offensive in years....

I agree these vehicles should be more fun to drive (like the M2), but they've really been hitting it out of the park with everything besides the 7-series. Their CUVs/SUVs are especially class-leading.

And despite lukewarm impressions of the new 5er and 3er's driving dynamics they'll sell really well.

Problem with the 3er at least is that the Tesla Model 3 cannibalized a lot of its sales, but until BMW launches an EV sedan there's nothing that can be done. At least in comparison to the current A4, C-class, IS, etc. the new 3-series is probably the best and much better than the shitbox it replaces.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by am3r1ka

Translation: More 320i's

I'm actually not totally clear on why the 320 was shelved for the US market. I'd venture to guess that due to low margins they really had to push a high volume of them? And felt their resources would be better used on SAVs and EV development?

I won't miss those base model white 320i lease specials one bit.

[kramerj]

Originally Posted by Miko M

Bmw as Merceds started the entry level cars to get new customers in, which eventually will spend more money on upper level model

Then entry-level cars are great and all, but what I was referring to is the overall blandness of the brand.

One can hardly discern a 3er over a 5er at a stop-light, they are both behemoths, and the grilles are hideous.

The M-cars used to invoke a certain feeling while behind the wheel that, even on track, they don't anymore. Sure, they're super fast and capable, but they over insulating and there is just a consistent feeling of disconnect.

Then there's M-badges in everything; by putting an M on every model, the value of a true Motorsport car is lowered. The constant LCIs and special models of M-cats only promote a potential buyer to "hold-off" for the updated car; be-it a Competition, CS, GTS, or LCI.

The options offered in the cars are very little individually. It's difficult to get certain options without adding a plethora of superfluous garbage in a package at the same time.

Finally, they're design team is garbage. The new 3er looks like a revamped Lexus from five years ago. It's crap. The cars overall have a vanilla appearance and feel to them. The entry level cars' have a lack of quality feel to the interiors as well. They've just strayed so far from "The Ultimate Driving Machine."

[Infamus]

being a life long MB owner I can tell you this much from my recent buying experience with BMW...

A lease for a $60K M2C for 36 months was quoted to me for $1260 with 12K miles

You can lease an $80K AMG C63 coupe for $1100 for 36 months...

there is your issue...

I ended up buying a CPO M2 just to get my feet wet in the BMW world...

one thing that BMW should not do like MB is bastardize the M line like MB has done with the AMG line...

An AMG in my book has to have the "one man one motor" build, not some mass produced motor... but guess what it sells AMG "line" cars like hot cakes...

I'm new to BMW and so far I'm liking the product even with its idiosyncrasies.

[Miko M]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

You mean more SUV's, those sell more...

Wait until economy hits like it did in 2008
Everyone was selling SUV and buying cars because of gas prices

You don't want to many SUV

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I'm actually not totally clear on why the 320 was shelved for the US market. I'd venture to guess that due to low margins they really had to push a high volume of them? And felt their resources would be better used on SAVs and EV development?

I won't miss those base model white 320i lease specials one bit.

The 320 will be back I am sure. In the F30 generation, the 320 was not available until 2014, 2 years after the F30 launch.