[Aija]

It amazes me to see the residual value at 55% for the M3 where people thought the residual value would be higher. the 335i residual value actually was a percent higher for the month of March i believe.

So a 50k 335 w/60% residual value is
30k with a 20k loss in 3years

a 70k M3 w/55% residual value is
38500 with a 31500 loss in 3 years

Now of course tax,fees,gas, and all that wasnt included but logically speaking,
3years down the line (2011) im only expected to see 8.5k difference between the 335 and the M3? If i was looking for a used 2008 model? where the gap once was more than 20k (tax would be higher, gas guzzler, etc)

[GMWNashville]

those numbers in time probably wont hold true...

[jaaz]

I agree, those are number during the first few months of availability and probably won't hold true for very long.

That being said, pure sports cars are notorious for low residual values, unless they are collectible-material. Also, a lot of things go into calculating the residual value, including how marketable the car will be after the 3 years. For example, a bone stock e90 with 20+ mpg can easily function as the family sedan and so is likely to be more desirable to the general population than say a pure sports car like the M3 with lousy gas mileage (relatively speaking).

That is why the 335i is an amazing car for BMW. A car that can perform the family sedan role and for just a few thousands dollars in mods can look and perform close to its papa the M3.

[slowturbo]

i know this is completely off topic but jaaz your wheels are amazing. And BMW's actually have pretty good residual values. Try leasing an audi s or rs. (i think residual for s4 when I looked at leasing one about a year ago was 52%) Talk about terrible...

[BK]

Originally Posted by Aija

So a 50k 335 w/60% residual value is
30k with a 20k loss in 3years

The problem here is that a three-year old 335i -- with what, 36K miles? -- is not worth $30K. Apparently, BMW is using a high residual value as a lease inducement for the 335i, rather than actually trying to predict the value of the car.

[BMW335icDDS]

Originally Posted by jaaz

I agree, those are number during the first few months of availability and probably won't hold true for very long.

That being said, pure sports cars are notorious for low residual values, unless they are collectible-material. Also, a lot of things go into calculating the residual value, including how marketable the car will be after the 3 years. For example, a bone stock e90 with 20+ mpg can easily function as the family sedan and so is likely to be more desirable to the general population than say a pure sports car like the M3 with lousy gas mileage (relatively speaking).

That is why the 335i is an amazing car for BMW. A car that can perform the family sedan role and for just a few thousands dollars in mods can look and perform close to its papa the M3.

+1

[nmulax]

Originally Posted by BK

The problem here is that a three-year old 335i -- with what, 36K miles? -- is not worth $30K. Apparently, BMW is using a high residual value as a lease inducement for the 335i, rather than actually trying to predict the value of the car.

+1

try and get $30k for a 3 year old 335... Traditionally, M car's have a much better residual then the regular BMWs.

[fastrack]

Basically they want more money for the M during that 3 year term. If the residual is higher they make less money on it, it's that simple, IMO anyway.

[noro]

I noticed that at least with BMW models, the more hype there is around a certain model before it goes on sale, the worse it will retain it's value. Sort of an odd thing as if the over anticipation is then followed by disappointment. Example the 325/328s are the least exciting BMWs in the lineup but seem to hold their value best over time. And then you have cars like the M5, which was on a cover of every magazine as if it's Jesus himself is coming down to earth, most of BRAND new M5 now sell below invoice and I don't even know how bad they hold value over time.

[jaaz]

Originally Posted by slowturbo

i know this is completely off topic but jaaz your wheels are amazing. And BMW's actually have pretty good residual values. Try leasing an audi s or rs. (i think residual for s4 when I looked at leasing one about a year ago was 52%) Talk about terrible...

Thanks slowturbo!

And you're right, Audi does have lousy residuals. I have had 2 friends with A4s that terminated their leases early. Not pretty...

[cooldude]

if you want your car to hold value buy a lexus.

to me a bmw gives more value in driving pleasure than a lexus

[Aija]

Originally Posted by cooldude

if you want your car to hold value buy a lexus.

to me a bmw gives more value in driving pleasure than a lexus

well i was comparing it with BMW with another BMW and the difference of the two

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by Aija

It amazes me to see the residual value at 55% for the M3 where people thought the residual value would be higher. the 335i residual value actually was a percent higher for the month of March i believe.

So a 50k 335 w/60% residual value is
30k with a 20k loss in 3years

a 70k M3 w/55% residual value is
38500 with a 31500 loss in 3 years

Now of course tax,fees,gas, and all that wasnt included but logically speaking,
3years down the line (2011) im only expected to see 8.5k difference between the 335 and the M3? If i was looking for a used 2008 model? where the gap once was more than 20k (tax would be higher, gas guzzler, etc)

Residuals are all smoke and mirrors. It's set by BMW to support whatever price point at which they want the lease to sell. They can still sell the M3 w/o propping up the residual value.

[David Brent]

I think BMW is taking advantage of demand for the new M3 to drop the residual a make little more cash financing. I would think anyone who leases the M3 at a 55% residual will have some equity for the taking after 3 years (mkt value - buyout).

I don't think 60% is a propped up value at all. We leased and bought my wife's e46 325 and the mkt value after a 3/36 lease was 62% of MSRP.

[e90driver]

There was an M5 in my local showroom the othe day with a tag of $1171 a month including state sales tax. 6,100 down. Sticker was in the high 90's.

Why are M3's leasing so high?