[npd2983]

Originally Posted by bdardashti

Do you happen to have any information for the 335i? Also, do you know if BMW still had their eco credit ($4500 or w/e it was) available in April? I don't think it's fair to judge the success of a product if heavy rebates were applied to move it. I'm not suggesting it wasn't successful; I'm just saying we need to look at the overall picture.

I don't have April 335i sales figures alone. April 2010 3-series sales overall were 8,712. This number includes the sales tally for all fifteen different 3-series variants in the US, including: sedan, coupe, wagon, verts, 328 vs. 335 and rwd vs. awd.

So compared to all 3 series variations sold in the US in April the 335d had a "take rate" of 5%. I have also read that the 2009 take rate for the 335d was 8%. I am not sure if that 2009 figure is vs. all variations or some subset.

I know the eco credit was still offered early in the year, yet it is not currently offered. I am not sure when it ended. Good point about the $4,500 credit.

Cheers!

[bdardashti]

Originally Posted by npd2983

I don't have April 335i sales figures alone. April 2010 3-series sales overall were 8,712. This number includes the sales tally for all fifteen different 3-series variants in the US, including: sedan, coupe, wagon, verts, 328 vs. 335 and rwd vs. awd.

So compared to all 3 series variations sold in the US in April the 335d had a "take rate" of 5%. I have also read that the 2009 take rate for the 335d was 8%. I am not sure if that 2009 figure is vs. all variations or some subset.

I know the eco credit was still offered early in the year, yet it is not currently offered. I am not sure when it ended. Good point about the $4,500 credit.

Cheers!

Judging the success of the 335d without knowing the specific numbers for other models is difficult, but I'd say 5% is probably pretty good since it's what I would consider a niche car. It's sedan only, auto only, and high-performance (in BMW's diesel lineup), and importantly, RWD only, which probably significantly affects sales to the northeast region. I wonder what would happen in volume alone if they did 330d at say $3000 less.

[sarafil]

I think it is safe to say that BMW is going to drop in the existing turbo engine from the 335d/X5 35d into the 5-series. I think this was their plan all along, but it did not make sense to offer that engine for 1 year in the E60 bodystyle. The economics of that engine in the 5-series in the US make alot more sense than they do for the 3-series.

I'm not sure about what the "other" one could be... maybe the new X3? I can't see them offering 2 diesels simultaneously in the 3-series, so if they did launch a 320d or 323d or whatever, it would probably mean death to the 335d. I also think the 1-series does not make sense because it is coupe/convertible only and not a big seller in the US. Also don't think the X6 makes sense (too low volume, and already has hybrid) and 7-series already has too many configurations in the US market.

[paulbazo]

I have to agree with Sarafil, the logical choice is the existing 35d engine, it does make more sense in the F10 than in the E90. The F10 diesel will be my next car and I hope it will be the updated 535d with 300hp.

[Vintage]

a 5 series diesel is very exciting - now that I own an X5 diesel I am a huge diesel fan; the 5 series would get great gas mileage and I would probably buy one

[Tachyon]

Originally Posted by paulbazo

I have to agree with Sarafil, the logical choice is the existing 35d engine, it does make more sense in the F10 than in the E90. The F10 diesel will be my next car and I hope it will be the updated 535d with 300hp.

I couldn't agree more!

[jefflieb]

I love my 2010 335d, 4500 miles and smiles every day!