How Much Over MSRP Did You Pay?

[Trax]

I am paying $5000 over MSRP for my M5 that will be delivered to me the first week of November. Did most of you CA buyers have to pay over MSRP for your 2001 M5's?

I ordered mine from NY, as soon as they hear that you are from CA, they hit you over MSRP, the best deal I could get was 5K over but shipping cost is shared 50/50

Trax

[greg]

You did good. Just enjoy the car and ignore everyone who tells you "coulda haddit at list."

I DID pay over list here in Northern CA - in exchange for getting exactly the car I wanted, when I wanted it and from the dealer where I will have it serviced. Haven't regretted it for a moment.

And I know of people who have paid significantly more than you did...

[MJ]

I bought my 2000 M5 at MSRP and my 2001 will be delived next week at MSRP. My Z8 is also in production now at MSRP. There ARE good dealers out there folks. I sympathize with everyone who has been gouged by crappy dealers.

MJ

[Alex]

Over here, no matter what the car is it is always at list price, nothing over, mainly because we stock alot of cars, and supply to two regions, so eventually we have more than enough, and buyers don't have to wait for their cars.

[MES]

I paid $5K over MSRP even though I knew I could get the car at MSRP. I wanted an early 2001 model in the color I wanted and with the options I wanted.

For my $5k, I was able to order a Week 36 build (Labor Day week - 1st week of 2001 production) in mid-July through an out of state dealer with a courtesy pick-up at a local Southern California dealer this coming Friday afternoon. (Less than 2 days from now!!!)

The salesman was someone I had met when I stopped in at a dealer during my vacation. He kept in contact with me because he knew I might pay a "reasonable" amount over list for the right deal where I would be given an immediate and confirmed production date. ("Reasonable" is a relative term when you see what LA and SF area dealers are asking.)

He had called me a few times between when I met him and when I ordered to talk to me about other M5s that had come available due to buyers dropping out, but none were quite what I wanted. When he called in July with the Week 36 slot where I could get what I wanted and a first week 2001 build for $5K over, I said "sold".

I was already on a waiting list with a different out of state dealer since last April at MSRP. There were other out of state (non-California) dealers who were willing to do the same deal. I felt a little guilty cancelling this order and I might have stuck with them on principle, but I seemed to be slipping down their waiting list (my number seeme to change a few times) so that balanced my conscience a bit. (Not that I really blame them; I would want to service my local clientele first too.)

I do think the dealer I had my order with initially was trying to balance doing the right thing (price vs. local support) so I don't have any hard feelings towards them. My guess is that I would have received the car at MSRP by late this year or early 2001.

Others can judge for themselves if they think the $5K was well spent.

Mark

[Trax]

MJ, could you please let me know the dealer you are getting these cars down from?

Trax

Originally posted by MJ:
I bought my 2000 M5 at MSRP and my 2001 will be delived next week at MSRP. My Z8 is also in production now at MSRP. There ARE good dealers out there folks. I sympathize with everyone who has been gouged by crappy dealers.

MJ

[Mattar]

$8000 I feel bad although I'm getting a Z8 at MSRP

[Oak]

I was becoming very discouraged dealing with the "California" dealers. Everyone wanted $10k-$20k over msrp! I was refered to another dealer in Ohio, and put me on the list at #3 on their allocation for 2001. The cost was msrp and a courtesy delivery to my local dealer, that by the way wanted $10k over msrp and wait a year on the list. They'll be trippin' when I go in to pick up my M5!

[Oak]

By the way paying $1 more than msrp is a RIP
-OFF. They make over $9k on the msrp.

[M5SanDiego]

Going to purchase at MSRP, however I've had
my name on the waiting list since Feb.
Status Code now is 151, should take delivery
end of Nov.

Paul

[PhilSeastrand]

Paying MSRP (in California) after about 12 month wait.

------------------
Phil

01 M5 SilverStone due 12/00

[SAB]

In late 1999 I paid MSRP and had a < 2 month wait.

(A) Don't pay more than MSRP.
(B) Especially focus on high-volume dealers - allocations of scarce cars are done by sales volume.
(C) Get on multiple waiting lists.

YMMV.



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'00 M5
'01 M Roadster (on order)
98.5 A4QS (it snows here)

[AD]

In these good times, the ready willingness of many buyers to pay thousands over MSRP has fueled an unfortunate speculative market that keeps cars out of the physicial hands (or financial reach) of many enthusiasts. Currently, there are dealers asking $325K for a Ferrari 360 spider costing $160K at MSRP. (I guess this makes the California M5 gouging look tame by comparison!) I think this is a shame. It's almost as bad as what happened to the Ferrari market in the late 1980's. Prices shot so high that the cars became too valuable as investments to actually drive. Is this what Ferraris, Porsches, and BMWs were designed for? I don't think so. If people didn't give in to the unscrupulous dealers and speculators, this problem might be less severe across the board. By the way, I am on the waiting list for a 2001 Merc S55 (1st on list) and probably 2002 M3 (since 9th on list), both at MSRP. Sure, I'd like to drive a 2001 M3 tomorrow, but waiting won't kill me. Warm regards, AD

[stevem]

Paid $10k over. I have yet to feel remorse, even after reading the preceeding messages.

I went in to put a deposit on a 00 540i-sport and I would have had to wait ~3 months to get. While there i observed them giving a carbon black a bath. The sticker was marked $20k over, I offered MSRP they countered with $10 and I drove it home.

stevem