BMW Puts $4,500 Behind Diesel Models

It’s not likely that many folks would shop at a BMW dealership looking to cash in on the Cash for Clunkers program, which is why the company has launched a new incentive to promote its two fuel-efficient diesel models. A $4,500 “eco-credit” will go toward the purchase of either a new BMW 335d or an X5 xDrive35d, on top of current financing offers, and with no trade-in required.

A 335d starts at $43,900, so according to the government program’s rules, it could qualify for either $3,500 or $4,500 in federal funds when exchanged for a clunker, no matter how many options it was loaded up with. The 335d is also eligible for a $900 tax credit. The 335d gets combined mileage of 27 mpg, versus a gas 335i’s 20 mpg, while still delivering a thrilling driving experience. We found a few modestly equipped 335d models in Cars.com’s inventory for $45,225. Add all the above incentives, and those would end up costing $35,325. Read our full review of the 335d here.

The X5 starts at $51,200 and thus would not be eligible for the government incentive (program rules say any vehicle with an MSRP over $45,000 can’t be bought using Cash for Clunkers), but with BMW’s eco-credit it would cost less than a base X5 xDrive30i. The diesel incentive offer runs through August.

2009|BMW|335

2009|BMW|X5

Recall Alert: 2008 BMW 1 Series, 3 Series

BMW has issued a recall notice for all 1 Series and 3 Series vehicles from the 2008 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to incorrect crimp connectors used on the side airbag and belt tensioner wiring.

Insufficient contact between the crimp connector and the corresponding plug could lead to an increase in the electrical resistance of the connection, which could cause the airbag to fail to deploy during an accident. Obviously, an airbag failing to deploy could lead to more severe injury in the event of an accident.

BMW hasn’t provided NHTSA with its remedy or notification schedule for the repair, but owners may contact BMW at 800-831-1117. They may also contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2008|BMW|1 Series

BMW Announces Pricing on New Diesels

Yesterday, BMW announced pricing on its soon-to-be-released diesel vehicles. The 335d sedan will start at $43,900, with the X5 xDrive35d going for $51,200, excluding an $825 destination charge. That’s a $1,900 price premium over a similar gasoline-powered 3 Series and $4,100 over the standard X5, though both are eligible for tax credits.

Both vehicles feature the same powertrain: a 265-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 425 pounds-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. BMW says the 335d will achieve 23/33 mpg city/highway, while the X5 xDrive35d will get 19/25 mpg. The gasoline-powered 335i gets 17/26 mpg, which makes the diesel roughly 30% more efficient — about equivalent to the difference in price between a gallon of premium and a gallon of diesel. The improved mileage also puts the 3 Series on par with most midsize four-cylinder sedans in fuel efficiency, yet it achieves 0-60 mph acceleration of 6.2 seconds. The X5 xDrive35d’s fuel economy is competitive with Mercedes’ Bluetec M-Class.

BMW Offers 0.9% Financing on 2009 Models

BMW surprised many in August when it offered low-rate financing deals on its 2008 models. Now, the automaker has expanded its deal to many 2009 models as well. The updated and slightly redesigned BMW 3 Series sedan in its four trim levels — 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi — all get a 0.9% deal. The financing offers are available through Dec. 31. As always, the terms of the deal depend on how customers qualify, but the deals illustrate just how severely the economy is impacting all automakers.

Read below for a full list of 2009 models and their 0.9% financing offers. BMW’s full list of financing offers on 2009 vehicles can be found here. 

2008 BMW Models Get 0.9% Financing

The 2009 BMWs are on the way, and it’s time to get rid of the 2008s. Yep, BMW has model-year-end sales too, they just use fancy terms, like 0.9% financing, to promote them. Through Sept. 2, all 2008 BMW models — besides the X6, M3 and M5 — will be eligible for 0.9% financing for qualified buyers. What does that mean?

The current average loan rate is 6.78%, so say you want to finance a base 328i sedan, which starts at $32,700, over four years. Putting nothing down on the car (and let’s keep tax out of the equation), your monthly payment would be $779.70. That’s a lot of money for a 3 Series; in the end you’d wind up paying $37,426 with all the interest included.

Lower the rate to 0.9% and your monthly payment drops to $693.84, with total cost over the term of $33,304. So BMW is basically offering a $4,000 discount here. The math is rudimentary, but 0.9% is a good deal on any car, let alone a BMW. Oh, and because the 328i is one of the most affordable BMWs on the lot, the savings only go up as you move up through the model range.

BMW Financing Offers (BMW USA)

Related
2009 BMW 3 Series: New Look, U.S. Diesel Confirmed (KickingTires)

Recall Alert: 200,000 BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, X3

Today, NHTSA announced that BMW is recalling 200,000 cars and SUVs due to a faulty airbag that may not deploy during a crash. The models affected include 2006 3 Series, 2004-06 5 Series and 2004-06 X3 SUVs.

The problem isn’t in the airbag itself but in the sensors that detect whether there’s a person in the front passenger seat. When working properly, the sensor will disengage the passenger airbag if there’s no one sitting in the seat. However, this defect can cause the sensor to think no one is in the seat when they really are, which could lead to injury.

BMW says no one has been injured due to the problem, and that the warning light that signals when the airbag is disengaged will flash on and off if the sensor isn’t working properly.

Concerned owners should check with their dealer to determine if their car is included in the recall and bring it in for service.

Diesel BMW 335d, Out in November, Will Be 2009 Model

There was word out this morning in the blogosphere that diesel versions of the BMW 3 Series and X5 SUV would be delayed until next year. Those rumors have turned out not to be true. According to BMW spokesman Tom Plucinsky, the 335d was always planned to be attached to the freshened-for-2009 3 Series that we told you about a few weeks ago. They will start production in September with sales to start in November.

However, Plucinsky says the 335d will not be at full production capability at that time, so availability may be limited until early 2009. The X5 35d will also go on sale in November, but probably not until after the 335d reaches dealerships. 

Plucinsky says the 335d is BMW “dipping its toes in the water” as far as the demand for diesel cars in the U.S., but he says early feedback for the product is strong. Both models will make their official U.S. debuts at the Los Angeles auto show in November.

2009 BMW 3 Series: New Look, U.S. Diesel Confirmed

If you just plunked down $40,000 for a 2008 BMW 3 Series don’t freak out right now. Sure, the 2009s will have a revised exterior and upgraded interior, but the improvements probably won’t be enough to completely depress owners of the previous generation. The 2009 cars, however, will feature the new generation of iDrive and more handy knobs to control different accessories.

The 2009 BMW 3 series still will consist of 328 and 335 models in both sedan and wagon form. A 335d clean twin-turbo diesel sedan has been officially confirmed by BMW USA. We’re still waiting on news of a U.S. on-sale date and final specs for U.S. models, which we expect to be nearly identical to the 2008s. The new coupe and convertibles haven’t been revealed yet — we probably won’t see them until closer to the Paris Motor Show in September — but they’ll get an optional seven-speed automatic transmission, which won’t be offered in the sedan or wagon.   

Keep reading for a bulleted list of upgrades and a full photo gallery.

2008 BMW M3: Daddy Driven

Now that there’s a little Thomas in the house, the wife and I are no longer DINKs so the way I look at cars I’m reviewing has changed. The addition of a child seat alters the entire framing of how I view the cars in our driveway and how I live with them. I routinely am the one to drop the little guy off for daycare in the morning, and if the test car can’t handle our seat — or I mistakenly leave the extra base in a different test car — my wife is not too happy. That frames the debate: What cars can a dad get away with owning? Obviously a big sedan or SUV will get the job done, but what about the cars dads lust over?

The shiny, white 2008 BMW M3 sedan sure looks like it can handle the task. But does it pass the test?

2008 BMW M3 Convertible

• Competes with: Audi RS 4 convertible
• Looks like: Someone wants their hair blow-dried very, very fast
• Drivetrain: 420-hp, 4.0-liter V-8 with dual-clutch transmission
• Hits dealerships: Late 2008

We’ve been anticipating the new BMW M3 since we took the previous generation around a track. Then we learned there would be both a sedan and coupe version of the M3. How could it get better than that for a performance enthusiast looking for a fun ride? Well, how about a hardtop convertible with nearly the same performance?

That’s what BMW has done with the BMW M3 convertible you see here. It’s only a fraction slower than the coupe, despite weighing more to accommodate the retractable hardtop.

Just like the regular 3 Series convertible, which debuted last year, this is also the first time an M has featured a retractable hardtop.

You can check out our posts on the previous M3s to get more specifics, but the convertible with its top down is surely the stunner of the group. Many more photos below.