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)

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Cars.com Reviews the 2008 BMW 650i

I never really thought of the BMW 650i as a Porsche 911 competitor, but after reading Kelsey Mays’ review of BMW’s big coupe I can see why it may be. The 650i’s 360-hp V-8 is almost as fast to 60 mph with an automatic transmission, and it comes with a much more usable trunk and backseat. Of course, I think I’d take the looks of the iconic 911 over the oddity that is the 6 Series, but that’s just me. Check out Kelsey’s review and video below and make your own call.

2008 BMW 650i Expert Review

Friday Fleet Notes: 7.13.07

This week the staff takes on three very different vehicles: the Honda CR-V, Infiniti M35 and BMW 650oi convertible.

2007 Honda CR-V EX

My wife was a little stunned when she got into the CR-V; she was expecting a smaller cockpit area, especially given how small the CR-V seems from the outside. “I like the look if it,” the wife said. “It’s sharper-looking than the previous one, not as boxy-looking.”

We took our boys (the daughter is out of town, visiting her cousins) to Costco and loaded up the back, where there was plenty of space. There’s a shelf to hide your cargo, although I wonder if it would fray easily over time. The boys found plenty of legroom in the backseat.

BMW 6 Series Sees Minor Changes for 2008

If you’re a 6 Series owner, chances are you won’t be salivating over the 2008 model when it arrives in the U.S. this fall. That doesn’t mean, however, that changes to the model are completely insignificant. Sure, at first glance the 650i coupe and convertible look a lot like the old models, but there are subtle changes to the front and rear styling, along with changes to the head- and taillights.

Under the hood is the same 4.8-liter V-8 producing 360 hp, with 60 mph coming in 5.3 and 5.6 seconds for the coupe and convertible, respectively. The major change to the car’s performance comes with a single automatic transmission option. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but the no-charge six-speed Sport Automatic transmission adds shift paddles on the steering wheel for manual selection of gears.

The 650i convertible also receives the new sun-reflecting leather first used by BMW in the new 3 Series convertibles. This keeps the seats up to 36 degrees cooler than regular leather seats. Another interesting technological option is a lane departure warning system. Other companies offer the same feature, which alerts the driver when they stray into another lane inadvertently, but this one makes the steering wheel vibrate, like a cell phone, to warn the driver instead of relying on an audible alert.

Prices haven’t been announced, but expect them to remain close to the 2007’s $74,700 for the coupe and $81,700 for the convertible. Also, check out the photo gallery below for more images of both 2008 6 Series models.

BMW 6 Series Photo Gallery