record year for BMW sales.

[lemming]

posted at Automotive News.

the data are thusly:

first half of 2004: 5.9e5 or so vehicles (+8.5%) --> called the most successful first half in the history of the BMW group (quote from story).

the X3 sold 33,275 in the first half (BMW thanks the good lord for lemmings) and 10,575 6-series luxury coupes. both figures seem astounding to me. i guess about 70,000 x3's is about right, doesn't that seem high to anyone? that's more than all saab sales or audi sales per year, almost in the US. 21,000 or so 6 series car per year is also more than a boutique car. man, that is some serious volume.

the good news is a 51% increase in delivery of the new E60, but double digit drops in 7-series (this is not good, this is a "new" model) and in the 3-series (expected as the e90 is comign soon).

so, what do "we" think?

6 series is doing well. 7-series and z4 are doing horribly. the 3-series is obviously getting long in the tooth and the lemmingmobile, the x3 is selling well.

[FC]

It is trully mind-numbing that the X3 is selling that well. Indeed BMW must be thankfull to lemmings.

Hey as long as doing so allows BMW to make M5's and M3's that totally kick ass, I'm all for it (like Porsche and the Cayenne).

I'm optimistic than once the next full design cycle is complete, BMW's will look good again. I'm willing to wait (ok, ok, I have no choice but to wait because I can't afford any other cars).

[SCA]

I am very shocked that the X3 is doing that well. You would not thinking so by looking at my local BMW dealer's lot.

[zach]

Originally Posted by mbr129

It is trully mind-numbing that the X3 is selling that well. Indeed BMW must be thankfull to lemmings.

Hey as long as doing so allows BMW to make M5's and M3's that totally kick ass, I'm all for it (like Porsche and the Cayenne).

I'm optimistic than once the next full design cycle is complete, BMW's will look good again. I'm willing to wait (ok, ok, I have no choice but to wait because I can't afford any other cars).

On the way home the other day, I saw a Herb Chambers X3 demo being test driven with a VERY enthusiastic-looking sales drone in the passenger seat. I wanted to jump in front of it and warn the test-driver that the X3 is an overpriced POS.

[FC]

Originally Posted by zcasavant

On the way home the other day, I saw a Herb Chambers X3 demo being test driven with a VERY enthusiastic-looking sales drone in the passenger seat. I wanted to jump in front of it and warn the test-driver that the X3 is an overpriced POS.

That would have been priceless.

[bren]

Doesn't the X3 out perform the M3 on the skidpad and in braking?

[FC]

Originally Posted by bren

Doesn't the X3 out perform the M3 on the skidpad and in braking?

I'd have to take a SERIOUS look at whatever source that was. But I don't doubt you actually read it somewhere. I'm highly skeptical.

[bren]

I read it at the dealer in some sort of BMW sales literature.

I don't recall the exact numbers but it was something like .86 (X3) vs .83 (M3) on the skidpad and 110ft (X3) to 115ft (M3) in 70-0 braking.

[Roadstergal]

It's a funky little car. It's a jacked-up wagon that's less comfy inside than an E46. It's all a little loopy. If it takes sales from the X5, fine, but I don't want it to sabotage touring sales.

I have nothing good to say about the Cayenne. It's an emissions disaster and an ugly M-Fer.

[bren]

Originally Posted by Roadstergal

....I don't want it to sabotage touring sales.

It was after asking about tourings that I was given the paper with those performance numbers. The salesguy asked why anyone would buy a wagon when the X3 outperforms the M3. I think it is safe to say that 3er tourings are nearly extinct.