Facelift E60: Price Hike!

[anxious]

Motortrader reported that the new prices for the FC E60 is as followsRICES (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair)BMW 523i SE – (140 kW/190 hp) – RM376,800BMW 525i Sports – (160 kW/218 hp) – RM409,800BMW 530i – (200 kW/272 hp) – RM453,800BMW 530d – (160 kW/218 hp) – RM499,800BMW 540i – (225 kW/306 hp) – RM628,800BMW M5 – (372 kW/507 hp) – RM898,000 I recall reading in the papers last month that the 523i was being offered for RM343,000. This is a whopping RM33k increase! Are the same increases across the board for the other E60s? Are they justified? I recall reading in UK even when new models are introduced the hike is not very much. Arent these prices absurd.? If options had contributed to the higher prices shouldnt buyers have an option to buy lower spec cars? Isnt this development very upsetting? Would this drive people to buying cheaper grey imports?

 

[keray]

BM's doing quite well in Malaysia these days, so increase profit margin lah. I was told the new e90 had sat nav which costs a whopping 27K. Anyway I could be wrong since I was told this by the salesman when I was rushing for something.

 

[han2u]

Sigh. Getting further and further away from ever owning one.

 

[alxy]

BMW doing more sales, but Merc doing more profits....guess BMW trying to redress this now... bad for us

 

[k3nny]

The thing is, if the 5-series becomes more affordable and everyone is able to afford one, would you still want one?

Sometimes its also the exclusivity and pleasure in owning something that you know is hard to buy due to price or maybe even limited supply.

Take the Porsche Cayenne.. One look and you know its ugly as hell. Heck, i like it but i grew to like it, maybe because it carries the Porsche badge?

Same as the Maserati Quattroporte.. I think thats quite ugly too but hey, its a Maserati.. Its gotta be beautiful.

Expensive too but if everyone could afford one, i think it no longer looks as beautiful as it used to.

 

[Juan Powerblow]

The facelifted 523i now comes with an enhanced engine churning out 190 bhps. As for the 525i, the engine's the same (I think) but with loads of M-kit, the RM11k difference is not bad at all.

 

[E46Fanatic]

Actually the grey imports look like a good alternative over the CKD E60's at those prices. 2004 E60 530i (M54) can be had in the mid RM200k's range. Almost half of what a new E60 530i would cost heheh, and if you park them side by side, the difference is not much.

With the price difference between the 2, you can get a VW Golf GTi as a weekend car as well. Not a bad idea.

 

[k3nny]

Actually the grey imports look like a good alternative over the CKD E60's at those prices. 2004 E60 530i (M54) can be had in the mid RM200k's range. Almost half of what a new E60 530i would cost heheh, and if you park them side by side, the difference is not much.

With the price difference between the 2, you can get a VW Golf GTi as a weekend car as well. Not a bad idea.

Well actually the difference is much in favour of the grey imports!

Most get the widescreen tv with navigation which now can be adapted to work locally.. Better assembly quality i can only hope compared to the ones assembled in Malaysia.. Better options all-round generally.

I dont know lar. Sometimes when you hear the horror stories about grey imports without warranty and the car giving you the "lemon" and change gearbox, active steering etc.. you wish you bought a locally distributed model with warranty.

And when you hear how much of a good deal your friend got by buying grey imports, you feel stupid again.