BMW lease rates: Major hike?

[RobG]

In February I configured a 330Ci, and printed the configuration. At this point, I was still saving. Was going to be $519 a month to lease.

A few days ago, two months after printing the configuration, I walk in, looking to order a car so I can lease it. That same configuration is now $722 a month. Apparently, the rates of all bimmers have been hiked considerably.

A similary priced Mercedes Benz is $180/mo less, Audi's even cheaper. Audi's i'm kind of so-so on, but Mercedes I do have great respect for (they are a wonderful car). But why on earth have BMW lease rates risen so much?

I was just about to order something I've been wanting for many years. Now it's just a pipe dream.

[NITROboy]

very strange
I'm from Europe, Belgium, and it's known here that Mercedes are a little bit more reliable and expensiver than BMW...
but I think they both are good cars, and probably one of the best in their range

what mercedes do you exactly mean?
if you want to, I can look up the standard prices for you of these cars

[RobG]

With $3800 down, leasing a BMW 330Ci, loaded (manual, no nav) is $42,260 or $702/mo to lease. Before it was $519/mo to lease the same vehicle with the same terms (42 months, 12K/yr) and down payment.

A Mercedes-Benz C320 very well equipped (C2, C3, C6 packages, Xenon lamps) is $44,923 or about $573 a month to lease for 39 months, 12K/yr.

Why did the rates for the 330 increase by $183/mo? That's absurd. Now some people are probably saying, "Well, just lease the Benz". However my maximum budget for a car is $525 a month. Thanks BMW for crushing my dream.

[NITROboy]

I'm sure for 1 thing: that bmw costs about $5000 more than here in Belgium

[RobG]

Tariffs to get foreign cars into the states are obscene. The government's way of ensuring domestic auto makers survive.

The BMW is $34,990 stock, and the Mercedes is $37,100 stock. That still doesn't explain why BMW has raised the lease rate nearly $200/mo though.

Anyone know?

[SpyderChik03]

If you configured your lease rates online, then it is possible that the lease payment is more expensive at the dealer bc the site doesnt add in tax , title and what not. Its weird though that theres almost a $ 200 difference. I could understand a 100 bucks..but we had the same problem with the benz site..They need to fix that, its really frustrating

[RobG]

The price wasn't more at the dealer, it was more at the site.

I sent the configuration to Herb Chambers BMW. The site said $702/mo excluding taxes and all that jazz. Herb Chambers said they can get me in it for $611 before all the taxes and good stuff.

The site is inflated, badly. That's $91/mo with the same down payment, and terms.

Looking at a 325Ci instead, although a few months ago, I could've gotten a 330Ci. Too bad I didn't have the money then, huh?

[SpyderChik03]

That really sucks!
how much is the 325 going for now?