Diana T. Kurylko

Automotive News

February 13, 2009 - 1:12 pm ET

In an attempt to boost sales and lower its lease penetration level, BMW of North America LLC has introduced an incentive program that will make the first two payments for certain vehicles financed through its captive finance arm.

The two free payments of as much as $750 a month, a maximum of $1,500 combined, is being offered on 18 models with high inventory levels, says a BMW spokesman.

Eligible models include the 1 series and certain 3, 5, 6 and X5 variants. The offer does not include the 7 series, which is being replaced at the end of March, or the limited-production X6 crossover. The X3 crossover and Z4 roadster also are not eligible for the program because of low supply.

BMW says buyers can combine the two free payments with APR financing ranging from 0.9 percent to 3.9 percent a month. On two models, the 328i and 528i, rear- and all-wheel-drive models, there's a finance rate of 0.9 percent for up to 60 months.

The offer runs through March 2 on 2008 models and March 31 for 2009 vehicles.

BMW has been pushing its lease rate down since last year from about 60 percent to 50 percent at the beginning of this year.

"Looking at the rest of 2009, we may get it down a little lower, but this isn't a drastic move away from leasing," says a spokesman.

BMW offered a similar two-free payment program on its certified pre-owned cars last year, the spokesman says.

All new BMW vehicles are covered by a 4-year/50,000-mile free maintenance program.

Link: http://www.autonews.com/article/20090213/A.../902139965/1078

That's what called a 'rebate', I do believe.

hyundai dealer near me is advertising making a full year's payments- the deals on hyundais are crazy anymore. No wonder they're eeking out a tiny sales gain, but what it's doing to the books is the question?

offered on 18 models with high inventory levels

uhm, how many models does BMW offer?

62, seemingly.

Yeah....I despise dumb marketing B.S. like this!

uhm, how many models does BMW offer?

128i, 135i, 128i convert, 135i convert, 328i sedan, coupe, convert, 335i sedan, coupe, convert, M3 sedan, coupe, convert, 528i, 535i, 550i, M5, 650i, 650i convert, M6, M6 convert, 750i, 760Li, X3, X5 V6, X5 V8, X6, Z4, Z4 coupe, Z4M, Z4M coupe. That's 31 if I counted correctly.

I assume if they're doing it only on models with high inventory, that if there are a bunch of unsold 550i's but not a bunch of unsold 535i's or 528i's that you can't get the 2 months payment on the 528 or 535, but you can on the 550i. Therefore, the 5-Series is not considered just one model.

128i, 135i, 128i convert, 135i convert, 328i sedan, coupe, convert, 335i sedan, coupe, convert, M3 sedan, coupe, convert, 528i, 535i, 550i, M5, 650i, 650i convert, M6, M6 convert, 750i, 760Li, X3, X5 V6, X5 V8, X6, Z4, Z4 coupe, Z4M, Z4M coupe. That's 31 if I counted correctly.

I assume if they're doing it only on models with high inventory, that if there are a bunch of unsold 550i's but not a bunch of unsold 535i's or 528i's that you can't get the 2 months payment on the 528 or 535, but you can on the 550i. Therefore, the 5-Series is not considered just one model.

LOL. If I had the time, I'd sit down and count all the models GM has if they counted their models that way. Cobalt/HHR becomes 7 models.

LOL. If I had the time, I'd sit down and count all the models GM has if they counted their models that way. Cobalt/HHR becomes 7 models.

Well, GM does do incentives by engine as well. Cobalt SS usually doesn't have the same incentives as regular Cobalts, and 2.2's and 2.4's are usually listed separately, yet still have the same amount of incentives.

Corvette/Z06/ZR1 don't have teh same amount of cash back more of the time.

128i, 135i, 128i convert, 135i convert, 328i sedan, coupe, convert, 335i sedan, coupe, convert, M3 sedan, coupe, convert, 528i, 535i, 550i, M5, 650i, 650i convert, M6, M6 convert, 750i, 760Li, X3, X5 V6, X5 V8, X6, Z4, Z4 coupe, Z4M, Z4M coupe. That's 31 if I counted correctly.

I assume if they're doing it only on models with high inventory, that if there are a bunch of unsold 550i's but not a bunch of unsold 535i's or 528i's that you can't get the 2 months payment on the 528 or 535, but you can on the 550i. Therefore, the 5-Series is not considered just one model.

You forgot all the wagons, the clean diesels, and the xDrive models...

You know it's bad when BMW is "bribing" people to buy it's cars.