....What is a reasonable price for the Premium Plus? Stickers at $54,120, Then you have metallic paint ($500?) and destination fee of ~$800. So that puts it at ~$55,420.

So what's a reasonable price one should expect to pay at this point?

BMW is offering some very hefty discounts on the 535xi. With Premium Packages 1 & 2 it lists at $60,550. It can be had for ~$54,700.

....What is a reasonable price for the Premium Plus? Stickers at $54,120, Then you have metallic paint ($500?) and destination fee of ~$800. So that puts it at ~$55,420.

So what's a reasonable price one should expect to pay at this point?

BMW is offering some very hefty discounts on the 535xi. With Premium Packages 1 & 2 it lists at $60,550. It can be had for ~$54,700.
Hey Doc,

I'm in the same boat, looking to settle on an F10 or C7 in the next few months. Really appreciate your thorough write ups of your test drives. I saw you on the Bimmer board as well, stirring up some of the fan boys there. Good stuff, because you can tell the blow hard Bimmer guys from the open minded Bimmer guys. Some of them are just so egotistical, with their my-car-is-untouchable mentalities that it's not even worth debating with them. If I do get the F10, I just dont want to be categorized as one of those brand worshiping jagoffs. I have an '08 A6 now which I love, but I'm going with the best car I can get for the best price between the two.

That said, where are you seeing these hefty F10 deals offered? A6 or 5,' ~$55K is the range I'm in.

Thanks,

R.

Hey Doc,

I'm in the same boat, looking to settle on an F10 or C7 in the next few months. Really appreciate your thorough write ups of your test drives. I saw you on the Bimmer board as well, stirring up some of the fan boys there. Good stuff, because you can tell the blow hard Bimmer guys from the open minded Bimmer guys. Some of them are just so egotistical, with their my-car-is-untouchable mentalities that it's not even worth debating with them. If I do get the F10, I just dont want to be categorized as one of those brand worshiping jagoffs. I have an '08 A6 now which I love, but I'm going with the best car I can get for the best price between the two.

That said, where are you seeing these hefty F10 deals offered? A6 or 5,' ~$55K is the range I'm in.

Thanks,

R.

What trim level are you looking at? Premium, Premium Plus or Prestige? To be sure we're com[paring apples with apples I'm looking at a Premium Plus which has an MSRP of $54,120. I assume the destination fee is an additional $875 and, unless you want either a white or black car, there's a $475 charge for other exterior colors. So, for the Premium Plus that brings the real MSRP to $55,470. I'm going to say at this point in the introduction cycle you're not likely to get much off this price. If you can get down to anything under $54k you're probably doing alright. Sure, you can wait 4-6 months and the price may drop in the sense that there may be more discounting available but there's no assurance of this and if there's not then you just waited that time and will still be paying the same price. The F10 OTOH is very heavily discounted. A ballpark I've found is that you can expect to save ~8-9% below MSRP for an F10. So as attracted as I am to the F10 from a purely fiscal standpoint I can't see opting for that over what I consider to be a clearly superior car just because I'm annoyed I may be overpaying a few hundred dollars. Some factors that render the F10 a non-starter for me are: the awful nav system, the incredibly bad run flat tires (and I live in NYC which is where you'd expect these problems to evidence themselves), the lack of Google Earth overlaying the nav map, the ongoing problems with drifting to the right, vibration thru the steering column, the fact that the turbo seems to burn oil so that you need a quart or two every so often (can't be good for the engine long term) and the overall sense that the F10 is "yesterday's technology" while the A6 is cutting edge. On the plus side, the F10's four year free maintenance is a very attractive selling point that I'd factor in as about a $2000 value.

I also was on the Bimmer boards last night and saw the entertaining posts from PsychDoc. You really had some of them going with your C7 review and, especially, the "conversation" between the C7 and F10.

I'm in the same position as you--deciding whether to stick with Audi (loyal since '87) or open up to the possibility of a Bimmer. For the last 7 years, I've been in the A8L, the current one being an '08. I still consider this particular version (the D3) to be a great design inside and out and one that Audi didn't have to completely change the way they did in the D4. To me, the D4 is a huge A4 (with even less trunk space than an A4) and not a very attractive vehicle.

I've been looking to downsize so the new A6 (C7) is an attractive option. I've always been curious about the 5-series and plan to test drive one today. I have the dealer's C7 demo right now and will park it side-by-side next to and F10 to compare some details. I like the C7 but have concerns about the front seats as I drive on long business trips and want/need good, comfortable seating. The seats in my A8L are superb for long drives. The ones in the new A6 are nowhere near as comfortable with far fewer adjustments (better seats are available on the A6 in Europe but not here). I have long legs and really appreciate the bottom extension feature on the A8L's seats which supports the back of the thighs. This type of seating is available on the BMW 5-series and has been since its launch (unlike Audi).

Not sure if I'd go with the 535xi or the 550xi but the issues listed as negatives for the Bimmer are of great concern so I plan to approach this decision carefully. My A8L is in perfect shape but with lots of highway miles so I am going to make a move soon. I know I'm spoiled by its seating and lack of road noise so, stepping down to a smaller platform like the C7 or F10 will result is some trade-offs. I just need to be sure I'm happy with the features I give up.

not picking sides, but keep in mind any car going for 8-9% off MSRP isn't holding it's resale as tightly after purchase. I'd rather pay closer to sticker, knowing the demand is there on the vehicle than get a great deal and have it tank after I drive it off the lot. I went through two different new Q5's in the last two years and there are STILL waiting lists for it three years later, which meant I got almost what I paid for it in trade the first time. Same goes for my R8. I just traded in my second one and got almost what I paid for it, three years and 19k miles later. Never gonna say that about a bimmer. I had a new 2008 135 conv loaded with 8k miles and in two years got 50% in trade. I expected MUCH more. I have had better luck with BMWs, but that was horrible. My E60 M5 did considerably better in the first few years. I think the C7 A6 is going to be in HUGE demand once the reviews and buyers start gobbling it up. Just wait and see!