BMW 2/4 series. I am missing the point?

[IrnBruFreak]

I look at the new 2/4 series BMW and frankly I do t understand what they offer that is not already available within 1/3/5

Never really been a BMW far in general so maybe I'm missing the point

Can someone explain in simple terms why this doesn't just dilute the brand ?

[kambites]

If their basic form, they offer a two-door "saloon body-shell which is available in neither the 1-series nor the 3-series range.

[IrnBruFreak]

kambites said:

If their basic form, they offer a two-door body-shell.

Ah right. Is that not available in 1/3/5 series ?

[nickfrog]

The idea is to inject a sense of exclusivity into the 2 door Coupe versions compared to their hatch or 4 door equivalents and possibly justify charging accordingly.

Where it gets daft and confusing is that the 4-series is now available as a 4-door too (what?, I hear you say).

And the 2-series as a 5 door MPV (wtf?, I hear you say).

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 18th February 22:42

[kambites]

IrnBruFreak said:

kambites said:

If their basic form, they offer a two-door body-shell.

Ah right. Is that not available in 1/3/5 series ?

No. There's no 1-series or 3-series "coupe" in the latest iterations; there never has been a 5-series coupe as far as I know (or to put it another way, it's always been called the 6-series).

[craigjm]

1/3/5 are saloons or hatches and 2/4/6 are coupes based on the preceding number

[kambites]

craigjm said:

1/3/5 are saloons or hatches and 2/4/6 are coupes based on the preceding number

Well they were. I don't think you can call this a coupe:

[nickfrog]

Nor this :

[kambites]

True, although that one doesn't get quite as close to being the exact opposite of a coupe.

[BUG4LIFE]

It's not that confusing though is it?!?! Though I agree, there are too many variations now-a-days...I saw a Merc CLA today and thought why buy that instead of a C-Class, it's definitely not prettier.

[craigjm]

kambites said:

Well they were. I don't think you can call this a coupe:

Oh i don't know depends on how your define a coupe

There was talk they were going to call those vehicles the V series but selling a car called a V1 from Germany wouldn't go down too well

[yzrh]

It's just as if they (along with Audi, and to a slightly lesser extent Mercedes-Benz) are trying to cover off literally every conceivable type of car so that there's no free market niche.

I thought the Q5 was enough after the Q7, but subsequently a Q3 and Q1 have/will be launched too. Maybe some peoples' demands are just that specific.

[nickfrog]

What I would love to know is : for the same gross profit, how much cheaper could cars be if the manufacturers didn't miss out on economies of scale through so many unnecessary variants, albeit based on the same platform ?

[craigjm]

nickfrog said:

What I would love to know is : for the same gross profit, how much cheaper could cars be if the manufacturers didn't miss out on economies of scale through so many unnecessary variants, albeit based on the same platform ?

They are making massive economies of scale because they are all based on a handful of platforms, engines and interior fittings.

[nickfrog]

Yes I appreciate that but surely making 8 "models" instead of 4 for instance must attract additional costs, even if they're all based on the same platform.

[northwest monkey]

nickfrog said:

Yes I appreciate that but surely making 8 "models" instead of 4 for instance must attract additional costs, even if they're all based on the same platform.

Probably not or they wouldn't make them. Saying that, it tends to be the "premium" manufacturers (Audi / Merc / BMW) that offer these endless niche cars rather than Ford or Vauxhall.

Maybe the costly bit is in the hidden gubbins & the metal is the inexpensive bit - it must be fairly straightforward to press a new panel out of a sheet of steel?

There does seem to be too many niche cars these days - half of them seem to be answering questions nobody has ever actually asked. Has anyone ever sat in their current car, looked at a 6-series BMW & thought "Hmmm.... You know what, I'd like a 6-series, but only if they did a 4 door version and with 4WD. I know they do an X5, but I can't bring myself to buy a car where the angle of the rear window is above 45 degrees."

Didn't stop them making it though.

[V8forweekends]

Metal costs nothing - all the expenditure is on marketing for BMW

[jimbop1]

nickfrog said:

Yes I appreciate that but surely making 8 "models" instead of 4 for instance must attract additional costs, even if they're all based on the same platform.

Good point. Let BMW know..maybe they haven't thought of that.