BMW (SA) M3 Convertible: price, dates
135i Convertible in the Mix
By Thami Masemola
January 31, 2008 11:30 PM
Filed Under: BMW, General, German
BMW South Africa, manufacturers and exporters of 3 Series sedans to Japan, Australia, Singapore and other places, announced today the launch date of the new M3 Convertible.
Long spied and photographed - see side links - , M3 Convertible uses a hard folding top as opposed to the ragtop of previous models. It will launch in South Africa in May 2008, the same month as the appearance of the 1 Series Convertible. Not the best of months to let the cold breeze in, but South Africa does get a little warm around midday in winter in most parts, hence the sweaty convertible drivers who never know what time to close the top. Pricing for the sky-view is an “ouch”-inducing R744 500 (about USD 99,000).
Confirmed for the same time is BMW’s new M-DCT ‘box with its claimed quick changes that launch the vehicle 0.2 seconds faster than the manual. As was widely expected that M-DCT – M Double Clutch Transmission – will change seven times forward, while some competitors (codenamed Lexus IS-F) are even going for eight. M-DCT is a double-clutch system that works by pre-selecting the next gear before a driver selects it, thereby cutting the time it takes for changes to happen. Automatic mode can also be selected for slow traffic driving. The M-DCT option will set South Africans back some R783 500 (USD 106,000) for the Convertible, R702 000 (USD 94,800) coupe and R673 000 (USD 90,945) for the sedan.
We think a lot more South African dads will now be much happier transporting the kids to and from school than before.
- An edit error in the initial press release suggested M-DCT would be 6-speed forward. It has now been corrected.
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Comments
The one thing that South Africa does do correctly is that all new cars come with a 'Motorplan' which includes 'x' amount of services that are built into the car's price. This is where BMW Australia can learn a thing or teo, but when they command such astronomical servicing fess they won't.
I've only got 13 months to wait for my 4.8i X5, as the waiting lists are SO long and BMW Australia is delievering atleast 800 of them a month. SO there are quite a few of them around.
And I agree who the hell would by a 116i? If only Australia had a company car culture like South Africa (83% of all new cars sales are attricubuted to company cars by the way)
I looked up the price and options list on bmw.co.za and it tells me that these are all optional. If I'm wrong I apologise. I'm just going off what BMW is publishing on their site.
I'm glad things have changed with regards the number of company cars. Much seems to have changed in the 3 years since I left Standard Bank where I was head of Automotive Finance. Although I'm still with the bank in another capacity over here.
Again, apologies if I got something wrong.
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in south africa a BMW 335i is R400000, yet the equivalent model in australia, which recieves lower spec than south africans do equates to about R710000. so one cannot compare prices, that is why you never see nice cars in Aus they are way to expensive, they only drive rubbish holdens and the like. when i went to south africa last year, 90% of the cars there are top of the range models bmw, mercedes audis, porsche , you name it it is there. i even saw 2 zondas and a koenigsegg, plenty of lambos and ferraris. i think the only BMW i saw in Aus in two weeks was a crappy 116i ha ha ha. and i live in florida, where cars like these are abundant, yet i have not seen a zonda or koenigsegg here?????