2009+ Coupe and 3 series ponderings. DCT or not? 8" display? Worth waiting?

Right now BMW has .9 percent financing and free steptronic. My 2001 325ci step is underpowered, aging, but has some life in it. With these incentives I'm tempted to trade my car BUT just like electronics or anything, it seems the incentive/sale price comes on the verge of a new model. Also the value of my car is dropping and I probably will only be able to get $6-10k out of it despite keeping it in shape and 67k miles.

With the Sedan getting all these features, it is odd that the coupe isn't. I've read that ALL 3 series will get DCT tranny and if you think back a couple of years ago, BMW said that they want to get rid of manual and steptronic on all models as DCT improved and it would be included in the base price. I find it odd that they are giving steptronic free and I'm assuming that it will be replaced with DCT on all models but everyone out there is saying that only in Australia will they get it????

I'm also wondering if they are planning to increase prices on the coupe, they have to give some type of additional features to offset and I'm thinking the incentives end September and October they will announce 2009 pricing and features on the coupe.

The BMW NA annoucement said that the coupe will get less features but which ones? Should I wait and lose the deal or hope to get better features likes DCT and is DCT that great? Will it improve fuel economy or just acceleration?

BMW stated that only the E92 coupes will be getting the M-DCT. Now, whether that's just initially or if it's exclusively is to be determined. I can't see any E90/E91 getting the M-DCT other than the standard 335i.

The M-DCT won't replace the automatic. BMW is trying to use it to replace the manual. If you'll remember, the M5 and M6 were initially only offered in SMG. They had to incorporate the 6MT at the behest of the American market since Americans refuse to accept the use of an electrohydraulic or double-clutch manual transmission. The M-DCT is a replacement for the SMG-III system. The SMG-I/SSG transmission that was in the 330i/ci and 6 series was initially offered as a third transmission alternative. I suspect that the M-DCT in the non-M cars will be a tuned-down version that will replace the old SMG/SSG transmission.

As for the financing, most of that has to do with poor vehicle sales for the first two fiscal quarters of the year. BMW is trying to bump sales numbers. The only new model on the horizon is the new E90 facelift. And if you'll notice, the 0.9% financing is for every vehicle except M cars and the 1 series. Everything else has enough mark-up to generate enough overall profit. The M and 1 series cars are too high in demand and too new. They likely won't see any special financing for at least another year. Special financing offers are simply to boost sales since consumer confidence is low with the perceived energy/oil shortage.

I think your right, looks like the coupes would get any updates till next year some time.

At this point it seems the coupe won't get any of the sedan's 09 feature.

Originally Posted by Reedo302

BMW stated that only the E92 coupes will be getting the M-DCT. Now, whether that's just initially or if it's exclusively is to be determined. I can't see any E90/E91 getting the M-DCT other than the standard 335i.

The M-DCT won't replace the automatic. BMW is trying to use it to replace the manual. If you'll remember, the M5 and M6 were initially only offered in SMG. They had to incorporate the 6MT at the behest of the American market since Americans refuse to accept the use of an electrohydraulic or double-clutch manual transmission. The M-DCT is a replacement for the SMG-III system. The SMG-I/SSG transmission that was in the 330i/ci and 6 series was initially offered as a third transmission alternative. I suspect that the M-DCT in the non-M cars will be a tuned-down version that will replace the old SMG/SSG transmission.

As for the financing, most of that has to do with poor vehicle sales for the first two fiscal quarters of the year. BMW is trying to bump sales numbers. The only new model on the horizon is the new E90 facelift. And if you'll notice, the 0.9% financing is for every vehicle except M cars and the 1 series. Everything else has enough mark-up to generate enough overall profit. The M and 1 series cars are too high in demand and too new. They likely won't see any special financing for at least another year. Special financing offers are simply to boost sales since consumer confidence is low with the perceived energy/oil shortage.

The coupe's always been a year behind the sedan, though. So this is probably going to be on par for BMW.