What's the news?
BMW has announced that, in spite of the increase in VRT for diesel cars in the Budget, it will be cutting the prices of all BMW and MINI models, starting from Monday the 15th of October.
The new price reductions, which average 5.1 per cent across the BMW range, and 3.9 per cent across the MINI range, will see an average of €3,296 trimmed from a BMW price tag, and €850 off a MINI.
Now, there are some semantics to deal with here. BMW had been running a promotion which saw a nine per cent price discount applied to all models, so in a technical sense what's being launched here is actually a 3.9 per cent price increase. Except it's not - the nine per cent price cut was a promotional, short-term offer, which was taken off the officially stated list price. This new 5.1 per cent cut is described as "a longer-term, focused reduction" and will see the official list prices of the cars cut.
Paulo Alves, Managing Director BMW Group Ireland said: "The change in our pricing is designed to make it even more compelling for customers to stay in BMW's Irish network and offset currency fluctuations. We are offering this decrease at a time when the industry is faced with increasing prices due to new EU legislation with WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure).
Announced earlier this year, all BMW and MINI vehicles sold in Ireland are fully compliant with the new WLTP test regime legislation which came into effect in September. This is a further step in ensuring customers have easy access and value when looking to buy a BMW or MINI model."
There are some significant savings to be made. The new X5, for instance, which goes on sale in December, will be priced from €87,390 for an xDrive 30d x-Line model, a saving of more than €6,000 compared to the old model. The heart of the range, the 520d SE saloon, sees its price fall by €2,390 to €51,180.
And then there's the biggie - the all-new 3 Series, launched to the world at last week's Paris motor show. Net of the price cut, the new 318d SE (the entry level model for the moment) will start from €43,700, a €1,280 price cut compared to the equivalent outgoing model. Order books are open now and the first cars arrive into the country in March of next year.
The MINI range is getting an overhaul, as well as a price cut. While the potential to add endless extra equipment and customisation is still there, the range has been streamlined a little into three basic trim levels - Classic, Sport, and Exclusive. On top of these, there are two new bundled options packs; Custom Pack and Custom Plus Pack, and standard equipment is being increased across the range to include interior ambient lighting, MINI logo projection from the driver door, automatic headlights and rain sensors.
In terms of price cuts, a MINI Cooper, with the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine (the best MINI model of them all) sees its price fall by €1,050 to €24,905, while a family-friendly Countryman crossover, with the same Cooper 1.5 spec, falls by €1,390 to €33,665.
BMW Ireland has been busy announcing other prices for incoming models. The glamorous new 8 Series Coupe will start from €116,740 for the 840d diesel, and €164,710 for the V8 turbo M850i xDrive.
The new Z4 sports car, which will arrive next March alongside the new 3 Series, will kick off with a range-topping M40i model, with 340hp, which will cost €73,230. More basic Z4 models will arrive later, and will cost from €50,420 for a Z4 20i Sport.
Finally the updated i3, with its bigger 120-amp battery, will arrive in February, and prices will start from €45,760 - and this time there's no range-extender model with a tiny onboard petrol engine. BMW reckons that the updated i3's real-world 260km range makes that model obsolete.