It seems like BMW might be getting a bit creative with their numbers...

Example:


Well, there is no option 2011 for an $875 "Hi Fi Sound System". Either the base sound system, or the $1,200 "Premium Sound System".

And the 2012's still have the $1,200 premium sound system option, so there is $0 credit towards the premium system with the new revised hi-fi sound system. It seems like they perhaps made a minor upgrade to the base stereo (maybe added a couple of tweeters) and listed it as an $875 value? Thats a pretty big and seemingly arbitrary attribution of value. There is also perhaps a bit of creativity in the values for the tailgate, dimming mirrors, and lumbar support as well as they are not offered as stand-alone options, but at least they have some specific value as components of the convenience/premium packages they were part of.

Citing a bogus $875 value certainly helps pump the numbers. Furthermore, they do it with the Premium and most of the other configurations, but not with the 35i base. eg:

2012 35i (base model):
+$900 : Base price Increase
-$100 : Roof Rails now standard
-$100 : Cargo Cover now standard
-$400 : USB/iPod interface now standard
-$750 : BMW Assist now standard.
-$000 : Hi-Fi Sound now standard.

This works out exactly to BMW's quoted $450 savings attributing $0 to Hi-Fi. Why attribute $875 for the same inclusion in other configurations? At least list $1,325 in savings for the base to be consistant with the creative accounting...

Don't get me wrong, I think all these 2012 changes are great, and I'm glad I decided to wait for a 2012, but I don't like creativity when it comes to financial analysis... It isn't needed to demonstrate the value of the configuration changes and makes BMW look bad in my eyes when busted on it...