F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > F31 328d xdrive wagon - nearly impossible to find?
proTUNING Freaks
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-26-2014, 11:19 PM   #1
nirad
Registered
2
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: Audi S4 avant
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (0)

F31 328d xdrive wagon - nearly impossible to find?

I am trying to find an 328d xDrive wagon, but it seems like these wagons are incredibly rare. After checking the inventory of dozens of BMW dealers here in Southern California, I was able to find only one, but the way it is optioned is not to my liking. I really don't need every option. Are these generally order-only cars, or do dealers just not order them due to lack of demand? Even the 328i wagon seems incredibly rare.

Last edited by nirad; 02-27-2014 at 01:21 AM..
Appreciate 0
      02-26-2014, 11:22 PM   #2
Cup o' Joe
Private First Class
5
Rep
184
Posts

Drives: IS350 F Sport
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Lack of demand here in the US. People who need more space opt for SUVs.

Is there a problem ordering one?
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2014, 01:20 AM   #3
nirad
Registered
2
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: Audi S4 avant
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (0)

I'd rather not wait a couple of months to buy a new car. Also, I'd expect to have more bargaining room if I find a car already on a dealer lot that I like
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2014, 02:13 AM   #4
Halsifer
Captain
Halsifer's Avatar
Germany
251
Rep
640
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Nürnberg, Bavaria

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nirad View Post
I am trying to find an 328d xDrive wagon, but it seems like these wagons are incredibly rare. After checking the inventory of dozens of BMW dealers here in Southern California, I was able to find only one, but the way it is optioned is not to my liking. I really don't need every option. Are these generally order-only cars, or do dealers just not order them due to lack of demand? Even the 328i wagon seems incredibly rare.
It's a lack of demand. I looked all over for an xdrive 335i in San Diego and San Francisco, and only one was found in one dealer, which I purchased that day lol. Californians typically don't need AWD. I personally came from an Audi and I did not want to lose AWD and the grip it provides. 328i Avant xDrive is pretty damn rare, you could possibly have it brought over from another state or order it. Otherwise, any xdrive 3-series is gonna be tough to find in California, from my experience.
__________________
2014 BMW 335i xDrive Alpine White ---- M-Sport/Premium/Cold Weather/Technology/HK/Driver Assist+/Active High Beam/8AT Sport
2010 Audi A6 3.0T [Sold]
2011 Ford Mustang 3.7L V6 [Sold]
2003 BMW e46 325i [Sold]
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2014, 05:45 AM   #5
BavarianFanatic
Too much is never enough
United_States
655
Rep
3,079
Posts

Drives: Too Many
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SE PA

iTrader: (0)

It's actually NOT lack of demand. It's a perceived lack of demand. Dealers don't order them for their inventory so you can't walk in and buy off the lot. And most folks like the OP would rather not wait for a custom order. It's a vicious cycle.
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2014, 10:45 PM   #6
yo-ga
New Member
0
Rep
28
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Conv. Sport 6MT
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (0)

Found what we wanted, then it got swiped!

In early February, we pulled the trigger on a dealer-trade 328d wagon here in the LA area. The car was verified available and the dealer was willing to trade to our dealer. We were ecstatic to say the least.

When our dealer went to finalize the deal with the other dealer, they were told that they sold the car to an internet customer and the car was no longer available. What a bummer...

BUT that very night we ordered the exact car we wanted (only minor changes from the swiped car) and now we are about 4 weeks away from having our perfect car made just for us (it's currently sitting on the dock in Bremerhaven waiting for a ship). The wait is painful, but it'll be worth it.
__________________
2014 i3 with Range Extender Mega Capparis White
2014 328d Touring loaded mineral grey/dakota black
2011 335i Convertible 6MT PPK alpine white/dakota black

Appreciate 0
      02-27-2014, 10:57 PM   #7
mge92
SPEED RACER
mge92's Avatar
United Kingdom
371
Rep
740
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50d BMW M2 CS
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: London

iTrader: (2)

There is one at BMW Townson if you don't mind purchasing from the East Coast. http://www.bmwrockville.com/new/BMW/...5ec9b9024b.htm
Appreciate 0
      02-28-2014, 12:22 AM   #8
diablo2112
2024 M440i GC (G26)
278
Rep
511
Posts

Drives: 2024 M440i Gran Coupe
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA

iTrader: (3)

I purchased my 328d F31 wagon off the lot at Sandia BMW in Albuquerque. My dealer said the wagons sell within a day or two or their arrival. I was very lucky this wagon was in the color and optioned just the way I would have ordered it (Sport Package, Premium Package, Park Assist, Nav, Winter Package, Arctic White with Black grill).

One thing going for you: all F31 wagons in the US are xdrive. If you can find the F31, the AWD is there.



Appreciate 0
      02-28-2014, 01:25 AM   #9
Halsifer
Captain
Halsifer's Avatar
Germany
251
Rep
640
Posts

Drives: 2014 335i xDrive M-Sport
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Nürnberg, Bavaria

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic View Post
It's actually NOT lack of demand. It's a perceived lack of demand. Dealers don't order them for their inventory so you can't walk in and buy off the lot. And most folks like the OP would rather not wait for a custom order. It's a vicious cycle.
Oh.. yeah that makes sense. One of my dealers in San Diego told me they don't buy any xDrives on purpose because they said they have no reason to sell them in SoCal and the RWD is priced cheaper. They only reason I found mine in NorCal was because the manager told me he custom ordered that himself for a "lucky buyer"... Guess it was me! haha
__________________
2014 BMW 335i xDrive Alpine White ---- M-Sport/Premium/Cold Weather/Technology/HK/Driver Assist+/Active High Beam/8AT Sport
2010 Audi A6 3.0T [Sold]
2011 Ford Mustang 3.7L V6 [Sold]
2003 BMW e46 325i [Sold]
Appreciate 0
      02-28-2014, 10:01 AM   #10
BMWbill
BMW Enthusiast
BMWbill's Avatar
United_States
31
Rep
237
Posts

Drives: F31 M-Sport wagon, E46 M3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Long Island NY

iTrader: (0)

I ordered my F31 the day after Christmas and it will finally be ready to pick up next saturday. While it was a long time to wait, as a BMW enthusiast, the time was negligable compared to the years I was researching this car and waiting for it to come out. The only other 2 BMW cars I ever bought were M3's and with those too I ordered them from Germany and waited. I know I am not the norm but I don't believe in buying a car unless it has every option you desire. In the USA, a diesel wagon is more rare than an M car! Order your perfect car and you'll appreciate it more.
__________________


F31 Estoril Blue Wagon | E46 Phoenix Yellow M3 | 1958 BMW R50 | 1981 BMW Café Racer
My BMW café racer on BikeEXIF
Appreciate 0
      02-28-2014, 11:46 AM   #11
BavarianFanatic
Too much is never enough
United_States
655
Rep
3,079
Posts

Drives: Too Many
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SE PA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Halsifer View Post
Oh.. yeah that makes sense. One of my dealers in San Diego told me they don't buy any xDrives on purpose because they said they have no reason to sell them in SoCal and the RWD is priced cheaper. They only reason I found mine in NorCal was because the manager told me he custom ordered that himself for a "lucky buyer"... Guess it was me! haha
This is actually one of the fundamental problems with the way business is done in the US today. Rather than demand dictating supply, supply dictates demand. Some researcher or bean counter decides what does and doesn't get offered based on their own rationale of whether anyone will buy it or not. This is what happens when you only crunch numbers for actual sold units vs. viable sales opportunities. Unfortunately, no one tracks metrics in that manner. This means that as time marches on we will have fewer and fewer choices - not just related to BMWs by the way. A retailer will recognize that 70% of his sales for a certain item are Brand X, so he drops the brands that made up that last 30% and only stocks Brand X. Before you know it, Brand X is the ONLY option available.

I guarantee for every person who takes the initiative to custom order a BMW to their liking, there are likely at least another 5 (or more) that would have purchased the exact same configuration were it available in stock. But we'll never know...
Appreciate 0
      02-28-2014, 03:17 PM   #12
PabloK
Lieutenant Colonel
PabloK's Avatar
United_States
595
Rep
1,805
Posts

Drives: F30
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Orono

iTrader: (1)

I have a AW 328D Sport Wagon on a boat right now!

Ordered it a good 1.5 months ago but it will be worth the wait.
__________________
2014 F30 335i / 2014 F31 328d / 2014 F22 m235i
2019 G05 5.0 / 2012 E70 X5 50i / 2007 X5 3.0is
2011 e93 M3 / 2009 E60 M5 / 2004 E46 M3
2017 Alpina B6
22 Ram Trx / 22 M5 CS
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2014, 06:56 PM   #13
Rautha
Private
United_States
13
Rep
84
Posts

Drives: 2014 328ixDrive touring
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MA

iTrader: (0)

BMW of Boston has 2 F31 328d's in stock now.
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2014, 08:42 PM   #14
ingenieur
Private First Class
ingenieur's Avatar
24
Rep
196
Posts

Drives: 2011 335d MSport
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Horse country

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWbill View Post
I ordered my F31 the day after Christmas and it will finally be ready to pick up next saturday. While it was a long time to wait, as a BMW enthusiast, the time was negligable compared to the years I was researching this car and waiting for it to come out. The only other 2 BMW cars I ever bought were M3's and with those too I ordered them from Germany and waited. I know I am not the norm but I don't believe in buying a car unless it has every option you desire. In the USA, a diesel wagon is more rare than an M car! Order your perfect car and you'll appreciate it more.
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2014, 08:43 PM   #15
ingenieur
Private First Class
ingenieur's Avatar
24
Rep
196
Posts

Drives: 2011 335d MSport
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Horse country

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PabloK View Post
I have a AW 328D Sport Wagon on a boat right now!

Ordered it a good 1.5 months ago but it will be worth the wait.
Appreciate 0
      03-14-2014, 10:02 AM   #16
dieselbos
New Member
0
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: Imp. Blue F31 328d
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rautha View Post
BMW of Boston has 2 F31 328d's in stock now.
Be wary of BMW dealers' 'in-stock' inventory - one of those 2 F31s you speak of is actually mine. Arriving at the port in NJ today on the Elektra from Bremerhaven, in fact! My guess is most of the ones you'll see listed as on dealer lots are actually just customers' orders that are in the process of being delivered.

Given that VW sells 80% of its Jetta wagons as diesels here in the U.S., I would think that BMW will have better luck with F31 diesels compared to F30 diesels... the pragmatic nature of owning a diesel vehicle fits perfectly with the pragmatic nature of owning a car that can fit more junk in the trunk!

Very excited about taking delivery in the next week or so...
Appreciate 0
      03-14-2014, 11:43 PM   #17
hansluc
New Member
hansluc's Avatar
5
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: Waiting on a 330e!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Pacific Northwest -> SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nirad View Post
I'd rather not wait a couple of months to buy a new car. Also, I'd expect to have more bargaining room if I find a car already on a dealer lot that I like
If you're working with the right CA, ordering the car should have no bearing on your price. Lots of competition among dealers in SoCal and you should have no issue getting a 328d wagon ordered to spec for $1000 over invoice out the door, which is close to as good as you'll do on any in-stock vehicle that isn't a previous year's model or loaner, etc. Greg Poland at Pacific BMW comes to mind for a dealer does straightforward, more than fair pricing. The way I see it, your options are to order the car from a dealer who does invoice+ pricing, or venture outside the region if you can't wait.

I wouldn't expect a better deal just because the item is on the lot. As others have mentioned, the F31 sells and dealers aren't necessarily desperate to deal on them. The way BMW allocates cars (so I was told by a dealer), they give more cars of a specific model to dealers that sell them the fastest. So, the only way for a BMW dealer to get more F31 to sell is to have a waiting list of committed buyers ready to buy before they hit the lot. In that scenario, it may behoove the dealer to satisfy the demand, but not do much more to keep a bunch on the premises.
Appreciate 0
      03-15-2014, 12:49 AM   #18
pobanzyupi
Registered
0
Rep
4
Posts

Drives: audi
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: form

iTrader: (0)

I'd expect to have more bargaining room if I find a car already on a dealer lot that I like
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-15-2014, 12:34 PM   #19
hansluc
New Member
hansluc's Avatar
5
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: Waiting on a 330e!
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Pacific Northwest -> SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by pobanzyupi View Post
I'd expect to have more bargaining room if I find a car already on a dealer lot that I like
With approx. 65 new F31 diesel wagons on lots nationwide as of last search, I think your bargaining power may be limited - but I do wish you well and please let us know of your success!

Last edited by hansluc; 03-15-2014 at 12:43 PM..
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
328d, f31, wagon

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:44 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST