[John Tanglewood]

So dealer allocations are scarce I hear. My father just told me he would love to purchase an i8 if he had the chance this year. He has been buying BMWs for over 35years. I actually thought he had no interest in the i8 but it turns out that was only because his local dealer only got 2 of them and they were spoken for months ago (he is more of an impulse purchase type of guy).

Can anyone point me in the right direction of anyone who I could speak with to help on this? Or will it be a fruitless search?

Thanks so much to you all!

[Louv]

There are dealers who will likely have cars available for vast "Market Adjustment" payments over MSRP. Call around. Offer them $100k over MSRP. You'll get a car... probably. But they've already placed orders for this year's allocations, so the first batch is probably already spoken for.

All the dealers have been taking names for years, not months.

I've been trying to get one at MSRP. I suspect that'll happen in late 2015 or early 2016.

[StuM]

As LOUV states, that's been my experience too. I am fortunate enough to have snagged my dealer's final 2014 allocation, after being on his list for two years. Although, even my dealer is apparently planning to sell his first car at a "market adjusted" price and the rest to core customers at msrp. He is getting four cars and has 36 people on the interest list.

I did speak to another local, SoCal stealer and he stated, with a straight face, "we have one allocation and we're going to allow bidding, starting at $50k over msrp and let it go up from there....hoping to get $100k over...." I laughed at him and said, count me out. I did find several other decent dealers who are committed to msrp deals, but all of their minimal allocation has been spoken for, for months, if not years.

If you're not on a list already, getting one in 2015 might be difficult too. Good luck with your quest. Getting there is half the fun.

[ddk632]

Yeah if you're not on a list at this time, getting a 2014 or even a 2015 without paying some insane amount of cash over MSRP is going to be very, very difficult.

Your best bet is to call dealers that are outside (but not too far so) of major metropolitan areas, expand your search to nationwide, and see if you find one who still has a 2014 or early 2015 allocation and is willing to sell at MSRP.

There are, according to recent interviews with BMW people, 329 BMW dealers in the US, 44 of which have opted out of selling the BMW i brand vehicles. While unlikely, it is possible one of them somewhere has a not-yet-spoken-for 2014 i8 allocation and will not gouge you just because they can. Again, highly unlikely, but perhaps faintly possible.

If your dad is wiling to pay a premium over MSRP (I also have been seeing here and on other forums that dealers are asking $50k - $100k over MSRP) then it will be easier to find a 2014 i8 at a large metropolitan area dealer. My local SoFla dealer is doing the same thing, basically will get the cars in and give first dibs to those willing to pay $50k (at least) over MSRP for their couple of i8 allocations.

It's crazy but not unexpected given the low global production numbers for the first year and the nature of the car.

Best of luck!

[John Tanglewood]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Yeah if you're not on a list at this time, getting a 2014 or even a 2015 without paying some insane amount of cash over MSRP is going to be very, very difficult.

Your best bet is to call dealers that are outside (but not too far so) of major metropolitan areas, expand your search to nationwide, and see if you find one who still has a 2014 or early 2015 allocation and is willing to sell at MSRP.

Thanks ddk and thanks also to the rest of you. I have indeed found a couple allocations and you are all right on the mark - $50-$100 over MSRP....I very much appreciate your input and we'll see how badly my father really wants one I guess.

Thanks!