[MMMBRAP]

Hello, all! I am thinking of finally ordering an MY2018 M2 LCI, and have thoroughly read the introductory Pricing/Ordering stickies provided graciously here on the forum.

To provide some background info, I have never ordered a new car before (I've always just bought new from dealer lot inventories).

From the threads I've read regarding the ordering process, I wanted to ask if there's a standardized amount that is required to deposit, or does it vary from dealer to dealer?

Thanks to everyone in advance for chiming in.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by MMMBRAP

Hello, all! I am thinking of finally ordering an MY2018 M2 LCI, and have thoroughly read the introductory Pricing/Ordering stickies provided graciously here on the forum.

To provide some background info, I have never ordered a new car before (I've always just bought new from dealer lot inventories).

From the threads I've read regarding the ordering process, I wanted to ask if there's a standardized amount that is required to deposit, or does it vary from dealer to dealer?

Thanks to everyone in advance for chiming in.

$1000 is fine.

[bobert]

Originally Posted by MMMBRAP

From the threads I've read regarding the ordering process, I wanted to ask if there's a standardized amount that is required to deposit, or does it vary from dealer to dealer?

Thanks to everyone in advance for chiming in.

Varies from what I've seen anywhere from 0 to $5000 but, yea, $1000 is often the norm.

[MMMBRAP]

Thank you for the feedback!

[nomade30]

I had to put down $5k since I've never bought from them in the past, but I know a guy at the same dealer that put down $1k.

[bobert]

Originally Posted by nomade30

I had to put down $5k since I've never bought from them in the past, but I know a guy at the same dealer that put down $1k.

I put down $5k on my M2 order as well - first time I ever put down more than $1k. Maybe it's 'cause I was an out-of-state buyer, not sure, didn't really care.

[MMMBRAP]

Originally Posted by nomade30

I had to put down $5k since I've never bought from them in the past, but I know a guy at the same dealer that put down $1k.

Originally Posted by bobert

I put down $5k on my M2 order as well - first time I ever put down more than $1k. Maybe it's 'cause I was an out-of-state buyer, not sure, didn't really care.

Interesting; from what I've gathered, it seems people are paying anywhere from the standard $1K to a whopping $10K (the dealer was being ridiculous in that case).

So I assume it really does depend on which dealer you go to.

[Ian ///M]

$500 was normal too but this was moreso before production numbers were known. 1k is fine given that the “rarity” is a known now.

[Wharf Rat]

IMHO it really doesn't matter the amount, does it? It's a deposit, in essence an advance payment toward the purchase price. If you truly intend to take delivery of the vehicle, it's just that much less to be paid or financed.
I was completely happy to pay a $2,500 deposit when I ordered mine.

[Bt12]

Zero .

[HandmadeShifts]

Originally Posted by Bt12

Zero .

Ditto!!

[Nezil]

$0 here too. I filled in a credit card authorisation form for $500 deposit, but it was never actually run through. My CA told me that filling in the form showed I was serious, and that's all they cared about.

[MrKepan]

it's refundable, which means the deposit is worthless to the dealer. So a lot of dealer just take your credit card number. some won't even do that. they assume that if you come in put your name down, you are serious. otherwise, the deposit if refundable anyway, nothing to hold you accountable.

[Wharf Rat]

I have every intention of taking delivery of the car, so the whole matter of a deposit is moot. It's just money I have already paid & will be subtracted from what I owe upon delivery.

It is neither a large enough sum or long enough period for that money to have actually earned anything so it's fine where it is. ;-)

[justinco]

When I was looking into an M2, it varied between $1k and $3k, depending on the dealer. I ended up putting a $1k deposit down for an allocation at the dealer I liked...but then life happened and I had to get a refund, which was a simple process. Still hoping to get one someday!

[My LBB M2]

I put down $500 when I ordered my M2 on 11/9/17 (Ohio Dealership).

My LBB M2

[DrAnzo2.0]

$1,000 refundable deposit is what I paid in Jersey

[ineedae46m3]

If you are into credit card rewards the slightly higher deposit is beneficial if you will use the reward points, etc. Especially if you are writing a check for the down payment at delivery. Might as well put a couple grand on the car and walk away with some points.

$1000 has always seemed standard. BMW dealers have told me deposits are non-refundable on special orders before... Shady tactic

[bartginger]

I bought mine at Santa Monica BMW in Southern California. The dealer asked me for a $2,000 deposit. I gladly paid it since these cars were (are?) so hard to get and I had searched so hard and long just for an allocation. A deposit is always refundable and I was also happy that it would be $2,000 less to pay when it got here. Best car I have ever owned.

[matty_f]

Zero deposit. I did a credit app with BMWFS. I was told if you lease this allows you to use the best rate between when you order and receive the car.

[SteveGiant]

I’ve bought a couple of cars from this dealership and $1,000 was always acceptable. When I ordered the M2, they required a $5,000 deposit, supposedly due to it being a manual transmission.

[champignon]

I just put a deposit down on a 6MT, Mineral Grey, with zero options. The dealer, from whom I have not bought a car in 24 years, nonetheless services my current 4 BMWs. They don't get very many M2s, and they just got another allocation which they had already put in a "spec" order with a bunch of options. They told me that I could have that slot, which would mean that they would cancel the earlier order they placed yesterday and put in for what I want, however they wanted a $5K deposit to do so since what I was ordering was not what they would order to sell off the floor. The deposit is non-refundable in the sense of getting cash back, but could be applied to another car if I changed my mind.

Given that small MT cars are a hard sell in my market (they've had a 2017 M240i 6MT in inventory for a year now, on which they are offering almost $6K off of MSRP to move), I think this is relatively reasonable, and since they took my CC, which means I get miles for it, I was willing to do it. Planned delivery is mid-March to April.