From all the hype generated by the upcoming BMW 135i in March 2008, it definitely seems like every dealer in the country will have a waiting list and it will be really difficult for the buyers to get an 135i in the first few months after the launch. But, I thought I would share some tips with you guys on how to secure your purchase and be one of the first to take home a BMW 1-series.

Here are some simple but important steps:

1. Place a deposit with your dealer. The amount should not exceed $500 and it should be 100% refundable. If you are long-time customer, some dealers are willing to waive the deposit, but your milleage might vary, check with the department manager.
2. Make sure your name gets added to the waiting list and have them actually tell you what number on the list you are.
3. Price - agree with the dealer not to pay over the MSRP price, no matter how “hot” the car is and what the demand is. Most of the dealers don’t charge over the MSRP price, but it’s better to discuss this before so you don’t have any surprises. You can also talk about offering a certain amount over the invoice price, but this usually applies when the pricing is already out.
4. Put everything in writing, specifiy exactly the above details and have one of the managers sign it. This is the safest way to make sure your order will be honored. Of course, you can always have a gentleman verbal agreement, but don’t forget that sometimes client advisors and managers leave their jobs and in 6 months from now, you might have to deal with someone else, so the verbal agreement might not stand.
5. This is the hard part: being patient. In the next few months, you will probably search for more information on forums, blogs, google the word BMW 135 a milion times, hoping that new information has come up So, be patient, check back frequently here at edBMW and we will keep you updated.

Good luck with your purchase!