[thescouselander]

Since I'm a bit of a data geek I was playing around with some F30 registration data from data.gov. I thought there might be some interest on here:


https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrI...cyMiIsImMiOjh9

Updated file with 2018 Q1

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrI...cyMiIsImMiOjh9

[MashinBenzin]

Nice, thank you

Interesting to see that the 440i (presumably coupe and GC) outsells the 340i.

It's still all about the x20d though isn't it? Streets ahead still.

Will look at this more closely later, as a fellow data geek!

[JustChris]

Thanks for the data.

Filter set to Peteol, All time, Auto....M3 is 2nd most popular!?? Can that be right, guess so.

I'm amazed if the M3 is ahead of the 335i?

[JustChris]

Hmmm then Peteol, Auto, all years M4 is by far the biggest seller, more than 440i or the much longer sold 435i reallly!?

I also thought the M4:M3 ratio was almost 4:1 but it barely 2:1 here. Not saying the data is wrong but ok surprised by a few results.

[thescouselander]

There may be bugs - I only threw it together and haven't really checked it. I'll check it later - it does look strange though as I'm getting a different result when I look with the same settings.

One thing to look out for is that the report is fully interactive and it's easy to set a filter accidentally by clicking on one of the visuals.

Also if you reselect diesel you'll see how small the petrol numbers are and the lower spec petrol autos seem to be quite niche relatively speaking. Another thing to factor in is how the models come in and out over the years so if the M4 has been on sale for the whole period it may well have sold more than variants introduced part way through - for example I think the 428 was replaced by the 430.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Hmmm then Peteol, Auto, all years M4 is by far the biggest seller, more than 440i or the much longer sold 435i reallly!?

I also thought the M4:M3 ratio was almost 4:1 but it barely 2:1 here. Not saying the data is wrong but ok surprised by a few results.

My own unscientific survey - I think i see many more M4s than barrow 35/40is.

Even discounting cars on the road - where a M coming the other way stands out and a 40i is lost amongst all the MSports - in car parks the story is the same around these parts.

I guess I am not entirely surprised as the M is a focused performance model vs. the more compromised (or versatile, depending on your viewpoint) petrol six. Maybe has more appeal for the sort of people prepared to shell out above the four cylinder range.

It's probably reasonably easy to look at a 40i and think that a 20i or 30i performance comes close enough. Or to think - if I want 0-60 around 5 seconds or less (M), I wouldn't mind a chassis that matches.

Love my 40i but can certainly see those other possibilities.

[MashinBenzin]

But to add, Chris, yes that M3/M4 ratio is surprising - I don't see many M3s at all.

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Thanks for the data.

Filter set to Peteol, All time, Auto....M3 is 2nd most popular!?? Can that be right, guess so.

I'm amazed if the M3 is ahead of the 335i?

Ah, I think I see the problem. The list in your screenshot is quite long and you can scroll up and down. I think you have scrolled down and cut the top of the list off - the 320i should be at the top.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by thescouselander

Ah, I think I see the problem. The list in your screenshot is quite long and you can scroll up and down. I think you have scrolled down and cut the top of the list off - the 320i should be at the top.

Hahaha whoops. Was a bit fiddly in the phone. That makes more sense.

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Hahaha whoops. Was a bit fiddly in the phone. That makes more sense.

Yeah, it works better on a computer. New update here with 2018 Q1

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrI...cyMiIsImMiOjh9

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

My own unscientific survey - I think i see many more M4s than barrow 35/40is.

Even discounting cars on the road - where a M coming the other way stands out and a 40i is lost amongst all the MSports - in car parks the story is the same around these parts.

I guess I am not entirely surprised as the M is a focused performance model vs. the more compromised (or versatile, depending on your viewpoint) petrol six. Maybe has more appeal for the sort of people prepared to shell out above the four cylinder range.

It's probably reasonably easy to look at a 40i and think that a 20i or 30i performance comes close enough. Or to think - if I want 0-60 around 5 seconds or less (M), I wouldn't mind a chassis that matches.

Love my 40i but can certainly see those other possibilities.

I'd have said the opposite of you, I see far more 40i especially 4 series than M4s.

When I go to Tesco I'll invariably see another 440i, sometimes 2 or 3. Don't see so many M4s or M3s.

[Mr Burt]

Interesting post thanks for sharing.
On the 340 front, it would be interesting to see f30 v F31 and the fact that the F31 340 only now comes in Auto may give us a nod that 340's are predominantly Tourings as the manual 340 numbers look tiny.
Cannot believe that people buy 318i in such numbers.
Encouraging that the M3 & 4 numbers are healthy.

[ukbeemerboy]

Firstly, registrations don’t mean people are buying. BMW have one of the highest rates of Pre reg cars in the U.K. motor trade, this is evident by all the cars sat on forecourts. So the data is showing what the dealers have registered to hit target, not what customers have bought or ordered....

[thescouselander]

Originally Posted by ukbeemerboy

Firstly, registrations don’t mean people are buying. BMW have one of the highest rates of Pre reg cars in the U.K. motor trade, this is evident by all the cars sat on forecourts. So the data is showing what the dealers have registered to hit target, not what customers have bought or ordered....

Yeah, that's true. There will also be cars registered by businesses and lease companies so I don't think the figures can be said to represent the preferences of private buyers - they're just a statement of what went on the road. That said they must have ended up with an end user somewhere who ultimately ordered the car somehow and presumably the dealers and lease companies buy what they think they can shift.

[Daftasabrush]

I guess looking at that, we have to be grateful that BMW still produce models like the 340i. With only ~1700 registrations over 3 years compared to ~3000 440 and even ~5000 M3, I can totally understand, from a business perspective, why they would want to focus on 'boring' 'standard' 'run of the mill' engined cars instead. Yet they keep producing these less popular models, presumably for the likes of us. With WLTP it's going to get even more difficult and we may see the models shrink further, but it's great to see low volume models being produced as they are.

I have been searching for a replacement for my 340i touring. I need a bigger boot. I've narrowed it down to Golf R estate (low on power, FWD and not as good on fuel) or Audi RS6 (not a financially sensible purchase and crap on fuel). I'm sticking, there's nothing else out there.

Qudos BMW IMO.