[boonkgang13k]

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Families?
Business elites?
Young professionals?

[DBO]

Singles,
Rabble,
and Old incompetents.

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by boonkgang13k

Families?
Business elites?
Young professionals?

Yes to all

[clee1982]

I would say families, without a kid I would probably have just looked at 3 series

[steve090619]

Originally Posted by clee1982

I would say families, without a kid I would probably have just looked at 3 series

Originally Posted by clee1982

I would say families, without a kid I would probably have just looked at 3 series

Families with kids who want a fun car to drive and can't buy a 911 due to kids.

[Cortexiphan]

I think, in Europe it’s more like business elites. In US, upper-mid class families.

[Old Boy]

Originally Posted by DBO

Singles,
Rabble,
and Old incompetents.

Based on my own example, I'd subscribe to "old incompetents".

Also, there are people in North America who feel that acquisition of upscale European brands of anything would give them an image of discernment or refinement in taste. Perhaps a badge of "success" too.

Then, there are driving enthusiasts from all walks of life. Naturally, to those folks a BMW car would be a top choice.

[ADS-UK]

Families. I'd rather have a 3 or 4 if not for the kids.

[clee1982]

Without kid probably would have gone for 440i xDrive with MPPSK

[wknddrivr]

People who felt the F body cars were poor.

Had the G20 3 series been out when I was shopping I’d probably have gotten that. Since the F30 was the 3 series available and nothing about the crappy driving experience and bargain basement interior appealed to me, I went with the G30. I don’t need the space and prefer something smaller but I wanted the refinement that wasn’t available on the 3 at the time

[HighlandPete]

Who are 5 series' target customers?

Guys like me. Someone who wants to drive something a bit more 'grown up' than the 3-series.

In the UK the 5-series is a key executive model.

[RNemesisN63]

I've often wondered if there is a target demographic. Here in SoCal you see a lot of BMWs, more so 3 series at least here in San Diego. Have yet to see many G30s on the road, but see plenty of F10s in the M Sport Package.

I personally think of it as a "professional" type of car being a young professional myself and have always loved BMW so for me it felt like the right move plus there's nothing like driving a BMW.

[stein_325i]

In the US I would say upper middle class to wealthy families, as well as older men who want more comfort than a 3 series, and business executives who get company cars on lease. The young professionals usually go for the 3 series I would think, at least that's what I use to do when I was one, but now I go for the mid-size class for more features, better interiors and more power. There's a ton in my neighborhood which I would say is mostly upper class families, and older business men who are company execs.

[scoale]

Car enthusiasts who used to drive sporty compacts/coupes/sedans but now:
Want 4 doors
Want upscale interior
Want a more refined exterior
Want a more compliant ride
Don't want an SUV/SAV
Still want sport/power in the DNA
Want a prestigious badge


All apply in my case with exception of last point (not sure I even consider BMW to have the brand cachet it used to). Having said that, I am on my 7th BMW and it is my default brand.

[saporitj]

Originally Posted by scoale

Car enthusiasts who used to drive sporty compacts/coupes/sedans but now:
Want 4 doors
Want upscale interior
Want a more refined exterior
Want a more compliant ride
Don't want an SUV/SAV
Still want sport/power in the DNA
Want a prestigious badge


All apply in my case with exception of last point (not sure I even consider BMW to have the brand cachet it used to). Having said that, I am on my 7th BMW and it is my default brand.

I think it still has as much of a prestige badge as any of the others. Mercedes and Audi both have top end line and mass production products. Hell even Porsche, Maserati, and Rolls have SUVs. SUVs with ///M and AMG badges. It's all about the €.

[ArchJR]

The U.S. ad campaign was specific: approx 40 yo, white, male, professional. Same as it's always been for the 5-series. That description fits me, but in my part of Florida I mostly see retirees, usually in beige 530i's.

[Old Boy]

Originally Posted by ArchJR

The U.S. ad campaign was specific: approx 40 yo, white, male, professional. Same as it's always been for the 5-series. That description fits me, but in my part of Florida I mostly see retirees, usually in beige 530i's.

It's interesting that this retiree's wife was also going to be satisfied with a 530i, while I was hoping she would not object too strongly to me getting an M5. In the end, our soon-to-be-delivered 550i had became a family compromise model. That is OK too, because I really wanted a BMW sedan with 4.4l v8 biturbo based AWD drivetrain, in whatever series (body) they happened to come.

[CLABRO]

I'm 29, single, and don't have any kids. I have always had sports cars or big lifted trucks. This time I wanted something that I could get in, recline the seat a bit, and just relax with minimal outside noise and unwind while driving home from work. I got my car Friday so I only have a few days of driving it, but it's exactly what I had envisioned. It's basically effortless driving, the steering and quietness inside the cabin is unlike anything I've ever had.

[boonkgang13k]

Forgot to mention that I'm 22 and a student. Planning to have a family and kids soon.

[Kyavar]

It is still an executive car I suppose but a good family car too.

[Warp Ten]

Target customers: Old fat guys. At least I bought one. More importantly, it fits under and on top of my lift when I swap with the Z06. Can't have a car more than 5' tall, give or take an inch. No SUVs for me until I lose the Corvette. Plus I really like the 540xi. It replaced an almost identical 2010 535xi.--Bob

[TTG]

The US market is getting tougher and tougher for 4 door sedans so who knows what BMW is targeting. Almost everyone prefers SUVs & Crossovers these days.

We have multiple 2 door coupes, a cross over and I used to have Subaru Legacies as daily drivers to deal with Seattle commute until I got a good lease deal on a 535 and said, why not.

Lease is coming to an end soon and still have not made up my mind on what to get. I might go back to Sub as the luxury, "upscale interior", refined ride, blah blah means nothing to me on a daily commute while I am dealing with potholes, bumper to bumper traffic and trying to avoid all the other idiots on the road.

My F10 was an amazing car but it isn't that much better than the 2015 Legacy it replaced for my purposes! I have looked into new X5 as well but might have a problem with the lift. Sedan fits there perfectly and might be a big decision factor.