The Complete Guide To BMW Military Discounts For Active And Retired Military

Have you been dreaming of purchasing a luxury BMW car, SUV, or motorcycle but are worried about the costs? If you’re currently serving or are a veteran of the United States military, you could be eligible for exclusive BMW military discounts that can help you save thousands on your next new or used BMW vehicle.

But figuring out the ins and outs of the various BMW military sales programs, pricing perks, and eligibility requirements can be confusing.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know to take full advantage of BMW military discounts, incentives, and appreciation benefits as an active duty, reserve, retired, or veteran service member.

You’ll learn:

An overview of the main BMW military sales programs and perks
All the eligibility requirements – who qualifies for the discounts
Tips for stacking savings from BMW with military rebates or financing
How much discount to expect and negotiate
Pros and cons of buying vs leasing a BMW
The best BMW models and deals for military families

Let’s get started!

BMW Military Sales Programs, Pricing & Purchase Perks

BMW offers a few different military sales and recognition programs to make the car buying process easier and more affordable for service members.

BMW Military Sales Program Overview

BMW’s primary military program is called the BMW Military Program and it provides:

Exclusive BMW military pricing and discounts off MSRP
Custom-ordered vehicles at participating dealers
Support staff dedicated to military sales
Complementary benefits like free car washes and no-charge service inspections

The program is available across the country at participating BMW centers that have dedicated BMW Military Sales Managers trained to help service members through the purchase.

To access the military pricing and perks, just show valid military ID and authorization form at your local BMW dealer.

Exclusive BMW Military Purchase Pricing & Savings

The main benefit of the BMW Military Program is exclusive discounted pricing for active duty, reserves, retired military personnel, and their immediate family members.

With the military discount, you can save hundreds to thousands below MSRP off the best negotiated price offered to regular customers. Discounts vary by model, trim packages, and demand but typically average around:

6-10% off on most BMW model vehicle purchases
9-12% off on select BMW SUV models like the X3 and X5
10-12% off on BMW M Series performance vehicles

For a $50,000 MSRP BMW 3 Series, that could mean over $5,000 in savings!

Actual discount percentages can vary by military branch, rank, location, and current offers at your local BMW dealers.

Many dealers also offer additional savings on top of the standard military discount during certain sales events and holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Military Appreciation Month etc.

So time your BMW purchase right and negotiate well to maximize savings. We’ll cover more negotiating tips later in this guide.

Complimentary Military Benefits from BMW Centers

In addition to the reduced pricing, participating BMW dealerships offer extra military benefits and perks like:

Priority, designated military parking spots
Free car washes for the duration of ownership
Annual Vehicle Health Reports with no-charge inspections
10% discount on parts, accessories and lifestyle products
Savings on BMW driving schools and performance events

These complimentary services combined with the upfront pricing discounts make buying a BMW straight from the dealer very attractive for service members.

Who Qualifies for BMW Military Discounts?

BMW offers the military discount and appreciation perks to active duty, reserves, retired military personnel, and immediate family members.

But the exact eligibility requirements depend on your status:

Active Duty, Reserves and National Guard Eligibility

All active duty members of the United States Armed Forces are eligible for the BMW Military Program pricing and benefits.

This includes members of:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
Army and Air National Guard
Active Reserves

Just present a valid U.S. Uniformed Services ID Card at the dealership to qualify.

Retired and Veteran Military Eligibility

Military personnel with retired status also qualify for the BMW savings after showing proper identification. This includes:

Retired members from Active Duty or Reserves
Retired disabled veterans

Have your Military ID card, Veteran Health ID card, or state-issued driver’s license with veteran designation ready when you visit the dealer.

Spouse & Dependent Eligibility for Military Offers

Immediate family members of eligible active or retired military personnel can also take advantage of BMW military discounts when purchasing a vehicle.

This includes:

Spouses
Children
Surviving spouses of deceased service members

The service member or qualifying veteran typically needs to be involved in the purchase process. Have proper dependent military ID cards ready.

So in summary, active duty, reserves, retired military members, and immediate family dependents can access the exclusive pricing and perks from BMW as part of the military sales program. Just confirm eligibility and auth forms at your local dealer.

Tips to Get the Best BMW Military Discount Price

While BMW promises exclusive military discounts, you can further maximize the savings through smart negotiation and timing:

Negotiating Strategies for Military BMW Buyers

1. Do your research ahead of time – Use BMW forums and resources to find average price ranges and discounts for the specific BMW model you want. Come prepared with realistic target price based on invoice pricing and hold firm during negotiations.

2. Know the discounts and rebates – Ask your seller to layout all the current military discounts, rebates, and incentives available so you can calculate total savings. Negotiate from there to get the best overall price.

3. Look for Bonus savings – Ask for additional price deductions on top of the standard military discount during major holidays and sales events when dealers incentivize selling.

4. Finance through military lenders – Consider getting pre-approved through lenders like Navy Federal Credit Union that offer up to $500 off BMW purchases for members. Combines nicely with the military discount.

5. Schedule near month end – Aim to close your deal in the last 5-7 days of the month when sales teams are motivated to hit quotas. Similarly, negotiate at end of quarter for best discount.

The more flexible you can be in timing and combining savings, the lower your final price will be.

Consider European Delivery to Save More

If you have time for extended travel, look into BMW’s European Delivery program where you can buy the new BMW in Germany, get huge savings, then have it shipped home.

You can save an extra 5-7% through the overseas delivery process. It combines nicely with the standard military discount for maximum savings. Just account for 4-8 week delivery times.

Time of Year and Model Year End Discounts

Strategically timing your BMW military purchase around major holidays and sales events can help you land the biggest price breaks.

The highest deal seasons are typically:

February (President’s Day Sales)
Memorial Day Weekend
4th of July Week
Labor Day Weekend
Veterans Day Sales in November
Model Year-End Discounts in September/October

November to December also sees dealers offering year-end clearance on remaining inventory. And shopping off-peak months like January can mean less competition and more willingness from sellers to cut BMW prices.

Used BMW Models with Military Incentives

For used vehicles, look for Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) BMW models that combine the extended warranty and benefits with military purchase incentives.

Off-lease lightly used BMW vehicles also tend to have higher discounts and there are sometimes extra rebates when military members finance the purchase.

So explore your options on used inventory that could mean even bigger savings over new.

Buying vs Leasing a BMW with Military Discount

Should you buy or lease a BMW as a service member? Here are factors to consider:

Purchase Financing Considerations

Purchasing with military discount then reselling after 3-4 years can be most cost effective
Get pre-approved through a lender like Navy Federal for low rates and credit union discounts
Consider 0% interest financing deals from BMW combined with military savings
Weigh trade-in value vs selling privately for maximum return

Pro Tip: Use online BMW forums to determine the invoice price and holdback discount when negotiating the purchase price. This allows you to maximize the discount off MSRP.

About BMW Military Lease Specials

Lease incentives are not usually as significant vs purchasing with the military discount
Default leases are 2-3 years so less benefit to short term military members
But can be a cheaper monthly payment option if keeping the car long term after lease
Allows trying different BMW models if you prefer variety

For military service members that move frequently or want to regularly swap cars, buying then reselling may be better than leasing long term. But weigh all options based on your situation.

Either way, the BMW military discount gives you a leg up on pricing.

Recommended BMW Vehicles for Military Families

Certain BMW models stand out for combining performance, practicality, and long term ownership value for buyers using the military discount programs.

Best SUVs for Military Families

BMW X3 – Compact luxury SUV with cargo space and reliability at a more affordable entry price.
BMW X5 – Midsize SUV with 7 passenger seating and safety ratings ideal for larger military families.
BMW X7 – Flagship family SUV with commanding ride height and carrying capacity for gear.

Top Sedans for Military Service Members

BMW 3 Series – Compact sports sedan available as practical daily driver or performance M3.
BMW 5 Series – Midsize sedan with balance of luxury and driving dynamics for officers.
BMW 7 Series – Luxury flagship sedan with expansive rear seats perfect for high ranking officials.

Favorite BMWs for Enlisted Service Members

BMW 2 Series – Entry level coupe for affordable sporty driving.
BMW i3 – Electric commuter car with high tech features and gas savings.
MINI Cooper – Fun hatchback for easy parking on bases and urban areas.

From small commuters to spacious SUVs, BMW has a model to suit military members at every stage of career and family size – all eligible for military discounts!

Conclusion

The BMW military sales program offers exclusive purchase pricing and discounts for active duty, reserves, national guard, retired personnel, and family members across a huge range of new and used luxury vehicle models.

But you can maximize the savings by:

Understanding all the eligible BMW military discount programs in your area
Planning your purchase in peak deal seasons and months
Combining incentives and utilizing military lenders
Negotiating the best discount using proven strategies

This guide provided everything you need to know to start the buying process and potentially save thousands off MSRP on your next BMW. With the right preparation and research, you can enjoy driving the Ultimate Driving Machine at an exclusive military price. Just find a participating dealer near base and show your identification to access the special BMW appreciation discounts.