Aspiring BMW owners in South Africa will need to earn a significant monthly income to comfortably finance the brand’s most affordable sedan in 2025. According to a recent analysis by TopAuto, a gross monthly salary of at least R80,000 is required to cover the monthly installments for the newly launched BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.
The New Entry-Level BMW Sedan
BMW has introduced the updated 2 Series Gran Coupe, now positioned as the brand’s most budget-friendly sedan. Built on the same platform as the next-generation 1 Series hatchback, the new 2 Series is priced between R733,559 and R1,043,099, depending on the model variant and specifications.
Two powertrains are available:
- BMW 218i: Equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, it produces 115kW and 230Nm. It features a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. This model accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 226km/h, with an average fuel consumption of 6.4 litres/100km.
- BMW M235i xDrive: The sportier version packs a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine pushing out 225kW and 450Nm. It uses BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, dashing from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 250km/h. However, it comes with a higher fuel consumption of 7.8 litres/100km.
Features and Tech
Even the base 218i model includes an impressive list of standard equipment:
- LED headlights
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Eco-friendly leather-free interior
- Keyless entry and start
- Heated, electrically adjustable front seats
- Automatic climate control
- Ambient interior lighting
It also comes with a dual curved display that includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment system with cloud-based navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Safety and driver assistance features include:
- Front collision warning
- Lane departure and exit warnings
- Traffic sign recognition
- Parking Assistant with 360-degree camera and sensors
The M235i version adds an M Sport package with luxury and performance upgrades like M Sport seats with massage function, quad exhaust system, adaptive suspension, 18-inch alloys, and paddle shifters.
All models include a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.
How Much You’ll Need to Earn
Using a typical financing structure — a 60-month loan at 11% interest, with no deposit and no balloon payment — here’s what monthly payments would look like:
- BMW 218i (from R733,559): ~R16,044/month
- BMW M235i xDrive (up to R1,043,099): ~R22,775/month
Financial advisors generally suggest keeping car payments below 20% of your gross monthly income. Based on this guideline, to afford either of these BMW sedans on a finance plan, your gross monthly earnings should fall between:
- R80,220/month (for the 218i)
- R113,875/month (for the M235i)
While the 2 Series Gran Coupe is BMW’s entry-level sedan, it’s far from basic in terms of performance, technology, and luxury. However, ownership comes at a price — not just for the vehicle itself, but also for ongoing costs like insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Anyone considering this vehicle should carefully evaluate their full budget to ensure it fits comfortably within their financial means.
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