Why go retail when you can pay so much more?

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Let’s see, the economy is tanking, a $700-billion rescue package did nothing to restore confidence in the stock market, rich and poor alike are cutting back on discretionary spending.... Sounds like the perfect time to sell a luxury car at 50% above retail.

In anticipation of the release of its new 750il luxury car, BMW has created 31 customized versions of the sedan that it will sell through the Neiman Marcus catalog this month. The price of the cars, $160,000, is a mere $54,000 more than the price of the retail version of the new 7-Series, according to BMW materials trumpeting the ‘ultimate gift package.’

If you’re into German engineering, you could buy a nicely equipped Porsche Boxster for $54,000. But if you invest that extra cash in the Neiman Marcus-BMW deal, you get:

• A trip for two in April to Munich, Germany, followed by a jaunt to Monaco as well as Nice and Cannes in France, where you’ll first drive the car that will be shipped to you in the U.S. later that month.
• The chance to brag about being the first chief executive in your exclusive gated community to own the Motoren Werke’s new flagship sedan, because it won’t be on dealership lots until spring. *
• Customized features on your new BMW, like illuminated door entry sills that have the Neiman Marcus logo, a unique paint color (dioxide black, they call it), the Neiman Marcus logo over the glovebox and special piping on the fancy Marino leather seats.

A quick search on the Internet shows that a round-trip open-jawed ticket to Munich and Nice and back runs about $1,400. But, explains Oliver Rademacher, BMW’s regional manager for M cars and BMW individual cars (he’s in charge of the fancy stuff), the trip is business class. What’s more, he says, the trip will probably include socializing with important local dignitaries, although he wouldn’t specify whom. In the past, such trips have included a meal with the prince of Bavaria and Bavarian race car drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck.

Speaking of past events, BMW has sold cars through the Neiman Marcus catalog before, most recently in 2006, when it offered up 50 M6 convertibles for $139,000 a pop. Those sold out, Rademacher said, in just 93 seconds. And they didn’t come with light-up Neiman Marcus logos! Then again, with an MSRP of $100,300 on the normal M6s, the trip to Europe was a relative bargain.

Last year, Neiman Marcus sold 50 Lexus IS F sedans through its Christmas book, each at a relatively bargain price of $68,000 (MSRP: $56,610). That came with half a day of driving instruction at the Skip Barber Racing School, which can normally be had for $599 to $1,099. The Lexuses sold out.

Of course, those cars went on sale when lavish spending on premium items wasn’t just the American way, it was a litmus test for patriotism. Things appear to have changed drastically since then, and we at Up to Speed are sure that even those Americans who have the money for such purchases are going to be tightening down on profligacy for the time being. Right, Oliver?

‘We realize it is a very difficult situation in the U.S. and worldwide,’ he said. ‘But Neiman Marcus is about living your fantasy and fulfilling your dreams. We want to be part of that.’

Phone banks at Neiman Marcus open on the 16th of this month. Start demon-dialing now.

* (BMW officials wouldn’t be more specific about the release date, so package buyers have to take it on faith that they’ll indeed be first. If not, somebody’s gonna be sooo mad.)

-- Ken Bensinger