Hoping to catch up to rival Mercedes-Benz for 2012 sales, BMW is offering its current lessees the opportunity to skip up to three payments if they purchase a brand new of pre-owned vehicle.

This incentive program will run to the end of the month and is a program through BMW Financial Services. Offers are being mailed out to current lease owners of most of its 2012 model year line-up.

As it strives to become America’s top luxury automaker, Mercedez-Benz extended its lead over BMW to 5,211 deliveries through September. Now BMW is looking for ways to make up ground as it begins it’s final quarter of the year.

Eligible models for the German automaker’s lease pull-ahead program include the 1- and 3-Series sedans, 5-, 6-, and 7-Series models. BMW X3, X5, and X6 SUV lessees will be eligible as well. Unfortunately, consumers leasing the M models or 3-Series coupes and convertibles are not eligible for this program.

This is the third time this year that BMW Financial Services has offered a program like this to help drive additional sales.