[aps]

We are in the market for an X3 M40i for my wife and came across this one. It has the options we're looking for and price is right, mileage is great, but I was a little confused looking at the carfax.

Looks pretty clean in total, but strange that it was taken into inventory in Jan 2019 and not "sold" to the first owner until October 2019. And in that time 2,200 miles were put on. If I had to guess, it could be a loaner, but I thought those show up differently on carfax?

Also, it seems like it would be a perfect fit for CPO and it is not, so also makes me think loaner perhaps. Thoughts?

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...ts3c5xk0z08893

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

Originally Posted by aps

We are in the market for an X3 M40i for my wife and came across this one. It has the options we're looking for and price is right, mileage is great, but I was a little confused looking at the carfax.

Looks pretty clean in total, but strange that it was taken into inventory in Jan 2019 and not "sold" to the first owner until October 2019. And in that time 2,200 miles were put on. If I had to guess, it could be a loaner, but I thought those show up differently on carfax?

Also, it seems like it would be a perfect fit for CPO and it is not, so also makes me think loaner perhaps. Thoughts?

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...ts3c5xk0z08893

Unless BMW has changed there ways , I purchased a 2013 X3 loaner that had 14,000 miles on it and it was a CPO car . But again that was in 2014 . Maybe it's changed now. I don't remember the Carfax showing up with any difference. Seems it was well maintained and taken care of .

[AllBlackBimmer]

Not surprising.
Some managers, sales or services tech may "use" a vehicle on the lot as their "own" for a period of time.
Or, could be used as a "demo" model used for loaners, test drives, etc.
BMW has to "pay" to certify a car as CPO so perhaps they didnt think it was worth it - however, I would never buy an non-CPO car.

Very likely is was a loaner. Many dealers order a bunch of cars, use a few as loaners or as "personal cars"

On one hand i wouldnt want a car that was used a loaner; on the other hand if it is CPO that I wouldn't worry about it much.
ZERO chance I'd buy a car that was both, 100% used as a loaner, and wasn't CPO.

... this was also at the height of the car market shortage when loaners were literally impossible to get from dealers, so dealers had to use any vehicle they had as a loaner if they still offered them.

[blkbtyM2C]

I'd say it was likely a demo. Something that was either used exclusively for test drives or something they let dealer employees drive. Something along those lines, probably less abused than if it were a loaner. There are certain requirements for loaners that I don't think would have been met with those few miles and just 6 months whereas a demo can be sold as "new" but with good discounts. Customer gets a good discount and the same new car warranty as the one beside it.

You could always call and ask the original dealer, I'm sure someone has record of it. They can't tell you specifics but should be able to tell you if it was a demo or loaner. Or just ask the selling dealership for the original in service date. If it's October then it was a demo, if its April (first service with miles) then it was a loaner.

[aps]

so the dealer called me today and said it was a demo car that the managers at the dealership drove. but that they don't want to pay for CPO unless the customer really wants it for 5k…. not worth 5k to me, but also they told me the in service date was feb 2019 so original warranty only goes till feb 2023. not long enough for me so prob going to pass on this

thanks to those who offered their perspectives! much appreciated

[wlfpck]

If it is used... I'd say definitely look for CPO.

That way you get the nice extended warranty and such. Plus I think BMW is doing 2.99% on CPO. Which is nice if you're financing since rates are super high right now.

Also, it means that someone actually looked at the vehicle when it was traded-in, when the lease ended, etc.

The benefit about the x3 is that there's less chance that the previous owners beat the crap out of it.

If this was something like a BRZ or something, you'd have to be weary of the previous owner possibly tracking it... or having slammed it with huge cambered wheels and so forth.

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by aps

so the dealer called me today and said it was a demo car that the managers at the dealership drove. but that they don't want to pay for CPO unless the customer really wants it for 5k…. not worth 5k to me, but also they told me the in service date was feb 2019 so original warranty only goes till feb 2023. not long enough for me so prob going to pass on this

thanks to those who offered their perspectives! much appreciated

I don't know… I would possibly reconsider…. As another member said, being a "demo" means it's probably been (much) less "beat on" than a loaner…. If it has everything you want, and it's in great condition, why not pay for the CPO and get the extended warranty? Or, just pay for a 3rd Party Extended Warranty and have the piece of mind as well, but save some cash.

This crowd is a bit different than the Porsche crowd… as in, most BMW owners lease and trade in every 2-3 years. Most Porsche owners buy and keep the car. But both groups seem to shy away from 3rd Party Warranties…. Which I think is absurd. There are great deals to be had for well reputed after-market warranties; one only needs to do some research first. Ask your dealer which one they work with the most, and is easiest to work with…. And most of the time, they will negotiate the cost. This is exactly what I did with a used Macan GTS… and I ended up with a beautiful car, extended warranty, for thousands less than the market was typically paying… all because I was willing to do a little research, negotiate, and take the path less travelled.

Good luck in your search!

[aps]

well the car is sold, but I guess i've always viewed 3rd party warranties with some significant skepticism. aren't they all basically designed to screw you out of coverage?

i guess that's just the way i've always thought about them, but have only ever had CPO coverage in the past so my experience is very narrow. I have always gone for CPO when possible because I felt like at least with that warranty, BMW has some incentive to back their product/cars.

but i'm open to being more educated on 3rd parties. are there actually good ones out there?

honestly the best warranty for me would be something like insurance against catastrophic failure. i'd be fine with like a 1-1.5k deductible and a low overall policy/warranty cost if it meant I got some protection against the engine blowing up or something. for smaller repairs under 1.5k, half the time I can DIY anyways

[sbt007]

If the car is still under new car warranty, you can still add BMW extended warranty for 84 months (i.e. 3 more years over factory). At least, this is how it works if I am the original owner. Can buy this warranty from any dealer including some in our forum. Should be cheaper than CPO. This car is gone but FYI. For CPOs, there used to be a CPO wrap warranty (longer term) which was a little cheaper because the CPO absorbed some of the cost.

[Jebryan]

If I knew of a way to sell ya my lease, I would. Getting ready to sell to dealership in the next few weeks when I take delivery of my new x5. Trading in 2020 x3 M40i

[aps]

well turns out we went back to looking for the X5 as we decided we "needed" the 3rd row more than the stiffer/tighter suspension and driving dynamics of the X3.

[glennbk]

engine?

[aps]

we went with the 40i so B58

[glennbk]

Excellent choice. No hot V issues in your future

[aps]

Originally Posted by glennbk

Excellent choice. No hot V issues in your future

yep, honestly don't trust bmw V8s enough. straight six is their bread and butter 👍🏽

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by sbt007

If the car is still under new car warranty, you can still add BMW extended warranty for 84 months (i.e. 3 more years over factory). At least, this is how it works if I am the original owner. Can buy this warranty from any dealer including some in our forum. Should be cheaper than CPO. This car is gone but FYI. For CPOs, there used to be a CPO wrap warranty (longer term) which was a little cheaper because the CPO absorbed some of the cost.

Could you please PM me the folks here who can sell extended warranty? Thanks!

[jsh139]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Could you please PM me the folks here who can sell extended warranty? Thanks!

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1670964

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by jsh139

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1670964

Awesome! Thank you!