[SD335M]

So I'm trying to step up to a 535 due to family addition, and so I'm trading in my 2011 335 Le Mans blue m sport. It has low miles 22k. Taken to two dealerships and they low ball me on my trade. They say the most they would give me is $27k!!! Are you F-ING joking. They have 335s one the lot, same year non sport models. We are talking base premium. And they have 9-12k more miles than mine and they window tag it for $35k. What a slap in the face with such low number. What's your take? I had the salesman at least tell me they start low just to get me to sit down and talk numbers. What's the lowest you guys would go for my car. It's fully loaded besides premium sound system. Also had PPK wich I know won't change much but for a real BMW enthusiast it would be nice to buy with it installed. Thank guys!!

Oh I'm in the SoCal area, San Diego to be exact. So I'm comparing SoCal prices. Also saw one listed today didn't say if it was an M sport but was a sedan with 22k miles. Listed for $38k at Century BMW

[SMH]

They are low balling because they want to make money. Dealerships mark up for negotiation room.

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by SMH

They are low balling because they want to make money. Dealerships mark up for negotiation room.

I even told them, they will make money. Even if they make only $1k they should be good. I'm asking $32k. I owe $27900. They can turn around and sell for $35k and make $3k. The money would be rolled right back to BMW since I'm buying from them. Just annoying. Just went through same BS with ford when we bought an explorer sport 2 weeks ago that's why I tell these salesmen upfront I have no time for BS numbers game I know it's all possible. Oh well. Guess it's the game.

[SMH]

Yup exactly and from what you wrote about your car it would be a nice pick up for a dealer to show case as a front car. GLWS but if you have the time, id try selling it yourself you would probably get more money

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by SMH

Yup exactly and from what you wrote about your car it would be a nice pick up for a dealer to show case as a front car. GLWS but if you have the time, id try selling it yourself you would probably get more money

Yeah, I'm in no real rush right now. Baby is not due till end of May. I really do love my e90. Such a fun ride so I don't mind having a bit longer.
Guess I could start posting for sale and see what bites. Thanks for your input.

[westchester335i]

Look up the auction value aka "galves" value for your car and thats what your car is worth. It doesn't matter how much a similar car is going for on the dealers lot but they give you "auction" value because worst comes to worst and they can't sell it they can sell it at auction for what they gave you for it and won't lose any money.

With that said sometimes dealers do give you more and its all about knowing how to play the game. When I traded in my old A4 one BMW dealer was giving me $29k while the other was only giving me $26k. Auction value was $26k for my A4. When I told them dealership XXX offered me $29k the offer went up to $28k and they took off $1500 more on the car I was buying to make it a "better" deal. Needless to say it took a few hours of back and forth and where I almost walked out 2-3 times.

[SMH]

Originally Posted by SD335M

Yeah, I'm in no real rush right now. Baby is not due till end of May. I really do love my e90. Such a fun ride so I don't mind having a bit longer.
Guess I could start posting for sale and see what bites. Thanks for your input.

It never hurts to see what you could get

[SD335M]

Ok cool. Good to know. I'll look up auction value. I was just going by trends and market out in SoCal. Yeah I guess I just have to be willing to waste my days off and sit at a dealer for half my day going back and forth. Just went through it a few weeks back and wife was pissed our days off went to crap. Oh well. Thanks!!

[westchester335i]

Wasting time is unfortunately part of the game.

I live in a area where most people buy cars at sticker price and don't NEG much and dealers know this so they will not care about making a sale with you because they know someone else will walk through the door a few hours/days later and buy/trade at the price they give them without any fuss/NEG.

Fun fact I was looking at a 335 that I had NEG $3k off the listed price but I still wanted to go down a bit more $3500 and while going back and forth someone bought the car at the price that was listed on the window without any NEG.

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by westchester335i

Wasting time is unfortunately part of the game.

I live in a area where most people buy cars at sticker price and don't NEG much and dealers know this so they will not care about making a sale with you because they know someone else will walk through the door a few hours/days later and buy/trade at the price they give them without any fuss/NEG.

Fun fact I was looking at a 335 that I had NEG $3k off the listed price but I still wanted to go down a bit more $3500 and while going back and forth someone bought the car at the price that was listed on the window without any NEG.

Well I guess I better be ready to play. I played the game on our explorer. They actually are building it for us as we speak so we got our interior color and options we chose for us personally. All these local dealers I spoke to earlier and they told me no to my numbers, are now calling me seeing if I'm still in the market and now are coming down to my numbers and are willing to save me $10-20/month if I go with them now. Total BS. I hate this game lol.

[Kenu8187]

You might have a harder timer selling it if it is a manual. Manual drivers love them but they are few and far now.

In other news my car was just totaled today(rear ended at about 40mph shoved me into the car in front of me) and I very well may be looking to buy another pending what I end up getting.

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by Kenu8187

You might have a harder timer selling it if it is a manual. Manual drivers love them but they are few and far now.

In other news my car was just totaled today(rear ended at about 40mph shoved me into the car in front of me) and I very well may be looking to buy another pending what I end up getting.

Darn!! That sucks!! No big injuries to you? Hope all ok.

No my car is an AT, wanted manual but my wife can't drive stick. So I needed an AT incase she was ever my dd lol.

[Kenu8187]

Ya I'm fine. Stiff neck is all.
And about 7k worth of mods out the window.

Also keep on mind those other cars are likely CPO as will yours most likely. I'm pretty sure it cost the dealer money to CPO them so what you see at 35 is likely 32 or 33. Still a good margin but I don't think dealers just get a free pass on CPOing a car they buy

But I may be wrong

[ken1137]

I usually go to Carmax to get a baseline number on a trade-in. You can start from there but you'll be able to sell at a higher price as a private seller. Dealers need to make money. GL!

[cuiter23]

Originally Posted by SD335M

I even told them, they will make money. Even if they make only $1k they should be good. I'm asking $32k. I owe $27900. They can turn around and sell for $35k and make $3k. The money would be rolled right back to BMW since I'm buying from them. Just annoying. Just went through same BS with ford when we bought an explorer sport 2 weeks ago that's why I tell these salesmen upfront I have no time for BS numbers game I know it's all possible. Oh well. Guess it's the game.

Lol, 1k is nothing for them. They rather prefer not to buy from you then to go through the hassle. They need to inspect it, wash it, detail it, in the end it won't be worth selling. Take in mind that 35k is the asking price, not the price after negotiation. You need to be aware that if you do decide to trade in, either you know the sales manager as a close friend (enough for him to feel that he has no interest in making money off you) or you will risk getting lowballed 99% of the time.

Pros of trading in: Quick, hassle-free, trade-in tax savings
Cons of trading in: Lowball

Lower they buy from you = more negotiation room for other buyer = higher chance of sale.

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by Kenu8187

Ya I'm fine. Stiff neck is all.
And about 7k worth of mods out the window.

Also keep on mind those other cars are likely CPO as will yours most likely. I'm pretty sure it cost the dealer money to CPO them so what you see at 35 is likely 32 or 33. Still a good margin but I don't think dealers just get a free pass on CPOing a car they buy

But I may be wrong

When they "appraised" my car they said it definitely would fall under their CPO criteria. But you're right who knows the dealers cost to cpo a vehicle.

[SD335M]

I hear ya, but hassle or no hassle anyone is up to make $$$ and not lose it. I did take into consideration the washing, inspection etc. They don't call one person in and pay them to do all that. These guys are on their books already and show up to work daily. So it's just another task for them to do on that given day.

Besides they would also be selling another car off their lot. It's all about moving your inventory on dealer lots. They would be selling me a 5 series which stays on lots longer than a 3 series. 3 series sell like hot cakes in SoCal!!!

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by ken1137

I usually go to Carmax to get a baseline number on a trade-in. You can start from there but you'll be able to sell at a higher price as a private seller. Dealers need to make money. GL!

Yeah carmax blows!! Sorry, had gone their with my wife's 2012 mini S convertible last month. They would offer 20k for it. Got the dealer to buy out the car at $23640. So I know dealers can move numbers around. It's all about checks and balances for them. As long as they are in the + and not the -, then they're fine. Hence I say as long as they make the buck and move inventory they are good. It's just going to have to be the game play. They may not deal with folks negotiating as much. But there's always the guy or gal who doesn't negotiate and just pays sticker. That's not me. I work hard for my $$ and the more I save the more in my pocket.

[riguy]

Well, good luck man. I have the same car as you, basically....so interested to see how you make out. My lease ends in October.

[SD335M]

Originally Posted by riguy

Well, good luck man. I have the same car as you, basically....so interested to see how you make out. My lease ends in October.

Thanks. Will keep you guys posted. Just trying to save some $$ per month since we are having a baby. My car was $52900 sticker, sale price came to $48700, I put $4k down and with BMW select financing at .9% my monthly is $551(with tire protection).
So in my eyes I figured if I look for a CPO 5 series for $50k or less I should be able to lower my monthly by a bit. Especially if I get $4k on my car over my payoff of $27800.
El Cajon BMW have been awesome and are willing to get me at my payments but all their 535 m are black. Don't want the headaches of black lol

[Manoah]

lol, its a bmw dealer, they aren't interested in making 1-3K. for my base line 2011 335 they offered me $23K.

[cuiter23]

Originally Posted by SD335M

When they "appraised" my car they said it definitely would fall under their CPO criteria. But you're right who knows the dealers cost to cpo a vehicle.

I work for a dealership and CPO'ing a vehicle can cost upwards 1k. I wouldn't be surprised if a BMW would go over 2k.

However, taking into account the year and your mileage, I would assume it would only need a couple hundred bucks to certify it.