Forbes: Best Bargain Used Vehicles to Buy

[sspade]

Crazy to think your brand new car will be worth ~50% less after three years of ownership...

https://www3.forbes.com/business/11-...old-used-cars/

[BrettKA7]

I got my 5 year old F30 in 2017 for $19k. MSRP was nearly $50k. Put somewhere around $4k in mods (wheels, front bumper, Alcantara / carbon fibre M Performance interior) and have warranty to 100k miles with a more upscale interior feel (imo) than a brand new one of the same MSRP.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by BrettKA7

I got my 5 year old F30 in 2017 for $19k. MSRP was nearly $50k. Put somewhere around $4k in mods (wheels, front bumper, Alcantara / carbon fibre M Performance interior) and have warranty to 100k miles with a more upscale interior feel (imo) than a brand new one of the same MSRP.

I think you should spend a bit more and upgrade that steering wheel!

[BrettKA7]

Originally Posted by Kailec

I think you should spend a bit more and upgrade that steering wheel!

Suspension first!

Then M Sport rear bumper.

Then maybe M Sport steering wheel if I can find an affordable airbag. I really don't care that much about the steering wheel, though.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by sspade

Crazy to think your brand new car will be worth ~50% less after three years of ownership...

That's why I keep my cars seven or eight years.

[grancouper428]

Just one of the many ways the consumer gets screwed. Buying used is the way to go if you want to save. BrettKA7 looks like you got a great deal!

[Elvisfan]

I sold my 16 228ix conv. For slightly more than half what I paid for it. Bought an executive 2018.

[SoCal_NSX]

Always try to buy used(although sometimes I don't follow that rule)

Just got my 2015 428i m-sport CPO with 9,200 miles on her for under $29k, came with original window sticker of $50k ....about 45% off sticker for a minty mint car that was barley even broken in yet.



A few mods and couple months later....

[gps6843]

I realized, while reading this thread, that I have always purchased new .... with the exception of both BMW's that I have owned.

In 1986 I bought an E30 for $13K with 40k miles; gave it away in 2004 with 150k on it.

Currently, I have a 2015 F30 328d X-drive bought in Jan 2017 for $31k with 50K miles; pretty much loaded Base model with $54K on original window sticker. Great CPO warranty remaining and I tend to own vehicles for long periods. I just rolled over 70K miles and I don't drive aggressively very often at all, which probably helps my vehicles last.

Previous 'new' purchases have been due to tech/capability advances in autos, in general.

[munu]

I think you always get great bargains on German cars compare to Japanese cars. I got my M-Sport 335i which was 2 year old with 19K miles for less then 33K (Sticker was 57K). It was in excellent condition and now added extended warranty to it so I am good till 100K miles.

My previous car was also same...bought it for 34K and sold it for 11K after 6 years.

[bavarianride]

That is interesting that Audi's and Acura's and Lexus and Infiniti are not listed.

So maybe the criteria are the cars need to be great, plus high depreciation. With that logic, Audi/Acura/Lexus/Infiniti must be not great cars then.

[Crassus]

2-3 year CPO offer BEST VALUE at typically 50% of sticker price but with moderate mileage. Three years ago I bought a well specced CPO F30 for £18,500 and traded it in a year later for £14,500 after adding 12,000 miles. The new dealer sold it within a week for £18,500.

The 3-Series is a used car bargain because of oversupply. Generous dealer discounts is killing resale values. BMW have started a fire sale as we near the end of life for this generation 3 and 4 series. Last week I received an email to buy a 420d or 430d for £485/month and £485 down. Same price and T&C for both models. So basically I can get a 6-cylinder for the same price as a 4 cylinder.

Going forward I will not buy a 3 or 5-series unless I get a 20-35% discount.

[N0Chill 335i]

Bought my F30 335i M Sport 2013 3 years old with 22K miles for $29K. Originally stickered at $58K. I'll never buy a new car again, learned my lesson after taking the piss on my first new car purchase 12 years ago.





These cars depreciate way too hard. The scary thing is I could have gotten a 2012 750i with 60K miles for about $2K more... Thats a $100k car from the factory. I laughed my ass off when the guy tried to sell me on that instead.

[bimmer456]

Planning on waiting till 2021 to get the 2019 M340i xDrive for a steal and use my F30 as down payment.

[VCuomo]

There are a ton of used vehicles that've come off lease, so the supply is large and the demand probably hasn't come close to keeping pace. Simple economic theory says that when those formerly-leased vehicles are sold the price will drop - and it has, dramatically.

Last weekend a relative of mine purchased a loaded 2015 535i M Sport CPO, in perfect condition and with 25K miles on it, for $33K out-the-door. That's $7K less than what I paid 3 years ago for a similarly equipped 2012 335i Sportline that was 3 years old and had 24K miles on it at the time. And they were both purchased from the same dealer.

As a side note, IIRC there are no Toyota or Lexus models in that list (I assume because they hold their values pretty well).

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Crassus

2-3 year CPO offer BEST VALUE at typically 50% of sticker price but with moderate mileage. Three years ago I bought a well specced CPO F30 for £18,500 and traded it in a year later for £14,500 after adding 12,000 miles. The new dealer sold it within a week for £18,500.

The 3-Series is a used car bargain because of oversupply. Generous dealer discounts is killing resale values. BMW have started a fire sale as we near the end of life for this generation 3 and 4 series. Last week I received an email to buy a 420d or 430d for £485/month and £485 down. Same price and T&C for both models. So basically I can get a 6-cylinder for the same price as a 4 cylinder.

Going forward I will not buy a 3 or 5-series unless I get a 20-35% discount.

Wow that sounds like a good deal(4-cylinder price for a 6 cylinder) in UK.

On this side of the pond, actually all the way to CA, there are killer deals for F30 right now.

E.g. 330i M sport package+ executive package(moonroof, comfort access, lumbar, M sport suspension/adaptive suspension, M steering wheel, M body kit, HUD, Nav,heated front seat, side+top cameras, full LED, PDC, auto high beam, 18-inch staggered) + leather MSRP $50k can go for less than $40k(before tax + feet).

That is one kickass config, especially when US-spec F30 has a lot more standard options that UK's.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by BrettKA7

Suspension first!

Then M Sport rear bumper.

Then maybe M Sport steering wheel if I can find an affordable airbag. I really don't care that much about the steering wheel, though.

M performance suspension is really cheap right now for pre-LCi cars. I bought my full M Perf kit + springs for about $1050 last summer. Installed I spent a total of about $1400. If you have access to a garage, you can do the install yourself. The struts and shocks on this car are very easy to install assuming you have a spring compressor.

I also have an M Performance steering wheel that works with your airbag for sale soon. The Alcantara is in really good condition (the car only has 24k miles and the wheel was cleaned meticulously). Let me know if you might be interested. It'll match the rest of your interior really well. I also live across town from you so you could come check it out if you'd like.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by BrettKA7

Suspension first!

Then M Sport rear bumper.

Then maybe M Sport steering wheel if I can find an affordable airbag. I really don't care that much about the steering wheel, though.

Answer me honestly. Are you saying this after having held the Sport steering wheel? It's a big difference! I can't speak for the suspension, but what were you planning in terms of that? Springs? Coilovers?

[BrettKA7]

Originally Posted by Kailec

Answer me honestly. Are you saying this after having held the Sport steering wheel? It's a big difference! I can't speak for the suspension, but what were you planning in terms of that? Springs? Coilovers?

Yep, I work at an automotive company and we get 3-Series, M3s, and everything up to Ferrari's, Aston Martins, Bentleys traded in all the time. The manufacturer I work for has some very nice smooth leather on the steering wheel. I can deal with the Dakota leather steering wheel. However, I did replace it to bring back the matte factory finish.

[BrettKA7]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

M performance suspension is really cheap right now for pre-LCi cars. I bought my full M Perf kit + springs for about $1050 last summer. Installed I spent a total of about $1400. If you have access to a garage, you can do the install yourself. The struts and shocks on this car are very easy to install assuming you have a spring compressor.

I also have an M Performance steering wheel that works with your airbag for sale soon. The Alcantara is in really good condition (the car only has 24k miles and the wheel was cleaned meticulously). Let me know if you might be interested. It'll match the rest of your interior really well. I also live across town from you so you could come check it out if you'd like.

I can't find that suspension that low priced!

I was thinking ST X coilovers. Essentially rebranded KW V1 coilovers, made by KW, with galvanized steel instead of stainless.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by BrettKA7

I can't find that suspension that low priced!

I was thinking ST X coilovers. Essentially rebranded KW V1 coilovers, made by KW, with galvanized steel instead of stainless.

Check out scorebmwparts.com which is sterling BMW's ecommerce site. Chris there should be able to hook you up.

[BrettKA7]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

Check out scorebmwparts.com which is sterling BMW's ecommerce site. Chris there should be able to hook you up.

I'm finding $1,263 for part # 33502320980.

Does that sound right?