Merv the Derv

When I bought my first E60 back in 2003 I noticed at the time in the local car advertisers that a lot of non franchised dealers / car supermarkets had the odd E60 for sale with all the toys etc for a bit less than a main dealer. I noticed that some of the ads were on, for example, the UK's Autotrader web site for weeks and weeks. I kept seeing the same cars over and over again. Out of curiosity has any member, wherever in the world bought an E60 from a non franchised dealer or private individual for that matter.? If so what was saved in money and brain power?