Merv the Derv

I know this topic has been discussed before but now we're 2 yrs on now and I just wondered if members wanted to share any trade in/purchase values etc. with us.

I read recently in a UK car mag that 6 series values are really staring to suffer. A guy was offered 35,000GBP on an 18 mth old 645i with 17k on the clock. Considering he paid 58,000GBP for it new he was gutted. Could be down to the launch of the 630i.

I wonder what will happen to future 520i/523i values now BMW have launched the faster more economical 520d?

I know in the UK diesels hold out better than the equivalent petrol models!

IrishEyes

All lead-in BMW's hold their value considerably better that their bigger engined counterparts. Other than when a model in being imminently phased out you can't go wrong with the smaller engines.

I had a 2002 320d m-sport and it cost me ?9000 in depreciation for two years when I got the 520i in 2004. Unreal.

I traded the 2004 520i for a new 2005 523i spec for spec (leather/auto/alloys/met etc) for ?9700. I thought that was a good figure. And thats why I didn't go for a 525i or anything bigger. I don't think the 520d will have too much impact on the 520i/523i's to be honest. Hovever, if they continue to be sold in ever larger numbers, something has to give.


There was an 04 545i (new ?105, 000 at least) going for ?88,000 5 months ago. And thats what the dealer was asking. Probably sold it for less. So the 545i has probably dropped ?20,000 in the first year. They are a very rare bird over here and I'd say it is hard for the dealers to put a realistic figure on it. Especially when it's ?1.20 a litre of unleaded. I'd say they took it in for for less than ?80,000.

Only if I win the lotto.

SKK

Depreciation values in the UK for nearly new cars currently bake in the discounts dealers are willing to give on new cars. When I ordered my e60 I got 10% off without a huge amount of effort.

Year old cars are currently going for about 25% or slightly more off their new price and I would expect my car to retain about 55% of its list price by the time its three years old if I keep it in good nick with average miles. Diesel variants will retain about 3-5% more.

The worrying sign for BMW and us is that dealers are giving huge discounts off virtually the entire range. I am in the process of buying a car for my wife and was offered 11% off a 1 Series an 10% off an X3. BMW sales are clearly not as strong as they make us believe - if you asked for a 10% discount 5+ years ago you would have been laughed out of the showroom. My wife has also been looking at the Mercedes B class which frankly is an overpriced tub but Merc dealers wont budge beyond 5% off.

This heavy BMW discounting seems to be impacting used values across the board. For example I was offered a mint Sept 04 registered X3 2.5 SE Auto today with a decent spec inc leather and only 7000 miles on the clock for ?22,000. Its list price was ?34,000. Thats means its retained only 65% of its value after a year. What Car magazine reckons that the X3 will retain 66% of its value after 3 years which is clearly bollocks.

Apologies if I have depressed anyone .

IrishEyes

I'm off to hang myself in the nearest public convenience.

You're dead right. Quantity if the killer of quality and as long as BMW continue to chase year-on-year growth figures, something has to give. Considering the 3-series has been outselling the Mondeo in the UK , maybe it's time to buy a Mondeo. It's rarity might be a good hedge against depreciation (slight exageration). Beemers are starting to get too common with the inevitable impact on residuals. This is my 4th BMW and I am starting to think about what I'll do next time.

I think the lead-in 5-series is probably on the outer edge of maintaining it's ability to hold a reasonable residual value, it's possible common-as-muck status nothwithstanding.

Merv the Derv

Just looking at the Auto Trader web site and on a nationwide search I found plenty of early E60 520i's, 525i's and a 530d all under 20k. The 530d had done 112,000 miles though, which has to be the highest mileage E60 in the world, possibly!

Ågent99

I dunno...across the pond here the larger-engined BMWs tend to hold their values better but that is probably because there are fewer of them. I'm comparing the V8 to the I6s...petrol-only, of course.

JBOO

Merv-

I posted somthing similar in a different thread yesterday on my recent obervations of depreciation for the 535d.

I've seen up to, if not more than 30% depreciation in the first year.

Are these cars depreciating faster than other BMW's or is this about the norm?

tategoi

I lost S$45k (GBP15,200) or 24% after 16 months/32k Km on the clock. I am driving a 520i in Singapore.

norham

Got a quote recently for my 20mth old car of ?19500 20% less than I paid one year ago. I would expect to get ?1000 more if I sold privately

Merv the Derv

I think it would appear they are but since BMW offer such great discounts on new cars maybe its not that bad. I personally got 6% and was one of the first to order a 535d sport at my dealers.

I believe BMW trade in values depend greatly on spec and colour.

I lost 23% of my last cars value on trade in after 19,500 miles and 18mths ownership which I can live with. Don't know what I'll get for the 535d - we'll have to wait and see.

I notice on this forum there's not a lot of people changing cars!