SKK

Colejl - I agree with you. Thats what I said in my first paragraph. However the initial figures presented by Norham indicated that the absolute price of a used 530i was lower than an equivalent 525i.

colejl

Colejl - I agree with you. Thats what I said in my first paragraph. However the initial figures presented by Norham indicated that the absolute price of a used 530i was cheaper than the equivalent 525i.
[/quote]
Sorry for the confusion, I am agreeing on all your points Indeed, an equivalent mileage/condition 530i would always fetch more than a 525i... (At least for the first 5 years)

I've done a little analysis on the data from WhatCar depreciation index, my findings:

540i & 550i (SE and M Sport) - HUGE first year loss - 32%! (Best is 530d/535d @ 21%)
Apparently no difference between SE & M Sport for 1st year loss and 3year retained.
Best 3yr retained is 530d/535d @ 62%, next is 523i/525 @ 60%, 520d @ 58%, 530i is 56%, worst is 540i/550i @ 53%

525i @ 3yrs would be ?17,097, equivalent 530i would be ?18,398. (Meaning 525i has retained 60% value but 530i only 56%)

So my conclusion is buy a 540i/550i at 1 year!!!

Whilst these figures look a little optimistic I think they show the trends...

SKK

Sorry for the confusion, I am agreeing on all your points Indeed, an equivalent mileage/condition 530i would always fetch more than a 525i... (At least for the first 5 years)

I've done a little analysis on the data from WhatCar depreciation index, my findings:

540i & 550i (SE and M Sport) - HUGE first year loss - 32%! (Best is 530d/535d @ 21%)
Apparently no difference between SE & M Sport for 1st year loss and 3year retained.
Best 3yr retained is 530d/535d @ 62%, next is 523i/525 @ 60%, 520d @ 58%, 530i is 56%, worst is 540i/550i @ 53%

525i @ 3yrs would be ?17,097, equivalent 530i would be ?18,398. (Meaning 525i has retained 60% value but 530i only 56%)

So my conclusion is buy a 540i/550i at 1 year!!!

Whilst these figures look a little optimistic I think they show the trends...
[/quote]

A used 540i/550i sounds like a great proposition Can't find a single one on AUC however - only been out a few months but hopefully will start apearing shortly.

colejl

Sorry for the confusion, I am agreeing on all your points Indeed, an equivalent mileage/condition 530i would always fetch more than a 525i... (At least for the first 5 years)

I've done a little analysis on the data from WhatCar depreciation index, my findings:

540i & 550i (SE and M Sport) - HUGE first year loss - 32%! (Best is 530d/535d @ 21%)
Apparently no difference between SE & M Sport for 1st year loss and 3year retained.
Best 3yr retained is 530d/535d @ 62%, next is 523i/525 @ 60%, 520d @ 58%, 530i is 56%, worst is 540i/550i @ 53%

525i @ 3yrs would be ?17,097, equivalent 530i would be ?18,398. (Meaning 525i has retained 60% value but 530i only 56%)

So my conclusion is buy a 540i/550i at 1 year!!!

Whilst these figures look a little optimistic I think they show the trends...
[/quote]

A used 540i/550i sounds like a great proposition Can't find a single one on AUC however - only been out a few months but hopefully will start apearing shortly.
[/quote]
Indeed! Just spotted I'd missed out the 525d. Works out the same as a 520d apparently... (22% 1sy year lost and 58% retained)

That 1st year loss on the 550i M Sport is ?14.5k!!! (Even with a ?4k discount that's over ?10k) Considering the following year you'll 'only' loose ?3.4k apparently...

It's quite interesting because after the 1st year depreciation apparently all models depreciate at roughly the same rate... (Lose about ?2.5k to just over ?3k per year, strangely enough the 530d/535d loses the most per year!? With the 535d more than the 540i/550i - Although the 1st year depreciation 'saves it'! )