Can somebody explain when people say they paid $1,400 over invoice are they including MACO and training fees, etc or just the base price + options at invoice pricing? THANKS!

Mine was about $1400-$1500 over invoice including advertising and training.

Only certain areas charge MACO fees. I ordered my 550 from Santa Maria BMW in Central California. I got the tip from another forum member. I called them up and they wanted $1500 over invoice. I said $1000 and they agreed. I also asked them about any other fees they charged before making the deal and they said they don't charge anything else. No MACO or training fee. My sales rep emailed me with a break down of the total cost and sure enough, no other fees except tax, license and reg.

Since I have his email in hand, I feel confident that they won't try to charge me anything else when I go sign the papers. If they do, I've got the email to back me up. This dealer is about 3 hours north of where I live, but I'll be saving several thousand if I bought from a local dealer. That's worth a 3 hour drive to me. Look around. Check several dealers even if they are out of your area. There have been a couple of forum members that have come to Southern California from Las Vegas to get their E60 because dealers in their area won't deal. If you want, give Ali a call at Santa Maria BMW and tell him I sent you. I'm sure he could work with you.

Thanks for the info - Im in LA as well. The email they sent was only a $1000 over invoice? I'll have to call = best I've gotten on a 530i is $1400 over invoice (with $380 Maco and $180 training) which puts me at $1960 over invoice. Ends up being about $3000 under MSRP.

I made my deal for $1500 over invoice and it (the invoice) does not include the MACO fees. The training fee is included, but it's part of the wholesale price of the vehicle. In other words, when we look online for the wholesale cost of a 550, it's $54,000, but on my price sheet it's $53,820 and the training fee is $180.....same net difference. I have always thought the best way to negotiate is from the invoice, but those "hidden" fees are something to consider when negotiating. I didn't negotiate a "fixed" price for my car because when I ordered, the new price sheets weren't out. If my dealer was participating in MACO, I could have been out another $600 or so. My deal was for $1500 over invoice, and if the "invoice" included other fees, then I would have had to argue the point!! I know 2 dealerships in my area that will do between $1000 to 1500 over invoice, so anyone in California that can't find a dealership that will be reasonable, PM me, and I'll put you in touch with a couple of salesman......and, again, these dealerships DON'T charge the MACO fee :)

Do you guys include the destination fee in the invoice price? Thanks.

Yes, it's part of the invoice price....so if you negotiate a deal that is so much over invoice, that's all you pay, excluding tax and license......does that answer your question??

what's maco fees?

I believe MACO fees are for the dealerships in large markets that participate in adverstising packages. My dealer is in small town.....no big TV/Print ads to participate in, so I had no MACO fees. I think it's about $300-$400. Basically, it's just another way to tack on more profit by breaking that cost out of the invoice. They give you a deal that's so much over invoice, and then add those fees on top (because those fees are dealer costs, therefore not part of the invoice from BMW). If you negotiate a deal that's $xxxx over invoice, make sure that you also exclude paying MACO/Training fees.

Good luck!! Deals were made early in the year for $1000 over invoice, so I'm sure you can do at least that well now.