kikif158

Hello. This is my 1st post. I hope I'm in the right place. What do you guys/girls think about buying a 2007 or 2008 530xi from a non BMW dealership? I've seen good prices with decent mileage cars online at non BMW dealerships. (Toyota, Honda dealerships, ect.) TIA for any and all input.

evets

So the 530xi is either an 06' & 07'. Went to 535xi in MY 08'

1)Regardless of the dealer being BMW or not, I would get the VIN and ask a BMW dealer to provide the maintenance records, to determine if any major issues were present. If they give you crap tell them you will be looking for a good dealer once you buy it for service and they will be more willing to help.

2)Get a vehicle history report, the dealer will provide. If the history report is bad right off the bat, your decision on how bad the damage was and worth the risk to you.

3)If the history report is clean, I would still get an independent firm to go over the car as damage may not have shown up on the report depending on time and if the % of damage was wrongly listed.

With that said, I bought an 07 530xi late last year and really enjoying the car. Knock on wood, it has been rock solid to date. I bought from a BMW dealer and when I asked for the maintenance records it showed the previous owners name still on it. She was local, bought and maintained the car at the same dealer. I put her name in memory and called her when I left the dealership before the purchase. She was happy to tell me about the car. She was proud to tell me it was detailed once a month, no smoke, no food, and her grand children were not allowed to ride in the car. She traded the car because her husband prefers her to not drive a car older than 3 years. Her annual "long" trips were 3 hours away and she really wished she had not traded it for a new F10..... SOLD immediately

kikif158

Thanks. I did realize there was no 2008 530. lol I'm gonna follow your advice. This will be my 1st BMW and I want to have a good 1st experience. Thanks again.

Bazooka_Joe

i just got a 2007 530xi recently from a non bmw dealership. just make sure you get all the info you can on the car before you buy. the car is great though! you wont regret it

kikif158

Thanks for the replies. I there a noticeable difference in the performance of the 2007 530xi and 2008 528xi?

kikif158

Did you purchase any type of warranty? If so, what company did you go with? Where do you plan on having it serviced? Thanks.

Bazooka_Joe

the dealer i got it from offered a third party warranty. covers for 5yr/100k bumper to bumper. and i can have it serviced at any bmw dealer.

the company is called drivers edge.

JayArras

I bought an '07 530xi CPO from a local private party I found on Auto Trader.com. I think I saved at least $5000 by not having to pay the dealer's markup. I'd explore that as an option, but still do your due diligence as stated above no matter what the source.

luigi524td

When the dealer runs the VIN it will also show IF the car was previously CPO'ed or have BMW's extended maintenance coverage. Ask whoever @ BMW runs the VIN to look for those notations in the car history!!!

Those BMW "coverages" follow the car and are transferred to the new owner no matter where the car may be resold - even a used car lot or personal deal.

Don't get suckered into another insurance deal (after-market warranty) when you might not need it!