Ok - I'm considering returning a 6 month old 530d SE and getting a new 535d SE with the following: media pack, luxury pack, visibility pack, folding/dimming mirrors, extended lights and logic 7. Book price 42,750.

Any comments on that choice ? The car I'm returning is one on BMW finance with 27K outstanding and worth about 26k (i.e. a shortfall of about a grand).

According to my dealer, the maximum discount I'll get (cos its a factory order) is 3% and with 6k down it works out to 585 per month (over 4 years, tho its more than likely I'll return it before then). Does that sound reasonable (on the assumption the take the existing car back without any costs to me) ? Should I haggle for more of a discount ?

 

3%! I got 7% without trying very hard, and from other posts in this forum - specifically by ISUK - it sounds like with the right prevailing winds you can get upwards of 8%!

'Without any costs to me' does that mean that the dealer will stomach the shortfall in the finance? If not then you still have to pay ?1000 to get rid of your car, then you are starting from scratch - no?

Factory order or not, the dealer makes a certain margin - I am presuming that what he is trying to say is that he might be prepared to lose more margin on a car that is already on the forecourt - fair enough, but 3% is not great!

I've been told that the sport has a better residual, as most people are after sport models in the UK - yet to be proved, but given that you are going to take quite a hit on all the extras (as am I), you might be better off going for the sport - I was also considering the SE, as I prefer a quieter, softer ride, but I do think the Sport also looks better on the road.

As for the other options - Logic 7, very subjective - hear it before you buy it, you may find that it's ?800 for something you will never use, but maybe not. I also got the split folding seats, active cruise and apparently the comfort seats are really worth the extra money.

PM me if you want to chat - always good to chew the cud with a fellow prospective purchasor!

 

cloz,

Your dealer is having your leg up for sure particularly if you are taking an SE spec car. Is there a reason you aren't going for the sport? It should have a much better residual which should keep your payments in check. The 535d is a more sought after model but you should still get a healthy discount. As new535 says 8% isn't unrealistic. It is the best time to buy just now because dealers are reaching the end of quarter 1 and BMW pay out big bonuses if sales targets are met. If you play your cards right you could back a healthy discount if your sale helps them reach their target. PM me if you want put in touch with a helpful dealer who will do good discount.

 

I got a 6% discount off the old price, plus week 9 options at the old price and a very generous part ex. My advise would be to leave the SE and have the Sport version. Although the list price is higher the options are cheaper, so should work out to be similar end price. When the time comes to sell again the sport will be the more desirable version and should generate a better part-ex value, so I have read in most UK car magazines. IMHO the 535d is going to attract specialist buyers rather than a lot of fleet buyers, same as the old E39 535i and 540i, therefore the sport styling packs got to be the one.

Also I don't know whether you look at

http://www.autotrader.co.uk

but type in bmw 5 series between 35k and 45k and you will see nearly new 535d's, mostly sports versions, at well below basic list price.

 

Thanks for the comments folks - exactly what I was looking for. I have to be fair; the dealer did advise me to go for the sport rather than the SE - but other than the looks and the sports seats - there's nowt on it I want. I am not keen on the lowered suspension now the wheels. For me, personally, I'd rather spend the savings on other gadgets (Active Cruise & HUD come to mind).

However, its the discounts that are holding me back so far. The dealer has hinted they'd swallow the loss on the existing SE but that was assuming I took an in-stock car (i.e. one already in the UK and already built).

As far as logic 7 is concerned - good point - I ain't heard it yet. But ANYTHING must be better than the standard UK fit stereo, which for a 35k car sound crap. My Golf sounded better.

Do you folks think that other dealers might better the deal I've been offered (informally so far - there's nowt in writing yet) ? I ask cos all the dealers near me are part of the same chain (Whitehouse BMW).

 

Whitehouse - presumably you are in SW London somewhere - I got 7% from Hexagon, I know that Sytners will talk turkey - however in my experience it's all down to the salesperson, but you can definately do better than that - at the very least call bmwbuyers (www.bmwbuyers.co.uk).

I wasn't too fussed about the wheels or lowered suspension etc either, but the upgrade to comfort seats is cheaper, you get advanced aircon, a much nicer steering wheel, de-chrome as standard and better residual value - and the compromise in the ride isn't that bad.

I went for HUD and Active Cruise too and then went for the hi-fi speaker package in the end, as I think that Logic 7 will colour the sound too much - I heard the hi-fi in a 535d demonstrator, and it sounded ok to me - however not as good as my current E39 standard hi-fi, which was a bit disapointing.

 

I am amazed you only have a 1k shortfall on your original finance. What did you put down on that car?

 

I put down 5k on the existing 530d SE - and in effect have spent near of 10k for almost nothing !

The current values I've been given are 6k down (ouch) and 589 per month over 4 years (with BMW Finance).

I'm in the South East actually (Dartford) - I'll see if there are any dealer that I can drive to tomorrow and see if they can do anything better for me.

 

I presume that is HP, not PCP or anything like that - is there a final baloon payment with that?

I know for a fact you can get better interest rates than BMW finance, it all depends on how much you want to shop around - and how likely you are to sell the car early - make sure you don't get stung if you want to terminate the finance early - some of them charge you the remaining interest for the term! Lombard direct seem to be quite good.

 

Your head should say keep the car for at least another 2 or 3 years! You'll suffer the most relative depreciation with a 6 month old car... However, your heart (and mine!!!) wants a 535d - I can understand I feel the same way but I'm going to wait for a few years - service inclusive being a factor... Not only that more of the gremlins and problems should be resolved!

But changing a car with 'negative equity' and almost ?600/month seems crazy to me! But I haven't got finance on mine...