Help with a decision to buy a 545i
#1
I am seriously thinking about purchasing a 2004 545i SMG. The car has 40,300 miles and the CPO warranty is up April 2010. It also comes with the maintenance warranty that is good for 100K miles.
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
#2
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,421
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From: Originally from Koeln, Deutschland. Enjoying it in Bonita Springs, Florida Now :)
Originally Posted by mbags' post='866878' date='May 3 2009, 02:38 PM
I am seriously thinking about purchasing a 2004 545i SMG. The car has 40,300 miles and the CPO warranty is up April 2010. It also comes with the maintenance warranty that is good for 100K miles.
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
Usually it's the SMG pump though.
By the way, to the forum
#3
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,306
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From: Temecula, Ca
My Ride: '10 Switzer "Ultimate Street Edition" GT-R
Originally Posted by mbags' post='866878' date='May 3 2009, 11:38 AM
I am seriously thinking about purchasing a 2004 545i SMG. The car has 40,300 miles and the CPO warranty is up April 2010. It also comes with the maintenance warranty that is good for 100K miles.
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
#4
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 10,301
Likes: 0
From: New York, New York
My Ride: See my signature
Originally Posted by mbags' post='866878' date='May 3 2009, 02:38 PM
I am seriously thinking about purchasing a 2004 545i SMG. The car has 40,300 miles and the CPO warranty is up April 2010. It also comes with the maintenance warranty that is good for 100K miles.
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
The dealer was asking $26K and brought it down to $23K. I offered $21.9K and he agreed.
I would like to know anyones thoughts on if it is a good buy. Should I worry that it only has one year left on the warranty? Is the maintenance warranty any good? I imagine it will run out the same time the CPO warranty runs out...
Any issues with the SMG transmission?
Again, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
MB
#6
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
You knocked them back 4K--to under 22K? DEAL!
#7
Good deal, take it if you like the SMG tranny.
Don't buy the SMG if your thinking about using it as an auto. You will be disappointed. But buy it understanding its a manual and you'll be quite happy. Drive mine all the time in manual mode with sport on (quicker shifts).
SMG's overall have been pretty solid. Few issues that I've read was usually solved by the pump being replaced. Nothing to really worry about overall though. Just make sure SMG is something that you want.
Don't buy the SMG if your thinking about using it as an auto. You will be disappointed. But buy it understanding its a manual and you'll be quite happy. Drive mine all the time in manual mode with sport on (quicker shifts).
SMG's overall have been pretty solid. Few issues that I've read was usually solved by the pump being replaced. Nothing to really worry about overall though. Just make sure SMG is something that you want.
#8
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: New York, New York
My Ride: See my signature
Originally Posted by sdg1871' post='866900' date='May 3 2009, 02:57 PM
That's a good price. According to Kelly Blue Book, the suggested retail on a 2004 545 SMG with Sports Pack in excellent condition is $26,955 and the trade-in value is $20,925. That means that you are getting the car for about $1K above the trade-in value. You might try to get the price down to $22,500 to $22,750. But it's still a good deal at $23K.
#9
Thanks to everyone who has posted replies already... I appreciate it. Thank you for having this board available.
What is the reliability on these cars? Should I be concerned that there is only one year left on the warranty?
thanks again
MB
What is the reliability on these cars? Should I be concerned that there is only one year left on the warranty?
thanks again
MB
#10
Originally Posted by mbags' post='867112' date='May 3 2009, 07:41 PM
Thanks to everyone who has posted replies already... I appreciate it. Thank you for having this board available.
What is the reliability on these cars? Should I be concerned that there is only one year left on the warranty?
thanks again
MB
What is the reliability on these cars? Should I be concerned that there is only one year left on the warranty?
thanks again
MB
I agree with everyone else.. a very good price.
However I would never purchase a used BMW that is out of warranty or will be out of warranty very soon.
Maintenance on BMW will get very expensive. Our cars will never be as reliable as the Japanese, so consider that once the car is out of warranty that you will be spending alot of $$.