The 550 power train is obnoxiously reliable, the CIC isn't that much of an upgrade (says someone that's had all three E60 setups) and other than the M-tech package you're really not getting anything better, plus if you consider what you'd lose in selling the one to get the other it's probably going to come out a wash if you were just to apply that money to maintenance on the current car.

Likewise, you're putting this arbitrary mile limit on yourself before you relegate the car to weekend duty but it's just that: arbitrary. If your mileage limitations were based in reason I could see the potential benefits of a lower mileage car but they're not. You may as well say "I'll only allow myself to drive the car full time if it's blue and this one is blue so that's another reason to buy it."

Good luck either way. Keep the 08.

 

I had the same concerns. I previously owned a 2007 530i with 53k and no warranty. The 530 although a nice car was under powered, so I traded it for 2010 550i MSport and I'm so glad that I did. I now have a warranty, plenty of power for my needs, and a kick ass car.

 

i can understand OP
there is always something magic about M Sport suspension even if the difference is so small

Here is one example for front Stabilizer , see diff 0,1 MM

from real OEM

01 Stabilizer, front D=25MM 1 31356764111 $170.72
For vehicles with
M Sports suspension
S704A=Yes
01 Stabilizer, front D=25,6MM 1 31357905312 $170.72
For vehicles with
Sports suspension settings
S226A=Yes
01 Stabilizer, front D=25.5MM 1 31356766508 $208.55

 

Dead on, Dishoom. The difference between trade-in allowance for the 2008 and the cost of the 2010 will be exactly DOUBLE the difference in the retail prices of the two vehicles. Here's why (as I learned from doing exactly what accordi87 wants to do):

Cost of the 2010 will be the retail value of a PERFECT vehicle. Its perfect condition will be documented and warranted.

Trade-in allowance for the 2008 will be the wholesale value of an AVERAGE vehicle.

Why average wholesale? First, because your say-so as to condition is not documentation, and you can give no meaningful warranty. Further, the dealer's inspection will be very cursory, because the dealer doesn't want to expend a lot of time or money on it, and the primary inspection purpose will be to find wear and problem areas. You'll be surprised was a piece of ___ you own.

Second, because if the dealer wanted a 2008 on the lot, he only has to pay wholesale to get any one of dozens of beautiful examples from the dealers-only auctions. That is the value of your car to the dealer, pure and simple.

More importantly, if you only paid the difference in retail values between the two vehicles, the dealer would have to sell two cars to make one car's profit. No go.

I'm predicting the net diff will be $12-15K.

I concluded that the only way to trade up without being cleaned is to sell my 2008 privately, and get lucky on the sale price.

 

I'm thinking of getting a 550i and wanted to get an idea of your fuel mileage
MPG or miles per tank ?
Thanks

 

24.5 wh
19 city

 

Ok thanks 777
Is that tank to tank or just reading off the MPG display?
I say that because most people don't do a full tank to full tank divided by the mileage for real world numbers.

 

on tank
420-450 miles wh
280-300 miles city

 

If you've owned it since day 1 -- keep the car and do a suspension system upgrade.

Perhaps I'm weird, but I develop an attachment to my cars -- having a car from day 1 that is purchased note leased -- for car fanatics like us -- it becomes part of the family. Make this that car that you have until you're 60 and its got half a million miles on it. 1 owner, treat it right.

I've always wanted to do this. You have that opportunity. I say keep it and keep it maintained.

 

+1 on suspension system upgrade
first think i do on all my bimmers