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Is this 2004 BMW 330 w/ Performance package over priced?

post #1 of 10
6/5/07 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thinking about buying this car or at least something similar to it over the next month or so. I don't care so much about the performance package per say but if it winds up being a better deal with all those options, I'd go for it.

Edmonds.com shows those similar specs to be around that same price, at least through a dealership anyway. I'm hoping to talk any price down a bit since I won't be financing.

anyway, it would be my first bmw so I need some advice!
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post #2 of 10
6/5/07 at 7:57pm
There're two with Performance Package from that link. The silver is automatic, which I would rule out immediately. The white has the right equipment with it. IIRC, it was in the mid $40s when it was new. However, white is very tricky to resell and doesn't have as good of a resale value as silver. Kelly Blue Book trade in value for that car is in the low $20s, and I doubt the dealer paid much, if anything, over that. If the car is in very good shape, I'd pay no more than $27-28k for it.
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post #3 of 10
6/6/07 at 9:35am
Thread Starter 
I guess it's a mute point now, it looks like overnight they updated their site and those cars aren't listed anymore (but they went from having over 4 pages of used 3-series to just one now, so maybe they aren't finished)

I didn't see the white one (and I'm not a big fan of white anyway) but I will keep on the lookout.

I thought that using the Edmonds "true market" pricing was more accurate than Kelly Blue Book because Edmonds prices closer to the dealership "black book" prices? Is that true? What is the best reference for dealership pricing?
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post #4 of 10
6/6/07 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettChaotix View Post
I guess it's a mute point now, it looks like overnight they updated their site and those cars aren't listed anymore (but they went from having over 4 pages of used 3-series to just one now, so maybe they aren't finished)

I didn't see the white one (and I'm not a big fan of white anyway) but I will keep on the lookout.

I thought that using the Edmonds "true market" pricing was more accurate than Kelly Blue Book because Edmonds prices closer to the dealership "black book" prices? Is that true? What is the best reference for dealership pricing?

NADA "blackbook" is nothing more than auction prices. That's what the dealers use to evaluate trade in cars. I suspect this might be it, or it might be a lease return, in which case the residual value determines what the true cost to the dealer is. Without having seen the blackbook value, I'd use KBB's trade-in value as a gauge for what the dealer cost is, then add $1-2k for profit if the car is really nice. If you can get the dealer to show you his real cost, that'd be best. Some dealers might do that, others won't.
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post #5 of 10
6/6/07 at 4:13pm
Thread Starter 
thanks for clearing that up!

The good news is they must have finished their site upgrade! Back to several pages of cars included both of those 2004 330 with performance packages!
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post #6 of 10
6/7/07 at 8:04pm
Dealers normally have a higher profit margin on used cars than new cars, so you're overpaying if you're only shopping at dealers. But somebody else will buy it if you don't, so don't expect much haggling. You may be better off leasing a new 3-series, esp. in a year or two when the demand cools off.
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post #7 of 10
6/8/07 at 9:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greg_atlanta View Post
Dealers normally have a higher profit margin on used cars than new cars, so you're overpaying if you're only shopping at dealers. But somebody else will buy it if you don't, so don't expect much haggling. You may be better off leasing a new 3-series, esp. in a year or two when the demand cools off.
I'm not as much of a fan of the newer body style as I am the old one, so I was looking for 05 or lower. I'm not dead-set on dealers though, I was just hoping to take advantage of the "Certified used BMW" which extends the warranty 2 years. Since I'm getting my loan from a bank, I don't mind shopping around private sellers too as long as the price is reasonable and they have good maintenance history. I have a friend who's brother is a BMW dealer in Miami - if they find something for me they'd probably be able to sell it to me for a few hundred over cost which would be sweet!! If I save a few grand buying from him I don't mind paying the $1500 to have it shipped to MD.
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post #8 of 10
6/8/07 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettChaotix View Post
I'm not dead-set on dealers though, I was just hoping to take advantage of the "Certified used BMW" which extends the warranty 2 years. Since I'm getting my loan from a bank, I don't mind shopping around private sellers too as long as the price is reasonable and they have good maintenance history.

If the car is certified, your bank can not be competative with BMW financial on a conventional loan rate. BMW cert cars almost always haev rates at 2.9 or 3.9 for 60 months. The company really gets aggressive with their rates for used cars. This, in conjuction with the extension of the factory warranty makes them pretty good buys.
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post #9 of 10
6/8/07 at 7:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettChaotix View Post
I'm not as much of a fan of the newer body style as I am the old one, so I was looking for 05 or lower. I'm not dead-set on dealers though, I was just hoping to take advantage of the "Certified used BMW" which extends the warranty 2 years. Since I'm getting my loan from a bank, I don't mind shopping around private sellers too as long as the price is reasonable and they have good maintenance history. I have a friend who's brother is a BMW dealer in Miami - if they find something for me they'd probably be able to sell it to me for a few hundred over cost which would be sweet!! If I save a few grand buying from him I don't mind paying the $1500 to have it shipped to MD.
Keep in mind, the CPO warranty extension is from the original purchase date, not from the date you buy the used car. This comes at a higher cost because of the certification cost the dealer has to pay, which is around $1000. If you're confident that the car you're buying is in tiptop shape, then the CPO warranty might not be necessary. Ditto on the CPO financing program, they're often pretty low. I've seen as low as 0.9% for 36 months. BMW Financial Services usually doesn't go longer than that. Also, another option is to lease a used car. It actually works out well if you find the right deal. This is a little secret that not many people know, even the dealers. Sometimes there are stupidly low rates on the used cars, and you have the option of buying it at the end of the lease. Just make sure the financials work out for you. Good luck. You won't regret going with an E46 whichever way you choose to finance it. I miss my old 330Ci I had before grad school.
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post #10 of 10
6/9/07 at 6:11pm
no. it's perfect in every way. beautiful car. the 2007's are amazing too, the hard-top convertable makes my dick hard.
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