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      02-11-2020, 09:34 AM   #1
LuvMyE92
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Unhappy customers? Fickle? Something else?

I was looking at my local dealer's inventory (I've got an itch for an 8 series) and noticed that they had several (like 5 or more) used 2019 540i each with only a few thousands miles.

It's not real unusual - heck, my car (2019 540i) has less than 5K on it and I'm already thinking of something else (although reality will shortly bite me on the butt when I compare lease payments) and it makes me wonder, is it the nature of this market niche, that people sell/trade these things in the first year, at a huge loss, or are the known issues with the car (few, but include the highway vibrations) enough to get people to switch?

Curious to hear what others think.

FWIW, the last car I sold because I was so disgusted with it was the F10 535i. That steering was abysmal. Big mistake buying that one.
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      02-11-2020, 10:10 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvMyE92 View Post
I was looking at my local dealer's inventory (I've got an itch for an 8 series) and noticed that they had several (like 5 or more) used 2019 540i each with only a few thousands miles.

It's not real unusual - heck, my car (2019 540i) has less than 5K on it and I'm already thinking of something else (although reality will shortly bite me on the butt when I compare lease payments) and it makes me wonder, is it the nature of this market niche, that people sell/trade these things in the first year, at a huge loss, or are the known issues with the car (few, but include the highway vibrations) enough to get people to switch?

Curious to hear what others think.
I had a new 840D convertible as a loan car. Superb engine, uninspired interior and absolutely no rear vision (even with 360 camera) when reversing out of a car parking spot. I couldn’t wait to return it as it made me so nervous to reverse. When I took it back the dealer said I wasn’t the first to have said it ! He said it applied to most big convertibles. I’m sure the coupe is different.
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      02-11-2020, 10:18 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by Wivenhoe View Post
I had a new 840D convertible as a loan car. Superb engine, uninspired interior and absolutely no rear vision
What did you think of the ride quality compared to your 5?
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      02-11-2020, 10:56 AM   #4
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I think the number of people changing their cars after a year but be a small percentage as the costs to do so are pretty horrendous. If you can afford to do that (whether leasing or having purchased) lucky you!

I was wondering if those may have been W demo or ex staff cars possibly?

Probably fair to say that if you in the market for a 540 then you have high standards as to what you want and possibly get disappointed by something that a lot of people would still consider to be good.

Everyone is different so pure speculation on my part.

I saw a video for the 8 gran coupe and thought it was a good car - specs fairly similar to a well species 5 give or take but the price was quite a bit more and I thought to myself, the 5 has pretty much the same specs - on paper at least so why pay more? Simplifying things obviously and it may well drive differently .
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      02-11-2020, 11:06 AM   #5
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It is quite common for dealers to buy manufacturer executive cars (brass hats) at exclusive BMW auctions and they usually have maybe six months or so of use and a few thousand miles. You might ask the dealer what the source of these cars is. If they are just cars that were run through a regular Manheim or similar auction I would be careful about them if one were in the market for them, but even so they should all still have the balance of the factory warranty. Also, these might be service loaners that they just put in their used car lot. They would have similar age and mileage as the BMW exec cars. --Bob
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      02-11-2020, 12:07 PM   #6
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It’s very possible that they were owned by Enterprise. The GM of my dealer says a lot of 740s are bought from them and in fact he has bought some from them. I’ll bet Enterprise gets a hell of a price on them from BMW when they buy them.
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      02-11-2020, 12:10 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Warp Ten View Post
It is quite common for dealers to buy manufacturer executive cars (brass hats) at exclusive BMW auctions and they usually have maybe six months or so of use and a few thousand miles. You might ask the dealer what the source of these cars is. If they are just cars that were run through a regular Manheim or similar auction I would be careful about them if one were in the market for them, but even so they should all still have the balance of the factory warranty. Also, these might be service loaners that they just put in their used car lot. They would have similar age and mileage as the BMW exec cars. --Bob
In both scenarios you are talking about they are not technically used cars as they have never been registered to a buyer. I’m assuming of course that they really are listed as “used cars” as the OP was told.
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      02-11-2020, 01:37 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by LuvMyE92 View Post
What did you think of the ride quality compared to your 5?
It was definitely tighter. My 530e M Sport has VDC and is on Continental winter tyres (non rft) so is really comfortable but tight when necessary. Also, as it is a 530e it doesn’t have M suspension. The 840 didn’t have adaptive so perhaps my comparison is misleading against a standard 5 series M Sport.

The car I drove listed at nearly £ 90k and it just didn’t seem like a car of that cost. I happily returned it and got back in my G30.

I am probably being very unfair to the 8 as it was a convertible in November and I really prefer comfort over looks.

I just took a look at deals available in the U.K. - over £ 20k off list of 850i’s
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      02-12-2020, 05:25 AM   #9
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I've thought about inquiring about the 850 gran coupe but then thought about how upside down I would end up and left it at that.
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      02-12-2020, 07:25 AM   #10
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I had no idea that Enterprise had 7 series. Why then do I always seem to get the Nissan Sentra or (worse yet) the Chrysler 200?
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      02-12-2020, 07:55 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvMyE92 View Post
I had no idea that Enterprise had 7 series. Why then do I always seem to get the Nissan Sentra or (worse yet) the Chrysler 200?
Here in Houston they have a separate group that rents more upscale vehicles....at least they did a few years ago. I’m guessing that is the reason.

https://www.enterprise.com/en/exotic...ury-sedan.html

https://www.enterprisecarsales.com/l...ies-Ventura-CA
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Last edited by jjscsix; 02-12-2020 at 08:02 AM..
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      02-12-2020, 10:39 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvMyE92 View Post
I was looking at my local dealer's inventory (I've got an itch for an 8 series) and noticed that they had several (like 5 or more) used 2019 540i each with only a few thousands miles.

It's not real unusual - heck, my car (2019 540i) has less than 5K on it and I'm already thinking of something else (although reality will shortly bite me on the butt when I compare lease payments) and it makes me wonder, is it the nature of this market niche, that people sell/trade these things in the first year, at a huge loss, or are the known issues with the car (few, but include the highway vibrations) enough to get people to switch?

Curious to hear what others think.

FWIW, the last car I sold because I was so disgusted with it was the F10 535i. That steering was abysmal. Big mistake buying that one.
I was planning on seeing if I could get my dealer to buy out my lease or get me transferred into something different because I was unhappy with my 540 during my time with the vehicle, but had planned on waiting till something new had come out at BMW (8-series and 3-series weren't available yet at the time).

This was the plan, or to either just wait out the lease despite my lack of enjoyment with the vehicle, but then the car ended up being totaled when someone ran a red light and straight into my car. I went to Mercedes because at the time my wife's E90 335 was pretty much at the end of its life so we were left with one car and I needed to get something for myself, but the BMW's I was interested in weren't available.

I think most of the low milage used cars are either one of two things.

1) BMW demo/loaners. These vehicles are likely those included in BMW's SEC scandal where dealers had bought the cars as new for themselves and then sold them with little to no milage months later as used/executive demos/CPO, hence why there are so many used BMW's for sale with less than 2k miles.
2) People who have the money to just upgrade whenever they want something new. They like their car but can't own it for more than 2-3 years without getting bored or wanting something newer, better, different, etc. I know that there are a bunch of people like this on the forums who will upgrade to new cars fairly often.
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      02-12-2020, 10:48 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjscsix View Post
In both scenarios you are talking about they are not technically used cars as they have never been registered to a buyer. I’m assuming of course that they really are listed as “used cars” as the OP was told.
You are correct, although I know we used to have service loaners and Brass Hats mixed in with used cars. To the customer, they appear used despite the title situation. On the plus side, that they are untitled is a selling point and might offer some advantages in financing by BMW.--Bob
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