[assuck]

How are the 325i's doing in terms of trade-in/private party value? Kbb says my car is worth 28,500. could that be right? it has xenons sport and premium package. what is everyone else who has traded theirs in getting?

[nmulax]

When you get that price on KBB, what condition are you listing your car as? For a trade-in, almost all dealers will list it as "fair".
I was offered $30k trade-in on my 330i with ZSP, ZPP and 15k miles.

You'll always do better selling it on your own.

[PocketRocket]

Originally Posted by nmulax

When you get that price on KBB, what condition are you listing your car as? For a trade-in, almost all dealers will list it as "fair".
I was offered $30k trade-in on my 330i with ZSP, ZPP and 15k miles.

You'll always do better selling it on your own.

I dont think "fair" condition is fair, by Gosh its an 06 with hardly anything wrong with it. Dont let those dealers sucker your. "Good" Condition is the least you should consider. even at that, its too much of of an downgrade.

Good condition if you read carefully calls of minor replacement items like, tires
brakes or batteries. And Im sure an 06 doesnt need any of that.

Fair condition calls of alot of repair, may some body work too.

Fair is NOT fair, to say the least.

[nmulax]

Not saying it's fair.. but neither is life.

Fair is what they're going to mark it as. If it's going to end up as a CPO car, the dealer is looking at investing about $2k into the car. So if they buy the car for $30k, they'll be selling it for $35k or so.

My car has immaculate paint (nothing but handwashed -- by myself), a handful of add-ons (see my sig) and break-in oil change at 5k miles.
None of this matters. Most cars are going to be worth less then you owe within the first 2-3 years. It's not till after that point that things start to balance out.

[LEDZEP]

I usually use the "good" ranking as a guide as long as my car is pristine. This is all part of the negotiation. You'll do better if you have a relationship with a dealer as opposed to hopping from store to store too. The trade-off is less effort to trade in vs. more money to sell privately.

[335DOG]

The dealers are going to always lowball you. If they don't get you on the taid-in, they'll get you on the price of the car or finance. I do understand that they dealers have to make money but if your not happy with what they are offering you, sale the car your-self. Thats what I did on my 2002 Accord last month. The dealers offered me 9000K for it which they had the same car on their lot for 149500. I just didn't like the idea of that so I put it on caigslist and sold it within 3 day for 11900. Yes it took me about five hours to show it to couple of people but I made 2900 in those 5 hours. That 580/hr for my time. Its not that hard. Wash the car, take some picture and list it.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I usually use the "good" ranking as a guide as long as my car is pristine. This is all part of the negotiation. You'll do better if you have a relationship with a dealer as opposed to hopping from store to store too. The trade-off is less effort to trade in vs. more money to sell privately.

+1

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by assuck

How are the 325i's doing in terms of trade-in/private party value? Kbb says my car is worth 28,500. could that be right? it has xenons sport and premium package. what is everyone else who has traded theirs in getting?

Heres kbb definition so there is no misunderstanding( of crse do this after yu add your options)

but before all this, its a common practice that No One uses Excellent, doesnt exist in the real world of used cars. Secondly, its important to note that ZIP codes plays a important part. Cars in good road States tends to gather more money that those lets say in New York City.

"Excellent" means ... excellent mechanical condition ... needs no reconditioning. ..never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. ..clean title history ... pass a smog and safety inspection. .. engine compartment is clean,.. no leaks ... free from y wear or visible defects. ... has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.


"Good" means ... free of any major defects. .. clean title history, the paint, body and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes... no major mechanical problems. ... little or no rust on this vehicle. ... tires match and have substantial tread wear left... "good" vehicle will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail. Most consumer owned vehicles fall in this category.

"Fair" means .... some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing but is still in reasonable running condition. ... clean title history, the paint, body and/or interior need work performed by a professional.... tires may need to be replaced. .. some repairable rust damage.

[sblument]

it is interesting that since new cars are so easy to obtain, used cars seem to depreciate financially much faster than they actually become less useful, or even go through their useful life (I read somewhere that the average early 2000's new car stays on the road for 18 years before it gets parted out/junked.)

[fredtoo]

Originally Posted by assuck

How are the 325i's doing in terms of trade-in/private party value? Kbb says my car is worth 28,500. could that be right? it has xenons sport and premium package. what is everyone else who has traded theirs in getting?

I traded in my 2006 e90 325 on a new coupe at a dealer, and got 27K for the trade in.
The car was a little over 1 year old at the time.
The spotless black BMW had 6K miles, 6sp M/T, Premium, Sport, and Cold Packages.

[magamaga]

KBB lists mine for trade-in at 31500 and private party at 33,500. I paid 41800 for it last February ( includes TTL)

[Ryan 330i]

i got 34k for my 06 330 ZPP ZSP NAV Step. 16k miles. but only after i grinded my sales guy for daaaaay. original offer was 33k.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by magamaga

KBB lists mine for trade-in at 31500 and private party at 33,500. I paid 41800 for it last February ( includes TTL)

95% of that $33,500 is based on the car itself, not the options. Options only gets you like 20% rate of return (if that).

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by Ryan 330i

i got 34k for my 06 330 ZPP ZSP NAV Step. 16k miles. but only after i grinded my sales guy for daaaaay. original offer was 33k.

grab the deal while its hot... or then again maybe they make it up on the other end

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

95% of that $33,500 is based on the car itself, not the options. Options only gets you like 20% rate of return (if that).

+1

[LEDZEP]

Dealers don't make very much money on new cars (as a rule). With the competition as tight as it is and the ability to buy cars via Internet, etc. it has gotten pretty tight on the new car market. Most dealerships make the lion's share of their profit on used car sales and the service/parts department.

You have to analyze your deal as a whole, considering the trade value offered and the discount on the new car. In the end, if you're happy thats all that counts. Also, used car inventory is often wholly owned by the dealership (as opposed to financed by the bank) so they are leveraging their cash flow on the gamble of getting top market dollar for your used car.

Not trying to sound like an advocate of the dealership, and I want a great deal as much as anyone - but the first rule of negotiation is to know the opposition's position and what they can and can't do. In the end it should be a win/win. The dealer should make some money so he can stay in business and keep the showroom pretty for us. The salesman should make some commission so his kids can get new shoes. And we should feel like we got a fair or better deal.

I like to work with the same CA at the same dealer because the relationship factor helps.

[c56250]

Sell it at Carmax. You will get at least $2k more.