Haggling at a Dealership

Matt85

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a *USED* car from a BMW dealership. As it will be my first purchase from a dealer, I'm not too sure how to haggle. I've got the glasses valuation of the car and its about £5k cheaper than the price listed on their website.

The thing is I dont know if I should go straight in at that price, or if they'll just laugh at me.

The car I'm looking at is ~£13,500 and is 03 plate. So would going in around £10k as an opening offer be considered acceptable? As it still feels pretty low to me.....

Any thoughts, suggestions or web links will be much appreciated :-)

Thanks!

harveybobbles

What car is it, miles, coliur, spec. And don't say BMW...

If you came to me and wanted £5000 off the price I woulnd't just laugh you off the forecourt, but i'd drop kick you off too...!

Matt85

I thought that might be the case! I'm a total novice, so best to ask on here first I figured, that way I can be laughed at here rather than in the dealership.

Here's the details:

z4, 45k, sterling silver, 3.0 SE
Not much in the way of extras other than 18" alloys.

Biggles

Aren't the prices in Glass's Guide the trade price, ie what you'd get if you were selling one to a dealer, not the price they would be selling at?

Nevertheless, still hassle them for a deal - check what others are actually being sold for, a web search should give you plenty of ideas.

harveybobbles

All guides are just that - a GUIDE. Not real life.

I've just done a national search on autotrader and found 16 of the 300 versions under 60,000 miles. Cheapest is 11490.

Other point worth remembering is there has just been a new shape Z4 launched, so this in turn will bring the prices down of the shape you're looking at.

Matt85

Just did a search using usedcarexpert.co.uk and got:

Low price Fair price Top price
£11,808 £12,975 £13,365

Reckon I'd have any chance pitching for under £13k ? or would i be lucky if I even got £13k. Correction to original price its 13,800 not 13,500.

Cheers.

harveybobbles

i'd wait a month or so as the prices will drop more dramatically with the launch of the new one.

zzzLazyDaisy

It is always worth haggling, especially if you don't have a car to trade in.

But also remember that there may be other things that you might want, but which would cost the dealer less than the retail price.

For example, you may be able to get them to throw in a one year warranty, reversing sensors, mats, even insurance.

cookie_monster

I would try and start with 12k, be prepared to walk away if they don't play ball.

Or ask them for the best price and work from there, don't tell them how much you have got to spend otherwise they will work towards that figure, just say you have seen a few you like and are looking for the best deal.

Matt85

Cool, Thanks for the info.

Also, if I did a hire-purchase finance deal. Is it financially better sense to put in a smaller or larger deposit?? Or does it not matter?

jack_spratt_2

Just to point you in the right direction find out how long it has been sitting on the forecourt( if a while they may be prepared to do a deal ) !! what prices other BMWs are selling for at the same mileage and condition !!
If they are priced less use that as a barter !! do not forget you can raise your offer but you cannot reduce it !!
Look round the car and if there are some small faults use that to knock the price down.
When you have agreed on a price say we are nearly there and barter road tax , full tank of petrol , discount on or free next service to clinch the deal
Do not forget to negotiate the APR rate on a loan its no good getting a good deal if you get a poor APR rate .

I have seen cars advertised at main dealers for the same spec and same mileage 2-3000 difference
Keep the negotiations friendly with the salesman and do not forget there will be other cars out there if they will not move on the price walk away !! but be realistic the dealer has to make a bit of profit