Should I switch car? If so, to which one?

Cardelia

I've currently got a 2003 (53) 316i SE saloon with 32k on the clock, average-good condition, and I've had it for about 2 years. Whilst it was in for a service last week, BMW sales called and said they've got someone who would like to buy my car, would I be interested in selling? Turns out it wasn't just normal salesman-trying-to-get-a-quick-sale patter and they're actually prepared to do a pretty good deal for a PX on my current car. Glass's and Parkers both rate it at around £4500 for PX (give or take £100 or so) whereas BMW are prepared to offer me £7k towards a new car.

The car they've offered me is a 2006 (55 plate) 320i ES with 47k miles. Originally listed £12.5k, now down to £10k. The only problem is the ES level trim which means I'd lose a few things that I have on my current car, such as climate control and rear parking sensors, which I actually find useful. Finding the extra £3k won't be an issue, although I couldn't afford to put in much more than £3k.

There's another car at a neighbouring dealer, a 2005 (05) plate 320i SE with 63k miles, also up for £10k. Although it's higher mileage and 6 months older, it's also at SE trim level which means I won't lose any of the equipment which I've got in my current car. Both cars are the new shape 3 series but neither have the efficient dynamics. They're also essentially the same road tax and fuel efficiency as my current car so I won't lose or gain anything there.

I'm quite happy with my current car, but I also realise that the chances of ever again being offered £7k for it (even as a private sale) are fairly remote. Swapping seems like a good deal to me, but what does everyone else think? Should I swap and if so, to which car?

ETA: Both cars are BMW approved used, which means a year's MOT and a year's guarantee are included as well.

jackieb

Why would you want to part with £3000 for a similar car that has 15k or 31k more miles than the one you have? If you're happy with the one you have, why need to spend thousands of pounds on another one?

The car you already have has exceptionally low mileage.

BillScarab

jackieb wrote: »

Why would you want to part with £3000 for a similar car that has 15k or 31k more miles than the one you have? If you're happy with the one you have, why need to spend thousands of pounds on another one?

The car you already have has exceptionally low mileage.

The OP is looking at swapping from a 316i to a 320i so the perfomance shoul dbe significantly differrent.

colino

If your happy with the 316, buy a vanity plate, debadge it and save your cash.

Cardelia

Why would I switch? The main reason is to take advantage of the generous PX offer. Almost certainly I would never get offered £7k in future for my car, whether it's for PX or private sale. The used price guides say that my current car isn't worth £7k so if someone is prepared to offer me more than it's worth, is that not a good reason to take advantage? Not to mention that the cars I'm thinking about appear to be on sale for slightly less than the guide prices suggest they should be.

There are other reasons too. I wasn't ever going to keep my current car until it died, at some point in the next couple of years I am going to trade up for a better model. If I were to wait a couple of years I could save more money towards the new car, but I would also lose several thousand pounds in PX value because I wouldn't get such a generous offer in future. If I trade now I have slightly less of my own money to put towards a better car, but I get a very good PX value and if I ever fancy trading up to a better car again, the new car will always have better residual values than the current car.

Also, the newer cars may have covered more miles than my current car, but the ride is quieter and smoother, the performance is better and the fuel economy/tax is no different to now.

LandyAndy

How do we know that the px deal is so great?

What does Glass's price your car at for a private sale?

How much can you get off the new cars in a cash deal (no trade in)?

Dealers aren't usually charities so they must think there is a drink in it for them. Are they just moving the overtrade in their car into yours?

Cardelia

Glass's price is £6k for private sale. Average condition trade in is £4600 and dealer retail is just under £7500. Parkers are pretty similar values, maybe £1-200 different. So just by going with book prices, the dealer will be making a small profit. Also, I have no idea how much the dealer took for the car I'm thinking about getting, but I doubt they're going to sell it for a loss irrespective of what the book says it should be worth - there's almost certainly profit there for them as well.

The dealer will probably put it on the forecourt at £9k or possibly £9.5k. It may sell, it may not, but they can get far more for it than I can for the simple reason they'll be offering all the extra stuff which comes with a BMW approved used car and I wouldn't be if I sold it private.

As for getting money off the new car for paying cash, I doubt there's much room to negotiate there. The 320ES has already had £2.5k knocked off from its original list price and I'm pretty sure the SE has had at least £1k off its original list price as well. If I went down the private sale route and got the book price for my current car, I'd have £9k to spend. I might be able to negotiate 10% off the SE model, but another 10% off a car which has already had 20% of its original list price taken off is a tall order. And I'd have the hassle of a private sale as well.

michaelro

Cardelia wrote: »

I've currently got a 2003 (53) 316i SE saloon with 32k on the clock, average-good condition, and I've had it for about 2 years.
The car they've offered me is a 2006 (55 plate) 320i ES with 47k miles. Originally listed £12.5k, now down to £10k.

£3k for effectively moving up the car market into a bigger car thats 2/3 years newer - Not a bad deal.
Judging by your replies you want to and are arguing against anyone trying to convince you otherwise - If you want the car and can afford it - Buy it.

As your mileage is low, I assume you don't do any real miles anyway so the higher mileage will even itself out when you come to sell.

What the car was originally listed as makes no real difference - It may mean the garage is less likely to take an offer, but also means it hasn't sold at the higher price, so was likely overpriced in the first place.

This is the BMW from Chandlers Garage I assume?

I'd give it a go and try and get it for your car +£2.5k

emmell

You need to deduct the book price of yours from the book price of the one you have been offered (not their showroom price), it doesn't matter if you use trade or retail just use the same for each car. You will then arrive at a price difference, if it's £3000 or more, you have a good deal. If it's less than £3000 then use this price to negotiate a discount, it's always worked for me.
By the way, when I bought a 3 series from a BMW dealer the ES model was rather frowned on by the salesmen as being introduced to make the 3 series more affordable so the discounts were far higher for the ES models than the SE or the one which I bought the M sport. Also the numbers ie 316 and 320 do not always relate to engine size it depends on the year as well.
ML.

hewhoisnotintheknow

i highly doubt there is someone waiting to buy your car, they are not exactly rare

sounds like a money making exercise from bmw to me

motorguy

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

i highly doubt there is someone waiting to buy your car, they are not exactly rare

sounds like a money making exercise from bmw to me

its very obviously the BMW dealership drumming up some trade ringing up previous customers.

Seems like a good deal.

O/P - is it the newer model (e90) version they're offering you?