[Falmouthboy]

Just had a bit of a shock! I have looked in to buying a newer car as the 330d is just turning '3'. We are the second owner, it's done only 30K miles and the original price when new was £39.5K (the stealer showed me the original order). It's a top spec car (just about every box on the option list ticked) in top condition and it now books at just £15.5K Needless to say we will be keeping it, but these residuals are shocking for a 'premium' German car - I may as well have bought French!

[Kerr]

That has retained nearly 40% of the original sales price which is actually very high.

Check out some of the French cars and you are less than 30%.

Not really sure what you expected?

[The_Bear_Yid]

Agree with Kerr tbh. You didn't buy new so didnt pay £39k. It maybe a bit low though, a dealer trade in price is ever going to be the same as private sale price.

[creepy coupe]

What did you pay for it?

[phil200tdi]

Funny thing is that a dealer in Crawley is currently retailing a top spec 09 plate e92 330d with 40k miles for £25k.

Maybe point them at this and ask which valuation is bullshit?

[Guvernator]

Yep, have to agree with Kerr. That is actually a pretty decent retained value. Cars loose money hand over fist in the UK, this really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I find it best if you think of the value of the car as essentially written off as soon as you buy it, that way if you get any money back at the end of your ownership, it's a nice bonus.

[gIzzE]

The SE retains around 38% of retail at 3 years and 36k miles.
The M-Sport retains around 44% of retail at the same age and miles.

Also what options took it to £39k?

The ones that matter are...auto, nav and.....that's it.

[scooba0010]

I just got 50% on a MB list was 34k I paid 30.5k just sold it cash 17k

[IanS100]

I thought BMWs were meant to hold good residual values!

Only when you're buying, selling is another thing entirely!

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

What did you pay for it?

£25K 18 months ago.

[p1tse]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Funny thing is that a dealer in Crawley is currently retailing a top spec 09 plate e92 330d with 40k miles for £25k.

Maybe point them at this and ask which valuation is bullshit?

Loving this approach

[p1tse]

New cars just depreciate hard!

Buy a £1k car drive it for a year and sell it for £1k lol

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

The SE retains around 38% of retail at 3 years and 36k miles.
The M-Sport retains around 44% of retail at the same age and miles.

Also what options took it to £39k?

The ones that matter are...auto, nav and.....that's it.

Yep, got those, plus Visibility pack, electric seats, lumbar support, panoramic sun roof, business sound, professional media pack, sports seats plus a few bits of trim. The first owner did forget to tick heated seats though!

[Jules59]

Just part exchanged the wife's Freelander 2 for another one. Got £10K for it at 5 years old. Using a simple exponential curve in XL that equates to 60% retained value at 3 years. If you want to have good residuals you need to choose the right cars.
Expensive but common mass produced cars tend to loose loads. BMWs dont seem too bad % wise but in real terms they will loose loads more than your cheap cars with high depreciation rates.
Put it another way the wife's new Freelander (£26K) will be worth more than my £42K beemer at 7 years.
Hers's another for thought. My work colleague has just bought an immaculate Porshe 996 turbo - 9 years old with 20K miles. Including insurance, inspection, wheel alignment and 2 new tyres it cost him £29K - thats a bargain IMO - the depreciation curve for him is going to be pretty flat now.

[phil200tdi]

Makes me think the c63 AMG lease deals at £430+vat per month (6+23) is a good plan rather than the risk of depreciation!!

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Makes me think the c63 AMG lease deals at £430+vat per month (6+23) is a good plan rather than the risk of depreciation!!

£15k in 2 years sounds a lot, but I bet in the depreciation in 2 years is a lot more than that.

[phil200tdi]

It's a £58k car!

In 2 years I suspect you'd pick one up for £30k.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

It's a £58k car!

In 2 years I suspect you'd pick one up for £30k.

It doesn't really take much thought then, other than go for one or not.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Funny thing is that a dealer in Crawley is currently retailing a top spec 09 plate e92 330d with 40k miles for £25k.

Maybe point them at this and ask which valuation is bullshit?

Yea there are two coupes around the 30-40k miles mark. Both M Sport, well speeced. have been prepped and come with full warranty.

both are around 22k asking price. (pre negotiation)

O.P's car is a SE spec. Possibly may need prep work, tyres, parts, paintwork etc.

Taking into consideration what he was offerred by BM wasn't out of the norm.

O.P could obviously sell for more if advertised privately.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

£25K 18 months ago.

The way to look at it is, you have lost £555.00 per month of ownership.

In the first 18 months the car lost £833 per month. So you're £££ to the good by buying used.

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by Awfully_Polite

O.P's car is a SE spec. Possibly may need prep work, tyres, parts, paintwork etc.

Fair point, but in truth we cherish our cars so it would need minimal prep, 2 x wheel refurbs would make it 'mint'.

I take the point about it being an SE - but for some they carry more appeal because of the better ride.

I wouldn't go down the route of private sale, too much grief and risk.

[CJ92]

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

I wouldn't go down the route of private sale, too much grief and risk.

How do you know if you have never done it?I have sold quite a few cars privately ranging from a few hundred pounds to 20k,
and never had any real problems.

Yes you may have a few time wasters but thats to be expected.You should try it you may have a pleasant surprise..