Crazy Idea for Our New Ride

[Bill Valley]

Ok, so my wife's 02 325xi is getting old and needs to be replaced. She insists it has to be AWD, manual trans, and cannot be black, white, or silver. We have found very few preowned that meet that criteria, so we are pretty much stuck with ordering brand new with our build. To further complicate things, BMW chosen not to offer a manual in the F30 328i xDrive, so we have to go to a 335i.

Local dealer has offered us $4000K for her car toward the purchase of a black 2010 328i xDrive (with manual). This one is listed for $28K at 0.9%, and I am sure I can get it for around $25K. My suggestion is that we buy this now and turn around in 9 months and buy a 2013 during October clearance sales. My theory is that we will be able to make $7K - $9K trading or selling the 2010 to Carmax or privately at that time.

There are two potential problems:
1. State sales tax is 7% and I not want to pay twice. Dealers in Nebraska cannot roll tax into the cost of the vehicle. However, I think the tax is calculated on the sale price of the new purchase minus trade in/down payment, so I could end up paying less in taxes if I trade the 2010.

2. The 2010 may not be worth what it is now by the time October rolls around. To try to overcome this, I could finance the 2010 for 36 months. My wife's employer gives her $500/month car allowance, so ideally we would stay as close to that as possible.

Am I making this more complicated than it should be?

[TerminatorX5]

if you are REALLY considering a brand new BMW, may i suggest a european delivery?

first, you go to a bmwconfig . com, and enter the desired specs for your car.
print out the specs, along with the european invoice (which is significantly less than US retail and still less than US invoice)
shop around US dealers who will take your purchase offer for $500-1000 over european invoice.
seal the deal with the appropriate financing, either through BMW FS or your bank (with BMW FS you can skip second payment while the car is in transit).
wait for the car to be built
setup up time for pick up of the car in Munich, set up performance school (if you are into that stuff)
negotiate airplane tickets to GErmany (2 tix for the price of one is common offer)
fly to Germany, pick up the car (made to US specs, with EU approvals), they will have EU required items, such as first aid kit, fire extinguisher, whatnot, the EU genuine license plate and 15-day of EU insurance (all already included in your purchase price)
drive around europe (i may suggest Swiss alps, France, Italy)... At the end of your drive, drop the car off at designated location in your country, remove the items that you wish to take with you to the Us (otherwise, they will be removed and descarded locally), note if there is any damage to the wheels, have them replaced (part of the no deductible insurance), pack up and fly back to the US.
once in the US, wait for the car to be delivered to the dealer of your choice (any authorized US dealer), they will have the car prepped again as a new delivery, if you choose the Spartanburg delivery, sign up for another performance school, get the car and enjoy the ride...

for themoney that you would have spent for the car in the US delivery, you will have the same car, a european vacation, and probably some change left over...

Just an idea for a brand new car!!!

[JCL]

Sounds familiar. We had a 2002 325xi. Loved it. And my wife insists on a manual.

Some thoughts:

1) Replacement for the 325 is a 320, not a 328. I would choose the 320. Same HP as the 325, more or less. More torque than the 325. Better economy.

2) 335 is going in the wrong direction. I like the engine. A lot. I doubt she would value it given how she apparently liked the 325. My wife drove my 535 but didn't give any points to the engine over her NA six cylinder engines.

3) Finding a BMW with a MT is a challenge these days. IMO, forget the 335 and consider the non x version. Comes with a MT. Cheaper. Handles better. Better economy. And since most people don't put proper winter tires on their x models, you can do better with a non x and four kick ass winter tires, for many people. Isn't Nebraska flat? My 535 with Dunlop Wintersport M3s went more places, in the mountains, than our 325xi or X3 on all seasons. You still get DSC. IMO awd is over valued. You still have to convince her.

4) Don't buy a colour she doesn't want. Been there, got the t shirt. Skip the black one. Special order a new one. She keeps cars a long time. Get a colour she wants.

5) Don't fool yourself that you can buy used, flip it, and turn a profit. Doesn't make any sense. Buy the right car. Once.

Personally, I would go for the 320 or 328, non xi, MT, special order. Buy four killer winter tires for it. Keep it a long time, because when you replace it, MTs may be gone.

Good luck.

[TerminatorX5]

is 320 available in the US??

[Bill Valley]

GREAT advice JCL! I totally agree on the RWD...I have been working that angle already. The majority of Nebraska is flat, but the eastern part of the state were we live is quite hilly. Mild winters are common, but we did get a lot of snow this year. Omaha is really good about clearing the streets quickly, so not really an issue.

We have a 335 coupe as a loaner currently and it is wicked fast. I think the 328 would be the perfect balance of fuel economy and power.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

is 320 available in the US??

Yes. Turbo 2.0 litre four. Compared to the E46 325, it has 180 vs 184 HP, 200 vs 175 torque, same 7.1 sec 0-60. Better mileage. No brainer.

[JCL]

4k seems really low for a trade value. Check autotrader in your area. Here, there is a 2001 325xi MT advertised at $10k, and a 2003 at $11k. Seems like you might be trading at wholesale, but buying at retail. Neither price matters, just the difference.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

if you are REALLY considering a brand new BMW, may i suggest a european delivery?

first, you go to a bmwconfig . com, and enter the desired specs for your car.
print out the specs, along with the european invoice (which is significantly less than US retail and still less than US invoice)
shop around US dealers who will take your purchase offer for $500-1000 over european invoice.
seal the deal with the appropriate financing, either through BMW FS or your bank (with BMW FS you can skip second payment while the car is in transit).
wait for the car to be built
setup up time for pick up of the car in Munich, set up performance school (if you are into that stuff)
negotiate airplane tickets to GErmany (2 tix for the price of one is common offer)
fly to Germany, pick up the car (made to US specs, with EU approvals), they will have EU required items, such as first aid kit, fire extinguisher, whatnot, the EU genuine license plate and 15-day of EU insurance (all already included in your purchase price)
drive around europe (i may suggest Swiss alps, France, Italy)... At the end of your drive, drop the car off at designated location in your country, remove the items that you wish to take with you to the Us (otherwise, they will be removed and descarded locally), note if there is any damage to the wheels, have them replaced (part of the no deductible insurance), pack up and fly back to the US.
once in the US, wait for the car to be delivered to the dealer of your choice (any authorized US dealer), they will have the car prepped again as a new delivery, if you choose the Spartanburg delivery, sign up for another performance school, get the car and enjoy the ride...

for themoney that you would have spent for the car in the US delivery, you will have the same car, a european vacation, and probably some change left over...

Just an idea for a brand new car!!!

Great idea...few comments since I have done this few times.
The Lufthansa 2 for 1 deal is not that great as you have to buy one at regular price and the regular price is over $2500. I always ended up saving money buying individual tickets well ahead of time.
They don't deliver to any BMW dealer of your choice for free. Only the one you bought from. They will do even after Spartanburg delivery. If you want delivered to another dealer(not the one you bought from) there is close $1000 charge.

[Bill Valley]

Looks like the 320i is not available as a manual with AWD. They are killing me. I think the 328i would be the perfect blend of power and efficiency. We are giving serious thought to ED as this may be a once in 10 year purchase for her.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Bill Valley

Looks like the 320i is not available as a manual with AWD. They are killing me. I think the 328i would be the perfect blend of power and efficiency. We are giving serious thought to ED as this may be a once in 10 year purchase for her.

The 320 has a manual only in the i, not the xi.

On the flip side, it has significantly better mileage, and costs almost $9k less than the 335. It costs $13k less than the 335xi. Pick a few nice options, get some decent winter tires, and spend the rest on something that doesn't depreciate.

What winter tires did you use on your 325xi?