What is a Realistic Used Price?

[Best4x4xFAR]

Okay,

Hello All. Hope this is not too abrasive for a first post. My wife has decided she wants an X5 (E53) for an everyday driver. Though we'd prefer to have a manual 3.0i, it seems like it will be too much hassel (long travels) to get a manual transmission X5.

As such I have encouraged her to consider the 4.4i as well as the 3.0i (the EPA numbers for fuel economy are nearly identical, so it seems dumb not to consider it, unless I am missing something). Wow, are prices all over the place! We are looking primarily at dealerships, with the hopes of picking up a CPO for a good price, but what is a good price?

We drove a '05 CPO (bought at auction, still had the grease pencil writing on the windows) auto, premium, cold weather, no NAV, no Premium sound, 34K miles, advertised at $34,999 (seems high based on the two that follow). Dealer has indicate not much room to move on the price.

Found an '05 4.4i CPO, 40K miles, sports package, cold weather, no NAV or Premium sound advertised at $29,992. Haven't spoke to the dealer about pricing yet. or ?

Found an '04 '04 4.4i CPO, 51K miles, premium, cold weather, non NAV or Premium sound advertised at $25,992. Haven't spoke to the dealer about pricing yet.


I don't want to go older than '04 because of the myrid of changes made in '04, she would prefer NAV, but not a deal breaker. It seems like the 3.0i and 4.4i prices are only slightly different, often with the 4.4i's being less?!? Is everyone just assume the V8 is a gas hog, inflating the 3.0i values?

I'm not trying to deny fair profits, but I don't want to get ripped either. Help! Thanks in advance..