Urgent, I need help buying another BMW

[Ghost-Flame]

2006 330CI, 64,000 miles. new tires, clean car fax, dealer maintianed.

issues:

front end. weather at a stop or while driving... when you press the brake pedal, the steering wheel goes to the left about 1 inch. I can get the wheel to eventually go all the way around to the left lock by repeatedly pressing the brake pedal at a dead stop. The car drives and brakes dead straight with no hands on the wheel.

There is a clunk in the front end at various speeds.

There is a significant rip in the driver seat upholstery. May need new seat cover. Passenger side is begining to go in the same spot.

Body is very good for the age, top is very good. It looks like the car was kept in a garage. runs like a raped ape. no sign of oil leaking, engine runs crisp and snappy.

The guy wants 20,000. Edmunds, KBB and True car has the retail at 15K to 16K in good mechanical condition depending on which site you would use.

How much would those repairs cost that I mentioned... Ball Park.

The x5 is running strong with 153,000 miles, original drive train and trans. can't be happier right now. I am not giving up the X5.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Flame

2006 330CI, 64,000 miles. new tires, clean car fax, dealer maintianed.

issues:

front end. weather at a stop or while driving... when you press the brake pedal, the steering wheel goes to the left about 1 inch. I can get the wheel to eventually go all the way around to the left lock by repeatedly pressing the brake pedal at a dead stop. The car drives and brakes dead straight with no hands on the wheel.

There is a clunk in the front end at various speeds.

There is a significant rip in the driver seat upholstery. May need new seat cover. Passenger side is begining to go in the same spot.

Body is very good for the age, top is very good. It looks like the car was kept in a garage. runs like a raped ape. no sign of oil leaking, engine runs crisp and snappy.

The guy wants 20,000. Edmunds, KBB and True car has the retail at 15K to 16K in good mechanical condition depending on which site you would use.

How much would those repairs cost that I mentioned... Ball Park.

The x5 is running strong with 153,000 miles, original drive train and trans. can't be happier right now. I am not giving up the X5.

I'd offer 10K $11K at most. 64K miles and the seats are ripped??? Body may be in good shape, but with the mileage it is at and needing those many things done???

As for the clunk, sounds like front suspension is shot. Probably needs new tension strut, tie rods,wing supports, wishbone strut, and ball joints.

If you are doing it yourself, probably around 5 beans. Take it to an indy, probably $1100 and to the dealer $1600.

$20K the guy is high. Edmonds can be use as a reference, but I don't use it when buying a car. I go by market analysis. So go on ebay and find a few comps and you can find a ball park.

Example, my Audi that I sold, KBB, Edmunds, etc say it is worth $21K, I sold it for Just under $18k and my Audi was mint. No one even entertained $20 for the A6, $18 was a stretch, but went to an enthusiast.

If he isn't willing to budge, move on. From where he is at and where you are at, it may not even be worth the time.

[TerminatorX5]

[SlickGT1]

+2 ttgrtr.

[dragoncoach]

Personally, I'd pass on the car. Sounds like its been beaten on pretty hard. If you can see that the interior is ripped etc, how do you think he treated the driving components. It could potentially turn into a BIG money pit.

[TerminatorX5]

In my car buying adventures I noticed - the moment i start looking for a car, the one that I think is THE one comes up rather sooner than later... Another thing, that I learned - youu should be able to let go a "catch" that seems to be too good to pass... Don't worry - another one, even better will come along...
If you are looking to find the cost of the repairs in hopes to bring the sales price down to the normal level of the KBB and whatnot, this is a wrong approach - you will overpay for the car even if he sells it to you at $18K, as it is for something that doesn't need much of the work...

Just let it go... you will find a better one...

[Ghost-Flame]

Thanks everyone, That's what I needed to hear. I was all caught up in the emotion. I'm going to move on and take my time. I don't want someone else's headaches and be paying for them to boot.

I was acting impulsive. I'll keep shopping, Thanks!!