Your opinion on price

[Quicksilver]

Why am I thinking that $38K would be a great down payment on a new X?
No worries, no questions, no travel to check it out, no surprises just a low
monthly payment and a 4 year warranty. That's what i would do but that's
just my 2 cents which isn't worth much.

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The X5 is not a collector vehicle where a repaint or slight damage would have impact on the price. There is no indication the X5 will ever become a part of the collector market. I would use the fact that it has been damaged in price negotiation as ammunition, but, IMO, it won't bring the price down much.

I feel certain both sellers know this X has passed any reasonable speculation of profit in the future. The prices have not bottomed out.

IMO the sell price is only intended to see what the market will bear because of the low mileage and condition. What seller does not know is how much that is worth and has set the price higher than he is willing to take. That means to me that you should be able to benefit from negotiation.

Agree to a point I think it has more of a "perceptual impact" on the potential buyer and price but what I am saying is if theres paint AND Im a serious buyer Im going up to see if Maaco or Earl Scheib painted it or it was done properly. Where paint work may not impact price, I think it will IMHO, but a bad job definitely will!

[PropellerHead]

What's all this talk about a new X5? This is the *E53* forum! We're SUPPOSED to be pushing Sid to *buy* it and love it and then sell it to me in 9 years with only 10k more miles on it!

Buy! Buy! Buy! (kidding)

And a side note, Sid: I talked to my wife ab it. She likes red. (it helps I told her she'd look good in it) Last I heard from my daughter though was that momma wants a couple more years out of her E46. Ahhh well...

[TiAgX5]

Low mileage is not always a good thing. Many low mile cars are "in town or city" cars, they have not reached full operating temp very often and possibly been subjected to MORE cold start/stop cycles then a normal mileage vehicle These cold start cycles actually cause more wear then operating a warm engine for hundreds of miles.

I would not want a car that only went 1k miles a year, doing 1 mile trips to the store, 2 miles to the mall, 2 miles to drop and pick up kids at school, 2 miles to meet friends for lunch. This type of vehicle operation is not good.

Being it's an X, it's not likely service duty consisted of weekend use/special night out vehicle. Like a Viper or Ferrari or Lambo or (insert high perf 2 seat coupe or convertable here).

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by OptimusPriM5

Agree to a point I think it has more of a "perceptual impact" on the potential buyer and price but what I am saying is if theres paint AND Im a serious buyer Im going up to see if Maaco or Earl Scheib painted it or it was done properly. Where paint work may not impact price, I think it will IMHO, but a bad job definitely will!

The following is strictly the opinion of the writer not even endorsed by his dog. The writer is not the seller's brother, has nothing to gain and cares more about going to a ballet than whichever side OP lands. Nor is it intended to insult the experience or intelligence of anyone on this planet.

It could happen, I suppose, but do you really think owners like these would even consider using other than the best repair shop in the area? That's on a limb a squirrel won't go.

That said, based on your latest post, there isn't all that much of a gap in what we are saying. I was responding to your original opinion that the "zit" cancels the entire premium price, period. I didn't agree with that. The damage wasn't even bad enough to require replacement of any skin.

The position that it is critical to see the vehicle in person is impossible to refute. Obviously, the most logical and conservative position. The cost to get there or I might get killed on the way will cause a momentary nick, but don't stand up. Something perhaps for longer consideration--- you have probably watched televised car auctions and seen purchases made on the internet and over the phone--happens all the time. These are buyers that are extremely particular and selective. Often after their dream, adding to their collection or expecting profit from the buy, paying a lot more than $38,000. I suppose they all could have been knocked luny being involved in the crash that killed me when I was on my way to buy this X.

The sale of vehicles is always a negotiation. The first rule of negotiation is have a walk-away price and stick to it. Another priority is know and understand the must haves of the other party. Successful negotiation is a win/win. The one thing you know for sure is this seller wants a premium price. If you are really interested, negotiate until you feel justified paying the amount he accepts as enough premium.

If OP does go to see it personally, I would suggest the sell price be locked before the trip as the seller will gain too much negotiation strength if it hasn't.
I would offer a refundable deposit to hold the X until I have seen it. It the X is what he says it is, you are locked, if not, you can re-open negotiations. Seller won't want to lose a sale he thought he already had so you have may have the advantage.

Certainly it would be worthwhile to try to deduct the cost of a potential repair to the repair. It should be part of the justification for buyers opening offer so there is an out if seller is offended.

In a conversation, before any purchase price offer, I would tell the seller the price is much higher than comparables--and ask how he decided on the price. Counter his justification with real prices on newer 4.8s that have more current features and are still covered by some kind of warranty. I would leave the call with---I have to think about it and wait 3 days or more before calling back for more discussion. If you can get him to bend on price before you make an offer, your offer can can start lower than you initially intended.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Low mileage is not always a good thing. Many low mile cars are "in town or city" cars, they have not reached full operating temp very often and possibly been subjected to MORE cold start/stop cycles then a normal mileage vehicle These cold start cycles actually cause more wear then operating a warm engine for hundreds of miles.

I would not want a car that only went 1k miles a year, doing 1 mile trips to the store, 2 miles to the mall, 2 miles to drop and pick up kids at school, 2 miles to meet friends for lunch. This type of vehicle operation is not good.

Being it's an X, it's not likely service duty consisted of weekend use/special night out vehicle. Like a Viper or Ferrari or Lambo or (insert high perf 2 seat coupe or convertable here).

It would be good to know how many miles it had on it when it started the 4 years of sitting so you know if the bulk of the miles were logged before or after 2010. Since the first owner was a collector, I'm guessing after. Asking who was primary driver and how it was used--good questions to ask.

I would be disappointed if the 7,200 was from short trips, especially not good for the engine, but with that few miles, I would just place a higher priority getting through a couple of tanks of good gas supplemented with a bottle of Texron and changing the oil.

Are you saying you always drive your weekend special enough miles to get it up to operating temperature for a half hour or more, never let it sit for more than two weeks, have never just backed it out of the garage and let it idle for a half hour reved it a few times and shut it off?

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Are you saying you always drive your weekend special enough miles to get it up to operating temperature for a half hour or more, never let it sit for more than two weeks, have never just backed it out of the garage and let it idle for a half hour reved it a few times and shut it off?

Off topic but I absolutely love the picture of your dog!

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

It would be good to know how many miles it had on it when it started the 4 years of sitting so you know if the bulk of the miles were logged before or after 2010. Since the first owner was a collector, I'm guessing after. Asking who was primary driver and how it was used--good questions to ask.

I would be disappointed if the 7,200 was from short trips, especially not good for the engine, but with that few miles, I would just place a higher priority getting through a couple of tanks of good gas supplemented with a bottle of Texron and changing the oil.

Are you saying you always drive your weekend special enough miles to get it up to operating temperature for a half hour or more, never let it sit for more than two weeks, have never just backed it out of the garage and let it idle for a half hour reved it a few times and shut it off?

When the Viper or ZR1 are fired up I make sure they run for a min of 15 to 20 min. Even if it means a 5 min idle in the driveway or left idling (locked) while I run into a store or business. I am uber-aware of start/stops while an engine is cold and warming oil to full operating temp, espically when I let the horses loose. Over 1300 hp between the 2 cars in my sig.

If it sits for 2 weeks it's on a trickle charger.

I have NEVER been above rolling the car out/into the garage by hand if it's stone cold and only needs to be moved for access (started doing that with the '94 Viper).

[sidneyj]

Thank you all for your feedback! Lots of great points. Bcredliner, I especially enjoyed your comments! Prop, your wifey needs to buy my 530 because you need another silver 5 in the fleet!

The X actually sat the first approx 4 years then the last approx 3 years is when the 7200 miles were driven by the 2nd/current owner. I think there were about 150 miles when it was sold at auction after 4 years.

The biggest lure here for me is the low miles but the sitting for the first 4 years is concerning. Next step is the seller is going to send me some close up pics of the leather seats and provide me the maintenence performed and dates. If all pans out and I decide to move forward I think the next step is to see if I can find someone close to inspect it for me. I'll be honest I think it's a long shot that this will happen due to the logistics, and I informed the seller this as well, but I am interested if it is a vehicle that shows as it should with that mileage and if we can agree to a fair price.

[sidneyj]

Originally Posted by motordavid

A poster named BigGar was supposedly a 'caretaker' for stored cars, and came into some Xs...the OP's car may be an example.

Search Tab turned this up:
http://www.xoutpost.com/classifieds/...nal-miles.html

If curious look at Members, BigGar and read his posts/thread/bio.

Back at the Ranch, if the OP really wants to spend that kind of dough, have someone check it out locally.

I still think it's pricey, but I am not buying the car, and everyone has their own bag.
None of us should be the persuaders, either way, other than our opins...
GL, mD

Thanks for this I was trying to think of this guy as I remembered some of the cars he had a few years ago. I believe this is the guy the current owner purchased this from. He actually bought 3 BMW's including this X5 from I believe this seller. That said at least the truck was in a climate controlled enviroment, fluids changed etc. Better then just sitting outside, which I wouldn't consider anyway if that was the case.