Negotiating a CPO At The Dealer

[Arby1028]

Originally Posted by bawareca

One of the reasons for this kind of behavior is that the used car market is still in demand for used cars after the downfall in 2008. After a few more years when it gets flooded with all the 20+ million cars that are sold every one of the recent years the used car dealers's business environment will change a lot. If someone wants to buy used cars of course

I agree 100% - the used car market is nuts right now. Buying a new car is also crazy - after my e46 was totaled on 3/25/2016 I had a 2016 GMC YukonXL as a rental car for well over a month. The sticker on it was just south of $70k!!!

[ard]

Originally Posted by thesurg3on

I'll be honest. I'm new to the community, a new future BMW owner, and this is my first time buying a car from a dealer.

What kinds of things can I negotiate with the dealer on a Certified Pre-Owned? Should I demand new tires, brakes, and stuff like that?

I am going to have a third party mechanic review the car even though it is a CPO.

Also, the dealer told me that the internet price from BMW.com >> Certified Pre-Owned in my area is not a negotiable rate. He said, "these things are a commodity, and you wont find any dealer around us that will budge on the price on a certified pre-owned".

I'm in technology sales at a large Fortune 100, and we get beat up on price all the time. Is his statement true? I think he knows I want a CPO X5 2013 Badly. I mean, at the end of the day, if he won't come down $2,000, I won't do the deal. Am I being too strict? Are dealers flexible? Its a 35i Premium, 29K Miles, $39.8K.

I appreciate any help in navigating this transaction.

well, they do say salesmen make the best customers....

As was said earlier, letting them know you want it will cost you dearly.

They DO NOT CARE if you buy the car....they know if they drop it $5k in two weeks it will be snapped up, so they are more than happy to brutalize you for the next 13 days at their asking price.

The more you engage with them, the less they will flex.

Everything is negotiable- BUT...if you were to call him and say "bought one elsewhere, they gave me $2k off", he'd say 'good for you' and immediately think about the next buyer.


Also you cannot 'demand' new tires, stuff like that. If it meets the CPO criteria, thats that. I suppose you can demand new tires and they'll say 'sure, for $1500 more'

Originally Posted by thesurg3on

My fear is that is a private party, I am spending too much time hunting, and taking it to a private mechanic for verification (costs that can add up at $175/check)...

Most of my BMW friends and work colleagues tell me to go CPO all the way just because of the maintenance. But at the end of the day, computers and programming are my thing and not cars...

Huh. So here is that odd contradiction: too busy making bank selling fortune 100 product to be able to shop private, but $2k on the deal is a dealbreaker? Just saying. Personally I can afford to write checks for new cars, yet I will still shop private sales, do the leg work, and set prices which are based on my own valuation. My point is not to be snarky, but understand what your real motivation is...IMO you are buying into the big lie of the CPO: that is is somehow a careful refurbishment of the car to factory standards and represents a 'cut above'... you want to mitigate your risk by buying a CPO, (because you are a bit out of your technical comfort zone), which is a false proposition. Its a nice used car with tires and brakes over 50%. (and a BMW Gold Plan warranty added on)

And I have no idea what your friends are talking about with CPOs and 'just because of the maintenance'


People here are car guys, not computer and software guys...listen to them.



Finally, the best way to get a great price? Know what you want; know the market value; be prepare when it pops up: private or CPO. Offer what its worth. Dont care where you buy it, and be patient. If you dont have the luxury of time, pay asking (or close to). Pretty simple at the end of the day.