CPO OR NOT?? Advice needed.

[mx22]

I've just bought my '09 CPO X5 and before that I had a CPO car as well.

The way I look at it, dealerships get tons of lease returns (and I bought my car at one of the largest NY BMW dealerships). There are only so many of these returns they can sell - they keep whatever appears to be in better shape, has better options and is mechanically sound and CPO them; the rest of the cars are sold at the auction to smaller dealers. There must be something that goes into CPO labeling - if nothing else it would be a simple change of fluids, brake pad replacement and some diagnostics on major components.

And as for prices... I don't think I overpaid much, if at all. My purchase price is inline with CarMax prices, but car has lower mileage. It's also exactly what is being asked for similar cars (but again for cars with higher mileage) on Ebay and by local craigslist dealers... And on top of that, I was able to trade-in my older car at a price I would have problem getting anywhere else - whatever discount I could have gotten from smaller dealers is compensated by the higher trade-in price I got.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by mx22

I've just bought my '09 CPO X5 and before that I had a CPO car as well.

The way I look at it, dealerships get tons of lease returns (and I bought my car at one of the largest NY BMW dealerships). There are only so many of these returns they can sell - they keep whatever appears to be in better shape, has better options and is mechanically sound and CPO them; the rest of the cars are sold at the auction to smaller dealers. There must be something that goes into CPO labeling - if nothing else it would be a simple change of fluids, brake pad replacement and some diagnostics on major components.

And as for prices... I don't think I overpaid much, if at all. My purchase price is inline with CarMax prices, but car has lower mileage. It's also exactly what is being asked for similar cars (but again for cars with higher mileage) on Ebay and by local craigslist dealers... And on top of that, I was able to trade-in my older car at a price I would have problem getting anywhere else - whatever discount I could have gotten from smaller dealers is compensated by the higher trade-in price I got.

I would have to agree with this statement. My CPO was a 2 year lease return in Los Angeles, only had 16K miles on it and has every option except HUD and Active Steering.

[AKX3]

Hey guys, let me chime in on this one, since I just purchased an 08 CPO X5 4.8....
Actually, My 06 X3 has 82,000 miles and it is and was a CPO w/ Maint Plan, I have only spent about $100 (YES One HUNDRED) on the car after the factory Warantee has been out... But Not only does a car have to have the "Cpo" but also an optional maintenance plan with the CPO is the way to go... They have taken care of all of the oil changes, any little noise, radio, ANYTHING! Actually, they just replaced my Brakes and Rotors at 72,000miles... with a $50 deductible... Now that is something else...

If you want CPO, that is perfectly fine, but if you add the 2 year or 50,000 mile maininence plan, this will basically give your car/truck a 6/100,000 miles of worry free driving... and I believe the Maintence plan is an additional $2,250 above and beyond the price of the X5, all cars are different price, but I can only imagine what the Brakes, rotors, etc will cost at the end of the day... and Believe me, you will use it.... Let me know if you have any additional questions, I will try to answer

AND I QUOTE:

Buying a BMW isn’t just an expensive proposition on the MSRP front, many first-time luxury-car shoppers worry about maintenance costs. For years now, BMW has offered free maintenance on new-car purchases; it picks up the tab for the first four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Now, the company is offering an extended plan of six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, at an additional charge of between $1,395 and $2,995. The plan excludes the limited Alpina B7, but it does include all M performance models and diesels. Any current owners under the four-year/60,000-mile plan can add the service.BMW recommends service every 15,000 miles on new models.



Thanks \
AK.

[OlyS4]

Originally Posted by AKX3

Hey guys, let me chime in on this one, since I just purchased an 08 CPO X5 4.8....
Actually, My 06 X3 has 82,000 miles and it is and was a CPO w/ Maint Plan, I have only spent about $100 (YES One HUNDRED) on the car after the factory Warantee has been out... But Not only does a car have to have the "Cpo" but also an optional maintenance plan with the CPO is the way to go... They have taken care of all of the oil changes, any little noise, radio, ANYTHING! Actually, they just replaced my Brakes and Rotors at 72,000miles... with a $50 deductible... Now that is something else...

If you want CPO, that is perfectly fine, but if you add the 2 year or 50,000 mile maininence plan, this will basically give your car/truck a 6/100,000 miles of worry free driving... and I believe the Maintence plan is an additional $2,250 above and beyond the price of the X5, all cars are different price, but I can only imagine what the Brakes, rotors, etc will cost at the end of the day... and Believe me, you will use it.... Let me know if you have any additional questions, I will try to answer

AND I QUOTE:

Buying a BMW isn’t just an expensive proposition on the MSRP front, many first-time luxury-car shoppers worry about maintenance costs. For years now, BMW has offered free maintenance on new-car purchases; it picks up the tab for the first four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Now, the company is offering an extended plan of six years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, at an additional charge of between $1,395 and $2,995. The plan excludes the limited Alpina B7, but it does include all M performance models and diesels. Any current owners under the four-year/60,000-mile plan can add the service.BMW recommends service every 15,000 miles on new models.



Thanks \
AK.

So do I understand you correctly that I can purchase say an '08 that is still under the factory warranty period and instead of purchasing a CPO warranty, I can purchase the 2 year maintenance plan and be covered? Wouldn't this plan just cover the oil changes/brake pads/fluids? This plan does not offer the same protection for engine or trans problems as the CPO warranty does it? Are you simply saying the ROI is better on this plan because there's a better chance I'll need brakes replaced within those two years than a trans?

Or are you saying the best protection is CPO with the 2 year maintenance plan? Obviously true but who wants to spend $5-6k on "plans" over the cost of the vehicle. I'd rather put that in the bank in case s--t happens.

I really enjoyed the peace of mind our CPO warranty provided on our current E53, but this one being our first X5 and 2nd BMW ('01 330i) I don't want to assume I have to insist on a CPO for our E70. And again, we didn't even need it and really still haven't far after it's expiration.

[AKX3]

S4,

I believe the answer is yes, to most! and correct me if I am wrong, (anyone) but the maint. plan is another option you have. And yes, the maint. plan is just that, maint. of the car, nothing else. On my x3 and x5, I have cpo and maint. Plans, but I am close to 99.9999% that the car has to still be under factory warantee in order to qualify, or be a cpo... I will talk to my service advisor tomorrow to get a proper answer... And if you tell me which make, year, etc of the car you are looking at, I will be able to get you a realistic number on how much it is... Look up "BMW maintenance plan" and there is good info on the net and other forums.

Ak

[AKX3]

Oh, one more thing I forgot to say.... I guess for me, it's knowing that you have it.. Then again, you might not use it and the money in the bank is always good.. So you don't have to get it immediately, as long as the car is under warantee. A cpo'd car gets all things replaced, fixed, etc.... Mine will have new tires, rims, brakes, rotors, wipers, etc.... Just to become cpo, they have a pass a checklist.... So it will be good as new, as you already know...

Ak

[ard]

Originally Posted by OlyS4

Wouldn't this plan just cover the oil changes/brake pads/fluids? This plan does not offer the same protection for engine or trans problems as the CPO warranty does it?

The maintenance plan is a sucker play. IMO

It is justified by dealers (and owners) who use super-retail BMW pricing to paint a picture of high maintenance costs... indeed, people constantly confuse 'maintenance' versus 'warranty' and just get fearful and upset when they visit the dealer. So they go for the plan, justify it with "I can finance it" and "I just don't like worrying". Dealers just LOVE that.

The maintenance plan ONLY covers the very limited maintenance BMW recommends. Between year 4/50k and year 6/100k, you need to consider WHAT maintenace you will need. Uusually it is a few oil changes, a brake flush, a coolant flush and MAYBE a brake job. Seems like alot, no?

But not really- The trick is to find a decent indy to do your maintenance. Oil change is $100, brake and coolant $200, and a brake job is 2 hours and <$500 in parts, per axle. (The trick is to make this calculus when you hit45k miles and you know you wear/maintenance pattern.)

Dealers are asking $2200, 2500 for maintenance now. And unlike a warranty you know almost perfeclty what maintenance should cost over your ownership period....

A

[BGM]

Originally Posted by ard

The maintenance plan is a sucker play. IMO

It is justified by dealers (and owners) who use super-retail BMW pricing to paint a picture of high maintenance costs... indeed, people constantly confuse 'maintenance' versus 'warranty' and just get fearful and upset when they visit the dealer. So they go for the plan, justify it with "I can finance it" and "I just don't like worrying". Dealers just LOVE that.

The maintenance plan ONLY covers the very limited maintenance BMW recommends. Between year 4/50k and year 6/100k, you need to consider WHAT maintenace you will need. Uusually it is a few oil changes, a brake flush, a coolant flush and MAYBE a brake job. Seems like alot, no?

But not really- The trick is to find a decent indy to do your maintenance. Oil change is $100, brake and coolant $200, and a brake job is 2 hours and <$500 in parts, per axle. (The trick is to make this calculus when you hit45k miles and you know you wear/maintenance pattern.)

Dealers are asking $2200, 2500 for maintenance now. And unlike a warranty you know almost perfeclty what maintenance should cost over your ownership period....

A

I agree an Indy is key and used one on my '01 X5 for 6 years after the warranty expired But I did purchase the Maintenance program on this one because it blows through brakes. Right now I have 28K miles--it has gone through 2 front brake jobs (one just recently), 1 brake job on the rear (and the rear is showing it needs to be done again in 6K miles). I figure during the 2 years of the Maintenance program I purchased I will need at least 2 front brake jobs and also a rear (maybe 2 if I get close). And I don't beat on my cars at all.

[OlyS4]

Originally Posted by ard

The maintenance plan is a sucker play. IMO

It is justified by dealers (and owners) who use super-retail BMW pricing to paint a picture of high maintenance costs... indeed, people constantly confuse 'maintenance' versus 'warranty' and just get fearful and upset when they visit the dealer. So they go for the plan, justify it with "I can finance it" and "I just don't like worrying". Dealers just LOVE that.

The maintenance plan ONLY covers the very limited maintenance BMW recommends. Between year 4/50k and year 6/100k, you need to consider WHAT maintenace you will need. Uusually it is a few oil changes, a brake flush, a coolant flush and MAYBE a brake job. Seems like alot, no?

But not really- The trick is to find a decent indy to do your maintenance. Oil change is $100, brake and coolant $200, and a brake job is 2 hours and <$500 in parts, per axle. (The trick is to make this calculus when you hit45k miles and you know you wear/maintenance pattern.)

Dealers are asking $2200, 2500 for maintenance now. And unlike a warranty you know almost perfeclty what maintenance should cost over your ownership period....

A

I change the oil on our vehicles myself and on our E53 it's a piece of cake, costs me about $60 for both an OEM filter (Bavarian Auto) and Castrol Full Synth (Walmart) and about 45 mins of my time on a weekend. We just did the brakes (have a great local mechanic) for about $700 for new rotors, pads, fluid, (Bavarian Auto) and labor.

For me the maintenance plan is not worth the money either, the CPO is nice both from the piece of mind it offers for major engine or trans issues, but also because of the reconditioning they do before they can certify it. A private party or dealer selling as-is without a CPO probably hasn't gone through the "checklist" mentioned that is required by BMW USA.

What I'm coming up against is that I'm finding non CPO vehicles with 20k less miles for the same price as CPO vehicles. So I could pay the same price for a non certified '08 4.8 with 26k as I would for an '08 CPO with 44k. Debating about getting a lower mileage non-CPO vehicle because we will time out on the CPO before we ever hit the mileage and if I get one with 26k, I'd have a vehicle with 20k less miles in two years when the CPO vehicle expired.

[giovane]

If the mileage is low I would take the risk of buying a non-CPO.
I just bought a late 2008 X5 nonCPO at a Porsche dealership, 24k miles, loaded and in mint condition, and I couldn't be happier. It's still covered under factory warranty up to Nov. 2012 and I was able to negotiate the price down to 35K.
A comparable car but CPO I could find only around 39-40K.