Swapping BMW 320i for BMW X3

Redzah

Hi, I'm thinking of swapping the following in a cash plus swap deal. I am trying to ascertain the market price for a swap. It will be a swap with a family member so i just want a fair deal for both. Also, please note that i am not concerned about the aesthetics of an X3 as i know many don't like. The swap would be for the purpose of freeing up some cash for myself while continuing to drive a decent car. Any thoughts advice on price and potential issues with an X3 this age would be welcomed;

My car
BMW 320i MSport coupe
2008 year
Full m sport kit
Cream leather interior
Full on board computer, built in blue tooth etc.
140,000km

Family members car
BMW X3 2.0d
2006 year
185,000km
Basic interior (no leather etc.)
It appears to be the base model.

My thoughts would be a swap plus €10k (€17,500 vs €7,500?) would be fair but again would love to see your thoughts and any thoughts on future costs required for a 2006 X3.

Thanks.

bmwguy

Definitely a trade down for you but think you may have overvalued both machines. A 2008 petrol BMW will not make €17,500 even though you have a nice car (well above average mileage for a 5 year old) and I dont think the demand exists for X3 to make €7,500 at that mileage. That said, difference could be close enough to your €10k, maybe €7,000 (12k v 5k). However, if you're bopth happy go for it. Incidentally, I bought a 2004 525i m sport top spec, beautiful condition 2 weeks ago for €2,500 with the same mileage as your 320. I know yours will fetch more than mine but is it worth 7 times mine? Funnily enough I travelled as a passenger in a 2006 x3 last night, I have owned 5 BMWs (e36 318is, 2 x e46 318i, e39 530i and now e39 525i) and the x3 was definitely something that just wore the badge of a premium label but certainly didnt feel premium, in fact it was a ball of dirt compared to all the cars I had, and I'm not messing here, felt far less well made than Alfas and Peugeots I have had. The x5 is in a different league, as are all BMW saloons, I dont know what happened with the x3.

Redzah

bmwguy wrote: »

Definitely a trade down for you but think you may have overvalued both machines. A 2008 petrol BMW will not make €17,500 even though you have a nice car (well above average mileage for a 5 year old) and I dont think the demand exists for X3 to make €7,500 at that mileage. That said, difference could be close enough to your €10k, maybe €7,000 (12k v 5k). However, if you're bopth happy go for it. Incidentally, I bought a 2004 525i m sport top spec, beautiful condition 2 weeks ago for €2,500 with the same mileage as your 320. I know yours will fetch more than mine but is it worth 7 times mine? Funnily enough I travelled as a passenger in a 2006 x3 last night, I have owned 5 BMWs (e36 318is, 2 x e46 318i, e39 530i and now e39 525i) and the x3 was definitely something that just wore the badge of a premium label but certainly didnt feel premium, in fact it was a ball of dirt compared to all the cars I had, and I'm not messing here, felt far less well made than Alfas and Peugeots I have had. The x5 is in a different league, as are all BMW saloons, I dont know what happened with the x3.

Cheers for that, its helpful to see a bit of realism on the price but i would have thought mine would be worth more than the €12k you suggest (although not the €17,500 i suggested originally). Is it the milage that is devaluing mine as it is top spec in every other aspect so i thought it would at least fetch €15k but again appreciate your opinion and im not the most knowledgeable on these matters.

Completely understand you point on the X3 and it will def be a big trade down but my needs have dictated this and by keeping it in the family it cuts out and dealer margins etc. So €7k would be a fairer price then? At that level i'd prob leave it and try a pvt sale and trade down further as i really need to be realising €10k on this for my needs.

bazz26

Redzah wrote: »

Cheers for that, its helpful to see a bit of realism on the price but i would have thought mine would be worth more than the €12k you suggest (although not the €17,500 i suggested originally). Is it the milage that is devaluing mine as it is top spec in every other aspect so i thought it would at least fetch €15k but again appreciate your opinion and im not the most knowledgeable on these matters.

Completely understand you point on the X3 and it will def be a big trade down but my needs have dictated this and by keeping it in the family it cuts out and dealer margins etc. So €7k would be a fairer price then? At that level i'd prob leave it and try a pvt sale and trade down further as i really need to be realising €10k on this for my needs.

The sad fact is that not a lot of people want a petrol car especially post 2007. Yours also has above average mileage for the year which shuns away your average Joe. Here is a similar car with less mileage asking €16k. Now a cash buyer would probably haggle that asking price down to €15k and will still get a warranty with it.

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/320-I/37213777668300500/

I think realistically €13k-€13.5k is probably where it is at around the value of it privately.

Redzah

bazz26 wrote: »

The sad fact is that not a lot of people want a petrol car especially post 2007. Yours also has above average mileage for the year which shuns away your average Joe. Here is a similar car with less mileage asking €16k. Now a cash buyer would probably haggle that asking price down to €15k and will still get a warranty with it.

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/320-I/37213777668300500/

I think realistically €13k-€13.5k is probably where it is at around the value of it privately.

Cheers for that, unfortunately (for me) that link seems to be a top spec also so it is what it is i suppose. would your opinion on the X3 value be €5k as the previous poster has alluded to?

Aside from the aesthetics, would there be any major concerns with the 2006 X3 regarding reliability, problems that arise on these cars at that age. If its gonna be costing me a significant amount in maintenance and problems that arise i'll prob just scrap the idea.

bazz26

Being honest leather and bluetooth are pretty non exclusive extras these days and might make it a bit easier to sell but really will not add a whole lot extra to the value of the car. I-drive and/or auto would be a lot rarer and more desirable.

There is a 2006 X3 2.0d with leather for sale on donedeal and they are looking for €10k for it, think it is a dealer which imo is too expensive, I'd expect a private seller to fetch around €7,500 for a basic one. I'd say you will struggle to get €10k cash and the X3 your way. A neighbour of mine has a 07 diesel X3 M Sport and has had it's fair share of problems, turbo had to be replaced last year and now the DMF and clutch are looking like they will need to be replaced soon too.

bmwguy

Redzah wrote: »

Cheers for that, its helpful to see a bit of realism on the price but i would have thought mine would be worth more than the €12k you suggest (although not the €17,500 i suggested originally). Is it the milage that is devaluing mine as it is top spec in every other aspect so i thought it would at least fetch €15k but again appreciate your opinion and im not the most knowledgeable on these matters.

Completely understand you point on the X3 and it will def be a big trade down but my needs have dictated this and by keeping it in the family it cuts out and dealer margins etc. So €7k would be a fairer price then? At that level i'd prob leave it and try a pvt sale and trade down further as i really need to be realising €10k on this for my needs.

Slight apologies here I read your car as a saloon and not a coupe, the coupe does tend to get a bit more than the saloon, so maybe the 13.5-14k is achievable if its in good nick. Unfortunately the things that drive price in ireland are age, mileage, motor tax rate and fuel type. Your car is prob a beauty but market isnt great for 2nd hand ones. Have a look at moving to the previous model coupe, you might clear your 10 grand if you dropped back 4 years and could still have a beaut of a car. I was in a similar position a few years ago where I had to get rid of a 530i to buy a house, had 2 cars since but always wanted to get something similar, now I have!

Redzah

bmwguy wrote: »

Slight apologies here I read your car as a saloon and not a coupe, the coupe does tend to get a bit more than the saloon, so maybe the 13.5-14k is achievable if its in good nick. Unfortunately the things that drive price in ireland are age, mileage, motor tax rate and fuel type. Your car is prob a beauty but market isnt great for 2nd hand ones. Have a look at moving to the previous model coupe, you might clear your 10 grand if you dropped back 4 years and could still have a beaut of a car. I was in a similar position a few years ago where I had to get rid of a 530i to buy a house, had 2 cars since but always wanted to get something similar, now I have!

No probs, ya its a beaut of a car and will be sorry to see it go. Its Black with Cream leather so even on the aesthetics i reckon its the most desireable and is also under the newer tax regime so €330 per annum.

Thanks for your input, reckon about €8k would be a fair price on my suggested swap based on yours and other posters inputs and in this case i will leave it and go for a straight pvt sale and purchase something cheaper.

Idbatterim

Redzah I may be interested if your selling the coupe...

Dord

The X3 was made by Magna Steyr in Austria for BMW. So yeah, as mentioned... it wears the badge.

Redzah

Idbatterim wrote: »

Redzah I may be interested if your selling the coupe...

Here's the car I was talking about a few months ago. After placing an ad with no pictures on carzone in Nov (was in the decision stage), I updated the ad over Christmas and priced it at €15,995 (price will update overnight) on other similiar cars on Carzone but I am open to offers. Any comments/advice/interested parties would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-I-M-/201301220761898/advert?channel=CARS

The approach I have taken is to price at a best price (for me) and then negotiate as needed. Does the advertised price with an ONO symbol retain interest of potential purchasers or would I be better pricing at a little less and being more hardball when it comes to negotiations?

Marcusm

Redzah wrote: »

Here's the car I was talking about a few months ago. After placing an ad with no pictures on carzone in Nov (was in the decision stage), I updated the ad over Christmas and priced it at €15,995 (price will update overnight) on other similiar cars on Carzone but I am open to offers. Any comments/advice/interested parties would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-I-M-/201301220761898/advert?channel=CARS

The approach I have taken is to price at a best price (for me) and then negotiate as needed. Does the advertised price with an ONO symbol retain interest of potential purchasers or would I be better pricing at a little less and being more hardball when it comes to negotiations?

Would you not be in a much better position if you put it through the NCT?

Redzah

Marcusm wrote: »

Would you not be in a much better position if you put it through the NCT?

Yeah, well its due mid month this month so of course I will do this. Kinda had that as a given but acknowledge your point to tick the box and eliminate any concerns there.

Redzah

OSI wrote: »

"Top spec"

That's a major put off for me, especially on a car that's decidedly not top spec.

Maybe i should change the lingo and be more specific pointing out that it has many extras with obviously the M Sport kit as a major selling point. Do you think this is a put off is individual to you or quite relevant to the overall population. It is still quite a higher end spec car. When I say spec I am talking about all things except for the engine power which is stated at the front of all car adverts and so needs no further comment, so spec for me means the rest, interior and exterior add ins etc. Is this a fair assertion?