Where would you go next...

MisterDrak

MisterDrak wrote: »

..........

Not to sure what to do next, hold off for a few months, or just hold the car for another few years... ..........

Would you consider another one year old from the likes of Beshoffs again? That's the best way to go IMO but of course you don't get the brand spanking new car.

Buddy Bubs

Cyrus wrote: »

it shouldnt make one bit of difference but they are asking because they will be assuming you got it at a better price than they would have been selling for and will be decreasing their trade offer in line with that.

yeah, that probably is a practice used by dealers but it shouldnt really matter as they inflate them to irish prices anyway. but hey, this is business and they have to make money every day.

also, anything with full digital speedos are the same whether they are irish or uk, just change it in menu between kms and miles. I have half digital, speed, consumption and mileage covered are in kms but it still has anologue dials in mph.

JoeA3

It's a bit "rich" if they beat your car down on price based on it being a UK import. They import cars from the UK themselves! I bought my 420d from a main BMW dealer, they had brought it in from the UK.

bazz26

It's ironic alright but use any tool at their disposal to buy your car from you at the lowest possible price to them.

MetzgerMeister

JoeA3 wrote: »

It's a bit "rich" if they beat your car down on price based on it being a UK import. They import cars from the UK themselves! I bought my 420d from a main BMW dealer, they had brought it in from the UK.

I recently asked a salesman in a BMW dealer if they would source a car from the UK for me and he said that they didn't do that in order to protect the Irish market.

James Bond Junior

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I recently asked a salesman in a BMW dealer if they would source a car from the UK for me and he said that they didn't do that in order to protect the Irish market.

Any luck on my suggestion?

bazz26

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I recently asked a salesman in a BMW dealer if they would source a car from the UK for me and he said that they didn't do that in order to protect the their Irish market.

That's probably what they meant.

carsfan2

MisterDrak wrote: »

Tks Carsfan,

I had the car in for an filter service the week before Xmas, and while waiting, I just asked for the CTC, to a new 330e M Sport. At that stage (3 weeks ago) they offered 30K, which I though a bit low at the time. Now i think that's a fair offer.

The salesman did mention that there was a pile of 530i out the back hence the low-ish offer.

Not to sure what to do next, hold off for a few months, or just hold the car for another few years...

General question, in each case I was asked was the car a UK import (which it was via Beshoffs), I expect that that potentially reduced the value, even though the car is immaculate and has very low miles ?

I think 30k maybe 31k for your own is about where it is for your car at the moment. I know BMW dealers are notorious low ballers but a non BMW dealer won't give you any more in my view. It is a beautiful car but to a dealer it is three years old and not as desirable to a lot of potential buyers as 530e or 520d even. The fact it is an import is relevant to dealers only when they are looking to take it in as a trade not when they sell it.
Holding on to it is obviously the cheapest option and its rate of depreciation will no doubt slow down in the next few years but sometimes we get the urge to change especially if we don't particularly love the car we drive. Is it the size of the 530i that makes you keen to move it on?
Waiting a few months won't make the cost to change any cheaper I think but now is obviously not a time when it is possible to go test driving.
Have you thought beyond the 330e?

carsfan2

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I recently asked a salesman in a BMW dealer if they would source a car from the UK for me and he said that they didn't do that in order to protect the Irish market.

They will bring in truck loads when it suits.
Anyone remember BMW and "The Sterling Collection" campaign?

bazz26

They certainly did bring them in from the UK literally by the boat load, I bought the below 520d from a BMW dealer a few years back fresh off the back of the transporter:




Most of their used stock was coming from the UK at one point.

MarkN

A transporter passed me this morning coming from Dublin port with only BMWs on it, all on UK plates. I doubt any other dealer other than a BMW one is buying that many and such a varied mix of range. It had pretty much the best selling range loaded up on it.

Cyrus

They are all at it, Mercedes as well

Buddy Bubs

After looking at getting a new a6 and then test driving bmw phevs then resigning myself to getting nothing, myself and my brother bought a toy today, Mercedes SL500 2004. Our cousin did some work on it recently for the owner who he knew was selling it. I was going to get an e46 convertible but I've had 3 e46 cars over the years so didn't appeal.
Just something completely different and even though my brother has no interest in cars really he was happy enough to share costs on this one. Will only be in sporadic use but I've the storage for it and purchase price wasn't very high so why not? The ultimate toy, will probably break our hearts but it's a beautiful machine. Will get it polished up and the few little scuffs on the wheels sorted and should be in great nick. 65,000 miles on it.

Buddy Bubs

Picture...can't seem to upload more on single post

Buddy Bubs

Some more

Buddy Bubs

Some more

Buddy Bubs

Last couple

James Bond Junior

Very very nice. A good investment

A very cool little bus :cool:

mickdw

Lovely car.
I always wonder are they something to have or a nightmare you dont need.
By all accounts the SL55 is a money pit but this should be ok specially as you know something of its recent history.

Buddy Bubs

Thanks. As for investment, I'd have my doubts! Its about fun, even if its only the odd trip to west of Ireland in the summer. Could get 2 people and a little bit of luggage. We both have sensible daily cars and might never get to own something like this again.

But when you see the likes of this

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/1996-mercedes-benz-sl-class-sl-500/24586583

Asking much much more than we paid theres a decent chance of getting a whack of it back at the very least. Not sure what the plan with it is really, it has to be nctd again fairly soon and obviously we are restricted in where we could go nowadays but maybe ready for the summer. Who knows. No holidays for a couple of years and no pints in the pub has paid for this easily enough.

Buddy Bubs

mickdw wrote: »

Lovely car.
I always wonder are they something to have or a nightmare you dont need.
By all accounts the SL55 is a money pit but this should be ok specially as you know something of its recent history.

I'm nearly 40 now so maybe it's a midlife crisis. It's just something I always wanted, loved the model before it and nearly bought one in my late 20s as a second car which would have been a mistake. The ones from the 90s and early 00s are significantly dearer now than they were then so they do go up in value, probably because they're coming into classic insurance territory.

Might turn out to be a nightmare, I will let you know! But with shared costs and being told it's in pretty good nick by someone that's always done me right advising when buying cars for over 10 years I was happy to take the chance.

Mickiemcfist

Always thought that was the best msrc design of the 00s, (SLR excluded)

Is the front lowered?

mickdw

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

I'm nearly 40 now so maybe it's a midlife crisis. It's just something I always wanted, loved the model before it and nearly bought one in my late 20s as a second car which would have been a mistake. The ones from the 90s and early 00s are significantly dearer now than they were then so they do go up in value, probably because they're coming into classic insurance territory.

Might turn out to be a nightmare, I will let you know! But with shared costs and being told it's in pretty good nick by someone that's always done me right advising when buying cars for over 10 years I was happy to take the chance.

For sure each model SL goes up in value eventually and this one will be no different. Its a fantastic design. The 1980s SL took awhile to be sought after but worth alot of cash now.
Lovely thing to have as a second car - the engine must be stunning.

MetzgerMeister

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Any luck on my suggestion?

He found one but it had nowhere near the spec I was after plus it was 7 grand over budget.

MisterDrak

carsfan2 wrote: »

but sometimes we get the urge to change especially if we don't particularly love the car we drive. Is it the size of the 530i that makes you keen to move it on?
Waiting a few months won't make the cost to change any cheaper I think but now is obviously not a time when it is possible to go test driving.
Have you thought beyond the 330e?

Spot on, and Size does matter in this case Carsfan... I think I just love the idea of a 5 rather than the actual driving experience, if that makes any sense?

Parking it in most busy carparks is a stressful exercise, especially given that I do really take care of the car and would hate to see any "dings" appear due to somebody else's carelessness. I might just hold on until say March and see where the market is then? Maybe my Crypto may have trebled by then, and I get a 440

James Bond Junior

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

He found one but it had nowhere near the spec I was after plus it was 7 grand over budget.

Ouch!

carsfan2

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

He found one but it had nowhere near the spec I was after plus it was 7 grand over budget.

What are you looking for Metzgermeister?

bazz26

I'm assuming it's a M car of some variety.

Buddy Bubs

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

Always thought that was the best msrc design of the 00s, (SLR excluded)

Is the front lowered?

Front does look lowered alright...didn't really notice. Not that I know anything about these things at all!