Haggling with a car dealer

Willie Stroker 1976

Hey folks,

Im looking at buying a used Bmw from one of the main Bmw dealers across Ireland pretty soon, the model I am looking at varies from 29-33k.

My question is if I were to go in with cash, what kind if discount could I expect? The model I am looking at is a 2012-2014 520d m sport

Thanks in advance

Atlantic Dawn

Normally you should aim for 10% discount off at a dealer for no trade in, try your luck at offers of 12-15% as a start point, don't bother any bids over the phone, turn up, look at the car, take it for a drive, express that you have cash to buy it if the price is right.

Try to find out how long the dealer has the car, you can look at the vehicle transaction enquiry area on motortax.ie, the longer they have it the more they will want rid of it.

bazz26

BMW dealers are not known for being generous so I would not expect to get them to drop 10% off one of their cars. I'd wait a month or two if you can as the new 5 Series is available from next month so they will start taking trade-ins from probably a lot of current 5 Series owners so might be more eager to do business if they have a forecourt full of them, plus it will give you a better choice in car.

Willie Stroker 1976

bazz26 wrote: »

BMW dealers are not known for being generous so I would not expect to get them to drop 10% off one of their cars. I'd wait a month or two if you can as the new 5 Series is available from next month so they will start taking trade-ins from probably a lot of current 5 Series owners so might be more eager to do business if they have a forecourt full of them, plus it will give you a better choice in car.

Yeah I was thinking that alright, even if it doesn't hike the price down atleast there will be a better selection.

Del2005

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Normally you should aim for 10% discount off at a dealer for no trade in, try your luck at offers of 12-15% as a start point, don't bother any bids over the phone, turn up, look at the car, take it for a drive, express that you have cash to buy it if the price is right.

Try to find out how long the dealer has the car, you can look at the vehicle transaction enquiry area on motortax.ie, the longer they have it the more they will want rid of it.

Don't be afraid to walk out the door, always good to let them know that you are looking at other cars and that you aren't set on one.

bazz26

Just a note is that the 5 Series got a facelift in mid 2013. This means higher standard equipment including sat nav, xenon headlights and a few other things. Facelift model will have the side indicators built into the door mirrors and the M Sport facelift model will have the newer and nicer M Sport steering wheel. They also got the new B47 engine from mid 2014.

bmwguy

It's not a rare car so plenty to choose from and play them off against each other. Demand strong enough as well and they know it. Price them in UK too, at that price potential for saving is good.

It might be hassle, but it's only a days worth of a trip, it gets you a good first spin and potentially worth a couple of thousands

Someone else might tell you about UK warranty in Ireland, I don't know the deal.

Willie Stroker 1976

bazz26 wrote: »

Just a note is that the 5 Series got a facelift in mid 2013. This means higher standard equipment including sat nav, xenon headlights and a few other things. Facelift model will have the side indicators built into the door mirrors and the M Sport facelift model will have the newer and nicer M Sport steering wheel. They also got the new B47 engine from mid 2014.

This is something I plan to do my homework on over the next month or 2 but whats the difference between the 12 and 14 reg engines,. Is the B47 more reliable? I know in the 3 series from I think 2007 up the timing chains gave hassle

bazz26

N47 engine is the one that can suffer from timing chain problems. It was sold in the 5 Series upto mid 2014. The B47 engine replaced it and so far there are no major issues with it (tip wood). N47 engine in the 5 Series would be listed as 184bhp and the B47 engine is listed as 190bhp.

Willie Stroker 1976

bmwguy wrote: »

It's not a rare car so plenty to choose from and play them off against each other. Demand strong enough as well and they know it. Price them in UK too, at that price potential for saving is good.

It might be hassle, but it's only a days worth of a trip, it gets you a good first spin and potentially worth a couple of thousands

Someone else might tell you about UK warranty in Ireland, I don't know the deal.

Yeah travelling to the Uk wouldn't bother me too much, the warranty would be just my main concern as to what way it would work

Willie Stroker 1976

bazz26 wrote: »

N47 engine is the one that can suffer from timing chain problems. It was sold in the 5 Series upto mid 2014. The B47 engine replaced it and so far there are no major issues with it (tip wood). N47 engine in the 5 Series would be listed as 184bhp and the B47 engine is listed as 190bhp.

I see, most of the dealers give a 2 yr warranty with the car but I would plan to keep it for maybe 3 years then upgrading so the that timing chain could be an issue

bazz26

The remainder of the original 3 year BMW warranty is valid in Ireland too. You could always take out an extended BMW warranty yourself > https://www.bmw-warranty.ie/Start

The BMW dealer 2 year warranty will cover most things but you do pay for it in the price of the car from them.

Willie Stroker 1976

bazz26 wrote: »

The remainder of the original 3 year BMW warranty is valid in Ireland too. You could always take out an extended BMW warranty yourself > https://www.bmw-warranty.ie/Start

The BMW dealer 2 year warranty will cover most things but you do pay for it in the price of the car from them.

Cheers Bazz, would It be much savings by the time the vrt and warranty would be taken out? I may look into all this more

Pkiernan

Willie Stroker 1976 wrote: »

Yeah travelling to the Uk wouldn't bother me too much, the warranty would be just my main concern as to what way it would work

What sort if warranty would you be getting on a 2012 to 2014 car from BMW?

Willie Stroker 1976

Pkiernan wrote: »

What sort if warranty would you be getting on a 2012 to 2014 car from BMW?

2 year warranty

Willie Stroker 1976

http://www.kearysbmw.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520d-M/1573725159763503913/

bazz26

30k seems awfully expensive for a 5 year old F10 these days even from a mail dealer when you can buy one that's 2 years younger for under 35k:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520d-M/1057470269022382252/

Henry Ford III

The discount available for a "straight" i.e. no trade in depends entirely on 2 things:-

1/. How the car is priced (if it's relatively cheap expect less). You'll never know how much it cost them. Do some research and ascertain the true value.

2/. How keen the dealer is to move it on. If it's been in stock too long for example.

It's up to you the buyer to encourage the dealer reduce the price (assuming he's willing and able). Find THE best example available and try and get a decent deal on it.

Going into a negotiation looking for a fixed % discount is folly.

TitianGerm

bazz26 wrote: »

30k seems awfully expensive for a 5 year old F10 these days even from a mail dealer when you can buy one that's 2 years younger for under 35k:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520d-M/1057470269022382252/

My dad test drove that Bazz. It was in perfect condition and was lovely to drive and didn't seem to be any problems whatsoever.

He ended up not buying though as he saw a new 4 series and now is thinking of ordering one