UK Dealers

[juniorbeep]

Hi all, ventured into a local i3 dealer at the weekend for test drive. Had the usual arrogant sales person, said he'd ring me monday about a px on my car .. didn't call monday, tuesday and by weds I rang him to realise he'd done nothing. Then came back with a "can't price your car as the waiting list is 6 months but I can place an order and a couple of months before delivery they can tell me what little they will px me" ... I hate the car buying process so much. I don't want to get an amazing deal but I want a fair deal. A deal I can budget for and not feel as usual that my car is worth nothing and theirs is worth everything... come on I'm spending £30k+ I don't expect to be treated like some kind of mug. I'm the customer so try and be a sales man not a hinderance. If anyone knows of a "good" sales person and dealership perhaps point them in my direction.

 

[jadnashuanh]

I know that the UK in comparison to say the USA isn't all that large, but it would be helpful if you at least gave the area, then someone may have a recommendation.

 

[electricvirgin]

There is no excuse for not calling you back when promised. However it must be very challenging to offer a realistic px for a car 6 months down the line, nobody really knows how values will change in that time scale, even the trade valuers. Dealers dont have much margin (or so i hear?) to play with on i3's either, although it is BMW's business to ensure they remain motivated of course!

It might be worth checking one of the 'we buy any car' type buyers? I did so and had a pleasant surprise, although could not sell yet as my i3 is still 2 months or so away!

 

[elptex]

I recommend Reading Cooper BMW. Great service and experience so far, specifically Stefan and Matt. I don't follow how they can't price up a car--that's part of the order process and all prices on the i3 are fixed. Sounds like a lazy person who isn't actually motivated to do their job. Don't give that one your money.

 

[juniorbeep]

I'm in the South of England... but am will to travel to get the best deal.

I do understand the 6 month wait causes them problems... but realistically they can tell you as value of a lease plan car in 3 years time so you'd think looking back on 6 months depreciation you could come up with a rate per month and a figure. Just seems to me to be another way to screw you for every last penny. Tell me a rubbish price now and an even worse price in 6 months. Not really the feel good you prob should have when buying a car.... As I say a fair deal is all i ask and some figures to work from... not "if's" and "but's" and the deck totally in their favour.

A slight change of topic but how are the residuals of the i3 looking to hold up? Did a little search last night and the figures I saw looked scary. Losing almost 50% in first year according to some. Any thoughts?

 

[electricvirgin]

I am hoping it retains about 50% after 3 years, time will tell.

The values on lease plans are deliberately set low with the aim being to leave some room to offer a deposit contribution for the next car. I still think accurate trade in values are very hard to set in 6 months time, just my opinion of course.

 

[juniorbeep]

Yeah I can see your point and I know it's tricky for them just feel they are a bit untrustworthy and it's something they could exploit LOL. It leaves me in the position of not knowing finances until a couple of months before delivery... which is a bit of a pain.

 

[elptex]

3 year leases are putting them at about 40% guaranteed value. I don't know if that is normal compared to traditional ICE vehicles.

 

[pastyboy]

I ordered mine from Scott Martin, the i3 sales manager for Dick Lovett in Bristol. He could not be more helpful.

 

[Gonville]

Stefan at Coopers Reading gave me a quote on PX for a 10 year old 330ci. I looked it up after and that was about book value at Parkers so they are not making a killing on that. You can do the same at Parkers web site by just typing in your reg. It'll tell you. Don't expect mint condition private sale price but at least you will know.

Stefan told me that BMW won't give any PX on the i3 as the dealer is just an agent and BMW don't take the cars. As a dealer they have decided to do PX as that is what clients want but it is a separate transaction. We sold ours to our son for the Parkers valuation rather than give Stefan a headache. So I can understand if another's dealership has decided not to do that. I would expect them to tell you that rather than invent a story.

They don't get any repeat business by pissing people off or by getting a bad reputation.

Having said that they are sticking to the price. Just make sure that you get all the things specified that you need.

The things they try to add on like tyre insurance or auto glaze. Those are the things they 'make' money on. Just say no if you don't want it.

 

[juniorbeep]

I'm looking to trade in my Audi TT black edition diesel. March 2012. 25000miles... going to another dealer at the weekend who has an audi garage in their group in hopes I can get a more sensible conversation out of BMW... See what they say I guess.

 

[Gonville]

Parkers has trade in at 20,000 for a 62 plate quatro with 20,000. I am pretty sure Coopers use Parkers.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/used/audi/tt/roadster-2007/49949/adjust/?yearplate=100

 

[juniorbeep]

Thanks for this... yeah just had a look as mine is actually the coupe not the roadster ... but yeah 20-21k px... Think I'm going to try and press for a guaranteed PX on sat see what happens. I'll let ya know. Fingers crossed. It's annoying because if the deal was there I could place an order. Ugh... I hate the buying process... really makes what should be fun a pain

 

[FrancisJeffries]

I understand the PX dilemma at dealers, but don't trust 'em!
Recently, an MB dealer offered me £14k PX for my 2-yr-old B Class against a new GLA. A week later, I went to the same garage and spoke to another rep and asked him what he'd offer me for the same car simply for him to buy it - no PX at all. He looked it over, etc., and offered £15.5k!
It made me realise that it's worth shopping around (selling around?) for a good deal before PX-ing the car. My suspicion is that dealers all make a profit on PX vehicles - even on different makes. They probably operate a quiet old boys' network.

Meanwhile, I can recommend Nigel Dunne at Specialist Cars in Stevenage for being a very helpful and non-pushy salesman.

 

[juniorbeep]

no this is the problem... I don't trust them. So Saturday he told me that my car today was worth 18.5 px value so he couldn't tell me what it was going to be worth in 6 months... so already he's knocked best part of 2k off the px value... in six months he will knock another 2K off so that's where they will make all the money... as I say don't treat me like I came down in the last shower, treat me fairly, there is enough money in all this to be reasonable and we can do a deal... just frustrating.

 

[juniorbeep]

Hi well I did the deal. Managed to buy the i3 from a showroom model they had a sale fall through on so could trade in without another 6 months of depreciation on mine.... the spec is more or less what I wanted ... except I wanted the 20" wheels :-( it has the 19" turbine which are ok I guess. If anyone has the 20s here and wants to swap give me a shout!!!

 

[jadnashuanh]

If you want maximum range, stick with the 19" wheels! ANd, note, at least in the USA, if you choose the 20" wheels, those are summer tires, and not all-seasons so when it gets cold, you may need some winter tires/wheels to supplement them.

 

[juniorbeep]

hi, i'm in the uk and hopefully the snow doesn't get so bad down south... hopefully. Just not so keen on the 19 look... I know I'm just being picky... just see how i feel about them in a few weeks etc... was hoping someone might have gone off the 20s by then and wand to do a trade LOL

 

[jadnashuanh]

If they truly are summer tires, they will get hard as a rock when it gets cold, discounting any snow or ice. Not sure what they have for your market, but it's worth checking into.

 

[RCZWhite]

This always happens. I waited 6 months for my RCZ and the FRV I had before devalued by an extra £700 over the £7700 initially offered. What I have done with the RCZ is ask what it would be worth being 6 months older, still waiting! The offer on the table for my RCZ being 3 1/2 years circa 55000 miles is £10k, where I expected it to be with an approx retained value around 45% after 3 years so I expect at 4 years to be £9000.
Thankfully it's a company purchase so I benefited at the low FRV px as I bought it :lol: we do sell to anyone in the company if they are interested, usually at the px price. I hope personally the i3 drops a lot! My wife wants it.