My i3 BEV owners choice is coming due in January/February, so I've been exploring options. Unsurprisingly, the balloon payment/residual is way more than the value of the car so buying it out isn't an option.
Here's what I've gathered:
- there are occasionally 'pull ahead' programs to get you out of your owners choice/lease up to 6 months early with no penalty assuming you lease/buy a new BMW. When this was written, there was no program available for this, but things change monthly.
- BMW financial services are only offering the option to buy out or return the car, or at least that's what the customer service adviser told me. They won't reduce the balance; they won't extend the period, etc. Buy the car or return it. After that, you can deal with the dealer and they may (apparently with monies/incentives from BMW USA) resell that car to you as a certified used at market rate. Maybe there's a chance to get a deal because you're not arguing over THEIR money, but BMWs money.
Oh yeah, dealers and their internet/truecar.com staff appear to idiots. I've inquired at several dealerships in the nearby cities and nobody will actually give me a quote on leasing a vehicle in inventory. They keep sending me a 'truecar' certificate for guaranteed discount on a car that is either the same advertised price on their website or worse. Then they keep telling me to call them to come in for a test drive and/or talk to their finance guy about "great interest rates available". Or just never respond.
Here's what I've gathered:
- there are occasionally 'pull ahead' programs to get you out of your owners choice/lease up to 6 months early with no penalty assuming you lease/buy a new BMW. When this was written, there was no program available for this, but things change monthly.
- BMW financial services are only offering the option to buy out or return the car, or at least that's what the customer service adviser told me. They won't reduce the balance; they won't extend the period, etc. Buy the car or return it. After that, you can deal with the dealer and they may (apparently with monies/incentives from BMW USA) resell that car to you as a certified used at market rate. Maybe there's a chance to get a deal because you're not arguing over THEIR money, but BMWs money.
Oh yeah, dealers and their internet/truecar.com staff appear to idiots. I've inquired at several dealerships in the nearby cities and nobody will actually give me a quote on leasing a vehicle in inventory. They keep sending me a 'truecar' certificate for guaranteed discount on a car that is either the same advertised price on their website or worse. Then they keep telling me to call them to come in for a test drive and/or talk to their finance guy about "great interest rates available". Or just never respond.