Same year, same mileage, same price: old shape v new shape

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I've been thinking about 'what next' and it's still a way off as I've other priorities right now but with a budget of upto £20k I've been looking at compact executives. What struck me was the price of some E46 330i's, particularly the latest ones.

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The particular examples I've been looking at are registered 2005 with something like 20k miles and around £18.5k. Now below is the new model. Registered 2005 with something like 20k miles and around £18.5k.

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The photos above are just representative but my question is what's the point in buying the older model? Surely it's a hard sell considering new models are the same price.
 
Looks better, Sport spec v SE spec. Maybe the e46 has leather and satnav/tv too. That e46 looks like it's from a dealer too.

I wouldn't spend £20k on an e46 though.
 
The E46 for the same money will be a much better model i would imagine. For this money though i wouldnt be looking at E46's, their values are falling like stones at the moment and i cant see it stopping until they hit rock bottom as E36 values did a few years after E46 production started.

You will notice the same price overlap with E39/E60 5-series'
 
Jez said:
You will notice the same price overlap with E39/E60 5-series'
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I've seen E60 530i's for under £16k. Bargain! Why get an E39 at this budget? I guess condition and spec play their part but would you forfeit leather and satnav for a new shape motor because I would. Perhaps it's a yoyo effect and as new shape values meet old shapes the olds just drop.
 
Ed said:
I've seen E60 530i's for under £16k. Bargain! Why get an E39 at this budget?
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perhaps, because its a better built car than the e60?

£16k will get you a very nice e39, perhaps, one with a big fat V8 & M badge on the boot lid. ;) :cool:
 
Ed said:
I've seen E60 530i's for under £16k. Bargain! Why get an E39 at this budget? I guess condition and spec play their part but would you forfeit leather and satnav for a new shape motor because I would. Perhaps it's a yoyo effect and as new shape values meet old shapes the olds just drop.
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To be fair £16000 would get an absolutely mint last off the line V8 with every toy imaginable on an E39.

In comparison £16000 buys a not great early E60 with miles on it.

Dont know what id get in fairness, oh actually yes i do, id spend £10k on an E39 instead, just as you should do! :)
 
Ed said:
I've seen E60 530i's for under £16k. Bargain! Why get an E39 at this budget?
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Becuase at this budget, your choice will be high mileage, base spec E60 530i SE versus low mileage, absolute top spec E39 530i Sport.

For some people, spec is more important than having the latest model. Especially if the latest model is in some respects a step backward.

SE E60's, especially the early ones, just dont look right.
 
I'd find it hard to spend "proper money" on an E39 or E46 (bar M5/M3) when there's a flood of current shape cars (and plenty more to come) coming onto the market. So long as it's got ht the essentials, spec isn't a huge issue and you'll save money long term because of the relative depreciation.
 
Adz said:
I'd find it hard to spend "proper money" on an E39 or E46 (bar M5/M3) when there's a flood of current shape cars (and plenty more to come) coming onto the market. So long as it's got ht the essentials, spec isn't a huge issue and you'll save money long term because of the relative depreciation.
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For some people, spec *is* a huge issue and this is why the late cars still command a premium.
 
Good for them but if you work out relative costs of ownership over, say, 4 years they're paying a big premium for those toys.

Buying any E39 I'd always have in the back of my mind how much/little you paid for yours :p.
 
Oh exactly, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for them. But that wasn't the OP's original question.

Guy down the road from me has a 2003 530i Sport Auto with 18's on it. He paid £18k for it a year ago..
 
Agree with Adz, E39's are superb cars for 10 grand. But if we are talking bigger money than this then i couldnt stomach the plummeting values.
 
[TW]Fox;10041339 said:
Oh exactly, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for them. But that wasn't the OP's original question.
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Regarding the OP's original question, I'd blow both of them out of the water and suggest an old PA28 was a far better proposition :D.
 
having had both an e39 and an e60, i'd rather get a fully loaded e39 than a base e60..
the e60 is a better car, but the e39 is better looking and it would have all the toys and a lower mileage ;p
edit- fox: ouch!
 
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