Approved Used BMW Negotiating Advice Please?

In my experience there's not much movement in price unless they've had the car for a while (but the price may have already been lowered).

If it qualifies for AUC re-sale, it's easier to get them to raise their offer for your part exchange - but in this case that doesn't apply.

I'd agree with Fox above that £20k for an old 118i isn't ideal.
 
I'm in total agreement with Fox that £20k for a 118 quite frankly seems a little ridiculous. Surely there are better offerings to be had at this price range?
 
Firstly I'm not a car dealer, in general I think most of them are greasy. I used to work in car finance and speak to dealers all the time.

That being said, in the current market dealers are not making that much on car sales, they make it from commission on finance deals, and all the extras and services packages etc.

But from the sale alone, particularly on new or those approved used cars there isn't much of margin.

I watching some stuff on what goes on behind the scenes between manufacturer and the dealer, basically I would not want to run a car dealership at the moment.

Basically though, don't feel like you are getting screwed because they won't give you much/anything off the cash price.
 
BennyC said:
If they're unwilling to negotiate on price then look for consumables that will be due shortly and ask for them to be changed as part of the deal. For example if tyre tread is on the low side or discs/pads nearing the end of their life but not necessarily due yet.

You'd expect AUC cars to be in good shape so this might not be necessary.
Click to expand...

This would be my advise too. The last time I bought a car (2020) the dealer wouldn't budge on the sticker price but I got them to resolve a couple of issues before I would buy at that price (replaced a front tyre so that it matched the same tyre on the axle, do a service that was due in 3 months etc).
 
Thanks for the advice.
What is wrong about the 118i Auto at that price? It seems in-line with others on the market that I have seen. What would you suggest as a similar but better value option please?
Cheers,
Paul.
 

New and Used Cars for Sale

Browse our used deals now with finance available. Select the used car you want and get it delivered to your local Dealer.
www.stratstone.com www.stratstone.com

This is one of the cars I was looking at. What, if anything, makes this a bad value potential purchase in the market as it is today?
 
piscean86 said:
Thanks for the advice.
What is wrong about the 118i Auto at that price? It seems in-line with others on the market that I have seen. What would you suggest as a similar but better value option please?
Cheers,
Paul.
Click to expand...

Why go for such a new example of the car if you are going for a car that has been out for ages?
 
muon said:
Why go for such a new example of the car if you are going for a car that has been out for ages?
Click to expand...
Hi muon,
I admit I know very little about cars (as you can probably tell) but I had the idea that low mileage and a few years old is a good compromise between buying brand new or getting something much older that might cost a lot more in repairs and maintenance?
Please though, kindly tell me if you think this policy is wrong.
Thanks again :)
Paul.
 
That is quite a basic 1 Series, I would be looking for something else - you may have had a lucky escape posting here!

What are your requirements?
 
IMO something like a Focus that was a new model in 2019 or a Mk7.5 Golf would be a better bet. The F20 is also quite cramped for its size, not sure if you've sat in one yet.
 
If you able to get finance then why not take finance and pay it off within the cooling off period? You have 14 days cooling off period within the Consumer Credit Act to do this as far as I am aware.

This 'might' give some leeway on the sticker price.

Free mats, cables etc are pointless - you can often get these for a lot less on eBay or owners forums.
 
Robbo said:
That is quite a basic 1 Series, I would be looking for something else - you may have had a lucky escape posting here!

What are your requirements?
Click to expand...

It's actually on my parents' behalf that I'm finding a car for them. They're elderly and this will probably be the last car they buy and all they want it something small enough to park easily but big enough ti do a big supermarket shop or go on a holiday in the UK, etc.
They've had similar size hatchbacks like Corollas, Astras, Focuses, Escorts etc in the past and it's just that at their time of life they would like the same kind of car but with just a little bit more of a luxury feel, even if it costs a bit more.
So in that respect the 118i ticks all the boxes.

chanjy said:
IMO something like a Focus that was a new model in 2019 or a Mk7.5 Golf would be a better bet. The F20 is also quite cramped for its size, not sure if you've sat in one yet.
Click to expand...

Hi there,
Yes we've sat in the BMW and they like it a lot. Nothing against Focus (they had 2 before) or Golfs, but like I said they fancy something a bit more prestige.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll bear it in mind.
 
The issue is that you're buying a 2019 car but it won't feel like one, if that makes sense. This car came out in 2011 - it is old. 2019 was the very last year before it went out of production, later in 2019 an all-new model came out which feels like a completely different car inside and out and is far more modern.

This doesn't mean it's a bad car, it just means that by getting a 2019 example you're paying the price of a modern car but not really getting one, if that makes sense. That one is also a particularly low specification example which again may not be of concern but in terms of value for money and the experience you'll get as a result of buying it there is very little about it that is different from a 2012 version of the same car - there were some technological upgrades later in the life of the 1 Series, for example LED headlights, but this car doesn't have LED headlights.

It is not a luxury car and won't feel like one. It really is quite basic.

If they insist on a 1 Series I would recommend increasing the budget and buying one of the first of the current version of the car. It is better in every way*:

Here is an example of what I mean:

www.cazoo.co.uk

Cazoo - BMW 1 Series

BMW-1 Series-MH69CNF
www.cazoo.co.uk www.cazoo.co.uk

A far better, more modern, more up to date and more 'luxury' car than the last of the previous model.

*It's now FWD not RWD but this won't make any difference to them at all. If anything its probably better for them.

Alternatively, look at the current model Mercedes Benz A Class - another good small hatchback which offers what they are looking for:

www.cazoo.co.uk

Cazoo - Mercedes-Benz A Class

Mercedes-Benz-A Class-KW68XSZ
www.cazoo.co.uk www.cazoo.co.uk

As you can see these are both considerably nicer cars than the previous 1 Series.
 
piscean86 said:
Hi muon,
I admit I know very little about cars (as you can probably tell) but I had the idea that low mileage and a few years old is a good compromise between buying brand new or getting something much older that might cost a lot more in repairs and maintenance?
Please though, kindly tell me if you think this policy is wrong.
Thanks again :)
Paul.
Click to expand...

In principle, this is a sensible policy but not without its pitfalls.

The problem with this approach with the cars you are looking at, is that you've landed on the very last cars from a model in production from 2011 to 2019, which means you're paying absolutely top money (because it's only a couple of years old in our age obsessed market) but you're fundamentally buying a car designed for 2011 that's been tweaked and revised a bit through some facelifts. I don't think it got any major updates since 2017 (when it got updated to the latest iDrive), so chances are a 2017 car would be virtually identical to the 2019 car you've found. As you're looking at Approved Used cars, you'll be getting some element of warranty thrown in anyway.

Ignoring the fact the market is absolutely bonkers at the moment and accepting you're paying over the odds regardless - I'd say you're better looking at a slightly older 118i if that's what you want, or looking at alternative cars that are perhaps newer platforms and will have more toys as standard.

It's all very well going for a BMW for a touch more prestige but if you do that by buying a relatively low end 1 Series, you have to question what that prestige is actually getting you - because it probably won't be specced fantastically as standard when it comes to tech and toys, nor will it be particularly luxurious feeling (I don't think it'll even have leather seats for example?). There's not much prestige about the 1 Series you linked beyond the BMW badge on the front - you're missing most of the good bits of having a 'prestige car' that make it prestige IMO.
 
I really appreciate both your replies.
The M-Sport one you linked to looks stunning and if it was for myself (in my 30s) I would absolutely be looking for that kind of thing instead. But as far as parents' are concerned it would surely just mean more on insurance, more likelihood of being stolen, more expensive on petrol and running costs, etc.
It's a fair point you make about the car being based on 2011 design, I totally accept that. But I am struggling to think what technological advances the newer model would have that would actually be of benefit to a retired old couple popping around town. It's got the sat-nav, parking sensors and keyless start.... for them that will all be new and amazing in itself!
I'll have a look though at the A Class and other such alternatives.
Cheers
 
piscean86 said:
I really appreciate both your replies.
The M-Sport one you linked to looks stunning and if it was for myself (in my 30s) I would absolutely be looking for that kind of thing instead. But as far as parents' are concerned it would surely just mean more on insurance, more likelihood of being stolen, more expensive on petrol and running costs, etc.
It's a fair point you make about the car being based on 2011 design, I totally accept that. But I am struggling to think what technological advances the newer model would have that would actually be of benefit to a retired old couple popping around town. It's got the sat-nav, parking sensors and keyless start.... for them that will all be new and amazing in itself!
I'll have a look though at the A Class and other such alternatives.
Cheers
Click to expand...

With the age your parents are at - an M Sport model might cost them £10-20 a year more (assuming no terrible history) and in terms of more likelihood of being stolen - it's not a true M car.....it's mainly different bodykit and wheels - there's plenty more out there which is a lot more nickable than a 1 Series! Running costs on a newer model will probably be better than the older model if anything due to being a more modern engine design and there's no difference between a 1 Series SE or a 1 Series M-Sport in terms of running costs - they both use the same 118i engine.
 
piscean86 said:
I really appreciate both your replies.
The M-Sport one you linked to looks stunning and if it was for myself (in my 30s) I would absolutely be looking for that kind of thing instead. But as far as parents' are concerned it would surely just mean more on insurance, more likelihood of being stolen, more expensive on petrol and running costs, etc.
It's a fair point you make about the car being based on 2011 design, I totally accept that. But I am struggling to think what technological advances the newer model would have that would actually be of benefit to a retired old couple popping around town. It's got the sat-nav, parking sensors and keyless start.... for them that will all be new and amazing in itself!
I'll have a look though at the A Class and other such alternatives.
Cheers
Click to expand...

More on insurance - surely they're paying a pittance anyway? It'll make a negligible difference, certainly not the sort of difference someone spending £20,000 on a car should be worrying about.
More likelihood of being stolen - A 118i won't be a theft magnet whether it's a Sport or M Sport
More expensive on petrol - M Sport is a trim level, it's no more powerful or thirsty than an equivalent Sport (extremely minor differences caused by different bumper designs and wheels sizes aside)
Running costs - don't think there would be much appreciably different beyond tyre cost if the wheels are a bit bigger.

As for what you get - well there will be various upgrades and whether they're of interest is something only you / they could decide - but if the newer car doesn't interest them as a better value proposition, you fall back to 'why buy the most expensive examples of a car that's not really changed much since 2015?' - Stick a private plate on it for £250 and it'll look identical to a 2019 car.
 
piscean86 said:
The M-Sport one you linked to looks stunning and if it was for myself (in my 30s) I would absolutely be looking for that kind of thing instead. But as far as parents' are concerned it would surely just mean more on insurance, more likelihood of being stolen, more expensive on petrol and running costs, etc.
Click to expand...

It was just an example of the new model - it is available in other trim levels as well, you don't have to get an M Sport. There is no difference in fuel costs - it is exactly the same engine as the one in the 118i you're looking at anyway.
 
Also to bare in mind - if the old model is what you/they go for, don't forget any AUC car has a year's warranty and if they want, they can continue to extend the warranty at the end of the 12 month period. Just because it's a 2017 for example, doesn't mean it's going to fall apart the moment the warranty runs out and you have the option of extending anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom