Haggling with BMW Car Dealership

[wndsr]

Today I made my second visit to the local BMW garage, having been invited back after previously walking out after being shown their extortionate PCP and PCH deals compared to what is available online.

Second meeting was slightly more productive - we identified a 320i M Sport with a few options, coming to about £36,000 OTR price. I was keen that any agreement had 10,000 miles and minimal deposit from me (in this case £2000), ideally for a 36 month period.

After lots of back and forth between the room we were in and the back office, he came out with a PCP deal of £460 per month, 10k miles, 48 month on the car, colour and spec that I was after. Interest rate was 4.9%.

I told him this was more than I was prepared to pay each month and asked him to get closer to 400 to compare with what I was seeing online. Out comes the Sales Manager who shook my hand and said it is his very best price and there is absolutely nothing he can do. I shake his hand again, thank them both for their time and walk out.

My situation is that I do actually really like the car and would be disappointed to lose what is essentially not a terrible offer (I don't think?!). I'm by no means an expert car buyer but was practicing my tough negotiator routine.

Do you think they will get back in touch with me with a better offer or have I got to make an awkward phone call? My view is that if they reduced the 4.9% interest we would be looking at a much more palatable quote.

 

[wndsr]

What interest rate did your bank offer you?

I didn't look before going in, but I see now on the Bank website that the rates are higher than what was offered in the dealership for cars of that price. In my naive head, I'd just assumed they would lower the APR to make the sale there and then but clearly not.

 

[wndsr]

What options were selected and what colours?

Off the top of my head it included a Technology Pack (£1900), 19" Wheels (£750), Metallic Blue Paint (£670). There may have been a couple of other minor things. I was led to believe that they "only had" cars with options coming into the country and didn't have any basic spec models.

Can't you put more down to get a better rate?
First direct were offering 2.9% APR recently on loans up to £30k although noticed they've raised it to 3.3% recently. Over £30k however it's 6.7%

I could in theory put more down, but I'm quite reluctant to put too much down. I was looking at leasing previously which meant a smaller deposit and at times smaller monthly payment. I'm not massively sure on the differences between PCP and PCH other than PCP I have the option to buy the car at the end.

 

[wndsr]

Based over 48 months that's adding £70 a month to the cost. Hence why the desk maybe worse then you've seen online.

Indeed.

I just got an offer on Carwow for the below spec. £2k upfront at £449 per month with 10k miles for 48 months. This feels like a better offer than what I was being offered in the dealer this morning.

-320i M Sport Saloon
-Mineral Grey
-Black with Grey Contrast Stitching Vernasca Leather
-Loudspeaker system - harman/kardon surround system
-M Sport Plus package

 

[wndsr]

Wait it out - don't call them

Definitely will do that now, especially as I've had a number of more competitive offers from Carwow. Good luck with the Evoque.

your location says manchester - was it rochdale bmw? they've put me off bmw enough to never get one again (well, anytime soon and/or needing to use them).

I was in the Stockport BMW today. I couldn't fault their service but just a shame that everyone has their time wasted today.

I've dropped an email to the TRL chap so will await his results, if anything

Maybe it just that am that kind of person that likes the feeling of owning my own car and also being able to tell people that I own my car and not rent it..

I'll be honest I have absolutely no interest in owning my car, I'd rather change it and get a new one.

 

[wndsr]

I did think about waiting, but I'm in a pretty bad situation with regards to timing. My current car is due to be returned in 4-5 weeks as the PCP has come to an end, meaning I will be left without a car (or buying a cheap one for a few months - not ideal as I drive a lot for work).

Annoyingly I'm also in the process of buying a house and have just received my mortgage offer, so would like to get a car settled to allow my credit report to settle before completion in December/January time.

 

[wndsr]

And I thought the new 7 Series and X7 were pushing it...

 

[wndsr]

Are there some options that are must haves?

I've seen PCH deals of 320i M Sports in stock for delivery within 2 weeks for ~£2k upfront and ~£345pm on a 6+35 deal. Heck you can get the 330 M Sport for ~£387 on the same deal. If you look at that against the cost of the your great PCP deal you were looking at ~£24k for 4 years, and these are ~£14.1k and ~£15.8k which is almost a £10k saving, albeit it a year shorted (no MOT etc. however).

You best bet is to call up the dealers/lease agents to see what options are fitted, and what colours the stock is in you will sometimes get lucky, especially if you are not overly fussy about the colour.

Very interesting indeed - I've just gone on Carwow again and seen there are some good prices for the 330i. There aren't really any options that are "must haves" as I think the standard car is pretty well equipped. If I was to have anything, it would be the M Sport Plus pack (£1900)... though I would double check as I think the fancy blue brakes are included as standard on 330i models.

 

[wndsr]

I think a lease won't be as bad as a PCP on your credit report. As the whole balance of the finance will be showing there. Not now with my lease.

That's a good point. I'm working on the basis that my mortgage amount is a good chunk (more than the car value) less than the maximum available amount, so hopefully my mortgage adviser is correct when he said affordability all checks out if I was to increase car spending from 220 to c.450.

BMW state "M Sport brakes are also available on 320d models only already standard on 330i M Sport models"

There are some good deals on the PHEV 330 version too, if you do a lot of short journeys it would save you a great deal in fuel costs.

I was very interested in the 330e also, only issue is that where I live currently has no charging functionality, but when I get my house I will be able to charge it on the drive. I'll likely do two types of driving when I move: driving to the supermarket and getting on the M6 to drive to the airport and/or to see family back closer to Manchester, so the 330e would be ideal.

 

[wndsr]

Yeah, it's not a bad deal really with a 12kWh battery pack, sensible driving in normal conditions will get you 38-42 miles on a charge. As for charging it, you only really need access to a 3-pin socket, but that is still impossible for a lot of people sadly, although saying that if you have an understanding workplace they could accommodate your request to be able to charge.

Aye sadly I work away from home so don't have an office I go to. When I'm not away I work from home (soon to be my new house where I can charge). Sadly the 330e has been ruled out this time but I'm definitely interested in going hybrid next time once I have better facilities.

 

[wndsr]

Well do some calling around then tomorrow or when you get time, then call your local dealer back and give them a single chance to meet the offer (if you are feeling generous). At the end of the day, it is your money if they don't want it and feel they can secure more money for the same vehicle then so be it.

Certainly will do that. I've got a bit of time before my current car goes back, so I can make a name for myself amongst the UK's BMW dealers...

 

[wndsr]

Soo... a slight update.

Walked into the local Mercedes dealership and after bit of back and forth, agreed to a 2018 CLS 350d 4Matic with Premium Plus pack. Haven't yet been able to find a gadget that it doesn't have

Only issue is that current insurance company won't allow me to insure it online, asking me to ring them, expecting this to be a costly process. Definitely should have researched in advance...

 

[wndsr]

Did you find Mercedes much more obliging than BMW in getting to the right deal, as that has always been my experience? Much better coffee too...

Lovely car, great choice of options and engine.

Much more accommodating... not sure whether it's because my old man works there in the workshop, it's the end of the quarter, or because I simply wouldn't stop drinking the free coffee until they got the price down.

Have done about 200 miles this weekend and must say I am very impressed. Much better than some of the Mercedes hire cars I have been given in recent years.

 

[wndsr]

Bit of an upgrade over a BMW 320i.

Shame it is white... IMO.

It's not just white, it's their designo diamond metallic white

CLS looks lovely, any pics of the inside?

Sadly not yet as it's been so cloudy today, was hoping for clearer weather tomorrow so I can get some good pictures with the light coming through the sun roof

 

[wndsr]

@MissChief I am indeed, back in Sunny Stockport (for now)

 

[wndsr]

That CLS is a beaut! Enjoy! Far better than BMW offering IMO.

Thank you

Regarding the debate around PCP/Personal Loans that seems to have erupted, sure, there probably are better deals out there, but quite frankly I have absolutely zero interest in ever owning the car, have no interest in having to sell it on when I'm done with it. I've always believed as long as you plan for all the things that PCP (or leasing, or any other financial decision) involves, then it's not a problem. Sometimes I go to Sainsburys which is an equal distance to Aldi for the same (overpriced) product because it's much easier to get a parking space.