rb5_336

I can get massive reductions on Renaults and even Nissan by pl;aying the dealers against each other, or using forums that the dealers use to tout for business.

But I have no knowledge of how todo this for a BMW.

Anyone know any good tips/tricks to either get lower APRs or serious discounts on the cars ?

cheers
sean

R 14NS R

the best way to get a good deal is go at the end of the quarter, ie september/march 25th ish, as they have targets to meet and will do really skinny deals, as long as they can register it for sept/march also ask to speak to corporate departments as they have bigger disounts authorised.

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

As far as I know, salesmen wanna do a deal anytime, I don't think they really care if its the end of the quarter! Commission is paid EVERY month! The more you sell the more you earn!

Just be realistic. Go in and be friendly with the salesman. Don't be clever, some sales guys are smarter than you might expect! Get on first name terms. Be honest. Be prepared to give him an hour of your time! Tell him that you are there to deal TODAY on something he has in stock. Tell him that you like the way he's taking an interest and looking after you better than anyone else does. If the sales guy likes you, he'll bend over backwards to deal you! In my experience, if you tell the guy that you're after the best deal to deal RIGHT NOW!!!!!! you'll do better. Tell him that you've been to other dealers and that no-one really looked after you. Be prepared to take a car with a close spec to what you want. Agree to look at all the add-ons (I'm not saying buy them all. Just agree to look at them)

Tell the guy that you want to cut a deal before you test drive. This is a sure fire way of showing that you are serious. Loads of people test drive and then find that they can't afford the car/repayment.

Ask the sales guy if there's any chance that the sales manager can come and chat with you as well. The sales guy will love that, because he has got the sales manager to do half his work for him! The sales manager is the guy who will give the discount, not the sales guy! Tell the sales manager that you've been to their local rival and they DIDN'T look after you. He'll love getting one over on them. . . . . .


BUT be realistic with your goals. If you are after 10% discount on a new order, it's probably not gonna happen! The fact is that if you order a car, IE something thats not in stock, it's gonna take 12 weeks to come and is never probably gonna get the same discount as something in stock!

AND finally, If you want mats/full tank/flowers for your missus in the deal, mention it early on, not after you've agreed the figures or the sales guy will think you're trying to get out of the deal by throwing a spanner in the works, and it can spoil the relationship.

Good salesmen don't just sell you a car, they sell you themselves, and want to see you every 3 years for another car.

Brun

^^^^
You a salesman?

Dracoro

Selling a car, is like making love to a beautiful woman......


Just go in, say what car(s) you're interested in. Have a set budget (that you're happy with) and try to get a deal 5/10% lower than that but happy to buy at your full price. don't get suckered into crappy finance deal. If you need finance, see what they offer and compare it to personal loan etc.. It's rare that dealer finance is good although some do 0% etc. but the caveat is usually that you have to buy at full asking price.

Then see how they treat you. Do they ask if you've driven one before, you MUST do a test drive if you haven't. Do NOT make a deal then test drive, what if you really don't get on with the car for whatever reason (driving position, engine/clutch etc just doesn't 'do it' for you etc.). i.e the test drive to confirm it does drive as you hope it would, car mag reviews really don't tell the whole story.

If they can't go down much on price, try getting a free 1st service a year down the line (did this with the wifes car!), set of mats etc., extra bit on warranty etc. Don't try for tax as they can't save with that, with a service you save £200 and it only costs them £100 if you see what I mean. By all means, have the car taxed as part of the deal however but budget for that (is car new??).

Don't expect rock bottom or internet price, they can't offer that. If you want internet prices you have to buy off internet, however internet prices can't be bartered with (e.g. getting free service, mats etc.).

rb5_336

Just to say I have bought BMWs before so i'm aware of the slick/experienced sales guys they have, and how they differ from sales guys such as renault/nissan/vauxhall.

Hasd anyone successfully got a good deal on new/used BMWs recently, i.e. within the last 2 years.

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

Currently, deaers are very good compared to the bank, plus you retain your "halves and thirds" rights that you don't get on a personal loan. All these advertised "typical" apr's are biting the banks, and they're so hard to get unless you borrow 20grand or something.

I would say DEFINITELY do the FIGURES before you test drive, then you have always got a get-out if required. You say to the sales guy "I'm happy to go ahead, subject to a satisfactory test drive" thus having agreed a deal in principle but not signed up.

The salesmans worst nightmare is a "test drive hero", someone who comes in to drive, but has NO intention of buying a car.

They're usually given away by the p-reg corolla, or 92,000 mile Mondeo that they've only owned since June this year or the 2001 Mk4 Golf 1.6 with 18" RS4 replica wheels

Nigel H

I bought a 130 second hand ex BMW. 6 months old and 2,000 miles on the clock. Discount on new was 25%.

There are lots of ex BMW cars around, and their website makes it very easy to find them to any spec you want.

Gav

My mums just bought a new 118d and she got a great deal on a new car. If your in the north west go and see Nigel at BMW Stockport

rb5_336

Care to give more details ?

rb5_336

Yes I normally buy 2nd hand, you throw away so much buying new. So either the new deal has to be great (to which i'm doubting from BMW), or buying private when it's just 6 months old etc.

Jimpreza

What are the actual figures mate as I find it extremly hard to believe a 25% discount on a 6 month old BMW with 2k on the clock. If so how'd u manage that.

Nigel H

Paid £21k for a £28k car. Suspect that the 130 is now the runt of the litter and everybody wants the diesels in the clamour for fuel economy. A comparable 123d would have been £24k IIRC.

Twas a good deal. And they gave me a good trade in for the Scoob

Jimpreza

That is a good deal. Hope for me yet. I quite like the idea of a 135 coupe or 335 coupe funds permitting.

R 14NS R

i work for mercedes, so have some experiene of this. manufacturers give the dealerships bonuses for hitting volume sales, every quarter/half year, therefore if they are short or near target they will virtually give cars away to reach these targets (the bonuses are usually well in to six figures),

of course the sales people want to sell cars all of the time, but the mangers are more willing to make less on the deal to hit their quarter targets, give an extra £1500 off 5/10 cars to hit target, get £150,000 from the manufacturer.

RJM25R

iTrader: (1)

Wonder what it's worth now?????

rb5_336

any knowledge of what quarters make up the BMW financial year ? end of march/june/sept/dec ??

I know one of Renault's quarter ends Sept

R 14NS R

i know peugeot and mercedes are sept, dec, march and june, i would have thought everyones were, to end two quarters on reg change would make sense but not positive.

rb5_336

Using broadspeed and playing dealer against dealer secured me 15% of a new 123d coupe in the end, with low finance

Matteeboy

Got a VERY good deal on my 335d and they gave me a cracking p/x price for my Astra. In fact I was worried it was a duffer but got it checked to death, the rechecked and it's a genuine bargain.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

got £5K off my M3...its all depends on which model yr after as to what discount is available.
we brought a 116 m sport off the same dealer in sept , then the M3 in dec so that £80k + of business in 4 months to them , so they should look after me , also got the Tracker sub thrown in as well

But i think the cheapest deals are on the web though ..if you have no p/x and can wait up to 2 months

austinwrx

I want a legacy diesel- and I'm finding it hard to find a subaru dealer with them even in.

do search on autotrader- there are 107 nationally for sale !!!!!

some cars are a sellers market- not the other way round.

I'm also a tight git and want a good deal for the impreza as I will not buy anything on credit- its cash only for me.

on a whim, been to bmw, ford looking at other cars----- dealers are not interested at all in an impreza- or should I say a good price anyway.

maybe with run of the mill renault/nissan/bmw sold in volume its easier ????

got to say chaps, if your buying new cars- you're throwing yr money in the air and burning it. the loss on a new car is immense 6-12 mths in.

sonu

Unless you get a small car using the scrappage scheme.

sti-04!!

100% correct.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

very true but can you trust the owners before you have not ragged the ***** of the car that you are veiwing ??

hence why people buy new cars ....its only money ( if you have it ), you can't take its down under

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

dont know why people are even thinking about buying a new oil burner . i remember reading that the bmw320d vs 320petrol would take 388000 miles to break even. the mini was 89000miles to break even this takes into account the difference in price of car / servicing and fuel being the same price . this was in one of the motoring magazines sat in the doctors

Matteeboy

Drive a 335d (or 535d) or in fact any decent 3.0+ litre diesel then come and ask the same question...

austinwrx

Its a very good point, but I also think a lot of society is fairly stupid.

The amount of credit and debt this country has is a good point in case.

I think yes you probably can trust a car is in reasonable condition, if bought via a friend or dealer with warrenty. Plus the savings made go a long to fixing problems if they occur.

I didn't buy my impreza as an import/from the small ads- it came from subaru- for me to have peace of mind its a proper sorted car.

I've been stung once as such before though- with a 9 mth old golf from vw. thank god for warrenties !!!

Personally I'd rather spread my wealth across my family

Matteeboy

Bought two new cars, one very nearly new and various ages of 2nd hand cars - I'd say the best option is nearly new with low miles. You get a huge discount, a good nick car (usually) and a warranty.

Having bought the Bimmer, I do think their Used Approved scheme is utterly brilliant.

_Tim_

As it happens I did this exact calculation the other day for a 1.6 16v vs 1.5 dCi Quashqai as it's a likely contender to replace our current second car. 50,487 miles to break even if you buy the diesel.

So I thought I'd do the same for a few 3ers:

318i SE vs 318d SE - 93,195 before the diesel breaks even. Both 143 bhp
320i SE vs 320d SE - 74,533 before the diesel breaks even. 170 vs 177 bhp

This is a good one:

330i SE vs 335d SE (closest equivalents power wise, 272 vs 286) - 326,541 miles to break even!! Fookin' hell.

This is based on diesel being 1p/litre more expensive (it is where I live) and taking the published combined mpg figure.