Help required - spec and used prices (dealer v private)

[kmpowell]

Chaps,

I used to be a member of Z4um, but that seems to have gone belly up and from what I can gather the usual faces have migrated over here, so I thought I'd sign up and pick your brains.

I'm currently looking at 56/07 plate 3.0 Coupe Sport's, but I'm having trouble valuing them for the following reasons... dealer prices seem to vary wildly and residuals seem to be at one end of the scale or the other making private sales vary also! So far I have drawn the following conclusions; dealer cars can vary from between £26k and £30k and privately they seem to be going for about a grand lower - however, this is VERY spec dependent, yet after comparing hundreds of cars I can find no constants that would be 'essential' to keep a cars residual.

Now, I may have found one on a private sale that fits my requirements, however he is asking £27k for it, which I think is a bit strong considering dealer forecourt cars are this much. The car does have a pretty good (IMO?) spec though and of course there is plenty of warranty left too, it is as follows...

2006(56), 'Sport', 9k miles, with the following options;
Bluetooth Telephone preparation,
Voice control system,
Hi-fi loudspeaker system,
BMW 6 disc CD changer (mp3 compatible),
Electric Folding exterior mirrors,
Graduated tinted windscreen,
Sun protection glass,
Xenon headlights includes auto range adjust,
3 Stage Heated seats,
Comfort pack (Multi Function Steering Wheel/Storage Compartment Pack/Park Distance Control)
Individual Piano Black trim,
18" Composite star spoke style 108 alloy wheels,
'Silver guard' paint protection,
Tracker 'Monitor'

What are your thoughts on all this?

Cheers

 

[senwar]

Hi Kev

Based on that spec, it looks like it would have been just short of £37k brand new, and that not including the protection and tracker and based on a standard paint (non metalic).

So a £10k hit on that in less than 12 months is quite a lot, and does seem reasonable.

Personal opinion, and I'm sure you thought of this, but as long as it was BMW dealer sourced, then it seems like a decent deal in my opinion for a high spec car.

I'm not totally up on the used values of the 3.0 coupe (and the M used values scare me!) but as I say, a £10k hit in that time frame you'd like to think its taken its main hit already.

Things that are usually good for resale are - Navigation, Hifi system - these 2 both help immensely I believe. I'd say the same re: xenon's. Heated seats usually do but are not as necessary in the coupe (although I've got them speccd in mine as I like them). And I'd expect the comfort pack as being a good selling point too.

Good luck mate - I guess its been an exhaustive search for you!

*EDIT - think I've just seen it on PH? Nice (but I'm bias....)

 

[kmpowell]

Based on that spec, it looks like it would have been just short of £37k brand new

Hello mate! I had money on it being either yourself or wondermike who replied first!

The car listed at £37,191, but as we all know the price of most options can be discarded as soon as it's driven away, so can the VAT, and the Z4 coupe is commonly known to be a bit overpriced in the first place (especially the M version as you know). So seeing as the car doesn't have the nav, I was thinking of a price nearer £26k, which although isn't a massive difference it's still £1k towards recoving some of the money I lost on the TVR.

Not having the nav system doesn't bother me becasue I have Tomtom, but in terms of residuals is it that important?!?. Another look through the dealer cars and alll the 'strong' money cars do have Nav?!? Having said that though the car does otherwise have a good...

Oh the joy of car searching! :roll:

 

[senwar]

Hello mate! I had money on it being either yourself or wondermike who replied first!

The car listed at £37,191, but as we all know the price of most options can be discarded as soon as it's driven away, so can the VAT, and the Z4 coupe is commonly known to be a bit overpriced in the first place (especially the M version as you know). So seeing as the car doesn't have the nav, I was thinking of a price nearer £26k, which although isn't a massive difference it's still £1k towards recoving some of the money I lost on the TVR.

Not having the nav system doesn't bother me becasue I have Tomtom, but in terms of residuals is it that important?!?. Another look through the dealer cars and alll the 'strong' money cars do have Nav?!? Having said that though the car does otherwise have a good...

Oh the joy of car searching! :roll:

I'd definitively say there's money to play with and to get for £26k would be good - but as a minimum with it being up for £27k, you should look to expect at least £500 off a private sale.

I've seen the trade manual for used cars and for the BMW's it does list navigation as a desirable option. Personally it wouldn't bother me either, and the only reason I speccd it on this one was so the dashboard looked a bit different to my old Z! But saying that, I'm glad I did (even though I think its rubbish!) just because of the integration and speed of use.

The spec of the car is very high - I'd say if it didn't have one of the hifi system or the nav then it doesn't tick the desirables, but its got the hifi so you should be OK.

I presume you've discounted an M? Shame cos SteveD's has come up - and that is SOME car!

But certainly, this coupe looks like a good buy and if it is the one on PH I've seen then looks a very genuine car and seller.

 

[kmpowell]

Thanks for your thoughts mate, much appreciated. Glad youlike the colour combo too, you know it's my favourite!

I presume you've discounted an M? Shame cos SteveD's has come up - and that is SOME car!

'fraid so. I have mulled it over for quite some time (think it was quite a while when we first spoke abtou them) and even though I know it will tick all my boxes I just can't justify the running costs for the minimal milage I do - Double insurance cost (£600 v £1200!), fuel, servicing, and not to mention the never ending sight of depreciation. A decent 3.0 sport seems to be a good compromise if I can get a decent priced example to the spec and colour combo I want.