[NFS]

Based on glasses guide used values my car now seems to be well and truly out of the depreciation zone and as a result monthly cost of ownership will (in theory) be a lot lower over the next 12 months.

But .. if I keep it till Sept 2010 the mileage starts to get quite high (75k)

Is there a point at which you just wouldn't bother looking at a car because of the mileage?

[MEGA]

Personally, in a petrol, 79k? Probably fine.. but something about seeing an 8 at the beginning would make me walk away.

[E902717]

Me personally probably wouldn't by a car with that amount of miles on it, but it does depend on what the car is more importantly with me would be a warranty last thing you want is things going wrong on BMW's out of Warranty it all starts to get expensive then!!

Are you thinking of changing your car?

[rogerxp]

You'll always be affected by the mileage. If your car is for sale (privately or through a garage), and there is a similar spec one also for sale, the lower mileage example will go first (unless you've got sufficient persuasion i.e. higher spec to temp them back to your car).

I've not idea what 'level' of mileage would be deemed too much. Depends on the buyers budget. They're going to have the choice of an older 3 series with lower mileage or a newer one with higher mileage for the same price (ignore spec for a moment). There will always be a buyer for a car with 75k on the clock but the price will have to reflect that mileage otherwse they'll just buy a year older car with 40-50k on the clock.

I had exactly the same dilema with buying my current 330d. Get mine which is an 06 plate and had 40k already on the clock or get an 05 plate with 20-30k on the clock for the same money. The spec of the one I bought tempted me to the higher mileage, younger car.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by E902717

Are you thinking of changing your car?

I'm trying to decide if I should change it this September or hang on for another year.

Based on glasses guide values if I trade in this Sept I'll be down £3.6k (£100 per month) against my planned cost per month.

In theory that 'additional cost' reduces every single month that I keep the car and if I have on till Sept 2010 my monthly cost will be back where I originally wanted it to be in terms of cost per month.

Although it should be 'factored in' to the glasses guide figures I'm a bit wary that my mileage will be up to 75k by then.

What I don't want to do is hold onto the car for another 18 months and find that I'm still in the same position.

[Carrera RSR]

Just out of interest what is the current guide figure for a two year old E91 320d M Sport with 80,000 miles. My previous car which was written off had a residual price of £12k which would have ended this month. My current car which ends in Aug 2010 has a residual of £13k planned in. The current 320d had a retail figure £3k more than the previous E91.

I plan(planned) to buy these cars at the end of my work use for my wife subject to values. She only does 2-3k a year so with a few years ownership mileage should be back on track. (obviously won't be buying the write off!)

The mileage/warranty doesn't bother me if I know the history/owner. If I bought a car from a lease company, auction, dealer it would need to be priced accordingly to take the risk.

My previous two year old Volvo V50 had 74,000 miles and sold very quickly due to me pricing it between trade and private sale figures. People overlooked the mileage as the condition was perfect and drove as good as new and was sensibly priced.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

Just out of interest what is the current guide figure for a two year old E91 320d M Sport with 80,000 miles. My previous car which was written off had a residual price of £12k which would have ended this month. My current car which ends in Aug 2010 has a residual of £13k planned in. The current 320d had a retail figure £3k more than the previous E91.

A 2007 (07) plate 320d Msport with 80K miles would currently be:

Retail: £14,450

Trade In: £9,380-£11,850

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by NFS

A 2007 (07) plate 320d Msport with 80K miles would currently be:

Retail: £14,450

Trade In: £9,380-£11,850

Ouch. Looks like I'd be handing the keys back on the last one. Although at £12k I wouldn't have been paying over the odds. Just wouldn't have much of a buffer. Could be doing the same with the current one if prices don't level out in the next year. I'd like to see the trade average closer to the £13k residual figure. That allows me to own, run at minimal mileage and sell with minimal costs. The M Sport has to compete with the low running costs of the current 03 plate Smart ForTwo the wife has had from new. That's costing us less than £100 per month all in for the last six years. Depreciation, insurance, tax, fuel and servicing.

Many thanks

[NFS]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

Ouch. Looks like I'd be handing the keys back on the last one. Although at £12k I wouldn't have been paying over the odds. Just wouldn't have much of a buffer. Could be doing the same with the current one if prices don't level out in the next year. I'd like to see the trade average closer to the £13k residual figure. That allows me to own, run at minimal mileage and sell with minimal costs. The M Sport has to compete with the low running costs of the current 03 plate Smart ForTwo the wife has had from new. That's costing us less than £100 per month all in for the last six years. Depreciation, insurance, tax, fuel and servicing.

Many thanks

I've just been doing some numbers and financially it could be worth me swapping my car now at 50k miles for one 6 months newer with very low mileage.

It's all a bit confusing though. I think I need a weekend off.

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by NFS

I've just been doing some numbers and financially it could be worth me swapping my car now at 50k miles for one 6 months newer with very low mileage.

It's all a bit confusing though. I think I need a weekend off.

Also factor in the 'devil you know v's the devil you don't' !!

If your current car is all good, you could be changing to one that isn't. Also sometimes its good to change. New colours, spec etc. You can't calculate these thoughts into your figures.

As long as the figures stack up either way so your head is straight, let the buying decision be ruled by the heart.

[pjs]

If you dont mind selling it privately you'll be fine, any time. I've shifted several of my ex bmws on at between 60k and 90k, albeit pre credit crunch times. There is always demand for well specced bmws. Seems that private buyers seem to unable to part with much more than £10k though. I'm expecting to take mine over 100k though just so I can have a year off savage depreciation (77k now)

[NFS]

Originally Posted by pjs

If you dont mind selling it privately you'll be fine, any time. I've shifted several of my ex bmws on at between 60k and 90k, albeit pre credit crunch times. There is always demand for well specced bmws. Seems that private buyers seem to unable to part with much more than £10k though. I'm expecting to take mine over 100k though just so I can have a year off savage depreciation (77k now)

Sounds positive. If I could get 10K for it in Sept 2010 I'd be quite happy.

By then it will be 4 years old / 80k miles.

[beemerbird]

Personally I'd chose a higher mileage car that has done motorway miles over a car that is low mileage and probably been sat idling in traffic most of the time, even if both cars had a FBMWSH. There is a general consensus of opinion amongst motor traders in my area where they avoid cars from London because of the hours the engine has spent idling.

I don't know your personal financial situation/committments but for me, there is a cut off point whereby the financial outlay to acquire a newer vehicle is starting to become too great and that's when I'd act.

Whether people would expect some sort of warranty on an '06 BMW I'm not entirley sure, but would guess that most would. Could you try and sell yours privately together with a warranty then go to the stealers armed with no trade in and haggle away? Bloke I know has just got 20% off a new 530d (is a well specced pre-build), ok his company have bought the odd BMW but they're certainly not fleet buyers. Audi wouldn't budge from 5% apparently!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Whether people would expect some sort of warranty on an '06 BMW I'm not entirley sure, but would guess that most would. Could you try and sell yours privately together with a warranty then go to the stealers armed with no trade in and haggle away? Bloke I know has just got 20% off a new 530d (is a well specced pre-build), ok his company have bought the odd BMW but they're certainly not fleet buyers. Audi wouldn't budge from 5% apparently!

That would definitely be the thing to do.

I'm not going to rush into anything. I kept thinking of selling it during 2008, but it was really just boredom. There is no reason to swap cars and the 330i is a great laugh.