[abailey08]

Hi everyone,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago, and paid ~950$ above invoice (not taking into account trade in... and there were no incentives), and they don't expect that I'll get it for another 6 - 8 weeks. I'm seeing people on the forum talk about how they paid 400$ above invoice, or even $200!!! Not sure if this is a bit faux paux to ask, but it'd be a nice to have an idea if I paid too much.

A moderately related note: I got a decent deal on my trade in from the dealer (an amount between excellent and good condition based on blue book, and there was at least ~1500$ retail worth of repairs to be done on it).

Thoughts?

[MA78]

Originally Posted by abailey08

Hi everyone,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago, and paid ~950$ above invoice (not taking into account trade in... and there were no incentives), and they don't expect that I'll get it for another 6 - 8 weeks. I'm seeing people on the forum talk about how they paid 400$ above invoice, or even $200!!! Not sure if this is a bit faux paux to ask, but it'd be a nice to have an idea if I paid too much.

A moderately related note: I got a decent deal on my trade in from the dealer (an amount between excellent and good condition based on blue book, and there was at least ~1500$ retail worth of repairs to be done on it).

I paid $500 over invoice, but $950 isn't too bad. A lot of people are happy just to pay MSRP.
It all depends on the dealerships in your area. And remember, you haven't taken delivery yet. You can still negotiate the price down.

This is a good place to start:
http://amexnetwork.zag.com/main.html
Thoughts?

[abailey08]

I paid $500 over invoice, but $950 isn't too bad. A lot of people are happy just to pay MSRP.
It all depends on the dealerships in your area. And remember, you haven't taken delivery yet. You can still negotiate the price down.

This is a good place to start:
http://amexnetwork.zag.com/main.html
Thoughts?

Thanks!! I paid about 500$ less than what your url put me at. To be honest, I was feeling really great about the deal until I read more about prices on this forum. First time BMW owner (to-be!), and I got too excited and took the plunge before I did enough information gathering, I guess.

By the way, how do you justify to your dealer that you want to be paying 500$ over invoice instead of 950$, when places like truecar, and zag all say you got a sweet deal?

[flash3]

Originally Posted by abailey08

Thanks!! I paid about 500$ less than what your url put me at. To be honest, I was feeling really great about the deal until I read more about prices on this forum. First time BMW owner (to-be!), and I got too excited and took the plunge before I did enough information gathering, I guess.

By the way, how do you justify to your dealer that you want to be paying 500$ over invoice instead of 950$, when places like truecar, and zag all say you got a sweet deal?

That's what I am running into. After reading so many people are paying a few $100 over invoice, the dealers in the South won't budge for that.

[MA78]

Different dealerships have different deals with Zag, Amex, USAA etc. They have to pay for that. So dealerships who aren't in that network will tell you to pound sand a lot of the time if you ask them to match the Zag price.

[abailey08]

Originally Posted by MA78

Different dealerships have different deals with Zag, Amex, USAA etc. They have to pay for that. So dealerships who aren't in that network will tell you to pound sand a lot of the time if you ask them to match the Zag price.

I just put in a portland, oregon zip code, and it brought the price down by over 700$ -- that's nuts about the geographical differences! hm...

[MA78]

Originally Posted by abailey08

I just put in a portland, oregon zip code, and it brought the price down by over 700$ -- that's nuts about the geographical differences! hm...

Try Southern California. More dealerships there than anywhere else.

[kozzi]

Depends on where you bought your X3 and when. Got mine for invoice...not a penny more or less. I ordered in Nov 2010.

kozzi

[abailey08]

Originally Posted by MA78

Try Southern California. More dealerships there than anywhere else.

Thanks a bunch for the help, I'm going to try talking to the dealer ... this is a total newbie question, but is it better to wait for delivery, then talk down the price, or should I be a bit more polite and talk down the price before the car is actually put into production? (It's been ordered, but BMW hasn't started on it yet).

[MA78]

Originally Posted by abailey08

Thanks a bunch for the help, I'm going to try talking to the dealer ... this is a total newbie question, but is it better to wait for delivery, then talk down the price, or should I be a bit more polite and talk down the price before the car is actually put into production? (It's been ordered, but BMW hasn't started on it yet).

Not sure if it matters. But what's the point in waiting? Wear them down.

[abailey08]

Originally Posted by MA78

Not sure if it matters. But what's the point in waiting? Wear them down.

Until I need to get my car fixed and they pee in my radiator...

[tuco44]

I think you got a reasonably good deal. There are lots of places (maybe not in the US) where you would pay more than that. The X3 is "hot" right now, and some dealers won't discount at all.

I wouldn't bother with the hassle and bad feelings at the dealer over a couple hundred dollars on an expensive car like this. Not worth it IMO.

[wagsoja]

Not that Michigan is close to Buffalo, but geographically it is a lot closer than everyone out west. My X3 28i is on order too, and I paid $1000 over invoice. They would not go lower than that, even when I threatened to go somewhere else and even though I had a price quote of $500 over invoice from a dealer in Pittsburgh (2.5 hours away). So $950 is about right for the northeast I think.

[TrikinCurt]

In Minnesota dealers claimed they sell them all at MSRP, and my guess is they really don't discount a ton. I got $2k off, but that was a fully loaded 35i, I don't even want to know what invoice is...

There is always someone who got a better deal, enjoy the car!

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by abailey08

Hi everyone,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago, and paid ~950$ above invoice (not taking into account trade in... and there were no incentives), and they don't expect that I'll get it for another 6 - 8 weeks. I'm seeing people on the forum talk about how they paid 400$ above invoice, or even $200!!! Not sure if this is a bit faux paux to ask, but it'd be a nice to have an idea if I paid too much.

A moderately related note: I got a decent deal on my trade in from the dealer (an amount between excellent and good condition based on blue book, and there was at least ~1500$ retail worth of repairs to be done on it).

Thoughts?

It seems that the farther you are away from the production plant the longer you'll have to wait for the car. I'm not sure what options you got but in regards to $950 under invoice so called programs such as Costco are much worse in regards and cost $+1500s at the minimum

I've never traded in a used vehicle but I'd expect the dealership to make a premium since that's what they do. It seems like it matters more in the region you're buying the vehicle in than anything, sometimes the dealer can get better incentives or a quicker allocation than your closest/first choice than another dealer.

In my personal experience I wasn't even considering an X3 but an Lexus IS350 based on my lifestyle. A dealer in Minnesota, Michigan had the color and options I wanted but based on the extra transportation fee ($2000) I declined

PS: Look towards other dealerships in your area or other states, they might have better offers.

[bsilk904]

New to BMW ,
Has this $600 BMW mico fee always been around.I paid 400 over invoice plus that fee. Just curious . Good luck to everyone ,you've all made a great choice.

[MA78]

Originally Posted by bsilk904

New to BMW ,
Has this $600 BMW mico fee always been around.I paid 400 over invoice plus that fee. Just curious . Good luck to everyone ,you've all made a great choice.

Never heard of a $600 micro fee.

[Hutt]

Originally Posted by bsilk904

New to BMW ,
Has this $600 BMW mico fee always been around.I paid 400 over invoice plus that fee. Just curious . Good luck to everyone ,you've all made a great choice.

Never heard of it either

[wagsoja]

My dealer spoke of a fee that BMW charged them, so maybe that was it. It sounded like she called it "maco", but we are probably talking about the same thing. I think she said it was just a couple hundred dollars. Who knows.

[MA78]

Oh yeah. Maco is a legit fee if that's what you're talking about. Some dealerships charge it. The fees cover training and advertising. You can google it.

[maestroX2]

it depends. I paid 1k over invoice but with dealer I'd dealt with. The lowest quote I got was $700 over invoice. I tried to haggle with my dealer but they wouldn't bulge. Their reason, it's privately owned dealer with small volume. They are in business to make money.

Dealers can extract more money from you in many ways. Example,
Dealer Processing fee, my dealer only charges $55.
DMV Electronic Fee, $28 here. Well, I'm not gonna complaint for little fee.
No MACO fee. 3 years ago, I had to pay this fee from same dealer. Not sure what happens but I won't complain.

Also, those insurances ( extra maintenance, tire/wheel, paint, leather, etc ) are huge markup too. You can still negotiate on those if you want.

I've read many good price comes from VA dealers but with outrageous dealer processing fee. So read all the numbers before initial or sign the papers.

Don't worry about what other people pay. Just buy at the price you think it is fair.

[jaymk5]

Originally Posted by TrikinCurt

In Minnesota dealers claimed they sell them all at MSRP, and my guess is they really don't discount a ton. I got $2k off, but that was a fully loaded 35i, I don't even want to know what invoice is...

There is always someone who got a better deal, enjoy the car!

I am from Minnesota and I heard the same story from Minnetonka dealer, but park place motors has tie up with Costco and they agreed to give me the car for 500 over invoice, so I used that to negotiate in motorwerks (where they initially agreed to pay 1000 over invoice) finally my SM agreed to give me for 500 over invoice, with a very decent deal on my trade-in. Motorwerks seems to be more professional in my opinion and I liked the way my SM/ CA deal with me, so I will surely go back next year to them when I will buy my 5 series.