Thinking about buying a used BMW? A BMW has much to offer. It is the epitome of luxury. Before you buy it’s important to do your research. Are there benefits or any disadvantages? Everyone wants the most car for their money and with such an investment they want a car that lasts a long time.
The first step in buying a used BMW is to do your research. What model BMW do you want? There are several different models starting with the BMW 1 Series, a small, rear-wheel-drive four-seater that’s fast and easy to handle. Looking for something bigger—go with the 3 Series, a perennial best-seller available in sedan or wagon. The BMW 5 Series and 7 Series are even larger and are offered with diesel and hybrid engines, depending on the model year.
Once a model is decided on, there are a few pros and cons that should be considered, too, before buying a used BMW. As a luxury car, they come with their own set of benefits and disadvantages.
Benefits of Owning a BMW
One of the benefits of owning a BMW is in the luxury found under the hood. BMWs are well-regarded for their reliability. The quality of the engine and transmission means you can hit the road without a worry. They offer competitive fuel economy with similar size models and the CO2 numbers make BMWs a great ride on the freeway, through the countryside, or in the city.
Like any luxury car, BMWs offer elite comfort and will meet if not exceed expectations. Its superb cabin design and the quality of BMW’s interior is one of its biggest advantages. When the quality of materials is high, even a used BMW with high miles will look and feel expensive and luxurious.
Another advantage of buying used is that new cars drop in value very quickly after they are driven off the lot. On average, a new car will lose 20% of its value the first year on the road, and 60% over five years. That means if you buy a five year old BMW you might pay close to half of the price if it were new. That makes a lot of sense from a financial standpoint.
Considerations
Owning a used BMW does have its disadvantages, though. For starters, because of their value, luxury cars carry higher insurance premiums and higher registration costs. They also cost more to maintain. A luxury car that is also a foreign car is even more costly to maintain and that would qualify for BMWs. They are German designed automobiles.
Foreign cars in general require specialty maintenance, which translates into higher costs for maintenance. BMWs are no exception. Though BMWs are excellently engineered vehicles, they still need maintenance. They are more expensive to maintain than non-luxury cars and older model parts can sometimes be hard to come by. Repairs, too, are more costly than those for a domestic car. When owning a used BMW, your best bet is to find and bond with a specialty mechanic that is experienced in working with BMWs.
BMWs have a well-earned reputation for being one of the more expensive cars to keep on the road, too. Besides higher costs associated with a foreign car, they require premium gasoline, high-end tires, and the replacement parts are imported and this, more expensive. You’ll also pay more for specialty labor and more for the synthetic oil change. BMW also has a complicated electronics system that has to be maintained by an even more complicated diagnostic system. All of this luxury adds up to higher labor costs and more expensive parts when repairs are in order.
Finally, when considering a used BMW, look up the true market value for the particular model you are interested in. True market value tells consumers what other buyers are currently paying for used BMWs. It is the weighted average of combined trade-in value, private party sale, dealer retail list, and the Certified Used Vehicle price. Pricing tools can be easily found online. Lastly, if you live in Arizona and are ready to purchase a used BMW then look no further than Auto Action AZ – we have an extensive selection of quality used cars at prices you can afford.