[VB5ER]

Saw a local Toyota Dealership has had this for 47 days. Thanks truecar.com. it's a '13 550i with 40k miles for $40k. I'm a straight up impulse buyer and wanted to see what the difference between what I have and what I could get this for. You know, the whole "is this X amount nicer than what I have now" thing. Currently have a 2011 535i w/39k miles. Bought a year ago for 33k with 10k down. The 550 has the msport features, big motor and all that. Fun fact 2013 550 got a hp bump from 400 to 445 supposedly. Anyway, went to see it this morning thinking it would be out front or in the used car show room super clean considering its a 40k used car at a Toyota dealership. Had to drive the lot to find it and it was in the back back in a dealer demo assigned parking spot. So sales manager or finance guy had been driving it. Checked it out and it was trashed. Inside looked like a family of six hit every fast food joint in vbeach. Also looked to have been parked under some pine trees for four or five days. Needless to say total turn off. Got back in the car and proceeded to leave. Sales lady coming back from lunch flagged me down. Did I want to see the car? Told her they should be ashamed of themselves for having a high end used car for 40k listed looking like that. Oh, they can clean it, we just got it (lie). I mean they've had it 6 weeks, how many BMW enthusiast do you think they get stopping in ready to break off 40k on a used car. I just put the window up and slow rolled out of there. Is it too much to think that the car would be show ready. 1st impressions do make all the difference. I'll put up a pic of it and one of mine, which is clean despite the fact that the weather has been bad and I can't remember my last day off. I should have taken a pic of it on the lot, you would def throw up a little in your mouth. It was really just one big disappointment. Feel free to share any of your own experiences or to tell me to get over myself. Ok back to cooking dinner and beer consumption.

[mragarg]

I agree with how you feel. It not only irritates me seeing an amazing car dirty on the lot but it hurts me (as I detail cars for a hobby and relaxation). It's amazing how dealerships can't clean the car right away. I assume once they get the car, it is cleaned before it even reaches the lot.

[COBodom]

When I was shopping for a car in Jan I got a great deal on 640xi GC, it was a corp car. I didn't mind the miles or the fact that it was driven before me by some BMW "exec" as they wanna put it, but I did mind that someone smoked in that car. Anytime I touched the wheel, upholstery, pretty much anything my hands would smell like tobacco. The black leather, dark trim and that smell made the car feel very dingy.

I walked away from that deal.

[Teddylongtooth]

Before I decided to get an f10 550 m sport I looked at an 09 e60 535xi at a small crappy used car lot. The owners had been driving it to and from work since they got it and they were telling me how fast it was, when we went to go for a test drive it was dirty on the outside and had some chicken grease all over the idrive and on the buttons for the stereo and A/C. There was old KFC in a bag on the passenger side floor and the car smelled like Indian food in a used baby's diaper! I told them never mind and I would never buy a car from slobs like that. Bmw abuse should be a crime, but being a slob that owns a car dealership should be illegal, Total scum.

[lsturbointeg]

Wow! CRAZY stories here! Total turn off no matter how good of a deal it was. What sucks are these guys are using them as daily drivers until the car is sold!

[The Beast]

Well I guess it could work to your advantage. If it's something a valet and wash/polish would sort out then you could use it as a negotiation point...

If there's physical damage then yeah walk away. You'd be surprised the sort the condition of some cars arriving at dealers and difference in how they appear once prepared for sale

[Gpfarrell]

I don't think they're interested in selling that car right now. As buyers with money in our hand, we are inclined to think the dealership should be all about us. But in this case, maybe an easy spiff to a very productive employee would be, " Here, enjoy the 550 for awhile".

Now, the sales lady shouldn't have lied. And I'm not a fan of trash inside cars... but it was parked in back because it's not being offered as the deal o the day, and some parking spots are near pine trees.

Now, whenever I'm a serious buyer I never drop by a dealership. My time is too valuable to play roulette on which salesperson I get. I call in advance, make an appointment, and then they have every opportunity to meet my expectations. I'll bet given that opportunity they would have met yours too.

[VB5ER]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

I don't think they're interested in selling that car right now. As buyers with money in our hand, we are inclined to think the dealership should be all about us. But in this case, maybe an easy spiff to a very productive employee would be, " Here, enjoy the 550 for awhile".

Now, the sales lady shouldn't have lied. And I'm not a fan of trash inside cars... but it was parked in back because it's not being offered as the deal o the day, and some parking spots are near pine trees.

Now, whenever I'm a serious buyer I never drop by a dealership. My time is too valuable to play roulette on which salesperson I get. I call in advance, make an appointment, and then they have every opportunity to meet my expectations. I'll bet given that opportunity they would have met yours too.

I definitely agree with you, I don't think they are interested in selling it. I'm sure those guys don't get many opportunities to drive such an awesome car. The 550 msport used have been pretty scarce and I was really just disappointed in the experience. I've bought 3 BMWs from the BMW Dealership here from the same guy and he is great to deal with. If they had one I would def call him first to make sure he would be there and prep the car. Just expected more considering the type of dealership, car, and price. It's all good though, the impulse to buy a monster has passed, GF says that I drive the 535 too fast already and 445hp would get me in trouble. The voice of reason, that's why I love her. Thanks for the insight though, its always good to see things from a different perspective.

[The X Men]

You guys do realize that some Toyota models cost more than $40K.

[BigKutta]

I think the clowns at the dealership took it on a joy ride on their way to lunch to Mickey D's every day.

[VB5ER]

Originally Posted by The X Men

You guys do realize that some Toyota models cost more than $40K.

X Men, so good to hear from you again. Still dodging those potholes in Boston I hope. Yes, I do realize that Toyota has cars that are more than 40k. Don't think they have any 2 year old used cars with 40k miles for sale at 40k though and if they do I would expect them to be clean.

[VB5ER]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I think the clowns at the dealership took it on a joy ride on their way to lunch to Mickey D's every day.

I'm sure they are enjoying having that beast on the lot. Trip to Mickey D's $6.00. Getting there sideways in a 550 priceless.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by VB5ER

X Men, so good to hear from you again. Still dodging those potholes in Boston I hope. Yes, I do realize that Toyota has cars that are more than 40k. Don't think they have any 2 year old used cars with 40k miles for sale at 40k though and if they do I would expect them to be clean.

The pothole season have not started yet here in the Northeast, but I hope it is not as bad as last year. As far as a 2 year old F10 vs. a brand new Toyota, my guess is that the dealer couldn't care less. A $40K car is a $40K car in their opinion, I am sure they have had nicer used car than a 5 series. A clean BMW might have a special meaning to a car enthusiast and a detail enthusiast like yourself, but to the average buyer and the sales manager, it is just another hard to sell $40K BMW.

[VB5ER]

Originally Posted by The X Men

The pothole season have not started yet here in the Northeast, but I hope it is not as bad as last year. As far as a 2 year old F10 vs. a brand new Toyota, my guess is that the dealer couldn't care less. A $40K car is a $40K car in their opinion, I am sure they have had nicer used car than a 5 series. A clean BMW might have a special meaning to a car enthusiast and a detail enthusiast like yourself, but to the average buyer and the sales manager, it is just another hard to sell $40K BMW.

This is too true and also a little sad. Steel and wheels to those guys who deal with cars for a living as opposed to those of us who clean, mod.and drive as a hobby. Hopefully your winter won't be as brutal this year. I was in the Boston Ship Repair shipyard in May and June and the snow pile was still there when I left in July. Too much snow.

[493263]

They're salesmen that care about selling cars, not dressing them up for enthusiasts. They prefer to use salesman tactics over presentation. If you want to see a good clean used BMW, then go to BMW CPO lot where there is an actual standard to be met.

BTW, their detailing team is often a contractor. It goes to the lowest bidder or friends of the GM. Don't expect a good detail from a mainstream brand. Even BMW detailing is just ok. But I can't really complain since it's free.

[The X Men]

I have seen $70,000 BMW parked in the lot unclean in BMW dealers as well, it all depends on the dealer. Most of the time, if you make an appointment, the dealer will attempt to clean the car, but if you show up unannounced, who knows what you will find.

[Mbbrewer]

Power bump didn't happen until 2014 with the N63TU. Stay away from a 2011-2013 550i. Lots of problems.

[VB5ER]

Originally Posted by Mbbrewer

Power bump didn't happen until 2014 with the N63TU. Stay away from a 2011-2013 550i. Lots of problems.

Thanks, was getting a lot of conflicting info from the internet and you know, if it's on the internet it must be true. Bonjour

[ezmaass]

The pre-LCI 550 had 400hp (including 2013). The LCI models (starting in 2014) got the N64TU engine, which increased power to 445hp along with a host of very necessary improvements, such as replacing the dreaded fuel injectors. I've had good luck with my '14 550xi in the past two years of ownership (aside from poor OEM tires), but I'd probably steer clear of buying a pre-LCI.

As for the dealer, it sounds like they were doing a very poor job at presenting the car - and the lying would have put me over the top. I'm not sure how you restrained yourself from calling them out on the "just got it" comment. I feel that people who lie right to your face need to be called out and publicly embarrassed - perhaps the only way they'll learn some decency and respect.

If not buying new, I'd probably only consider a CPO car. It may have little to do with anything, but part of me is very put off by second hand cars on off-brand lots. There are 10,000 legit reasons for it, but what always comes to mind for me first is... "what was wrong with this car that made the owner switch to X brand instead?" Seeing a CPO BMW on a BMW lot, or a CPO MB on an MB lot, or CPO Audi on an Audi lot... there I just think, "oh, the satisfied owner remained loyal to the brand for their next car." Perhaps really silly, but I can't help but look at it this way. Regardless, though, the CPO car, while a bit more expensive, I feel is worth the extra warranty and inspection by people who know the cars.