What should I pay for a 2003/4 BMW 330i?

February 8, 2007 10:00 AM

If I were a dealer how much would I expect to pay for a 2003 BMW 330I with performance package in Northern California with say 30-40k miles on it i.e What are they going for at the dealer auctions?

I'm not sure anyone has access to this info (or is willing to divulge it) but I'm in the market for one and would like to know what a reasonable offer is and knowing what dealers are paying would really help with that. Never hurts to ask :)

posted by zeoslap to Shopping (17 answers total)

If you have a VIN I can look it up pretty easy - I have access to Nationwide Auto Auction data, but to find the right model is tough without a vin. If you don't have the exact vin, just a vin of a similar model is great.
posted by thilmony at 10:11 AM on February 8, 2007

Response by poster: These are two I have my eye on

WBAEV53474KM07937

or

WBAEV53433KM04600

Thanks so much!
posted by zeoslap at 10:15 AM on February 8, 2007

Best answer: OK I looked it up with what I had... I'm impatient and wanted to do it right away for you: This table may not be formatted right for this forum, but you can get the data still.

Average auction price was $19,900 and the average mileage was 41,000

Make: B M W
Model: 3 SERIES
Style: 330I 4D SEDAN
Year: 2003
Engine: ____________________

REPORTED WHOLESALE AUCTION SALES - With Exact Matches
Type Miles Price Sale date Auction Engine T
R Cond Color Sample
330I 4D SEDAN 19,531 $25,750
01/18/07
BAY CITI 6G A Abv BLKSAPHR N
330I 4D SEDAN 18,355 $24,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Abv SILVER G N
330I 4D SEDAN 41,310 $21,750
01/18/07
BAY CITI 6G A Abv TITNSLVR Y
330I 4D SEDAN 41,872 $21,750
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Abv TITANIUM Y
330I 4D SEDAN 40,125 $21,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Avg ALPWHITE Y
330I 4D SEDAN 24,919 $21,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Avg TITANIUM Y
330I 4D SEDAN 31,779 $21,200
01/10/07
SAN DIEG 6G A Avg BLUE Y
330I 4D SEDAN 37,162 $21,000
01/31/07
BAY CITI 6G A Avg BLUE Y
330I 4D SEDAN 43,663 $20,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Avg ORIENBLU Y
330I 4D SEDAN 38,221 $18,500
01/09/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Avg BLACK Y
330I 4D SEDAN 50,716 $18,000
02/07/07
ALOHA 6G A Avg STEEL BL Y
330I 4D SEDAN 63,634 $17,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Blw JETBLACK Y
330I 4D SEDAN 40,129 $13,500
02/01/07
RIVRSIDE 6G A Blw STEELGRY N
posted by thilmony at 10:16 AM on February 8, 2007

Best answer: First VIN bumped it up to $23,200 average with 35,000 average miles, second one is what I quoted above.
posted by thilmony at 10:17 AM on February 8, 2007

Response by poster: So on that first one they are asking 30,900

VIN: WBAEV53474KM07937
Engine: 6-Cyl. 3.0 Liter
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Miles: 53837

What ballpark price do you think would enable me to walk in and say look I want this car and will pay X dollars will get me in the car?

Again thanks a lot for the info (now if I could just get into a dealer auction!)
posted by zeoslap at 10:25 AM on February 8, 2007

It's been a few years since I hung up my dealer license, but low mile, late model Beemers are few and far between at auction. A repo runs through ocasionally and the clean ones sell over book. I ran a Honda dealership in Fontana, CA (not a good market for late model Beemers) and I'd have both wholesale and retail dealers in a feeding frenzy whenever I took in anything like that. I was less than 3 miles from one of the best dealer sales on the west coast and I never had a Beemer make it that far.
posted by buggzzee23 at 10:26 AM on February 8, 2007

I have heard that individuals can find people who have access to this auction data and the ability to make purchases at these auctions, if a buyer knows exactly what he wants. Typical arrangement would be something like $500 flat fee, with an approved maximum purchase price for a specific model with specific options. How does one go about finding people like this?
posted by jcwagner at 10:26 AM on February 8, 2007

On that first one, the Manheim auction data shows estimated retail of $25,700 nationwide - it is using 72 transactions to build that data from what I can tell.

If I put in the miles you listed, it shows $24,000 estimated retail.

There were 50 2004 330I's that went through this auction database in December, so there should be a flood of them out there... well not a flood, of the 50, 15 were on the west coast.
posted by thilmony at 10:37 AM on February 8, 2007

I don't know if the people who responded above took this into account, but a Performance package 330i (coded "ZHP") is a very different car from a Sports package ("ZSP") or base 330i. It has more HP, more torque, different wheels, tires, suspension, exhaust, cams, interior, trim, gearbox, and ECU. The price at retail was $4000 higher than the base 330 (retail was a little over 40k new for the 330i ZHP vs 35k for the 330i).

Thus, comparing prices to a base model or even sports model 330i may not give you a realistic idea of what a low-mileage 330iZHP is worth.

(But, in the opinion of someone who drives one -- they're totally worth it.)
posted by fearless_yakov at 10:46 AM on February 8, 2007

Response by poster: You're right fearless_yakov, the ZHP is a different beast than a ZSP.

I'd been planning on throwing out the figure of 27k which is about 3-4k less than they are asking. Think they will bite? Think they'd go lower?
posted by zeoslap at 10:51 AM on February 8, 2007

Response by poster: So if estimated retail is showing at 25700 for what are probably mostly base/sport 330is an offer of 27k for one with a performance package (4k option) should be doable yes?
posted by zeoslap at 10:54 AM on February 8, 2007

My friend bought a ZHP from an enthusist dealer in SoCal. I believe he also has the auction service for something like $500. Email for contact.
posted by ngn01 at 11:43 AM on February 8, 2007

There were 50 2004 330I's that went through this auction database in December, so there should be a flood of them out there... well not a flood, of the 50, 15 were on the west coast.

Considering California alone has 7 Manheim sales, that's barely a trickle in the grand scheme.
posted by buggzzee23 at 11:58 AM on February 8, 2007

Response by poster: ngn101, couldn't find your email address.
posted by zeoslap at 12:36 PM on February 8, 2007

Sorry. Its there now.
posted by ngn01 at 3:12 PM on February 8, 2007

zeo, i think you're right in the ballpark. 27k is probably fair, if it's good condition and low mileage.

and you might get lucky. some resellers -- especially wholesalers -- don't understand that a ZHP is a very different than a typical "trim package" upgrade, and don't reflect that in their pricing. i bought from one such wholesaler in CA who priced my ZHP like a ZSP. i made out like a bandit. in other words -- if they don't know it's a Performance Package, don't educate them. just tell them -- hey, i see lots of other 330i's selling for 23,5. what gives? if they can't explain the price difference, they're not likely to hold the line.
posted by fearless_yakov at 9:14 AM on February 9, 2007

Response by poster: Cheers fearless, I emailed them yesterday and the guy said that sounded fair so going in later today to try and seal the deal. Very excited :) Had a hard time finding something to replace my RX8 which is at the end of its lease and handles perfectly but the ZHP 330i definitely fits the bill. I'll post an update later today, hope it all goes well.
posted by zeoslap at 11:34 AM on February 9, 2007