[JerseyGirl123]

Hi all,
I'm new here and looking forward to buying my first BMW 3 series shortly. I have an opportunity to buy a slightly used (only 350 miles) 2016 328 XDrive. The price is nice, however....... not only has the first owner barely driven it, but it's been sitting on a used car lot for the last 12 months looking for its new owner. I should also add that I live 750 miles away from this car. I would send out an appraiser to take a look at the car for me, but i'm worried about what the state of things under the hood might be after sitting around that long. As BMW experts, what should I check on in a car that hasn't had much use and has been sitting outside in Chicago for over a year? Or, am I just asking for trouble and should I move on? If there are issues with the car due to lack of use, would those types of things be covered under the BMW warranty? Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!

[BEM-S4]

That has got to be one of the highest volume models BMW makes there's gotta be an exec demo or something sitting on a dealer lot close to you that you could get a very good deal on. That seems like a major pain in the ass that you could easily avoid if you shop around a bit.

[BEM-S4]

Passport, for instance, has a nice looking blue one for almost 20% off MSRP at $35k.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi all,
I'm new here and looking forward to buying my first BMW 3 series shortly. I have an opportunity to buy a slightly used (only 350 miles) 2016 328 XDrive. The price is nice, however....... not only has the first owner barely driven it, but it's been sitting on a used car lot for the last 12 months looking for its new owner. I should also add that I live 750 miles away from this car. I would send out an appraiser to take a look at the car for me, but i'm worried about what the state of things under the hood might be after sitting around that long. As BMW experts, what should I check on in a car that hasn't had much use and has been sitting outside in Chicago for over a year? Or, am I just asking for trouble and should I move on? If there are issues with the car due to lack of use, would those types of things be covered under the BMW warranty? Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!

It all comes down to cost. How much of a discount would you be getting on it. Between plane fare, hotel and travel costs flying out there and driving it back, it would really have to be a significant discount, because once you add those costs in, you are eating away at any savings.

Additionally, if it's at a used car lot, and it's not a new or CPO BMW, then you lose the 4yr/50K miles of included scheduled maintenance, also taking away from any savings.

For the right price, I would do that only from a BMW dealer.

[JerseyGirl123]

Oh, I didn't realize you don't get the maintenance included if you don't buy from a BMW dealership. Wow, good to know. So, the maintenance doesn't 'follow' the car? If I get a 2016 used from a BMW dealership, then i'm still eligible for the remainder of the maintenance period?

[akack79]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

If I get a 2016 used from a BMW dealership, then i'm still eligible for the remainder of the maintenance period?

Maintenance no longer "follows the car" starting from MY 2015.....it has to be a CPO I believe to get the included maintenance.

Leftover new 2016 328s are going well below invoice, check edmunds for pricing in your area. GL.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Oh, I didn't realize you don't get the maintenance included if you don't buy from a BMW dealership. Wow, good to know. So, the maintenance doesn't 'follow' the car? If I get a 2016 used from a BMW dealership, then i'm still eligible for the remainder of the maintenance period?

You get it if you buy new, or buy a CPO. Other "private party" sales are without the maintenance.

[Kenny's X5]

What is so special about this vehicle? Is it a special color/options that you can't find any others that are closer to you? You're in Philly...there are dealers galore in the area

[RoundelM3]

If it's been sitting for a year in a Chicago car lot without being driven and only infrequently started, it's probably been through a tough winter and has a lot of accumulated moisture throughout the body and drivetrain. Battery is likely dead (although easily replaced), but if it's not at a BMW dealership, don't even consider it. Your best bet is to search nearby dealerships or go to one and have them search for you if they don't have what you want on their lot.

[pjkbrit]

For a brand newish car to not be able to qualify for CPO tells me to avoid!!! It's been chopped to the trade for a reason. You do not want to find out why down the line and be stuck with a potential lemon...especially as you cannot personally inspect it....
328s are a dime a dozen at this point....literally hundreds coming off lease every month.

[JerseyGirl123]

Hi again,
To provide a bit more background...... the car is a 3 series GT with the colors and options I want (which seem to be kind of rare - Jatoba/Saddle). It was traded in for an Acura, so it's sitting at the Acura dealer's lot. The story is that an 'elderly gentleman' bought the car for his wife and she didn't like it, so after a few weeks of driving it, they traded it for an Acura. Does this help matters any?

Thanks for all of your comments!

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi again,
To provide a bit more background...... the car is a 3 series GT with the colors and options I want (which seem to be kind of rare - Jatoba/Saddle). It was traded in for an Acura, so it's sitting at the Acura dealer's lot. The story is that an 'elderly gentleman' bought the car for his wife and she didn't like it, so after a few weeks of driving it, they traded it for an Acura. Does this help matters any?

Thanks for all of your comments!

GT helps you out quite a bit those cars dropped like a rock in value. Color combo may be hard if you're stuck on it but exec demos especially are all over the place you can get a nice one very cheap.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi again,
To provide a bit more background...... the car is a 3 series GT with the colors and options I want (which seem to be kind of rare - Jatoba/Saddle). It was traded in for an Acura, so it's sitting at the Acura dealer's lot. The story is that an 'elderly gentleman' bought the car for his wife and she didn't like it, so after a few weeks of driving it, they traded it for an Acura. Does this help matters any?

Thanks for all of your comments!

Do you like the GT? Personally, I hate them. But again, it all comes down to how much you would be saving and really, just how long has it been sitting; because if it's a long time, I think it says something about the dealer's pricing.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by tex2670

Do you like the GT? Personally, I hate them. But again, it all comes down to how much you would be saving and really, just how long has it been sitting; because if it's a long time, I think it says something about the dealer's pricing.

I've driven the GT both 328 and 335. Personally I'd never get one to drive myself, although the 335 wasn't bad. That said it's on the short list for GF's next car. She's a realtor and it's pretty ideal for driving clients around and hauling all her signs and shit. Very comfortable car, albeit not a "driver's car." A 328 sedan with Dinan Stage 1 would be much better from that perspective.

[bavarianboar]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi again,
To provide a bit more background...... the car is a 3 series GT with the colors and options I want (which seem to be kind of rare - Jatoba/Saddle). It was traded in for an Acura, so it's sitting at the Acura dealer's lot. The story is that an 'elderly gentleman' bought the car for his wife and she didn't like it, so after a few weeks of driving it, they traded it for an Acura. Does this help matters any?

Thanks for all of your comments!

Hard car to find?

Harder to sell in that combination.

Bargain hard, tell them you came for price and you are compromising on the color. This color is not very popular I bet.

All in all would be wary of something not being driven for that long and it's parked outside handling the weather?

[435MSport6Speed]

If you pursue, pay special attention to the paint for signs of etching. Cars sit, birds shit and the paint gets etched.

I made this mistake last year buying a leftover Mazda. Learn from my screw up.

[der_kommissar]

Careful with that battery too. If it's not had a battery tender on it the whole time then it needs a new one, and it needs to be coded at a BMW dealer. Acura dealer can't just swap it out or you'll have trouble.

Personally, I prefer the GC, but I can understand why one would like a GT.

[Jaghave]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl123

Hi again,
To provide a bit more background...... the car is a 3 series GT with the colors and options I want (which seem to be kind of rare - Jatoba/Saddle). It was traded in for an Acura, so it's sitting at the Acura dealer's lot. The story is that an 'elderly gentleman' bought the car for his wife and she didn't like it, so after a few weeks of driving it, they traded it for an Acura. Does this help matters any?

Thanks for all of your comments!

Try Princeton bmw or open road bmw in Edison they are pretty flexible in negotiating price and are willing to find move and CPO a car. This is all base on my past experience

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Jaghave

Try Princeton bmw or open road bmw in Edison they are pretty flexible in negotiating price and are willing to find move and CPO a car. This is all base on my past experience

Flemington, too. I got pretty close to pulling the trigger on a CPO there before I found the one I ended up with. You just need to be diligent about checking all these dealers regularly, so you can get them when they turn over their loaner fleets.

[BEM-S4]

Try Paul Miller in NJ and Main Line in Philly too. Both do tons of CPO and Exec Demo cars. Last year I looked at a 335 GT at Paul Miller it had 3k on it and was 25% off retail.

I personally wouldn't do long distance, questionable car hassle just for a color combo but that's me.

You can also tell the dealer exactly what you want and they can find it for you in exec demo at auction if you can be a bit patient. The auctions are typically once a week.

[roll_the_dice]

If the car has been sitting on the lot for a year, they "should" be willing to let it go for a great price. I would not be worried about it sitting too much. It still has regular warranty left, even if you don't get the maintenance warranty. What I would do is get a PPI done at a Chicagoland BMW dealer. It is worth the few hundred dollars for peace of mind. Then after it goes through the PPI and you are still interested...fly out there and check it out. If you like it drive it home. My brother did this recently with an Audi S5 he bought in Chicago and he drove it home to CT. Good luck

[Gearhog]

Originally Posted by akack79

Maintenance no longer "follows the car" starting from MY 2015.....it has to be a CPO I believe to get the included maintenance.

Leftover new 2016 328s are going well below invoice, check edmunds for pricing in your area. GL.

I bought my 2015 from a BMW dealer and it was not CPO but the Maintenance did follow the car. They told me they just didn't want it to follow the car if being sold at other dealers or private sale.