2008 BMW 135i: Sales Update -- Tire Kickers Galore

I sold my old 1997 Volvo 850 GLT w/ 98K and Every Feature on it for $5,995 in 2003. Seeing that '95 Civics go for more than that in 2009, i regret it.

Get close to what you want for it. It will eventually sell.

This just shows how many people REALLY want this baby Bimmer...

In "REALLY want" I meant for those people who want it bad enough to back it up with their wallets and not those who are hiding behind computers and yelling/screaming/typing "BRING IT OVER HERE" at BMW...

I think you are paying for your manual + non-sport pack configuration.

And the ugly color too probably.

By the way, has anyone asked for whether or not this thing has leather seat? If so, I want to know the reaction when you tell them that it doesn't...

It doesn't have nav either if I recall correctly. That would be a non-starter for me....

Caroline...this could be your BIG chance...

I like the color myself....and TIRES are much cheaper on the non-sport version, at least from my experience with a Z4.

When you least expect it, a buyer will surface.

I don't particularly care if the car has nav -- with the prices of portable systems, an in-car system is superfluous anyway.
The non-starter for me is the lack of the sport package and its excellent seats.

I was curious if TMV included things like the lack of a sport package and found out that the sport package adds $665 to the base price in a private party sale. As someone who owns a 135 in a nice color with the sport package and has driven a 135 without the sport package's seats, I can say pretty confidently that the seats are worth much more than that. Combine the seats with the trim added as part of the sport package and it really is the only choice for the 135.

Bottom line is that the 135 is a drivers car and the seats matter. If you don't think they matter, then get the 128 because the power and agility in the 135 will result in you pulling shenanigans that the normal seats simply won't be able to handle.

Yes, unfortunately this car has lousy equipment. No sport, no Premium, no nav... zilch.

@ptcdawg, in the case of the 135i, the wheels/tires are the same between the sport and non-sport model. No savings there.

I agree, that the lack of sport seats with the manual is an issue with trying to sell it. Most enthusiasts that want a manual, want it for sporty driving and want the extra bolstering provided with the sport seats.

This reminds me of when I sold my '99 M3 in early 2002 (51K miles). I was asking $28,500. The first person to call about it came to look at it and offered $28,000. I said how about $28,500? He said okay and bought it, heh.

You're asking too much. If you had gone for the ZSP the car would have sold already. You guys are looking for a rare buyer who wants the power of a 135 but no sport package. It's like dating a supermodel who will only go out with you in the day to her grandma's house.

Shoulda taken the guy at 25.5k.

It seems like the sport pack on the 135i doesn't actually get you that much. Sport seats, sport wheel, increased top speed, and some trim bits? None of that is actually performance-related (except for the almost worthless top speed hike), but on the 128i you get sport suspension and bigger wheels. Did they change that between 08 and 09? Also, the builder utility shows the sport seats whether or not you tick the sport package box...anyone know what's up with that?

I'm watching this thread VERY closely, as I have a 2009 135i that I just listed for sale for Edmunds TMV in New England (we now have a baby on the way and my wife wants us to get a wagon instead).

My car *should* compensate for some of the issues here: only 4200 miles, desirable color (black metalic), sport package, loaded minus active steering and nav. I do have a manual, however.

We'll see how it goes!

Gah, iari, I wish I was in the market as you have the exact 135 I would order.

@iari if you want to hold onto your car just a bit longer you can let your wife know the 135i will accommodate a newborn (just). We picked ours up in Munich using European Delivery and our little girl was just 5 months old. There's actually more room for her now that she is old and in a forward-facing car seat (vs. a rear-facing infant seat, which was much larger.)

Of course, it has helped to have a second (larger) vehicle to complement the smaller 135i. And the 135i ride can be a bit too firm at times over rough pavement, vs. an SUV or wagon.

Are you guys sticking with a BMW? They have some weird wagon options: you can get the 328i or xi, or the 535xi. Those are your only choices. The 328 automatic is too underpowered (esp. coming from a 135i, and most especially if you get the xi + automatic) and the 535xi is huuuuuge. It's curious they don't offer a 335xi wagon....

lari: has your car been through a New England winter yet? if not, you get bonus points (dollars), especially if someone from down south is willing to come get it.

You guys need to publish a summary of the last 8-10 cars you sold, what the TMV was at the time you sold it and the sale price.

It seems to me that lately you have been selling a lot of cars below TMV.

The 'true' market value is the one you actually get, not what a computer tells you it is. If the computer is consistently wrong, then it is time to adjust the model.

However, this is off the top of my head and I could be wrong.

bankerdanny: interesting concept.

local dealers here say the price of a nice used car has gone through the roof. not sure if it's a reflex from the Cash for Clunkers program or a symptom of the economy, but would be curious if TMV reflects these fluctuations.

Edmunds' TMV is always too high. It's kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. If you are buying, you look at TMV and you won't buy a car above that because it's not a good deal. So the "average" becomes the upper bound once it's published and people get that info.

But I think they are just generally higher than Blue Book anyway.

maybe i don't know what i'm talking about since i'm basing my thoughts off of east coast BMW dealer prices
but 26K for a year old 135 seems like a steal (28K miles or not)
i would expect this to be in the 33-34K range

My 135i has been through a New England winter, although with fairly minimal exposure. I know the 135 will (barely) take the baby, but we have a new house too and need some shopping/carrying capacity.

I'm definitely going to go wagon for the next car. I love BMW's, but this has been 8 yrs straight of BMW's, so I'm itching to try a new brand. Our driveway/garage space is of the urban/super narrow variety, one reason I got the 135 in the first place. I'm thinking maybe a Volvo V50 AWD wagon might be our next car. I may also look at the Saab 93 Sportcombi.

If we decide to go used and cheaper, I may check out and see if I can get a good deal on a pre-owned Suzuki SX4 or Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Point taken on the tires, but I still like the color.... :)

iari, perhaps you should test drive a Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback. :o)

If you're thinking Vibe or SRX, also consider the Mazda5, Mazda3 hatch, and '05-'07 Focus Wagon (which can be found with a manual, although few and far between). Unless those were for AWD...then about the only option is Subaru or Volvo.

bkochuk,
I was just thinking the same thing!

The current used car market, especially for sports/luxury cars is incredibly soft. The market is dominated by two types: people who have over inflated values of what their cars are worth and lowball buyers who realize the market is soft. Somewhere in between (and closer to Manheim auction value) is where they meet.

Based on Manheim, you might be better off sending the car to auction where there are buyers with cash than in the private market.

Manheim. KBB. TMV. So many "fair" prices.

What's a buyer with a car to sell to do?

I would definitely take a Saab Sportcombi for a test drive. The interior might not look as plush as a BMW but you can get a pretty good one for the money (and the extra space comes in really handy).

"I would definitely take a Saab Sportcombi for a test drive"

My wife like the Sportcombi a lot; she may well pick one up once SAAB is firmly back is Swedish hands...

@iari,

I second Suby Trojan's comment about the 2010/09 WRX wagon. The car is blazing fast, a sure handler, will run like a champ, has good space, is easy to mod and it's dirt cheap at around 25k.

If I had not found a CPO 335i ZSP/manual for 26.5k I woulda bought the WRX wagon.

There's nothing else NEW in the WRX's price range/style (wagon0 that can really match the performance/value for the dollar.

and again, Edmunds' TMV is seriously on crack.

"It's like dating a supermodel who will only go out with you in the day to her grandma's house."

Well said, sir, well said. A 1, 3 or 5 series BMW without a sport package is a Beemer. Sport package makes it a Bimmer.

It’s not surprising. You have a manual transmission 135 without the sport package or leather. If it was an auto with leather it would have sold. If it had the sport package and the manual it would have sold. Not many buy a luxury car with vinyl and others don’t but a sporty coupe without the “sports”. Not to mention Sedona Red isn’t the best color.

Also those looking for cheap luxury get a base 128i, 328i, C300 or similar not the 135i.

I'm thinking the Edmunds "TMV" may need to be recalibrated if you can't even sell your vehicle for the recommended price. Any thoughts on this?