Amazing how little these cars are now valued on the open market?

[Hoover2003530i]

Got my 2003 BMW530i with 108Kmiles in great condition listed on CL. It's amazing the number of people who are calling and telling me they are scared to by a BMW because of the extensive repairs and repair cost? And the values have tanked. Hard to believe a $36K car in 2003 is now worth about 10% of that even with low mileage. I've only put about 15K miles on the car myself with one minor repair, an ignition coil, but people are terrified of buying these cars used? Seems like a BMW is a good car for the first 100K miles but then you get rid of it cause it's perceived as a repair nightmare??? A luxury vehicle with YUGO reliability and horrible resale? Disappointing. BMW needs to work on it's reliability reputation it seems?

[f355spider]

You are the exception. Or wait another year and report back. If you use the dealer, or even an independent BMW specialist, many repairs are rather spendy compared to a Toyota or Honda.

[6spd540]

Yeah, I've been shocked how cheap E39s are going for recently, well except for the one I'm interested in. I can't even find a 540 touring locally for under 10k, I'm about to buy one from the east coast for 5-6k just so maybe i can get most of that back locally for my sedan.

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[amancuso]

Got my 2003 BMW530i with 108Kmiles in great condition listed on CL. It's amazing the number of people who are calling and telling me they are scared to by a BMW because of the extensive repairs and repair cost? And the values have tanked. Hard to believe a $36K car in 2003 is now worth about 10% of that even with low mileage. I've only put about 15K miles on the car myself with one minor repair, an ignition coil, but people are terrified of buying these cars used? Seems like a BMW is a good car for the first 100K miles but then you get rid of it cause it's perceived as a repair nightmare??? A luxury vehicle with YUGO reliability and horrible resale? Disappointing. BMW needs to work on it's reliability reputation it seems?

a 2003 530i base was more like $48K

[edjack]

German cars have had a rep over the years as expensive to maintain, esp as they age, which also translates to resale value.

Why do they bother calling? And why are you selling?

BTW, any 14-year-old car has pretty much fully depreciated.

[Hoover2003530i]

a 2003 530i base was more like $48K

Ok my bad, so it's worth 7.7% of original sticker then?

[amancuso]

Ok my bad, so it's worth 7.7% of original sticker then?

Yup... its ollldddddd.

[Hoover2003530i]

German cars have had a rep over the years as expensive to maintain, esp as they age, which also translates to resale value.

Why do they bother calling? And why are you selling?

BTW, any 14-year-old car has pretty much fully depreciated.

Have no idea why they call? They call are interested then a day or so before the scheduled meeting I will either get a text or I will text them and the response is: "Think I'm going to wait. Everything I see on the internet says they require a lot of expensive maintenance."

[builtinbetter]

It is ridiculous to see an 03' civic is now worth about double what an 03' bmw is worth. 😢

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[ViolinARC]

Have no idea why they call? They call are interested then a day or so before the scheduled meeting I will either get a text or I will text them and the response is: "Think I'm going to wait. Everything I see on the internet says they require a lot of expensive maintenance."

As does EVERY 14-20 yo car with high mileage and lots of plastic...DOH!!

My 5'ers are THE best used cars I have ever owned.

EDIT: I take it back, my high mileage '95 Taco doesn't need ANY maintenance and just keeps on truckin...

[dannyzabolotny]

Yep, that's how depreciation works. All cars depreciate, regardless of make/model. German cars happen to depreciate a bit more than others due to their perceived repair costs. If you DIY the repairs then they're really not bad, but a dealership will charge an arm and a leg for just about any repair job. Basically, don't ever buy a used BMW and expect to get all of your money back when you sell it.

[ViolinARC]

yep, that's how depreciation works. All cars depreciate, regardless of make/model. German cars happen to depreciate a bit more than others due to their perceived repair costs. If you diy the repairs then they're really not bad, but a dealership will charge an arm and a leg for just about any repair job. Basically, don't ever buy a used bmw and expect to get all of your money back when you sell it.

BLASPHEMY!!!

[waters17]

I've had my car for less than 2 years, and I've got $19k into it. - no fun upgrades for me, that's refresh maintenance only. It does trouble me to know that the car is probably only worth $4 or 5k.

[Telecomtodd]

Yesterday I was negotiating with an owner of an armored 530i with 54K miles. Yes, thick glass, aramid fiber door panels, fun and unique. However, the brake rotors were grooved, water was sensed in the brake fluid reservoir, and I'd bet the water pump was original. He wanted $10K for it, but under the cool bulletproofing it's still a 530i and needs about $1500 worth of work. NADA retail (not trade-in) on a premium 530i without armor was $6475 so I didn't feel bad about offering him for less that his asking price. He claims he's trying to get his money out of it, but I'd say he paid too much for it. He wouldn't sell...yesterday. Maybe he'll call me back in a week or so when no one else decides the armoring is worth another $4K on a 15-year old car.

[ViolinARC]

I've had my car for less than 2 years, and I've got $19k into it. - no fun upgrades for me, that's refresh maintenance only. It does trouble me to know that the car is probably only worth $4 or 5k.

The main danger is getting into an accident and having the f'in insurance company total the damn car when it only needs $3k to fix...

Yesterday I was negotiating with an owner of an armored 530i with 54K miles. Yes, thick glass, aramid fiber door panels, fun and unique. However, the brake rotors were grooved, water was sensed in the brake fluid reservoir, and I'd bet the water pump was original. He wanted $10K for it, but under the cool bulletproofing it's still a 530i and needs about $1500 worth of work. NADA retail (not trade-in) on a premium 530i without armor was $6475 so I didn't feel bad about offering him for less that his asking price. He claims he's trying to get his money out of it, but I'd say he paid too much for it. He wouldn't sell...yesterday. Maybe he'll call me back in a week or so when no one else decides the armoring is worth another $4K on a 15-year old car.

Have you heard the term "what the market will bear"? That is pretty much where we are, it depends on how much someone wants to pay to join the E39 club. The armored version IS pretty cool though especially if you live in one of THOSE neighborhoods like I used to (morons on exit ramps getting out, pointing their glocks at all the innocent people stuck on the same ramp and firing shots into the air, robbed at gunpoint on my own porch, etc.).

The seller of the '03 540i M-sport w/72k (now at 85k) I acquired would only drop $500 below his asking price but I now have rescued a low miles M-sport that I can keep fresh...

[Telecomtodd]

Have you heard the term "what the market will bear"? That is pretty much where we are, it depends on how much someone wants to pay to join the E39 club. The armored version IS pretty cool though especially if you live in one of THOSE neighborhoods like I used to (morons on exit ramps getting out, pointing their glocks at all the innocent people stuck on the same ramp and firing shots into the air, robbed at gunpoint on my own porch, etc.).

On the weekends I'm an appointed NRA Training Counselor training instructors how to teach folks how to safely shoot rifles, pistols and shotguns, primarily for the Boy Scouts. Having a Kugelsicher E39 would be a lot of fun, but it needs brakes all the way around, new cooling system - you know, the standard stuff we do to 15 year old BMW acquisitions - and it isn't inexpensive. Why get in a car that's worth $5K for $10K and spend another $2-4K getting it roadworthy? At least I wouldn't need to worry about the subframe like my M Roadster; that was an initial $4K spend and three weeks at Korman's shop.

[pshovest]

They're only bargains if you can DIY.....fortunately I can.

[JPR10]

I won't be surprised to see the E39s jump in price similar to how E30s will at some point in the future.

Rust bucket E30s go for more than some E39s do, without half the amenities the E39 offers!

Considering the timelessness of the E39 chassis, I'm expecting a cult following to ensue by the younger generations.

Thoughts?

[indy525]

I won't be surprised to see the E39s jump in price similar to how E30s will at some point in the future.

Rust bucket E30s go for more than some E39s do, without half the amenities the E39 offers!

Considering the timelessness of the E39 chassis, I'm expecting a cult following to ensue by the younger generations.

Thoughts?

I think you are going to be right. IMO e39s were the high water mark for BMW many think of as one of the best cars ever made. I think high mileage cars will remain low, even M5s. You can buy rough high mileage m5s all day long for under $10k. Right now you are seeing low mileage M5s start to become very expensive and I think the trend will start to carry over to the lesser version of the e39s, starting with the 03 msports first. I looked all over the country for 5 months to find mine, which had 59k miles on it. Once inventory starts dwindling, we'll be in e30 territory. Our cars are still too new and there is too many cheap junkers out there.

This will be a good indication of msport value:

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-bmw-540i-8/

If it goes where I think it will, in the $15-$17k range, we are on the upswing.

[jp5Touring]

I feel very fortunate that I have a Touring in such a rare color. I get asked maybe every six weeks if I want to sell it. My biggest fear is someone hitting it and totally it out.

[86 shark]

Had totaled my 2001 530i, went looking on Denver Clist, looked at about 5 from dealers, 4 were trashed out, all had listed prices 6500-7000, 5th car, 2003, was terrific shape, Oxford green, tan interior, 133,000, everything works inc radio pixels, full tool kit, good rubber, 16" stock wheels, temp is hard to read, just great at $4995.Couldn't be happier! Can't think of a better $5K car.

[indy525]

I paid $21500 for my 03 525 non sport premium pack car with 17k miles in '07. I sold it in early 2014 for $12500 w/ 88k miles but it was absolutely mint with quite a bit invested in parts and OEM mods. I would be luck to get roughly half that today. Last November I paid $8350 for my 540 msport. Bmw parts were a whole lot cheaper back in 07 though.

[Dwin]

Honestly bottom line is ppl are scared of these cars because they don't know how to wrench on them, therefore leaving no option but and Indy shop that usually charges an arm and a leg and some more just because it's a BMW. Another thing is not even 90% of these shops know how to wrench on these cars either. If you can't afford the work or parts then stick with a darn Honda or Toyota. You get what you pay for and everyone that owns a BMW knows what I mean by this especially when you ride in another car that is not of the same quality, sorry these cars aren't cheap they aren't complicated either but they are amazing, fun and great built cars.......

[Uturn540]

I won't be surprised to see the E39s jump in price similar to how E30s will at some point in the future.

Rust bucket E30s go for more than some E39s do, without half the amenities the E39 offers!

Considering the timelessness of the E39 chassis, I'm expecting a cult following to ensue by the younger generations.

Thoughts?

Hope so. Bought a nice E30 with 88k miles last September for $2000 and put another $1200 in it($560 just for 5 14" tires). Got offered $5000 a month later. Even if the E39 values do not go up I am still happy, still fun to drive after all these years.20170313_161954.jpg

[6spd540]

I just ran into a guy today that started asking me about my E39 that just sold a 540 touring for $2k because it needed timing chain guides.

While I'd prefer to get facelift model so I wouldn't need(want) to do all the retrofits like I did on mine, his already had a 6 speed swap done on it so wouldn't need to do that. I'd probably would have bought if I ran into him before he sold it.

It did give me hope that I might just be able to find one without going out of state for a price I'm willing to pay.

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