Price - Merc vs BMW

[junglie]

One of the issues, but also joys, of my career is that I spend a lot of time away from the UK. So what?

Well, every time you settle on a car you wish to buy, source it and make arrangements to view, you have to go away again whcih is why I have posted a few times before on a similar topic.

I wish to change my C320 CDI Estate and have seen an E60 545i Sport from a dealer about 250 miles from me.

My car is on a 55 plate, 65k miles, full Avantgarde and Sport packs (Heated, electric leather, full COMMAND etc) and the dealer's is on an 05, manual, 57k and the usual M Sport spec.

He is after £9,900 and has offered £7,000 for mine in p/x. I have stated that I have been offered £9,500 against an S4 and is there room for manoeuvre. The dealer has stated there may be but, quite understandably, has not quoted any figures. What I want to avoid is driving 5 hrs there to be told that there is no deal and wasting both of our time.

My question is what are the 2 cars worth? I have looked through Parkers, Which and online to see what previous models have gone for and the prices vary wildly.

Loads of variables such as big engine petrol vs economical diesel, manual vs petrol, saloon vs estate which, although not reflected in price guides, must have a large reflection on price in the real world.

[paddyhasneeds]

Respectfully, why do you care what each is worth rather than simply focussing on the cost to change between the various options?

[junglie]

Why use 5 paragraphs when 1 sentance will do!

That is exactly what I mean - price to change.

[NadiR]

There's a low miler 2006 540i Sport for 8k on Autotrader, its the only manual one for sale pretty much anywhere (and one of the few E60 540i's).

[junglie]

I have seen that one - is it the one that needs a new clutch?

[Dracoro]

junglie said:

I have seen that one - is it the one that needs a new clutch?

So £8k or less, plus add cost of new clutch (cost ?) will be less than the other ones surely?

Then sell your car privately for whatever it's worth, let's say £9k and the cost to change will be minimal rather than £2,900 you've got currently on the table.....

[deltashad]

A 55 plate will beat the ridiculous road tax

[Presuming Ed]

Doesn't look a great deal on the face of it. No doubt to me that the 545i is more prefereable car but to most people out there your Merc makes far more sense and much more saleable.
Therefore I would expect the seller to offer top money for mine due to the fact he's getting out of a unpopular big engined petrol and getting in return a diesel Merc.
Push for a cost to change of about £1500 and then take your chance to go look at it, chances are it could be a dog but then from the dealers perspective so could yours.

[tbc]

i'd definitely go for the private sale, i know a lot of pople like the hassle free way of part x, but your going to get royally shafted

[junglie]

I always normally do a private sale but I do not have as much time as usual at present and these E60s don't come up that often.

However, there are always plenty more fish in the sea I suppose.