BMW i8 - BMW Approved Used Help!
Discussion
Hi all,
Hoping to get some collective wisdom from Pistonheads:
I'm looking at purchasing a BMW i8 coupe. Decided the best way to reduce risk of a big bill is to go through BMW approved used and have a main BMW warranty. I've found a spec I like at the very top of my budget and reserved it online (fully refundable) for £99 last night. My two questions are:
1.
Speaking to the dealer today and they said the £99 keeps it reserved for 24 hours so I would need to pay a further deposit of £901 to reserve it for longer (they said over phone this would also be fully refundable but I would want to get this in writing). Issue I have is the car isn't at the dealer yet and it hasn't been prepped / they have no pictures of the car so I would be reserving blind.
Is this standard practice and I'm being sceptical for no reason, or is it them being pushy?
2.
I haven't negotiated with a dealer in a long time.
I'm aware the sticker price is probably the sticker price - is there even any point in trying to haggle? I'll be a cash buyer, but am I likely to get better deal if I negotiate using their finance and just pay off after 1 month?
&
What are the other extras people have managed to get included within the price? Key thing for me would be to get a 24 month warranty included rather than the standard 12 month if possible (c.£1700 p.a. for a warranty).
I've looked around and can see another BMW dealership has a January deal which is £600 towards any deposit + 24 month warranty + paint protection money off + some other extras if you are trading something in.
Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions/ your experiences!
Hoping to get some collective wisdom from Pistonheads:
I'm looking at purchasing a BMW i8 coupe. Decided the best way to reduce risk of a big bill is to go through BMW approved used and have a main BMW warranty. I've found a spec I like at the very top of my budget and reserved it online (fully refundable) for £99 last night. My two questions are:
1.
Speaking to the dealer today and they said the £99 keeps it reserved for 24 hours so I would need to pay a further deposit of £901 to reserve it for longer (they said over phone this would also be fully refundable but I would want to get this in writing). Issue I have is the car isn't at the dealer yet and it hasn't been prepped / they have no pictures of the car so I would be reserving blind.
Is this standard practice and I'm being sceptical for no reason, or is it them being pushy?
2.
I haven't negotiated with a dealer in a long time.
I'm aware the sticker price is probably the sticker price - is there even any point in trying to haggle? I'll be a cash buyer, but am I likely to get better deal if I negotiate using their finance and just pay off after 1 month?
&
What are the other extras people have managed to get included within the price? Key thing for me would be to get a 24 month warranty included rather than the standard 12 month if possible (c.£1700 p.a. for a warranty).
I've looked around and can see another BMW dealership has a January deal which is £600 towards any deposit + 24 month warranty + paint protection money off + some other extras if you are trading something in.
Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions/ your experiences!
I put a deposit on recently, basically, the basis of the refundable aspect was that you were happy with the price and deal, it was basically subject just to the inspection and test drive, i.e.if you found fault, or it wasn’t as described, you could get out of it. This was a straight £1k minimum though.
So there was to be no negotiation on price after the deposit,and to be fair, there are only 2 comparable cars for sale and they’re similar money, as well as me having lost out on two, so I know they sell at this money.
In my case, some of the brightwork was dull and there was a scuff on the loading lip. There was a minor discussion on the chrome, and they had planned the paint anyway, so in the end it was all rolled in, but no discount. To be fair, it had just had the major service, a £5k brake replacement and they’d had the diamond cut wheels recut and 4 brand new Continentals in it, so I was struggling to find any issues with it being approved used and the manufacturer warranty basically extended by two years
So there was to be no negotiation on price after the deposit,and to be fair, there are only 2 comparable cars for sale and they’re similar money, as well as me having lost out on two, so I know they sell at this money.
In my case, some of the brightwork was dull and there was a scuff on the loading lip. There was a minor discussion on the chrome, and they had planned the paint anyway, so in the end it was all rolled in, but no discount. To be fair, it had just had the major service, a £5k brake replacement and they’d had the diamond cut wheels recut and 4 brand new Continentals in it, so I was struggling to find any issues with it being approved used and the manufacturer warranty basically extended by two years
I've recently put a deposit on an i8 Coupe with a BMW main dealer. They are like hen's teeth at the moment and good ones that are well priced aren't hanging about.
If there's an approved used warranty on it, this covers the car but the high voltage battery is covered by a separate warranty. This lasts for eight years from date of registration. The insured warranty that you quote prices for specifically excludes the HV battery and some other components so worth reading the policy booklet.
If there's an approved used warranty on it, this covers the car but the high voltage battery is covered by a separate warranty. This lasts for eight years from date of registration. The insured warranty that you quote prices for specifically excludes the HV battery and some other components so worth reading the policy booklet.
Thanks both - useful info!
@skyebear good shout on the warranty. I can see in the policy document from BMW website it excludes batteries, but I have an email from the dealership saying:
"MINIMUM 12 MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE BMW WARRANTY.
Designed to protect your investment, our extensive Warranty provides unlimited mileage protection against breakdown and repair costs for parts and labour for a minimum of 12 months. All factory-fitted mechanical and electrical components are covered, even the exhaust and the battery are guaranteed."
Different warranty or mistake by the dealership?
@skyebear good shout on the warranty. I can see in the policy document from BMW website it excludes batteries, but I have an email from the dealership saying:
"MINIMUM 12 MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE BMW WARRANTY.
Designed to protect your investment, our extensive Warranty provides unlimited mileage protection against breakdown and repair costs for parts and labour for a minimum of 12 months. All factory-fitted mechanical and electrical components are covered, even the exhaust and the battery are guaranteed."
Different warranty or mistake by the dealership?
BBC92 said:
Thanks both - useful info!
@skyebear good shout on the warranty. I can see in the policy document from BMW website it excludes batteries, but I have an email from the dealership saying:
"MINIMUM 12 MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE BMW WARRANTY.
Designed to protect your investment, our extensive Warranty provides unlimited mileage protection against breakdown and repair costs for parts and labour for a minimum of 12 months. All factory-fitted mechanical and electrical components are covered, even the exhaust and the battery are guaranteed."
Different warranty or mistake by the dealership?
I couldn't satisfy myself that that statement covered the HV battery. I spoke with other BMW dealers as well as BMW UK in arriving at my decision.@skyebear good shout on the warranty. I can see in the policy document from BMW website it excludes batteries, but I have an email from the dealership saying:
"MINIMUM 12 MONTH UNLIMITED MILEAGE BMW WARRANTY.
Designed to protect your investment, our extensive Warranty provides unlimited mileage protection against breakdown and repair costs for parts and labour for a minimum of 12 months. All factory-fitted mechanical and electrical components are covered, even the exhaust and the battery are guaranteed."
Different warranty or mistake by the dealership?
So far as I could establish, the HV battery is covered by a separate, dedicated warranty and when that expires eight years after car was registered, that's your whack.
Prices seem all over the place at the moment. Sub £30k for an early one.
I bought an 18 plate coupe for £55k with 8k miles when it was 2 years old as a lot were on the market. (heavily discounted when new and a lot of ex-lease cars due to the tax breaks presumably).
Sold at £52k 2 years later with 15k miles so sort of cheap running costs. Insurance was surprisingly reasonable too. Peak used price car timing I think!
Mine had a 2 year "BMW Manufacturer Warranty with the breakdown cover". I wouldn't get one without it as they fixed at least three minor warranty issues and taxied me 200 miles to home (ironically in a Merc S Class) as a puncture repair kit is pretty useless and most BMW dealers don't stock the tyres (so an M8 loan car for a week and they trailered my i8 back to me).
Some mysterious squeaks, common issue with door struts and a charging issue that was software related were the issues I had under warranty.
If I had another one I would definitely keep up the proper fully inclusive BMW warranty at about £1500 a year for peace of mind as that is what I would expect for what is quite a complex car and the service was faultless.
Fun to drive, can fit kids in the back until they are about 10 years old, gets attention as not many around and will probably hold it's value.
Needed a family wagon so went 540ix touring but have to say, I really enjoyed my i8 (fun round the Milton Keynes grid were I live)
I bought an 18 plate coupe for £55k with 8k miles when it was 2 years old as a lot were on the market. (heavily discounted when new and a lot of ex-lease cars due to the tax breaks presumably).
Sold at £52k 2 years later with 15k miles so sort of cheap running costs. Insurance was surprisingly reasonable too. Peak used price car timing I think!
Mine had a 2 year "BMW Manufacturer Warranty with the breakdown cover". I wouldn't get one without it as they fixed at least three minor warranty issues and taxied me 200 miles to home (ironically in a Merc S Class) as a puncture repair kit is pretty useless and most BMW dealers don't stock the tyres (so an M8 loan car for a week and they trailered my i8 back to me).
Some mysterious squeaks, common issue with door struts and a charging issue that was software related were the issues I had under warranty.
If I had another one I would definitely keep up the proper fully inclusive BMW warranty at about £1500 a year for peace of mind as that is what I would expect for what is quite a complex car and the service was faultless.
Fun to drive, can fit kids in the back until they are about 10 years old, gets attention as not many around and will probably hold it's value.
Needed a family wagon so went 540ix touring but have to say, I really enjoyed my i8 (fun round the Milton Keynes grid were I live)
Rough101 said:
I put a deposit on recently, basically, the basis of the refundable aspect was that you were happy with the price and deal, it was basically subject just to the inspection and test drive, i.e.if you found fault, or it wasn’t as described, you could get out of it. This was a straight £1k minimum though.
Cut a deal in principal subject to what Rough101 says if they insist on £1k deposit.I pay you £1k (refundable) and you hold it subject to it being as advertised, inspected and test driven. Just check the advert carefully and confirm it is a "proper" BMW warranty and not a 3rd party one.
skyebear said:
I couldn't satisfy myself that that statement covered the HV battery. I spoke with other BMW dealers as well as BMW UK in arriving at my decision.
So far as I could establish, the HV battery is covered by a separate, dedicated warranty and when that expires eight years after car was registered, that's your whack.
I can confirm that there's no extension on the HV Battery, once it's out of warranty then that's it.So far as I could establish, the HV battery is covered by a separate, dedicated warranty and when that expires eight years after car was registered, that's your whack.
I had a client that had an issue & due to it being an AUC BMW said they'd cover the labour cost of the battery replacement as an act of "goodwill"
Some dealer warranties are not with BMW - I bought a Z4 from 'Swyntna' and after the AUC warranty was up I got a renewal for a warranty that was more expensive than the BMW warranty that I took out thats underwritten by Allianz.
Allianz also gave a good refund when I subsequently swapped for a newer model AUC.
Allianz also gave a good refund when I subsequently swapped for a newer model AUC.
I bought my i8 roadster blind having already paid £75,000 for it - but this was still a good deal for a very nearly new car in 2019. The money would have been refundable if it wasn’t as described. Luckily it was. But I didn’t like the process.
ALWAYS get a BMW Used Approved warranty with your car and keep it up. It might cost you £1000 a year but I know that if/when things go wrong they go wrong big time. Last year an EME failed (burned out) on a very nice 42000 mile 2015 Coupe. No warning; dead stop; full service history. Towed to main dealer; cost to repair - £25,000. BMW UK not interested in negotiating as the battery was just out of the eight year warranty. All sorts of threats (outing them to the media, etc) made no difference. In the end, the car was repaired out of the network but still for a five figure sum, noting that the batteries still have to come out and the EME itself cost £6k.
The BMW rationale was that if the main safety fuse blows (which it did) you have to replace and re-code all of the battery power train, irrespective of what actually caused the fault. It could have been a chafed wire….. Unfortunately, you can’t buy the battery pack as a unit. It has to be built up from new parts….Our rationale was that if a VANOS failed you wouldn’t replace the whole ICE.
I8s are still great though. And make no mistake EMEs are in all hybrids and BEVs as they are the means to get the battery volts to the motors. They are all susceptible and indeed they have been and not just in BMWs. There is a lot of evidence coming out that EVs unfortunately are awful to repair if they go wrong. Recyclable white goods? I think so.
ALWAYS get a BMW Used Approved warranty with your car and keep it up. It might cost you £1000 a year but I know that if/when things go wrong they go wrong big time. Last year an EME failed (burned out) on a very nice 42000 mile 2015 Coupe. No warning; dead stop; full service history. Towed to main dealer; cost to repair - £25,000. BMW UK not interested in negotiating as the battery was just out of the eight year warranty. All sorts of threats (outing them to the media, etc) made no difference. In the end, the car was repaired out of the network but still for a five figure sum, noting that the batteries still have to come out and the EME itself cost £6k.
The BMW rationale was that if the main safety fuse blows (which it did) you have to replace and re-code all of the battery power train, irrespective of what actually caused the fault. It could have been a chafed wire….. Unfortunately, you can’t buy the battery pack as a unit. It has to be built up from new parts….Our rationale was that if a VANOS failed you wouldn’t replace the whole ICE.
I8s are still great though. And make no mistake EMEs are in all hybrids and BEVs as they are the means to get the battery volts to the motors. They are all susceptible and indeed they have been and not just in BMWs. There is a lot of evidence coming out that EVs unfortunately are awful to repair if they go wrong. Recyclable white goods? I think so.
Sorry I meant to finish by saying that, even though the EME example isn’t covered by an approved used warranty after eight years (as it’s covered by the battery warranty), it is still a good idea to get the AU warranty as there are other big ticket items to go wrong that aren’t battery related.
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