BMW Wagons... who's lost their mind - sellers or KBB.com?

[LeeH]

Prime example... 2001 525i wagon with 121K miles.

Asking price: Reduced to $9700 from $11,500.

KBB Private party retail excellent: $4975

There's a 1999 528iT near me with 98K miles. Asking $6200. KBB private party excellent: $3678.

Here's another... 2003 525iT 117K miles. Asking $8950. KBB dealer retail: $6770


Is KBB out of touch with the market for these cars or are these seller dreaming?

[biosurfer1]

Wouldn't surprise me either way, though KBB has been known to be way, way off market on the low side. I think I read they recently fixed the Porsche 993 valuations because for the longest time they had them all very low. My favorite was a 1998 with 30,000 miles, they claimed in excellent condition it should be $17,000

[fastfredracing]

I think they are one of those cars that sort of have a cult following.

[Dueller]

Dunno. Bought my 2002 525iT w/90K miles in excellent condition from a toyota dealer for $8800. In 2009.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I think they are one of those cars that sort of have a cult following.

I thought that was the black Audi wagon.

Lee, what does the NADA guide say? The same?

[aigel]

KBB misses out on the fact that these are having a collector's / car guy's following.

My 993 is worth $19k in "Excellent" condition, according to them. I could sell it in 3 hours or part it out for more than that!

G

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I thought that was the black Audi wagon.

Lee, what does the NADA guide say? The same?

NADA is higher...

NADA dealer retail:
2001 525 121K miles $8525
1999 528i 98K $7575
2003 525i 117K $9750

[willtel]

As another data point I paid $8500 for my 2001 325i with 132000 miles two years ago.

Mine is a manual with the sport package which makes it a little more rare and IMO desirable.

[Busta Rib]

I just paid $8700 for a 2003 525iT Sport manual with 91K miles. It was listed at $10K. It is in excellent condition. I shopped for 3 months and IMO, this was a great deal. The E39 wagons are difficult to find, particularly in a manual with sport package. On top of that, mine is silver on black, which is a very desirable color combination for me. I wish it had heated seats, but that is fixable for about $200/seat. I think the prices you are seeing for these wagons is what the market is bearing right now.

[911dean]

I paid $9500 for my 2002 325it manual sport with 82,000 miles. Worth every penny to me. It also took 3 years to find one in its condition.

These wagons seem to have a following.

Dean

[kaisen]

They may have a following, but they sold very, very few when new -- something like 3-4%.
It doesn't take much demand to outstrip the small supply.

[bell]

You guys are overlooking that allot of people buy more car than they can afford.....chances are that number is the loan payoff amount........

[aigel]

Originally Posted by kaisen

They may have a following, but they sold very, very few when new -- something like 3-4%.
It doesn't take much demand to outstrip the small supply.

Is it possible, in their algorithm, that they do not have numbers on these sales rather than a factor they use to add / subtract from the coupe/4door? That would have the effect of being off by a few k if not done carefully.

G

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by aigel

Is it possible, in their algorithm, that they do not have numbers on these sales rather than a factor they use to add / subtract from the coupe/4door? That would have the effect of being off by a few k if not done carefully.

G

I think that's exactly it

[speeder]

No comprende?

[Dueller]

When I was shopping for mine (admittedly an automatic), I found the prices for wagons to be less than comparable sedans by $1000-2000. Interesting I don't know if its weight dirstribution or what, the wagon seem to handle better. You don't realize youre in a wagon until you look back. I love mine because it drives like a sport sedan but has the cargo capacity of an SUV,

Plus I can cruise MILF's at the soccer fields while looking harmless.