[AmericanInToronto]

Well guys, I spent a lot of time shopping around over the past 2-3 days.

After running the numbers, it seemed like any car I buy will be around 25k down there. Then one HAS to pay 6.1% duty and minimum $2800 for extended warranty because CPO won't get honored.

With that overhead and stepping back a model year, one could get a similarly optioned car here in Toronto. And you can negotiate an extra year of CPO on the deal + save on the exchange rate fees + create a relationship with the dealer here etc etc.

What do you think?

[EliteAutoImports]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=135

[tones]

Elite,

I couldn't agree more!

I've been looking for an 07-09 328/335 coupe loaded. I've come across some good fits at a few dealerships as well as brokers and the prices, for the most part, are way too high. Were talking 08 335s for low $40's!!!

One car I've had my eye on for 3 months and price hasn't changed a penny. Now I've been looking at bringing one up from the states, mainly due to the much wider selection available but I'm starting to think it's not worth the hassle/price.

I've just found a 09 328 i with pretty much every option + NAV. This was a US and was brought up by a broker. Asking is 36,888 CDN. Low ams, awesome condition.

Any advice on the price I should be paying? I know 36,888 is to high but not sure what's fair here?

[EliteAutoImports]

Originally Posted by tones

Elite,

I couldn't agree more!

I've been looking for an 07-09 328/335 coupe loaded. I've come across some good fits at a few dealerships as well as brokers and the prices, for the most part, are way too high. Were talking 08 335s for low $40's!!!

One car I've had my eye on for 3 months and price hasn't changed a penny. Now I've been looking at bringing one up from the states, mainly due to the much wider selection available but I'm starting to think it's not worth the hassle/price.

I've just found a 09 328 i with pretty much every option + NAV. This was a US and was brought up by a broker. Asking is 36,888 CDN. Low ams, awesome condition.

Any advice on the price I should be paying? I know 36,888 is to high but not sure what's fair here?

I would agree this is a little high. There are a ton of factors that go into what his cost is on the car. I don't want to publicly state what I think this car should sell for as I have no idea of his costs.

Have you run a CarFax on the car? This is key when looking at price negotiations as this greatly affects the wholesale price on the car. If it has any damage history, it greatly reduces the cost. I would also consider the warranty status on this car with your local dealer. I have mentioned this in the past and others have chimed in saying it is not a problem. I personally would want to ensure this before making a move on a US Vehicle.

Keep in mind to that when it comes time for you to sell the vehicle, there will be a portion of the population that will not be comfortable buying a US vehicle. This is mostly due to their lack of understanding of the reality of a US vehicle.

If you give me some time, I will send you a PM on my service as I amy be able to find you the car you are looking for in the CDN Auction pipeline. I started this company to cut the BS and provide an alternative for people like you to buy a premium used vehicle.

[AmericanInToronto]

Originally Posted by tones

Elite,

I couldn't agree more!

I've been looking for an 07-09 328/335 coupe loaded. I've come across some good fits at a few dealerships as well as brokers and the prices, for the most part, are way too high. Were talking 08 335s for low $40's!!!

One car I've had my eye on for 3 months and price hasn't changed a penny. Now I've been looking at bringing one up from the states, mainly due to the much wider selection available but I'm starting to think it's not worth the hassle/price.

I've just found a 09 328 i with pretty much every option + NAV. This was a US and was brought up by a broker. Asking is 36,888 CDN. Low ams, awesome condition.

Any advice on the price I should be paying? I know 36,888 is to high but not sure what's fair here?

Let me give some input on how I'm figuring out the pricing game:

Say you find a car here in Canada.

Find a similar car in the US WITH CPO on it. Subtract $2000 from that. That's the FAIR price of a used CPO US car. You could take off another $1400 because CPO is no good up here.....but let's not do that yet because if you buy in Canada, you will have it CPO here so let's compare apples to apples.

So now you have your US price for the car. Add 6.1% duty and $3000 for extended warranty. IF this dollar amount is what the Canadian dealer is asking (with CPO), it is a FAIR price.

Get it? See US CPO listing, subtract 2000, add 3000 for warranty and 6.1% duty and that's your fair Canada price for a similar CPO vehicle.

The g*dang 6.1% and 3000 is the cost of living in Canada.....if we were in America, we would save $5000 on a car.

[AmericanInToronto]

But where US definitely does win out is the selection and the sheer volume of cars one can choose from the ny, nj, CT, PA markets....the ones close to us here in Toronto.

[tones]

Selection is probably the biggest factor for me. My 3 month search in Canada has produced maybe 3 vehicles that match my search criteria.

I recently started looking south (Seattle area) and have found over 5 vehicles which match every option I want in a matter of 2 weeks.

The one thing I've taken from this board is to wait untill you find the perfect car, this seems to be much easier to do when including US cars in your search.

Re-sale is also important to me as I would likely be looking at selling this vehicle in 3+ years to make way for a new one.

Based on the above I'm starting to think a CDN car is the way to go, I'll just have to wait it out a bit longer. Wholesalers may be the way to go. I'd love to find out more about these auctions where dealers can buy lease returns etc...There should be a influx of 2007 and 2008 lease returns soon!

[Thussy]

Just go to a few BMW dealerships and tell them exactly what you're looking for. Exact packages, colours, CPO, KMs, and price range. It could take a few months, but you should be able to get exactly what you want. When they find the car for you, and start negotiating price, remind them that they didn't have to keep the car on the lot and pay interest on the car.

The price difference wasn't big enough and I wasn't finding cars in the States that hit what I wanted - damn cold weather package. I know we all want a bargain, but the hassle in getting it into the country, the minor price difference, plus the long term hassle at the dealer is what deterred me.

[pdogg93]

I bought my 2007 space gray 335 coupe in the states. The overall experience was completely well worth it.

Paid 25k and then hst and pst on it. That's it. No instrument cluster swap. No recall letter fee. And it was painless and easy to do.

God bless America

[AmericanInToronto]

Originally Posted by pdogg93

I bought my 2007 space gray 335 coupe in the states. The overall experience was completely well worth it.

Paid 25k and then hst and pst on it. That's it. No instrument cluster swap. No recall letter fee. And it was painless and easy to do.

God bless America

How has your experience been with local dealerships in Canada when you went for warranty service?

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by AmericanInToronto

How has your experience been with local dealerships in Canada when you went for warranty service?

Its a bmw man, not a Porsche

they won't care...its a super high volume "luxury" car whose brand name is going down market anyways


i wouldn't worry...they make $$ off of it and there are what...8 or 9 dealers in that TOronto corridor from oshawa to London?

[markham335i]

i got my e93 07 335i from chicago.. i went to town and country bmw they quoted me 92k for the car. i took a trip to see a relative in chicago and they took me to a dealer there. all together i paid 72k give or take... i was suppose to pay close to 76k but the clerk forgot to charge me some fees at the boarder, was to interested in seeing my top going up and down lol.

different dealerships act differently when they see an american vehicle.. oil changes, and stuff like that u have to pay for urself... however lets say ur heated seats dont work then yes bmw canada covers that... basically all the big things ur still covered

[machine]

Didnt read the thread.... BUT

I imported an x5 last month...saved 20k. No joke.

[pdogg93]

To the OP, the service I've been receiving here in BC has been terrific. To be honest, the service manager never even asked if it was an American vehicle, he just treated it as if it were any BMW coming in for warranty.

And yea, the remaining 4yr/50k warranty transferred no problem. Overall I've been ecstatic with the service and the performance. I love my 335.

[AmericanInToronto]

Originally Posted by pdogg93

To the OP, the service I've been receiving here in BC has been terrific. To be honest, the service manager never even asked if it was an American vehicle, he just treated it as if it were any BMW coming in for warranty.

And yea, the remaining 4yr/50k warranty transferred no problem. Overall I've been ecstatic with the service and the performance. I love my 335.

That's good to hear!

Who have you guys used for your financing? TD told me auto loans are 11% (WTF!) whereas BMWUSA told me 2.9% but if I export to Canada, then I have to pay it off prior to export.

Who're you guys using for your financing?

[pdogg93]

I saved cash for my car. But if I were you I'd just take out a line of credit and use that to buy the car with cash.

Then pay off your line of credit which I believe is around 6% right now

[tones]

Originally Posted by AmericanInToronto

That's good to hear!

Who have you guys used for your financing? TD told me auto loans are 11% (WTF!) whereas BMWUSA told me 2.9% but if I export to Canada, then I have to pay it off prior to export.

Who're you guys using for your financing?

Loans are not 11% at TD. You can get up to a 7 year loan at 5.5% (prime + 2.5%) through TD, as long as you have decent credit.

Still not the 2.9% offered by BMW but much better than 11%.

[AmericanInToronto]

Originally Posted by tones

Loans are not 11% at TD. You can get up to a 7 year loan at 5.5% (prime + 2.5%) through TD, as long as you have decent credit.

Still not the 2.9% offered by BMW but much better than 11%.

I called TD again and they said it'll be Prime + 4.5% = 7.5%

However, I'm approved with my credit union in the US. Since I will export car to Canada, they will freeze 30k of my savings for 60 months and give me interest on that@2.3%. However, they will charge me 4.3% interest (2% over what they're paying for the secured savings). In effect, I pay 2% interest for 60 months. Plus, I'm eligible for credit union member-only extended warranty coverage!

Even the finance institutions give us no slack up here!