Please share your advice on purchasing used BMW/BENZ

[dubseller]

Hey all, I am seriously thinking of buying a used 2002/2003 BMW 745i or MB S430. Around 25-30k. I live in halifax but want to purchase the car from ontario (more choice + cheaper). But after talking to a few friends, they are telling me not to bother because the newer cars have so many electronics and needs special tools that I can only get the car looked at by the stealership... So I thought I would check out the local BMW and MB dealers... how disappointed I was with their customer service!!! As soon as I mentioned to the BMW sales rep the I have a budget, his whole demeanor changed! I told him no more than 30k on a 745i and he had a list that showed the cheapest 7-series at 46k. I asked him if I could test drive that one and he actually said "well... that's big money over there, so let's try to figure something else out..." WTF?! And no matter what I asked him, he kept telling me that buying used could be a disaster unless I bought directly from them! He pretty much told me that if I brought a car from somewhere else, they would not be interested in dealing with me! I got a eerily similar vibe from the MB sales rep. He was telling me that if I bought a car from somewhere else for 10-15k less, my service bills will be that of a 100k car so not to be surprised, which makes sense but I got a very hostile tone from him and he definitely did not sound interested in dealing with me anymore.

Why is BMW/MB not interested in used cars services? How can I take an out-of-province vehicle to get it serviced at the stealer and expect honest treatment when this is how their responses have been so far?

I guess what I want to know from some BMW/MB owners is:

Is it worth buying a used '02/'03 745i or s430 this late in the game without warranty???
Will there be massive mechanical/service jobs that only the dealerships can perform?
And are there any good bumper-to-bumper extended warranty providers that I can go through to give me some peace of mind after I purchase one of these two cars?

ANY ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

7-series and s-class are like Ferraris. If you can afford to buy 2, you can afford to drive 1. Why do you think they depreciate so much?

[mr_raider]

Sales has nothing to do with service. I highly doubt the service department would be unwilling to work on your car if you brought it in. That IS their job! They may charge you an arm and a leg, but that's part of the joy of owning used German cars.

[dubseller]

7-series and s-class are like Ferraris. If you can afford to buy 2, you can afford to drive 1. Why do you think they depreciate so much?

crap

[dubseller]

Sales has nothing to do with service. I highly doubt the service department would be unwilling to work on your car if you brought it in. That IS their job! They may charge you an arm and a leg, but that's part of the joy of owning used German cars.

double crap

[3weddings]

A good friend of ours is a Service Advisor for BMW in Toronto....I have been wanting a used 745 for myself and he insists that it is not the car for us!! There are so many issues with the first gen, that BMW bought them back from the owners, fixed them and resold them with extended warranties(to 160k bumper to bumper). There are many issues with them!!!

As far as the MB is concerned, if it has flex service, it will tell you when to service it and if you research the many forums (mbworld.org) they will teach you how to diagnose the codes. The most important thing is to buy your fleece oil filters from the dealer, use a good synthetic oil (not Mobil 1), you can go 20k between changes (we actually do our own on our e320cdi).

Hunt around, surely there are some good honest MB mechanics in your area. We found one in Toronto who is honest, reliable and saves us money...without going near the 'stealership'.

[dubseller]

A good friend of ours is a Service Advisor for BMW in Toronto....I have been wanting a used 745 for myself and he insists that it is not the car for us!! There are so many issues with the first gen, that BMW bought them back from the owners, fixed them and resold them with extended warranties(to 160k bumper to bumper). There are many issues with them!!!

As far as the MB is concerned, if it has flex service, it will tell you when to service it and if you research the many forums (mbworld.org) they will teach you how to diagnose the codes. The most important thing is to buy your fleece oil filters from the dealer, use a good synthetic oil (not Mobil 1), you can go 20k between changes (we actually do our own on our e320cdi).

Hunt around, surely there are some good honest MB mechanics in your area. We found one in Toronto who is honest, reliable and saves us money...without going near the 'stealership'.

Thanks for the tip, and the s430 was really my first choice... I am good with troubleshooting car issues through forums, but since these are relatively rare cars in this side of the country, I am a little weary... Heard of any good extended warranty companies???

[dubseller]

7-series and s-class are like Ferraris. If you can afford to buy 2, you can afford to drive 1. Why do you think they depreciate so much?

LOL the german cliches never cease to make me laugh!!!

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Yeah, but when you do buy one, you should go straight for the 750iL or S500. I mean, V8s are what GM and Toyota put into their crapboxes. No one will argue with you when you have TWELVE mo'fuggin cylinders under the hood. Who cares if it even runs.

[dubseller]

Yeah, but when you do buy one, you should go straight for the 750iL or S500. I mean, V8s are what GM and Toyota put into their crapboxes. No one will argue with you when you have TWELVE mo'fuggin cylinders under the hood. Who cares if it even runs.

is the s500 a lot harder on gas or just a few more dollars a tank?

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Hah, I just checked and the S500 in that generation is actually a V8, so it can't be too bad I guess. I meant you should buy a S550 or S600.

[dubseller]

thanks for all the replies, I think I'm gonna get the s500, cause it does have all the options the s430 has and more... except for the thirstier gas tanks... and I'll try to find a good mechanic or a good MB service rep who will sell me a canada wide warranty (was gonna say warrant... ) But if you have any more advice please post!

[VivienM]

Hah, I just checked and the S500 in that generation is actually a V8, so it can't be too bad I guess. I meant you should buy a S550 or S600.

S550 is a V8, too.

S600/S65 are the V12s...

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

...you'd think I would know that, too, since I use to own a V8 Mercedes. Long day today.

[blue mountain raider]

with gas prices skyrocketing, it amazes me why people still want to buy V8 cars as a daily driver.