2004 330i "brass hat" purchase advice?

[skydeck]

Hey Folks,

I'm about to put some money down for a 2004 330i "brass hat" with 8k miles on it and wanted to do a sanity check with the experts in this forum. I'd appreciate any feedback and advice on the car, the deal and what I should be looking out for. Here are the specs:

330i
10k miles
premium package
sport package
auto transmission
fold down rear seats
heated front seats
park distance control
xenon lights
good condition
- some minor scratches and one small paint chip
- never been serviced

The dealer is selling at approximately $37k. The dealership is in the Bay Area.

Since the car is 2004 but not new, it's tough to price directly on the web. Edmunds shows a comparable 2003 330i for $36.4k (dealer retail TMV) while KBB shows a retail value of $38.7k. A brand new 2004 comparable 330i comes out to about $43.5k.

I've heard that there is some dealer cash for 2004 330i as well as demo allowances, so not sure what the true cost of the car is to the dealer.

Is this a good deal?

Anything to be wary of, esp. with brass hats driven by BMWNA execs?

What should I look out for at inspection before taking the car?
After the negotiation, I found some minor body wear and tear (scratches), so I'm wondering if there's other less cosmetic stuff I should check out.

Is purchasing the extended maintenance warranty to 6yrs/50k miles worthwhile - $1300?

Any other questions I should be asking?

Please let me know your thoughts, much appreciated!

 

[JTravick]

I am guessing that a "brass hat" is a company car? Am I right?

 

[Section_8]

yah, what's 'brass hat' mean? Company car, or maybe one of their loaners?

The deal sounds pretty solid, especially for a 2004. Heck you're not even up for a scheduled oil change (scheduled one at least) for another 4000 miles.

Long as it's under full warranty as a new car, it sounds like a kosher deal for the price.

 

[AspenSpencer]

I bought what sounds like a 2002 version of the same car in December 2002. It had 9000 miles on it. The sticker was a little over $41,000. I paid $34,000 from a place in Dallas, Texas. Been very happy with the car.No problems, etc.
Good luck!

 

[codex57]

Sounds good. I'd try and have it checked out by your own mechanic depending on which Bay Area dealer it is. BMW of SF is ok (just tell them to take off that stupid sticker of their name off the trunk), but if it's from any of the dealers outside of SF or East Bay, I wouldn't trust them.

 

[skydeck]

Thanks.

I've decided not to move forward with this 04 330i brass hat. The brass hat is essentially a new car that BMW corporate offers to employees at great rates -- this is based on what I've read from other posters on other boards (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=857399#post857399).

After a handshake on the deal, there turned out to be several problems with the car on final inspection -- moonroof didn't work, etc. which had me concerned. The dealership is in the South Bay and I had read complaints about its reputation and service, so this was enough reason to not move forward. You've got to feel 100% comfortable making a purchase like this and I wasn't.

Thanks to all the posters on this thread!

 

[codex57]

Good luck on your search. If it's a dealership in the South Bay, like I mentioned before, I can't think of one with has a great reputation. Some are ok (plenty of good and bad experiences posted), there's one in particular I wouldn't go to if it was the last dealer on earth. Be real careful with the South Bay dealerships as you continue your search.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

i think if you get it to put up the money for the extended warranty...but thats just me...i'd rather have it then pay for anything that may come up