BMW "Program" cars - good deal or trashed?

[Wally]

I am considering purchasing a 2003 330Ci with 6K miles. It is a BMW Program car which I was told meant a BMW employee drove the car. It has yet to be titled so is therefore considered New. The car is Oxford Green with Black int and 5spd., Sport, Premium, PDC, Xenon, and Heated Seats. Price $34,500

Does anyone have any knowledge or opinions regarding Program cars? Have they been pampered or beat the Hell out of?

Thanks for the input.
Wally

 

[xmas63]

There's really no way of knowing if it was pampered or beaten to hell. I would definitely NOT assume it was pampered; even if they said the owner of the dealership drove it, you never know how his wife drove it, his kids drove it, his friends drove it, etc. You also have to assume that it was used as a demo and as a loaner car, at least to some extent (and we all know that loaners and demos and beaten to hell).

In my mind, this would be exactly the same as buying the car from a private seller where you just don't know how the car was treated. If you feel the discount makes the car worth considering and you are comfortable with the risk, I would definitely take it to a third-party mechanic who is knowledgeable about BMWs, just as you would any used car. I would also ask the mechanic to see if the tire wear is consistent with the mileage stated on the odometer.

You mentioned $34,500. Out of curiosity, how much of a discount is that over invoice (not msrp)?

 

[Wally]

The Invoice price with all options is $38,275.

So we are looking at about $4K under invoice and was put into service on 10/02.

 

[sfbae]

its considered new cause its not titled? hmmm

does this mean that whomever is financing it will give u a new car fiance rate?
if not, its not new....plus i dont believe it can be considered new with those miles...

how does the warranty work out? just remainder of original? or do u get the used bmw certified warranty and hence the extended warranty? id look into these things....

when i was purchasing a car, i saw a few cars at the dealership that had approx 300-2k miles and all the dealers told me they would be considered used cars although they were never titled by a private owner...

 

[Wadula]

my car is one of those and i have to say that it is very comon to buy those in germany. infact, they are the best deal you can get. i see it this way: they are used, fine. all other preowned cars are used, too, so it is no bigger risk with the "program" cars. (unusual name btw). but as they were used by bmw more or less directly the salesprice drops big time.
these program cars are usually not used as loaners or test drivers. an empolyee or his secretary or whomever had that car for some time and then got a new one. bmw has to sell them though. my one was driven by a secretary of a board member. perfect condition and low mileage...great deal.