[Neon01]

Hi all, long time BMW owner from back in the day that converted to Tesla and looking to come back. Currently own a Tesla Model X Plaid (not selling this) and will be trading my wife's gas guzzler for an electric car, as she will take my MXP most days. I found a used car that looks like a gem and I'm hoping for a price check from the community, because I was ready to pull the trigger and the dealership is jerking me around adding miscellaneous fees, and I'm no longer certain I'm getting a deal.

So, the car is a 2023 i4 M50 with 11,007 miles, 1 owner, frozen gray paint, black with blue stitching interior, carbon fiber exterior and interior packages, parking assistance package, premium package, 20" wheels and performance brakes. Looks to be excellent condition.

Price is $56,000 with everything included: tax, tags, delivery, fees, everything. Edmunds and KBB say that the purchase price, which is closer to $49,500, is about right, but some of the fees are putting me off.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69]

Look around for similar-specced vehicles and see their asking prices. With the tariff situation, used prices are likely to go up.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69

Look around for similar-specced vehicles and see their asking prices. With the tariff situation, used prices are likely to go up.

I've done so, and the price looks rather good in comparison, but listing prices are not necessarily sale prices, so it's difficult to get good comp data from just that. I used to use Ebay motors for stuff like that, but they don't seem to be a very big player in the used car sales market anymore.

As always, what the listings are telling me and what the valuation services like KBB and Edmunds are saying are two different things.

[LDT]

Any consideration to leasing a new one? From what I read dealers are discounting 10--12% and lease incentives are substantial right now. MF is way low right now.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by LDT

Any consideration to leasing a new one? From what I read dealers are discounting 10--12% and lease incentives are substantial right now. MF is way low right now.

Interesting you say that - I was reading a bit of that here on the forum and went to their website, but didn't find any special deals on leases right now. Is there a promotion that doesn't show up on their build configurator? I've never leased but I'm not averse to it for the right deal. Still, it seems tough to beat a basically new car that's $30k+ off MSRP. I'll take another look.

[Road Trip]

Other than taxes you cannot do anything about, what are the specific fees that have you PO’d?

As to the car, if you LIKE it , BUY it is my recommendation — though not saying and why I asked about the dealers fees for most are negotiable.

Specifically what fees are you unhappy with please?

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by Road Trip

Other than taxes you cannot do anything about, what are the specific fees that have you PO’d?

As to the car, if you LIKE it , BUY it is my recommendation — though not saying and why I asked about the dealers fees for most are negotiable.

Specifically what fees are you unhappy with please?

To start, it's the disingenuousness of disclosing no fees beyond the delivery anywhere on the sales website, and hiding them right up until I put a $500 refundable deposit down. On top of the delivery, they assessed a sales tax fee that is in excess of my state's sales tax, DMV fees that are not only way higher than what I would expect at $1070, and of course the usual $1099 "document fee".

Look, I get they need to eat - but there was no evidence they were a broker as opposed to one of those online dealers like Carvana, so the normal fees a dealership will stick you with are just doubled. Also, the fact that *while I was ordering the car on the phone with the rep* they tried to raise the price of the vehicle on the website by $1180. Luckily I had screen grabs from moments prior to the call, which (I was shocked to find) they relented on when called on it. Then the inexplicable rise of the DMV fees by $200 when they updated the invoice to honor the original price...

If most of those fees were just actuals, and were itemized on the invoice, I'd have no issue. But with all the evidence, it seems likely they're burying brokerage fees throughout the deal dishonestly.

This is why I say that the deal - thousands in questionable fees and all - seems reasonable, but it's put a really bad taste in my mouth. Now I'm concerned I'm getting screwed in other ways I'm not even seeing yet.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by Neon01

Interesting you say that - I was reading a bit of that here on the forum and went to their website, but didn't find any special deals on leases right now. Is there a promotion that doesn't show up on their build configurator? I've never leased but I'm not averse to it for the right deal. Still, it seems tough to beat a basically new car that's $30k+ off MSRP. I'll take another look.

For starters there's the dealer discount in the 10--13% range plus $7500 lease incentive plus $1000 conquest. And the MF as stated in this post from Dan Next Level Auto Brokers
Both Dan and smithf80 are brokers who can help you and both have good reputations here.
MARCH UPDATE:

25

i4 e40

LEASE
.0007 MF
50% residual 15k miles / 36 mo lease

$7500 lease cash
$1000 loyalty or ev conquest

FINANCE
2.99% for up to 60 mo
3.49% for 72 mo


i4 x40

LEASE
.0005 MF
51% residual 15k miles / 36 mo lease

$7500 lease cash
$1000 loyalty or ev conquest

FINANCE
2.99% for up to 60 mo
3.49% for 72 mo

$5000 purchase credit
$1000 loyalty or ev conquest

i4 M50

LEASE
.00075 MF
51% residual 15k miles / 36 mo lease

$7500 lease cash
$1000 loyalty or ev conquest

FINANCE
2.99% for up to 60 mo
3.49% for 72 mo
__________________
Dan Knight
Owner
Next Level Auto Brokers LLC
Phone: 201-429-7045
Email: dan@nextlevelautobrokers.com
http://www.nextlevelautobrokers.com

[jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69]

Lease rates are great right now. I will keep my i4 for many years, so I did not want a least.

Advertised prices from dealers are generally very close to sell prices these days. There are so many options, the advertising market keeps prices competitive. Of course there are local markets and specific packages that people might be willing to pay more for. I'd look at those prices and think that the transaction price will be $500 to $2k lower if negotiated hard.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69

Lease rates are great right now. I will keep my i4 for many years, so I did not want a least.

Advertised prices from dealers are generally very close to sell prices these days. There are so many options, the advertising market keeps prices competitive. Of course there are local markets and specific packages that people might be willing to pay more for. I'd look at those prices and think that the transaction price will be $500 to $2k lower if negotiated hard.

Do the lease rates require the $7500 tax credit eligibility? I avoided them thinking that I wouldn't qualify since I can't take the $7500 EV credit based on income ineligibility. This is honestly why I've been looking more at the very lightly used market, because the tax credit is sort of priced into those valuations.

Maybe lease tax credit qualifications are different?

[note46]

Originally Posted by Neon01

Do the lease rates require the $7500 tax credit eligibility? I avoided them thinking that I wouldn't qualify since I can't take the $7500 EV credit based on income ineligibility. This is honestly why I've been looking more at the very lightly used market, because the tax credit is sort of priced into those valuations.

Maybe lease tax credit qualifications are different?

No since you aren't the one having to qualify for the $7500.

[jpuffmasterpuffpuffpuff69]

Originally Posted by note46

No since you aren't the one having to qualify for the $7500.

Exactly. The lease thing is a huge tax loophole.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by Neon01

Do the lease rates require the $7500 tax credit eligibility? I avoided them thinking that I wouldn't qualify since I can't take the $7500 EV credit based on income ineligibility. This is honestly why I've been looking more at the very lightly used market, because the tax credit is sort of priced into those valuations.

Maybe lease tax credit qualifications are different?

That is the beauty of leasing. It is a loophole that when leasing you can still get the EV lease credit regardless of income.