Why are 5-series cheaper?

[dadonmaga]

I was looking at the classifieds last night, and i noticed i can get a 01' 535 for $26k, but cant even get a 00' 330ci for under $30???? whats up with that?

 

[epj3]

becuase there was no 330ci in 2000. The first year they made the 330ci is 2001. in 2000, the "330" was the 328.

 

[dadonmaga]

Aight my bad, you know what i mean, 3- series in general of the same year seem to cost
$30k+.....

 

[Bryan330i]

I think you are correct, at least in the past while anyway. I think the residual percentages are a bit higher for the 3 series during the past quarter or so. Banks may be adjusting due to influx of lease returns, hard to say. There are great incentives for the 5 series, 4-5k off sticker. All of this may be temporary and due to style change. No such luck with the M5 though.

 

[ooo000HITMAN000ooo]

they make a 535i i though there was only 525i 530i and 540i

 

[flashinthepan]

I looked at used Bimmers & noticed the 5's depreciate faster initially, at least from the ones I was pricing. kkb.com would give you the blue book values.

 

[brahtw8]

I think he meant 525i, they haven't made a 535i in the US since 93, although they are coming back with the E60 (at least in europe, a 3.5 liter V8 shared with the new sixer).

As for the pricing, that 525i didn't cost much more than the 330 new. I think the 5 stickered around $35k base. The E39 chassis five series has been around since the 1997 model year, so it is perceived to be a little long in the tooth and the replacement E60 is just around the corner (here already?), so that may have something to do with it.

If you care about performance, a 330 is a better choice than a 525. That 2.5 has to work pretty hard in the 5.

All things being equal, the more expensive a car is the greater amount of depreciation, even if it happens at the same rate (%), and in most cases the rate of depreciation will be greater for the more expensive car.