Buying a used BMW

If you're looking to get maximum value for money on the used car market, you can't do much better than BMW. The firm's reputation for producing high performance engines and peerless handling has been proved many times in its eighty years of car production. Put simply, there are no 'bad' BMWs out there, and a well looked-after secondhand model can be every bit as rewarding to own and drive as a brand new one.

Furthermore, some BMW enthusiasts actually consider the previous generation of cars to be more desirable than its latest models. That's because of a number of controversial styling and features changes to the current range (including the fiddly iDrive controls system and chief designer Chris Bangle's radical departure from the old body shape), which have divided opinion and sent many out in search of the models from the 90s and early 2000s they loved the best.

Broadly speaking, there are three ways you can buy a used BMW: through the company's own network of approved sellers; from an independent dealership; or privately via the web, newspaper classifieds or a trade magazine such as Auto Trader. All have their advantages, and in the majority of cases the best one for you will depend on the age of car you're looking for.

Approved Used BMW
Buying through an officially sanctioned BMW dealer is definitely the best bet if the car you're looking at is under five years old. That's because these younger models qualify for a one-year comprehensive warranty supplied direct by BMW, which includes roadside assistance and a watertight guarantee against part failures or other defects. This warranty can then be renewed annually, for a price, until the car reaches five years old.

Compared to most other guarantees offered by independent garages (few of which provide any concrete protection at all), this makes it well worth going to a franchised dealership if you're looking for a younger model.

Buying 'approved used' is also the most hassle-free route to a secondhand BMW. The UK website (http://www.bmw.co.uk) allows you to search directly for your chosen model in local areas; compare prices; read What Car? road test reports; even view directions and a route map for the relevant dealership. And if you have further questions or want to arrange a test drive, all that can be taken care of online, too.

There's only one real drawback to buying a used BMW from an approved dealer, and that's the cost. BMW's legendary build quality means there isn't much difference between a well serviced three-year-old model and a brand new one, and as a result these 'nearly-new' cars certainly aren't bargain priced.

Buying from an independent dealer
If the car you're after is more than five years old, or your budget can't quite stretch to a BMW-approved model, buying from an independent dealer could well be your best option. You might not get quite the same peace of mind or 'new car' feeling, but neither should you worry about the kind of behaviour that's sometimes associated with secondhand car salesmen. Today's independent dealerships depend on their reputation to bring in business, so they have nothing to gain from attempting to con you out of your money.

The chances of finding that elusive bargain are also much higher at an independent garage, if you pick your moment and are prepared to negotiate. The best time to go shopping for a used BMW is at the end of a month (dealers are looking to clear the decks and boost their monthly sales figures), or even better just after a change in vehicle registrations, when forecourts are awash with trade-ins. Haggling will have far better results on the independent market, too - so always push for a better price.

If possible, always visit a dealership that specialises in German cars. It'll have a wider range of BMWs on offer than a regular garage, and probably a more competent team of mechanics (most of whom will be BMW or Volkswagen trained) to carry out servicing and vehicle checks prior to sale.

Private sales
If talk of qualified mechanics and dealer servicing sounds like an expensive luxury, perhaps you should consider a private sale. This is also the best way to buy very old or classic BMW models, as few garages will touch them for fear of ruining their 'contemporary' image.

Shopping for used a BMW this way usually involves the most time and legwork. Working from the classified section of your local paper, a trading magazine or one of many web-based car sites, be prepared to view and test drive a number of unsuitable vehicles before coming across one that's right for you (and be wary of the first few cars that you see - rushing into a sale before you get to know the market could easily lead to a bad deal).

However, the bargain potential here is at an all-time high, particularly if you read the situation right. Detect that the owner needs a quick sale for instance, or that interest has been slow, and you can confidently negotiate a cheaper price.

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