Why I sold my flawless '12 BMW X5 xDrive35d...

I sold my beloved '12 BMW X5 xDrive35d on Monday of this week as there was really no reason to have it anymore. That is about as blunt as it gets.

As many of you know, I am an automotive journalist. This means I get free cars (free gas, free insurance and no mileage caps) dropped in my driveway on a regular basis. Most of my peers don't own a personal vehicle, as they simply wait for the next "press car" to arrive. I was the exception to the rule, owning three cars and making payments on two of them!

Then I looked at my calendar and realized that I am booked back-to-back press cars/events through mid-January of 2013 (with more to follow):

• American Expedition Vehicles Brute Double Cab
• SRT Viper
• Airstream Interstate Mercedes-Benz Motorhome
• Hyundai Azera
• Aston Martin Vanquish
• Kia Sorento
• Subaru WRX
• Volkswagen Passat TDI
• Audi A4
• Audi A5
• Audi Allroad

With that in mind, the X5 would be parked in my garage unused until mid-January but I would still be paying for it.

No question about it, I absolutely loved the X5 (I still maintain it is the best five-passenger SUV on the planet). However, it was costing me $700/month on a lease and I was limited to just 833 miles/month (10,000 year) — keep in mind that my press cars are free/unlimited. The kicker was that California registration of $410 was also due this week.

Long story short, I didn't "need" the X5 and it was going to cost me $1,120 ($700 + $420) to keep it in the garage this month. I called BMWFS on Monday and my payoff was $46,450 (the vehicle had 10,204 miles on it and was literally in "mint" condition). I tried to trade it into two BMW dealers, but they would only offer me $44,000. On a suggestion, I drove over to a CarMax. They offered me $47,000. I smiled and gave them the keys. They cut a check to BMWFS for $46,450 and a check to me for $550 — yes, I walked away with cash in hand!

So, now I have a slew of free press cars. My wife is driving our '10 Audi A4 2.0T and I have my Porsche 930 for kicks. Plus, I have an additional $700+ in my pocket each month. I miss the X5 dearly, after just two days, but it can always be replaced... it is just a machine.

Oh, for the record... we owned the X5 35d for one full year and put 10,204 miles on it:

• Overall average fuel economy: 20.66 mpg
• Best fuel economy on a full tank: 32.25 mpg
• Worst fuel economy on a full tank: 18.22 mpg
• Best range on a fuel tank: 518 miles
• Cost of service: $0
• Oil consumed: 0 quarts
• Trips to dealership: None
• Problem areas: None

- Mike

Any downside to the 35d? I don't understand why more people don't go for the diesel engine? I have no experience with it.

Thanks Emission for your service to this board. You've been a great help to me and others when evaluating our vehicles. We can fully understand your position. I am (personally) envious of your upcoming Aston-Martin "access" but won't hold that against you.

This thread should also be helpful to those who are fighting their insurance companies on the valuations they have been given to show what a TRUE wholesale value is for a 2012 with 10K miles on it...

Originally Posted by ndabunka

Thanks Emission for your service to this board. You've been a great help to me and others when evaluating our vehicles. We can fully understand your position. I am (personally) envious of your upcoming Aston-Martin "access" but won't hold that against you.

This thread should also be helpful to those who are fighting their insurance companies on the valuations they have been given to show what a TRUE wholesale value is for a 2012 with 10K miles on it...

Whoa, I'm not going anywhere!

The Aston Martin Vanquish trip is to New Orleans, with a full day on a track. Should be fun.

While CarMax gave me $47,000 for it (below wholesale), the true retail value is about $55,000 - $57,000 based on my research. I expect CarMax to price it about $54,000 when they sell it...

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

While CarMax gave me $47,000 for it (below wholesale), the true retail value is about $55,000 - $57,000 based on my research. I expect CarMax to price it about $54,000 when they sell it...

- Mike

Yeah, it's below wholesale. I was offered $49,500 a couple weeks ago at the local Land Rover dealer on trade for my MY11 with about 13k miles on it.

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Yeah, it's below wholesale. I was offered $49,500 a couple weeks ago at the local Land Rover dealer on trade for my MY11 with about 13k miles on it.

Agreed. Below wholesale.

But I had one day to make the decision without having to pay the lease and registration... I came out clean and ahead, so I figured I win.

I am really sad to see it go.

- Mike

Originally Posted by deenx

Any downside to the 35d? I don't understand why more people don't go for the diesel engine? I have no experience with it.

No downside whatsoever.

Well, some may not like the noise?

- Mike

Originally Posted by deenx

any downside to the 35d? I don't understand why more people don't go for the diesel engine? I have no experience with it.

no, once you go diesel, you never go back...addicting torque

Originally Posted by Stussy109

no, once you go diesel, you never go back...addicting torque

No complaint about the petrol torque in 50i form.

Originally Posted by pa50i

No complaint about the petrol torque in 50i form.

you mean "other than the 50% worse fuel economy vs. the Diesel"?

Originally Posted by ndabunka

you mean "other than the 50% worse fuel economy vs. the Diesel"?

And you mean "50% worse fuel economy with 150% better performance vs. the Diesel?"

Thank your lucky stars Jon figured out how to residualize that hitch! What are you using for a tow car now?

Originally Posted by quackbury

Thank your lucky stars Jon figured out how to residualize that hitch! What are you using for a tow car now?

That was another factor in the decision. The racing team I am involved with, GSR Autosport (http://www.gospecracing.com/index.html), now owns several pickups and trailers. If I want to race, I can just go down and borrow one... no need to tow anymore.

- Mike

I always wondered when you had time to drive that thing -- given all your expense paid junkets to exotic and lush locations to test impressive iron. I hope on one of those you or one of your compadres will be doing a comparo between the '13 Cayenne Diesel and the '13 T-egg TDI. Given both cars have the same drive train, and Porsche is supposed to have made their suspension/etc "better" it would be highly instructive to see an objective review of the two. Just a thought. Good luck and I will be watching Autoblog for your reports.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

I always wondered when you had time to drive that thing -- given all your expense paid junkets to exotic and lush locations to test impressive iron. I hope on one of those you or one of your compadres will be doing a comparo between the '13 Cayenne Diesel and the '13 T-egg TDI. Given both cars have the same drive train, and Porsche is supposed to have made their suspension/etc "better" it would be highly instructive to see an objective review of the two. Just a thought. Good luck and I will be watching Autoblog for your reports.

Very unlikely. As I have discovered, comparisons are designed to loop in as many readers as possible. A comparo between the Touareg TDI and Cayenne Diesel would capture all of our attention, but nobody in the real world would care.

I've driven both, and the Porsche is worth the extra coin.

- Mike

I wonder how many folks are thinking "damit, I'd have paid him $47 for that!!!!"

Of course, you'd be dealing with morons saying "if he is asking 47, saying thats what carmax is offering, he prolly has 2k to move in there..."



A

Originally Posted by ard

I wonder how many folks are thinking "damit, I'd have paid him $47 for that!!!!"

Of course, you'd be dealing with morons saying "if he is asking 47, saying thats what carmax is offering, he prolly has 2k to move in there..."



A

Finding a private buyer to come up with $47,000 is rather difficult, especially today. Only a dealer (or CarMax) is able to get that type of person behind the wheel.

Considering its MSRP was $62,375 and I only put 10,200 miles on it... not a ding, scratch or flaw... spotlessly clean and without any service issues... it was a steal.

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

Finding a private buyer to come up with $47,000 is rather difficult, especially today. Only a dealer (or CarMax) is able to get that type of person behind the wheel.

Considering its MSRP was $62,375 and I only put 10,200 miles on it... not a ding, scratch or flaw... spotlessly clean and without any service issues... it was a steal.

- Mike

Hey Mike!
How about down payment? We looking right now for X5 and and you can't get in with out almost $5K out of pocket drive off.

Originally Posted by MB330

Hey Mike!
How about down payment? We looking right now for X5 and and you can't get in with out almost $5K out of pocket drive off.

You must mean for a lease, right? Others here are getting into leases under $3K. As far as a purchase, there are a LOT of mfg incentives & I think BMW finance will finance pretty darned close to 100% of these X5's. If you can't afford $3K or $5K downpayment, you probably don't belong in one of these vehicles anyway, right?

Originally Posted by ndabunka

You must mean for a lease, right? Others here are getting into leases under $3K. As far as a purchase, there are a LOT of mfg incentives & I think BMW finance will finance pretty darned close to 100% of these X5's. If you can't afford $3K or $5K downpayment, you probably don't belong in one of these vehicles anyway, right?

Good point, and this is why I gave the car back to CarMax and not a dealer. There are so many dealer incentives to move new vehicles, that a $50,000 used X5 doesn't appear very attractive. They really didn't want my X5 35d back, regardless of how nice it was.

- Mike

Agreed. It would be a PITA.

So you spent around 60 cents a mile? not bad.

(FYI, the first owner of my 996 spent $4.50 per mile. Serious.)

A

PS not up on carmax yet.

Originally Posted by ard

Agreed. It would be a PITA.

So you spent around 60 cents a mile? not bad.

(FYI, the first owner of my 996 spent $4.50 per mile. Serious.)

A

PS not up on carmax yet.

No, I spent a lot more than that.

My original drive-off was about $5,000... plus 12 payments of $700. That is $13,388... or $1.31/mile excluding insurance and fuel! With fuel (about .21/mile) and insurance (about $.06/mile), it works out to about $1.60/mile.

Yikes.

- Mike

Interesting story, I think you found a decent way out of that lease. In the past I have been less successful getting out of leases early.
I love my X5 and it's probably the best car I've ever had. But in your situation, with all those cars going through your hands, you did the right thing.

I have almost 9K miles in 5 months and have to agree with you, it is the best 5 passenger SUV, zero problems and great mileage.

Sad to see you go. Hope you stick around!