Category: BMW

This is a little different in that this fabulous 2007 BMW M6 unicorn is NOT on a CarMax lot.  It was purchased from CarMax three years ago by one of my blog readers (full disclosure – he’s a virtual car buddy friend now and way better at sniping CarMax hot rods than I) and is now up for resale on Doug DeMuro’s “Cars and Bids” auction site.  The MaxCare warrantyis transferable, and this sale should support my strategy (and your’s?) of buying high-end but depreciated cars from CarMax, transferring the repair risk to CarMax via the MaxCare warranty, driving “rich” for a few years, then selling the car and transferring the warranty for a new owner’s peace of mind and moving on to the next.

That’s what this owner is doing with the beautiful BMW.  He’s had $25,000 in repairs done (I had $35,000 on my 2004 Mercedes S55!) and there’s still two years and 30,000 miles left on the MaxCare warranty.  Like all good car guys (and gals) the seller has been quite candid about qualities and cosmetic flaws on the car (I would have recommended replacing the tires rather than note they will need replacement but that’s just me.)  The seller provides 159 photos and great history and detail on the car at Cars and Bids (link below).

Doug describes the car as “These are very special vehicles, and the V10 powerplant is impressive. The transferable warranty makes this one very appealing, as it’s hard to find warranties for these anymore — but my own experiences with MaxCare suggest this is a very good thing.”  FWIW – I learned after I started this blog that Jalopnik columnist Doug DeMuro wrote about a Range Rover he bought from CarMax and was stunned how many repairs they covered under his MaxCare warranty.  He now sponsors this Cars and Bids website, a bit of a competitor to Bring a Trailer.  I like them both. I also love this BMW and it once again reminds me of this 2008 BMW M6 I passed on– low mileage and $23,998.   The V-10 was nothing but brute force and a sweet song at 8,000 rpm.  Sigh.  Take a look at this 2007 model still under MaxCare here at Cars and Bids.  I wish the seller well – would bode well when I sell my 911 this fall. 

Not a lot to cheer (or write) about with CarMax unicorns lately.  Inventory has dropped to the low 30,000 car level from a high of over 70,000 cars just as the coronavirus hit, dealerships went on lock down, and employees were laid off.  But out of the blue comes this beautiful 2019 BMW M850l X Drive, the first of its kind with CarMax.  Technically not in my unicorn range at $81,998, and yet it’s pretty special so here it is.  And it’s hot off the press – it’s listed a “Coming Soon” – a new feature on the CarMax website.  Oddly I can see this car on my laptop but not the iPhone app.

Anyway, this BMW M850 is all wheel drive and cranks 523hp out of its 4.4 liter twin turbo V-8.  Good for 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds.  Here’s the full Car and Driver review.  The highs – “Brilliant driving dynamics in the right context, sweet mother lode of torque, gloriously impractical.”  The lows – “Lacks visual drama, can be claustrophobic, gloriously impractical.”  One reviewer thought it looked like a Honda Accord coupe from the side.  I think the rear looks like a Lexus LC500.

The verdict – “A half-price grand tourer with full-price performance.”  The car sold new for maybe $120,000 and is now a third less.  Love depreciation.  For what it’s worth, the BMW M8  won its division at the 24 hours of Daytona the last two years, over my beloved Continue reading “First One – 2019 BMW M850l X Drive!”

Been tracking this 2013 BMW M6 for maybe a month when it was in the high $30’s but as a V-8 and not a V-10 it didn’t feel like that much of a unicorn so didn’t write about it – until today when it dropped $3,000.  Believe it’s the third price drop on the car.  At $31,998 it’s starting to feel like a 560hp bargain.  It’s fully optioned – even has night vision!  Wondering how much MaxCare you could buy with that $3,000 savings?

This is the latest generation (F13/LX93) M6 and as far as I can tell only a few hundred sell new annually.   Check out this review from Car and Driver, indicating a 0-60mph in 4 seconds – and that the car sold new for maybe $110,000.  The current $31,998 is looking like a deal.  Find this three owner car here in Doral, Florida.