Category: BMW

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Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile

Got a number of unusual or interesting CarMax unicorns piling up in my saved list and thought I should share a quick post to get them on the blog.  Most, but not all, are enthusiast cars.  Some are just…different.  Your call.  Here we go.jag xf side

Start with a car I’d actually own – a 2014 Jaguar XF Supercharged.  Decent price, 470hp supercharged V-8, two-owner car found here in Irvine California.  Only five-years old and a good candidate for MaxCare. 2014 Jaguar XF Super $23,998 49k Irvine 3-20 Continue reading “Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile”

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Quick Hit – Entry Level BMW X6?

X6 SideIt’s not an X6M.  Not terribly well optioned.  Two accident car.  Not even made in Germany – perhaps that’s a good thing if you want an “American” SUV (South Carolina).

But this 2010 BMW X6 does have AWD and a decent 400hp 4.4 liter twin turbo V8 good for a mid-5 second 0-60mph run.  Heated seats, heads up display, low miles for a 10 year old car, and a read seat DVD system for the kids.  And it’s only $20,998.  Hard to find a comparable SUV for that price.  Could easily use this as a daily driver work truck!  Find it here in Buena Park, California.  2010 BMW X650i $20,998 50k Buena Park 2-28

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Another Quickie – 2010 BMW 750 LiX Drops $1000 to $18,998.

Despite the unusual night time photo shoot this looks like a fairly nice deal – nine year old luxury unicorn with only 54,000 miles. Decently appointed with Convenience Package, Driver Assist Package, Cold Weather Package, and M Sport Package. Also 400hp and AWD! Love the rims. My experience is the MaxCare warranty is not cheap on a 750 but maybe keep it to 100,000 miles and unload? Find this here in South Jordan, Utah.

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Quick Hit – 2013 BMW M6 On Sale? Dropped $3,000 Today

M6 side
2013 BMW M6 (sorry about the silly plus sign – embedded in CarMax photo!)

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. 2013 BMW M6 $31998 52k Doral Jan 2020

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Happy New Year! Here’s a 2020 *Unicorn* for 2020!

M2 sideTechnically this doesn’t meet my *unicorn* standards (Less than $35,000, under 60,000 miles) but I wanted to wish readers a Happy New Year to start 2020 – and it’s a real driver’s car and got my attention amongst the 13 used 2020 models in the CarMax inventory.  I once asked a CarMax rep why damn near brand new cars are up for sale and he told me most of these are repossessions.  Interesting.

This 2020 BMW M2 Competition sold new very recently for a good $60,000, so not much depreciation in the selling price of $55,998.  I thrive on depreciation.  The short take on this short M2 from this Car and Driver review suggests adding the M4 Competition engine to the M2 Competition in 2019 was a good thing – the 405hp twin-turbo inline six mated to a six speed manual transmission is good for a four second flat 0-60mph run.

The down side, in the review, is that the M2 Competition beats the hell out of the driver on the road but is exhilarating and rewarding on the track.  No need for MaxCare – the car is still under manufacturer warranty.  Find it here in Virginia Beach, Virginia.2020 BMW M2 Comp $55,998 2k Virginia Beach 1-2-20  Continue reading “Happy New Year! Here’s a 2020 *Unicorn* for 2020!”

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400hp Low Price Porsche Cayenne GTS Work Truck (And a Better BMW X5!)

2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS $24,998 52k LAThis 2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS listed here in Los Angeles got my attention at a price point of only $24,998, and with 57,000 miles it fits nicely in my made up unicorn world ($35,000/60,000 miles or less).

Thinking not bad for a 10 year old SUV (former Porsche CPO), and with a 400hp naturally aspirated V-8, 4WD, a tow hitch, front and rear seat heaters, Bluetooth and Bose, it has the minimum I would need in a work “truck”.  Throw in the MaxCare warranty and tax and probably out the door for $30,000.  Not bad for a Porsche Cayenne GTS that once sold for over $70,000.

But this Motor Trend review clocked it as a six-second 0-60mph, and while I’m sure it handles well, it’s kind of…slow.  It’s a three owner one accident SUV and also lacking a number of features – third row seat, rear view camera, air conditioned seats – so I kept looking.2012 BMW X5 $22,998 53k FresnoWhat I found was this 2012 BMW X5 XDrive50i for $2,000 less and about the same mileage, and also with a 400hp (twin-turbo V-8), 4WD, and a tow hitch (pictured, but not listed as a feature!). But it also has the Cold Weather Package (front and rear seat heaters AND heated steering wheel), Premium Package, Technology Package, rear view camera,

third row seats, and air conditioned seats.  Does everything the Cayenne does and more, for less money, and per this Auto Guide review was faster than the Cayenne GTS.  And no accidents.  Unclear to me how the BMW X5 compares handling-wise, and if it matters, it’s a little less panache than the Porsche.  But that’s all.  Find it here in Fresno. It’s a bargain.

Continue reading “400hp Low Price Porsche Cayenne GTS Work Truck (And a Better BMW X5!)”

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Another 1 of 500: 2012 BMW Alpina B7 – $100,000 Less Than New

B7 SideCarMax seems so scarf up several BMW Alpina B7 (F01’s) unicorns every year, and this is the eighth one I’ve tracked in the past two years (added links to the other seven at the bottom of this piece).  Understand only 500 Alpina B7’s are imported to the US yearly.  This XDrive model sold for around $130,000 new, and seven years later is only $37,998.

I’d throw in MaxCare no matter what to shift the risk of repair of this high end vehicle to CarMax.  The 2012 B7 is powered by a 4.4 liter, twin-turbo, 500hp V8, a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, and all wheel drive.  The car does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and is limited to 174mph.

It’s reasonably priced for a 2012 with low miles – 9,000 yearly.  Here’s a Car and Driver review for a 2011 – there aren’t any good reviews for 2012’s (Reviewers waited for the 2013’s that brought us 540hp, an eight-speed transmission, and removed the top speed limiter, allowing the car to cruise at an amazing 194mph!).   Find this two owner car here in Pompano Beach, Florida. 2012 Alpina B7 $37,998 45k Pompano Beach FL

Previous Alpina B7’s at CarMax

In September, 2017 I spotted this 2011 B7 in Duarte, California, selling for $39,998 with 43,000 miles.

February, 2018 brought us a nearly identical 2011 B7 model in Los Angeles for $39,998 but with 41,000 miles (yes, had to check the VIN to make sure they weren’t the same!)

And in May, 2018 this 2012 B7, another California car with higher miles at 56,000, sold for a mere $33,998!  I predicted a quick sale and it went in a day.

 

In March of 2019 we saw this 2012 model for sale in Chicago at $40,998 with 49,000 miles (also had a $65k B6 for sale then too!)

Finally, in May of 2019 we saw three B7’s for sale at the same time – a 2012 and two of the higher-horsepower 2014’s, all in the $40-48,000 range.

 

 

 

 

 

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Damned Good Deal – 400hp BMW 550xi $15,998

Haven’t seen one this cheap. A 2011 BMW 550ix with a 400hp twin turbo V8 unicorn, AWD, nice black over tan, with convenience package, cold weather package, premium package, but not much else. But for $15,998 you’re getting a hell of a lot. Most BMW 550’s are $5,000 more. Use that money for MaxCare and be out the door for $20,000! Find this steal here in Clackamas, Oregon.

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Low Mileage 2013 BMW X5 M in California

CarMax normally has a dozen or so X5 M’s around the country, and occasionally one in my sub-$35k unicorn zone – but they are usually higher mileage (50,000+). Here’s one that’s reasonably priced at $32k, and has only 41,000 miles. Hard not like a four second 0-60 mph behemoth with a 555hp, twin turbo 4.4 liter V-8. And AWD, so I could tell my wife it’s practical? With the cold weather and driver assist packages this was maybe a $100,000 SUV just six years ago. Here’s a review from 2013 if you need more justification to buy. But this beast demands MaxCare – repairs won’t be cheap. Find this two owner California car here in Duarte, outside LA.

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The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns

Corvette front

The Trump administration and the Iranians are circling once again and oil prices are skyrocketing – what better time to pick up a bargain 600 hp unicorn before they become extinct!  And CarMax has 19 of these high-horsepower bad boys on lots nationwide.  Almost all of them are General Motors products, with one Audi and one BMW from our (for now) European ally, the Germans.  Been watching, and (surprise) no Hellcats have made it to CarMax, and Ford isn’t making a Mustang that bucks 600.  So here’s what we have today (CarMax listings at the bottom).

M760 SideThe lone BMW M760 is a beautiful, big sedan that squeaks in at 601hp from a 6.6 liter twin-turbo V-12.  This is the motor Rolls Royce uses in the Ghost and Wraith, I’ve learned.  If you’ve been here before, you know I have a thing for V-12’s.  (Check out my S600 with a measley 510hp here.)

This 2017 BMW M760 has only 14,000 miles, and is loaded with AWD, auto cruise control, and a business class backseat – at 206″ long it’s almost business jet sized – and tops the price list today at $97,998.  According to this Motor Trend reveiw the M760 once sold for maybe $170,000.  It’s a one-owner car still under dealer warranty (buy the MaxCare Continue reading “The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns”

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