Category: BMW

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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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BMW B7 Binge – Three Exclusive Luxury Sedans

Used to seeing the occasional BMW Alpina B7 unicorn in the CarMax inventory, and maybe a B6 from time to time, but today there are three B7’s for sale in the $40k range. Only a couple of hundred of these $130,000+ sedans make it to the US yearly. Add a couple grand for a five year, 150,000 mile MaxCare warranty and you’ve got a worry free long distance cruiser! This review (and BMW press release suggests the 2013 and up models amped up to 540hp (and 194 mph top speed!) but CarMax lists all three at 500hp. Not sure why. This 2012 model is the “bargain” at $40,998 with AWD, auto cruise control, black on black, and heated steering wheel – but not much else. Find it here in Shaumburg, Illinois – full ads at the bottom of the page. In the middle of the pack is this 2014 for $44,998. It’s an L model, just the Cold Weather and Executive packages – no auto cruise control…but if you’re into baseball the interior must have come from Wilson.It’s here in Burbank, California.Last is this beautiful 2014 L model at $48,998. Got the NASCAR look black wheels, Driver Assist Package, auto cruise control and nifty video screens in the back. Find it here in Murrieta, California.

Here’s the ads for all three: If it were me I’d be happy to get into the Alpina club with the $40k model, although this year we’ve seen two in the high $30’s at CarMax. Enjoy.

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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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Pair of Pretty and Pricey Alpinas (Say THAT Three Times Fast!)

A few BMW Alpina B7 unicorns have appeared on CarMax lots over the last two years and always amazed that they linger and take days and days to sell.  Here’s a 2012 that was cheap and a 2011 that I covered that was a bargain.  Have only seen one BMW Alpina B6 and that’s this one, and it has been on and off the CarMax website over the last few weeks (one of my blog readers had it transferred to him but declined to buy).

Alpinas are a bit rare – a couple of dozen B7’s and B6’s are listed on Autotrader relatively close in price to these – but none are available with the coveted MaxCare warranty that transfers the repair risk to the seller and not the buyer.  Both of these cars are sub-4 second 0-60 mph luxury cars.  Saw my first Alpina 5-series when I lived in West Germany in the early 80’s and still have a soft spot for these esoteric rockets.   Yeah M5’s and M6’s are legitimate luxury hot rods, but Alpinas get the nod from car guys in the know.b7 side.JPG

The B7 has “only” 500hp and is pretty well loaded with auto cruise control, stretched,  and most modern amenities – such as a heated steering wheel, AWD, heads up display.  Here’s a Car and Driver review of a similar car priced about $135,000.  This B7 is a three owner Florida and Illinois car, only $40,998 and is available here in Chicago.   If the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.B6 SIDE This 2016 B6 is in the 600hp club (think I need to do a piece on the select CarMax unicorns with 600hp?), and is far more expensive at $65,998 but with fewer miles (12,000 vs 49,000) and even more luxury options (did I mention night vision? Makes up for the bordello red interior!).  The car sold for roughly $130,000 new three years ago.   Check out this Car and Driver review from 2016.  This B6 is a single owner car available here in Huntsville, Alabama – the techno-hub of Alabama!

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Quick Update – 2010 BMW 650i Black Beauty Unsold and Reduced $2,000

2010 650 $22998 52k still here 3-4

Well this nice big BMW 650i coupe is still on the market, on the same lot here in Sacramento, a whopping 4 1/2 months after I wrote about bubble butt BMW’s in October 2018.  See “Beauty and the Beast – BMW 650i Unicorns” here.  This unicorn has been reduced $2,000 since last fall.  For about the same price you could score a slightly older but far more gnarly 500hp V-10 M6 like the cabrio below – but not everyone is up for the harsher ride……but the V-10 screams to 8,000 rpms and is far more thrilling.  The one below can be found here in Boston.  I still wonder if I should have bought this one back in the day…..it was a bargain!2008 M6 Cabrio $24,599 58k Boston

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Quick Hit – Cheapest M3…and a Better One For $7,000 More.

CarMax tends to sell a lot of BMW (E90) M3’s in the upper $20k and lower $30k range, usually in higher numbers and higher mileage than I’d prefer for unicorns.  Right now they have 50 M3’s for sale all the way up to a 2018 for $69,000.  But these two caught my eye – a high-mileage 2008 for only $22,998, the cheapest M3 I’ve seen them sell, and a low mileage 2009 for $29,998.  Here’s the Motor Trend review of the E90 M3 from back in the day.

The 2008 is a hard top convertible and an automatic, the most plentiful, cheapest configuration you’ll find at CarMax.  It’s high mileage at 81,000 miles, and on other car forums (fora?) folks moan that used M3’s are often beat all to hell, but as always, I say “who cares?!” as long as you buy the MaxCare bumper to bumper warranty.  Don’t care how trashed the mechanicals are as long as they are covered for another 50,000 miles.

This one has some wear and tear but the seat bolsters are fine – as with my 2001 BMW 3-series they are the first to go with big butts sliding into the driver’s seat.  It’s about the engine (8,400 rpm red line!) and the handling and the braking.   Find this two owner car here in San Jose – if the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

This single-owner 2009 M3 is neither a hard top convertible nor an automatic, and really low miles for a 10 year old car.  The body lines are tight and neat, uninterrupted like the hard top convertible.  And with MaxCare I think you can get another five years and ridiculous 100,000 miles of coverage – drive the snot our of it worry free.  Find this one here in Memphis.  2009 M3 $29,998 33k Memphis

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