No M5 test drives?

Wallie05

Wallie05

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So I recently went to a BMW dealer out in the burbs looking to see if they had an E92 coupes yet (they don't) and wanted to know when the M3 would be coming out. Then I made a remark (half-jokingly) about maybe getting an M5 instead. Now I realize 99% of people don't cross-shop these models, but I would be paying cash for the coupe and thought that I could finance an M5 if I wanted to, but when I asked if I could take the M5 for a test drive, the salesmen told me that they don't allow M5s to be test driven. If someone wants to buy one, he told me, they just do it.

Now I'm not sure if this guy just didn't take me seriously because of my initial interest in the 3er, or if this is a legitimate policy. Anyone else ever hear of this...any M5 owners out there who didn't test drive their rides before buying them? Is it maybe a dealer-specific policy?
 
Abdoman

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It's salesman specific. Probably thought you couldn't afford it. Two of my neighbors are BMW salesmen and he just told me a story about a guy that was looking to buy an M5. His wife was driving a decked out 06' 7 series.

My friend let the guy drive it and the guy told him that the Tulsa dealership would not let him drive one.
 
bmw046series

bmw046series

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I think it comes down to judgement, if the salesmen knows you or you have bought from him before, you're chances are pretty good (if it is sitting in the showroom).

Here is my suggestion, take about $5,000 out of the ATM, walk into the dealership and say...
I WANT TO TEST DRIVE THE M5!
 
B

Beekbmwm3

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Yep, money rules all in this crazy world, unfortunately. A couple months ago I went to the dealer where I bought my car and my parents bought their cars just to check things out. The guy my parents and I bought our cars from asked me if I wanted to test drive the M5. He knows I love the M's to death and have been drooling over the M5 since it came in.

Therefore, I guess if they know you have the money and ability to purchase, they serve you. It's just a shame because people come in all the time and I am sure they could purchase the dealership but get treated like poor people because they don't have dollar signs in their eyes. Perfect example...I drove my M3 to the nicest dealership in Stl which has Porsche, Range Rover, Merc, BMW, Jag, Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus, etc. I wanted to look into a Range Rover for the future b/c I love the RR Sport. The salesman treated me like I was a 10 year old kid, now they will never get my business!

Let the unfortunate truth be told...we are a country ruled by money.
 
drkeng

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I saw an M5 coming back from a test drive the last time I was at my dealer. I actually was kinda surprised. At the time, they had 2; both black. I thought about asking for a test drive, since I had put down a deposit for a E93 cabrio and we're shopping the X5. That being known, they probably would have said no, despite the fact that I could afford it. When I walk into the local MB dealer, they don't even usually acknowledge me. Can't figure that out, cuz you really don't know how much $$ a person has based on their appearance.
 
CosmosBlack

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Besides all that you guys have mentioned,
I also believe it has some to do with what car you drive into the dealership.
Drive a rival make of similar competition range, like a Carrera to ask for a M5 test drive, I think you'd be pretty successful. If you drive into the dealership in a Honda Accord...forget it.
 
Kirby

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I have to agree with that. Several times in the past I drove to the Porsche dealer in my SUV just to look around, and no one talked to me. Then one Saturday this spring I stopped by to look at a Cayman outside the dealer, I had the 330 with the top down. They were ALL over me in 5 seconds like flies on s...
 
jrt67ss350

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That's me holding the key to the $92,000 M5 behind me after test driving it at my local BMW dealer. I drove up in my 300,000 mile '87 325 with crappy paint and they KNEW I wouldn't be buying it because I told them so. It was parked in the showroom and they had to move 4 other cars out to even get the M5 out.

Here's a video I took with my digital camera of them pulling it out of the showroom:



When I drove it, the sales manager came along with me to show me how to work the SMG transmission since I had never driven an SMG before. He told me to drive the car however I wanted: "If you want to see what she can do and what she is capable of, go for it. Just don't get pulled over."

It's all about your dealer. My dealer is great. Alot of them aren't.
 
N

nadroj

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Wallie05 said:
So I recently went to a BMW dealer out in the burbs looking to see if they had an E92 coupes yet (they don't) and wanted to know when the M3 would be coming out. Then I made a remark (half-jokingly) about maybe getting an M5 instead. Now I realize 99% of people don't cross-shop these models, but I would be paying cash for the coupe and thought that I could finance an M5 if I wanted to, but when I asked if I could take the M5 for a test drive, the salesmen told me that they don't allow M5s to be test driven. If someone wants to buy one, he told me, they just do it.

Now I'm not sure if this guy just didn't take me seriously because of my initial interest in the 3er, or if this is a legitimate policy. Anyone else ever hear of this...any M5 owners out there who didn't test drive their rides before buying them? Is it maybe a dealer-specific policy?
Click to expand...
yep its true, thats what my father had to do. he just sat in one before the order was made lol
 
Wallie05

Wallie05

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Damn Jrt, I want to go to your dealership!! You guys bring up some good points. I think it does have a lot to do with if you know the sales person (if you bought from them before), and the mood they're in. The dealership I went to, they had two M5s -- both slightly used with around 1000 miles on them. Not sure if they could've been demo mules given the dealeship's policy, but I wonder how they had so little miles on them. Maybe some guys bought them impulsively and then regretted it?

Anywany, this salesman I was dealing with was a real piece of work. By the way, I rolled up in my old 3er and told him off the bat that I was interested in the 335 coupe or preferably the M3, depending on the wait. Despite this, the salesman was really pushing me to buy this one particular E90 sedan. It was a loaner with nearly 8,000 miles on it, no GPS, no premium package, for $41 and change. I priced the same car brand new online for a little over 42?!? I don't know, I guess it's better for him to sell me a $41K car today then to take a chance on maybe selling me one for 55 a few months later....

I was surprised he didn't try to unload an M5 on me...but then again, maybe I didn't have the right clothes on that day....?
 
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