My only real gripe with the iX was the lack of a frunk.
Aside from that it gobbled up miles and actually did better on range than the single motor i7 with base wheels.
The programs are probably the most aggressive they’ve been since the 2026 was released, Who knows what they’ll look like for 2026.
My only gripes with the iX were the interior, the exterior, and how it drove.
How does the x45 drivetrain compare to the x50? I like the pricing of the x45, but on paper it seems like the power loss, coming from an x50, would be noticeable. I’m leaning towards a used x50 for now…
How’s that balloon look given the horrendous resale on them?
The balloon sweet spot seems to the 24’s. The ERV is $62K, and if you can buy one for around $34K ($2K under MMR), it would work out to something like $0 DAS $475 for 24mo. Not as good as the EQE 500, but wife prefers the IX. The problem is giving up the B&W system we have now, by far my favorite option.
Here is my research so far on replacing my IX-
used 24 IX50 under $475 effective balloon.
loaner 25 IX50 $104K MSRP $720 effective plus MSD plus broker fee.
new 26 IX45 $81K MSRP $830 effective plus broker fee.
vs
used 24 EQE 500 under $300 effective balloon.
new 25 Q6 $74K MSRP $610 effective w/ free charging plus broker fee.
Either your iX has air suspension or you don’t buy it. There’s my contribution for the day.
I picked up a fully loaded 2026 iX xDrive45 back in October. I’m paying $750/month with only first payment due at signing. We agreed on 13% off pre-incentive, but the final payment came out even lower than expected, I didn’t ask too many questions.
Overall, I absolutely love the car. It isn’t a performance monster, but that’s not what I bought it for. I use it almost entirely for long highway drives (often 3+ hours at a time), and it really shines there. The cabin is exceptionally quiet, and it handles far better than most SUVs I’ve driven without sacrificing ride comfort.
Comfort was a big priority for me. I’ve had significant back and hip issues (four hip surgeries before age 21), so the M Sport seats were a must, and they’ve been excellent.
The other non-negotiables for me were DAPP, the Dynamic Handling Package, and radiant heat for my wife. I kept seeing comments that air suspension is essential (can’t compare since I’ve only driven it with air suspension) but I’ve been very happy with it. There were only eight cars nationwide that met my criteria, so I ended up with more options than I originally planned, but I have zero regrets
That’s pretty impressive! How about AMG EQE, either sedan or SUV? And what about AMG EQS?
Presume that’s thru some CU? Are those walkaway balloons?
Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread.
Walkaway balloons offered by a CU but underwritten by AFG. AMG SUVs, not good programs. Don’t start until 24 model year, larger tax burden to overcome. OTOH, 23 EQS AMG sedan is possible in mid to low 400’s if you can purchase under $50K. Caveat: These lower payments require a vehicle with very little basic warranty left. Same for an IX balloon, but the BMW EVs don’t quite have the poor reliability reputation of the MBs ??
The original MSRP of this IX unit was $103,595 and now it’s $34.1K
So you’re basing your numbers on Manheim sales price? Obviously, you can’t find ‘23 AMG EQS for anywhere near 40k retail. And, yes, BMWs are supposed to be far more reliable than MBZ which has been pits for years now.
Sorry, typo. Should have been $50K. The MMR is around $49K and the spread to low end of retail is about $7K. Purchasing at auction adds fees around 4%. I can usually find a desperate dealer who can match MMR+>4% retail.
Can you balloon a branded title 
?
https://www.drivenauto.net/details-2023-mercedes~benz-eqs-amg_eqs_4matic+_sedan-used-w1kcg5fb5pa040213.html
Probably a bad idea even if doable unless it was lemoned for some silly reason such as parts unavailability. I find it peculiar that I’m only seeing one CPO AMG EQS nationally (might be missing another one or two… but whatever). Wonder if MBZ made it prohibitively expensive to certify those for a reason?
@moderators how about we split this into a separate balloon thread?
I am negotiating with dealer on ix XDRIVE45 2026.
He is offering, xdrive60 LOANER car options and telling that those are leasing well.
MSRP is $95k. Discount is 15%. Rebate 9500. MF 0.0009. monthly $760+ tax . $2000 due at signing
Unsure about odometer reading.
Should I consider xdrive60 or look for 2025 version xdrive50 for better deal ? (as they are renamed for 2026 )
By looking at other threads, I think discount can be more than 20% for loaner. Is that right number for negotiation?
20% discount would be my bare minimum for a loaner
I’d aim for between 25 and 30%, higher as miles creep up toward 10k.
Ok. I will push for 25%
Is there any room for other incentives on loaner ix ?
I think everyone needs to remember when negotiating on a loaner that time-in-service matters at most dealers, and there is no way for you to know this besides maybe checking the CarFax for any possible entries.
Just because many people here agree you’d want a minimum of 20% off a loaner car, that doesn’t mean it’s possible. For all you know, that car has only been in service for 3 months and hasn’t been internally “written down” enough yet to justify that kind of loss.
Also, remember, for many dealers, they sell most of their cars to normal in store clients closer to sticker, and use their loaners, even at minimal discounts, as a “steal of a deal” for those normal walk in clients, so don’t get too upset if they don’t want to bend.
Good points. I think my ‘as miles creep closer to 10k’ as the metric for time in service.
I got over 31% off my 2024 loaner because it had been in service nearly a year and I suspect was about to time out of being eligible for BMW programs.
