In 2019, I sorta hacked a BMW 530e. $59k MSRP car, payment of ~420/m. 36m residual at turn-in is $36k.
A few months later, I helped a friend get a 330 loaner, $48k MSRP car, payments of $330. 36m residual is aprox $28k. Both of our leases are due in a few months. We currently also have similar mileages on the cars.
These are our instant cash offers from. (Carvana, Vroom, Carmax are all within +/-2k). I guess he has equity and I don’t 
530e:
330i:
What’s the mileage on both? Also, any accident history?
No accident history , clean. Mileage both around 27-28k
5 series never had equity
Carvana offered 42,000 for my 2021 530e with10k miles, but Rodo offered 55,000. Some companies are just off with some cars.
every 2019 530e buyer was eligible for $4668 in tax credits, which deflates resale value, and BMW (unlike most PHEV manufacturers) inflated their residuals.
Bright side: you paid way less depreciation than you should have.
You aren’t wrong, and I am not looking to make buck. I just find it humorous the a technically cheaper car is more valueable than a more premium car.
Firstly, The 530e was never the most desirable car.
Also if im not mistaken the 2019 model year was before the refresh so its a generation behind the current model. The 3 series while they did just announce the refresh, is still current.
People also have a tendency to mistake price with value; something being more expensive does not necessarily translate into something being more valuable, especially going into the secondary market. This is why vehicles often only gain value up to a point, before additional options become just expenses.
Because the 530e isn’t desirable. People would much rather have a 540 or regular 530. Not to mention, once you get above the 3 series, most of BMW’s customers would rather drive a X5 over a 5 series
I absolutely understand. Trade in values are based on market sentiment and demand. I just found it interesting that how people value different cars is so similar, despite those cars being vastly different.
They did, briefly.
5 series always depreciates a ton. The G30 also underwent multiple updates between 2019 and now (2020 got ID7, 2021 LCI). G20 hasn’t really changed.
It’s the same generation since 2017, and LCI was such a minor refresh that it should make no difference.
I believe MY2020 530e got a little more electric range, and I know the refresh also has a larger center screen (either my 2020 or my2021)
Correct, the tax credit was higher in 2020 because of the larger battery
Is it true that with BMW financial it could be tough to make money from the equity.
but rodo is also a joke.
I’ll sell rodo all the base model 530e’s they want for that. 
What is the advantage of the 530 over the 530e? I am of course biased with my LCI 530e and, although most of the changes to the BMW lineup are incremental at best, it’s tech is good, the performance for a heavy sedan is pretty good (not much different than the 530 even with the extra battery/drivetrain weight), and the 28 miles EV-only range offers those with short commutes the ability to avoid Costco lines.
