A BMW's value is what buyers actually pay today. ForCar reads real US asking prices across 82 BMW models ($1,000–$169,800) and shows the trade-in, private-party and dealer range by model, year and mileage — free, no signup.
Across 46 BMW models we price, a five-year-old car still asks about 52% of what the newest one does — that puts BMW #24 of 38 brands, below the 54% market median. The 325xi holds value best at 112%, the 530xi worst at 21%. Calculated from 6,889 listings.
Every BMW model's value 82
Real-market value for every BMW we have listings for. Click a model for its value by year, depreciation curve and mileage-adjusted estimate.
Every BMW we track — pick one for its value by year & mileage:
How well does a BMW hold its value?
Resale value is everything when you sell or trade. Because ForCar prices from the live market, you see how a BMW actually depreciates — here's the median value by age across the brand's models, from real listings (compare with the typical depreciation curve by age):
A BMW worth about $78,710 at one year old is typically down to ~$29,782 by five years — roughly 62% lost in the first five years. Open any model above for its own year-by-year curve.
Which BMW holds its value best?
Not every BMW depreciates the same. This is 5-year value retention by model — how much of its price each keeps after five years on the used market (higher = holds value better):
Retention = the median resale price of a ~5-year-old model versus a current one, from real listings. Luxury and high-powered trims usually drop hardest; practical, in-demand models hold on.
Does BMW hold value better than other brands?
Every brand we price, ranked by how much of its newest price a five-year-old car still asks — the median across that brand's models. BMW sits at #24 of 38, against a market median of 54%.
Which BMW body style holds value best?
The same badge depreciates differently depending on what it's bolted to. Here's every BMW body style we price, ranked by how much of its newest price a five-year-old car still asks.
Body styles with only one or two priced models move a lot year to year — read them as a direction, not a verdict.
What mileage costs a BMW
Crossing 100,000 miles takes about 70% off a BMW — steeper than the 64% the average used car loses. Median asking price in each odometer band, from our listings:
How far BMW prices spread
Two cars of the same year and badge rarely cost the same — trim, condition and seller move the number. Across BMW, the gap between cheap and dear runs about 70% of the median. The band shows the low-to-high range, the line is the median.
Trade-in, private-party & dealer price
Every BMW has three prices. Our low–median–high range maps to what a dealer pays you, what you'd get selling it yourself, and what a lot charges — see current used-market prices across all models too:
On BMW listings the dealer retail price (155% of median) runs about 2.1× the trade-in offer (73%) — the gap you're negotiating.
Trading in or selling your BMW?
Know all three numbers before you walk in. Trade-in is fastest but lowest; selling private-party nets the most; a dealer's asking price shows the ceiling. ForCar's range gives you the leverage to negotiate from real data, not a salesperson's screen.
Stop guessing at a price range.
- The exact number, not a $4,000 spread
- Market chart: where this model's price is heading
- Price-drop alerts when the model you want gets cheaper
- Full research report as a PDF
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Get an exact BMW value by VIN
Trim and options move a BMW's value. Decode your VIN free to pin the exact build, then check its market value for a sharper number.
More on your BMW
BMW value FAQ
How much is my BMW worth?
It depends on the model, year and mileage. ForCar gives a free instant range from real BMW listings — pick your model and year above for the trade-in, private-party and dealer price.
Which BMW holds its value best?
Resale varies a lot by model. Open any BMW model above to see its real depreciation — how its market price drops year by year — so you can compare which ones hold value.
Is the BMW value free?
Yes — every estimate is free with no signup, based on real US market listings rather than a subscription book value.
How is this different from Kelley Blue Book?
Book sites estimate from their own model. ForCar shows what BMWs are actually listed for right now on the open market — updated continuously.
Is this a free BMW Blue Book alternative?
Yes. ForCar is a free, no-signup alternative to Kelley Blue Book and NADA for BMW values — instead of a private formula, you see real asking prices for every BMW model, updated daily.