The best way to sell this car at fair market value (or even slightly above in some cases) is on platforms like Cars&Bids or BAT. These are the only places where a special car like this will get enough exposure to sell for its true market value. Alternatively, you can wait for that desperate buyer as you described it... someone who wants this exact car and nothing else, and is willing to pay a premium. The car is so special that you don't even need C&B or BAT for it to sell. I think u can sell it for premium through private sales.
I still believe that if you reduce the price just a bit to be more reasonable, though still above market value, you'll attract a tonnnnnn of buyers. When I sold my last W222, which was also a very very rare spec'ed car, I got a ton of interest and sold it the month after I posted it, even though I asked $15K more than its fair market value and remained super firm on the asking price. The only reason I didn’t sell it sooner was that I wasted time with a buyer who wasn’t serious and wasn’t honest with me about his true level of interest. I kept waiting for him to sell his car (as he said that was the only thing stopping him) and sign the contract... I only waited for him because I felt like I owed him a favor as he had helped me once to shop for cars out of state before. Eventually, I gave up on after 3-4 weeks waiting, one day I texted him only to let him know I wouldn’t sell him the car even if he decided to buy it, period. Same minute I sent the text, I also reached out to all pending buyers who were waiting, and the car was sold within two hours and a bill of sale was signed via our personal gmails. The money was wired to my bank that same afternoon. The final buyer was actually a forum colleague from this website, and he bought it sight unseen as he lives >2000 miles away from me. Jus like I originally bought it (also sight unseen). Car was that good and am happy it went to someone who deserved that car.

 

I’m sure you are right, I guess I’m just not all that motivated yet.

To those who might be interested in getting one of the last retractable hardtop SL’s, I highly recommend that you start looking now. Many of these cars are 3rd or 4th in a household and there is a wonderful selection out there at very attractive prices. Additionally, the R231’s have proven to be absolutely rock solid in their reliability, with very few issues. Honestly, with 60 new cars under my belt, my 2019 SL450 is right up there in the top 2 or 3 of the very best.

 

Back on topic: I have arranged to get an extended test drive of my I7, before actually taking delivery. I need to experience the performance of the air conditioning, as folks over on Bimmerpost have complained about it not being good enough on hot days. There have also been complaints about too much heat coming from the glass roof, through the very thin, retractable cover. I’m also looking forward to experiencing the suspension options I ordered as part of their Autobahn Pkg. which I have never had a chance to test out, along with the 19” wheels which I have never even seen in person. I’m hoping for great things and I’ll report back my results.

 

Keep in mind that not all of the 7-series trims have the "Optional" Climate Comfort Laminated Glass option.. At least that was the case for the MY24 models last time I looked at them in Aug of last year. Even with Climate Comfort Laminated Glass that I have had on some of my BMWs, I always felt the need to get a high quality tint installed (specially for the X5 and X7; those have a terrible AC). I didn't drive the i7 long enough or even in hot days to tell if that's the same, but I'd still expect that you'll need a good tint and that shall address the issue. The AC in our W222 was great but it has always been very noisy in Auto mode. The quietness of AC in almost any BMW I had will be a good surprise (but again tint is a must have), and I'd expect it'd be even better for the i7.

Coming from MBC or E-ABC Mbenz cars (you), the Autobahn Pkg is a must. Those who test drove the i7 WITHOUT the Autobahn Pkg would still tell you that the i7 dynamics are at least just as good and in my view even better than the W223. With the Autobahn Pkg, the i7 is ridiculously fun to drive, and there is just no comparison against W223 without E-ABC.... I told you once, I'd never ever consider any BMW without the DHP package or Autobahn Pkg. I have no idea how the i7 would compare to the W223 with E-ABC, never drove them back to back to be fair, but my guess being an EV alone would give the i7 the lead.

 

Congrats! Mea culpa on the model designation!

If the air conditioning is borderline, do you think you will still accept the delivery?

 

Yes, my car is coming with the Climate Comfort Glass and BMW finally listed the option on their “Build” site for the 2025 models. That said, a couple of guys with the glass option still complain about the heat coming through the roof and not being able to direct A/C at their faces. I have never had to tint any glass and hope I don’t have to with this car.

As for the Autobahn Pkg., I was blown away by the ride quality of the I7 without it, so IF it improves it, that will be the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, at least in my case, E-ABC really ruined the ride comfort in my S580. Really looking forward to the comparison.

 

i7 without the DHP isn’t more dynamic than the S580 on airmatic, but it’s close which is a huge win given the i7s weight. i7 in Sport mode is not as flat handling as an S580 in Sport +

In that case if you’re staying in hotels and all I would agree, EV isn’t for you. 150 miles a day if you came home to your garage I wouldn’t be concerned

 

I like the Lucid and it is technically a dramatically better EV than the i7. More interior space and more storage and much better efficiency than the i7 with the footprint of the E-class + better range. The latest model killed off the front motor whine and a faster processor for the UI. It is coming from a startup but I cannot hold that against them, otherwise we are killing innovation and these EV's have proven to be safe in accidents.

Without a doubt, the i7 interior is more luxurious and the software is more mature (still prefer MBUX) and the Air has some annoyances like the large A-pillar and lower entry height but I like the look of the Air (Stealth only). But the primary reason to I'd take the Air is due to their killer 18 months lease rates. 18 months is my preferred timeframe for any EV lease. The i7 with its 400 Volt system is technically outdated and a dinosaur in 2027 when your 3 year lease is done.

 

Many great point, as usual Wolfman. I guess at the end of the day, people buy or lease the car that best suits them. For me, that would not be a Lucid or a Tesla.

 

That makes perfect sense. Everyone’s taste, priorities and preferences drives the choice and the most important aspect of owning that car is how happy you are with that choice.

Getting a great deal also helps!

 

That’s my take as well…. I like the Lucid and really enjoyed renting it earlier this month for about a week while traveling. Not sure if I’d recommend it for anyone over the i7 or even EQS (specifically for those who prefer luxury), but to me personally I already see both Lucid and Telsa as better cars for what I need (as a daily driver) than the i7, EQS or the S-class. It becomes a completely different topic if I need luxury (the 7-series or S-class are just better in that sense, and that’s why I see these cars as an additional car to the garage than a replacement to my daily). For daily, both the 7-series or S-class feel so outdated and sluggish to own compared to the tech and ease of use in Tesla or Lucid cars. I didn’t believe any of that until I’ve experienced it myself. We will definitely get the Gravity when it’s released, but I’ll likely stick with Tesla for the daily sedan. It’s good that german manufacturers are still offering a unique luxury ownership experience despite how good other startup companies have become recently.

 

I drove a Lucid extensively and walked away disappointed in it. Nowhere near the refinement or isolation or luxury as the i7. The electric motors have a very pronounced whine that I didn't find in any of the other EVs, the ride quality was nowhere near as good nor was the interior comfort, luxury or technology.

LOVED the Lucid sitting in it, but driving it turned me off.

 

I was debating trading in my EQE 500 SUV for a 2025 BMW iX M60 and I definitely like the vehicle much better but wow, I've never seen such horrible reviews of dealers: https://www.yelp.com/biz/advantage-bmw-midtown-houston (selling dealer) https://www.mapquest.com/us/texas/bm...ands-266205277 (closest dealer). I don't need all that drama in my life. My Mercedes sales and service experiences have been flawless. I guess it'll have the remaining issues fixed and keep it until the next gen of EVs with NACS connectors and solid-state batteries come out.

 

I was just in one Saturday doing a little due diligence while my car was getting its break-in service done. They've fixed the whine. They've also improved panel fit, gaps, and other basic build issues. The sluggish GUI has been souped up and from what I remember from my first spin, it's not a small difference in feel. The interior isn't particularly elegant or luxurious, and that is just how I remember it. In this regard, I never really liked Tesla either, no insult intended, just not my style. Seat comfort, and comfort in general, is excellent, but I'd say that about the 7 and 580 as well; my butt approves. Agree with the Wolfman; the Lucid is a clear win in terms of utility insofar as daily driver duties. It will be interesting to see how they do with it as they move forward: Color me interested in the SUV.

I was also in the I7, a loaded version. There's a lot to like about that car and I'm curious to see what we get for a Stream-score.

 

They reduced / (eliminated?) the front motor whine in the latest model.

 

Agreed. That's the difference between Lucid/Tesla from other brands... their cars are continually improving, even month to month sometimes, without any formal announcements. They don't follow the traditional year-by-year updates or the LCI/facelift concept to introduce or make major improvements. I bought my Tesla a year ago, and today (compared to a year ago), I have UWB Bluetooth, complete hands-free full self driving that actually truly works starting from my driveway, rear screen YouTube and separate Bluetooth connectivity for kids headphones, auto-park, auto-gear-selection based on predictivity, better phone-as-key experience, Play Games on Rear Screen and built-in gaming controllers support/connectivity, adaptive headlights cornering in the US via OTA and free, YouTube Music and Amazon Music support, cloud profiles that syncs all ur settings to rentals/loaner, live dashcam from phone, blind spot camera view, Hands-Free Trunk (who would expect that?), and the list goes on. The complete list is literally over 100 examples of these ~10 examples or so that I just mentioned. I had none of that a year ago, and some other users didn't have any of that 3 years ago with the same exact car. That doesn't include improvements made manufacturing wise for cars they sell/manufacture today compared to when mine was manufactured. Lucid does the same month to month for their software supporting existing cars on the road while also improving newly built cars. MBenz, for example, rarely makes significant changes once a generation is released, except for the LCI. BMW makes some major improvement but mostly only following the first year of a given gen (i.e.: full hands-free highway for LCI X5 and X7 one year after they were released) As Wolfman mentioned, Lucid recently addressed the motor whine issue. They have never had major panel gap issues that Tesla had to address recently, but they did refine some interior panel fits for the 2025 lucid model year. Their software also keeps improving over time (the one I rented last week during a trip out of state was much better than the one I rented a year ago). That said, you won’t find pure luxury in any of these EVs (except maybe the i7). If Lucid somehow gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network (which is unlikely), I’d have no hesitation in saying it's the best car and EV you can buy today.

 

Your comments pretty much echo what Savage Geese said about the latest Lucid. He plunked down his money on one for an extended test drive and he didn't like most EV's and hated the EQS.

 

The problem with Lucid isn't the engineers, it's the executives in management. If the Saudi government hadn't bailed them out they'd be going bankrupt already. And just ask a Fisker owner how great updates are when that happens. Still think the Ocean is one of the best looking electric SUV though, for whatever that's worth (about $20K actually, lol).

 

I'm gonna have to check that out, he usually hates anything that comes within rock throwing distance of new.

 

One of my fav channels. I saw his review of the 25' Lucid when he posted it about a week ago. He breaks down the evolution and changes over the years, and how the car has evolved based on his personal experience with the car. I like their reviews. They also reviewed the i7 a year ago. One of the best car channels on YouTube...I don't like YouTube reviews at all, but those guys are different that the other traditional "hey check out these cool features!" reviews like Throttle House. Jason Cammisa / Hagerty is next on my list. if it's not for fun, I don't really listen to others if I truly want to learn more about a car.

 

Well, as we all know, every automaker has their fair share of problems. My I7 is currently held up at the VDC in Port Hueneme, due to a “Stop Sale” recall, having something to do with the parking brake. As I understand it, this issue affects several different models, not just the 7 and every potentially affected vehicle must be physically inspected to see if any repairs are needed. It appears that the number needing repairs is very low and they are trying to get customer ordered cars through the process first. So, my car may still come this week or it may take weeks or possibly months, in which case I will most likely punt. Oh well.

 

Yes, this also included our X5 and X7 (both were manufactured same month in 2024). The full list includes the new 2024 5-series 7-series, i5, i7, X1, X5, X6, X7, and XM SUV; as well as Rolls-Royce Spectre (thought it was fun to see it on that list). I was told that the issue (at least for X5 and X7) will be addressed via an OTA update (though the NHTSA documents have not been updated yet). By the way, my dealer thinks it's safe to continue driving both.

 

That whine is now gone...

 

I personally have never really understood the concept of wanting a daily car to be simple and less luxurious. I love driving my crazy luxurious car everyday. Glad to hear those things have improved though.



You've waited this long, I would just wait until its delivered.

 

I will say that Lucid's software is getting updated continuously and are worlds apart from the likes of Fisker. So I have hope that Lucid will bleed less money once they move into SUV's. I for one prefer a US manufacturer with US IP & tech over any Chinese manufacturer, even with Saudi backing.

Is Lucid too slow getting their act together? Not really but time is not on their side unlike Tesla which was bleeding money for 17 years, having abysmal build quality and still peddling FSD vaporware for longer than that. After all these years calling themselves a Tech company, they are still at Level 2 while Mercedes has been Level 3 for a while now and is testing Level 4 autonomous driving for the S-Class in China.