Yes, but the process significantly differs depending on whether you're trading it to a BMW dealership or a dealership of another brand. While a BMW dealership can often facilitate a direct trade, non-BMW dealerships typically require an intermediate step where you, the lessee, purchase the vehicle first.
Trading Your BMW Lease: Different Dealerships, Different Processes
When considering trading in your leased BMW, it's crucial to understand how different types of dealerships handle the transaction, as the involvement of BMW Financial Services varies.
Trading with a BMW Dealership
If you choose to trade your leased BMW at an authorized BMW dealership, the process is generally streamlined. These dealerships have direct relationships with BMW Financial Services, which simplifies the transaction. They can often handle the lease buyout and trade-in simultaneously, making it a more convenient and direct process for you.
Trading with a Non-BMW Dealership (Other Brands)
The situation changes when you want to trade your BMW lease to a dealership that sells other brands (e.g., a Mercedes-Benz, Audi, or general used car dealership). BMW Financial Services typically does not facilitate direct lease buyouts or transfers with these third-party dealerships.
Here’s how it usually works with a non-BMW dealership:
- Obtain Your Buyout Price: You will need to get the current lease buyout quote directly from BMW Financial Services. This is the amount required to purchase the vehicle outright at that moment.
- Dealer Offer: The non-BMW dealership will give you an offer for your vehicle.
- Personal Buyout: If you accept the dealership's offer and it's favorable, you will likely need to personally purchase the vehicle from BMW Financial Services. This means you pay the buyout amount to gain ownership of the car.
- Sell to the Dealership: Once you own the car, you can then sell it directly to the non-BMW dealership.
This two-step process—buying the car yourself and then selling it to the other dealership—is often necessary because BMW Financial Services does not engage in the same direct transaction with dealerships outside their brand network.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | BMW Dealership | Non-BMW Dealership (Other Brand) |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction with BFS | Direct, seamless communication | No direct interaction from BMW Financial Services |
| Lease Buyout Process | Often handled directly by dealership | Requires lessee to personally buy out the lease |
| Lessee Involvement | Minimal direct involvement in buyout | High involvement (you purchase the car) |
| Overall Process | Generally a straightforward trade | Two-step process: Buy out, then sell |
In essence, while you can achieve the goal of moving out of your BMW lease and into another vehicle from a different brand's dealership, be prepared for a more involved process that requires your direct intervention in purchasing the leased vehicle first. Always compare offers and understand all costs involved before making a decision.
