[JustChris]

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=997082

Just popped up on front page.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

I'm in a very similar position right now...trying to decide if there really is sufficient justification in changing the 335i for the M3. I have a full day with the M3 in a couple of weeks so will have a bit better idea on how it would be as a daily driver. But (and it's a big one), on the road there is very little in it (apart from the sound and presence). And that is really the kicker: the only real reason for changing would be because it is an M car with all the cache that brings and definitely not because I could get to work or Sainsburys any quicker.

I'm going to do a full comparison and I'm sure that on a track the M3 would be something else, but with the initial limited test drive sitting in normal traffic on normal roads I could have been in my car.

There is the little matter of the extra 35-40% power.....I'm sure that would be somewhat noticeable......

[335i nthehouse]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

There is the little matter of the extra 35-40% power.....I'm sure that would be somewhat noticeable......

I agree with Pablo

No doubt m car has more power, better handling, more desirable and an all round better sports car. This is non debatable.

Question is whether day to day you see it. It is license losing territory to really find out.

In daily driving terms (I appreciate not track) current 35is and 35ds accelerate as keenly as previous m cars. The opportunity to push previous m cars on the road was very limited and given new one is faster and better handling (without the growl)- when can you use that?

I'd love love love to own am m3, although a 458 is my dream car, in terms of practical every day motoring within my current earnings and spend realms, an m3 is as much as I can stretch to and something I've always yearned after, and I question whether I should spend it given how fast my current car feels and how easy it is to lose my license- I racked up 9 points in 1 year in my civic type r (my previous petrol car 4 years ago) - I shudder to think what would happen in an M3, and if I am not risking that- I question the point other than the status of owing one

[Palmnuts]

Theres probably not £15k's worth of difference in pure speed, but if you add in chassis ability, it feels like a different car. Significantly different even (positively so) to the Alpina B3 I drove a few months ago.

The way an M3/4 goes down the road?....think more well-damped Porsche than stiffly sprung BMW. Well worth £15k.

But as other shave said, it's not £15k....the M4 will be cheaper in the long run. Your £52k 335i will be worth no more than £35k immediately. It'll take years before the M4 gets to this price (even 2011 e92 M3's are still worth this much).

[335i nthehouse]

I get that totally, different league wrt to performance. As I say, I'd love one, not driven current incarnation but have been in previous version. My 335i I love but I don't think it is an m3 killer, e9x or otherwise

Fact is I needed a car, got over 23% off my 335i now, M3 no where near that (dtd showing about £1500 last time I looked).

FACT- It is not cheaper to buy an M3 at today's prices over a 335i/335d, residual value or not, and it won't be this year or likely even next that that changes, so for now it is too much for me.

Maybe I just don't have the balls to drive it! I haven't got to a situation where my car exceeds my ability within the perimeters of driving on uk roads that isn't endangering mine or someone else's life, and I don't have enough money to spend 50k on a car and track it all the time

And now I've invested in this car a little, it's like I am committed to keep it, which is no bad place to be of course

[335i nthehouse]

Of course- if someone wants to donate me an M3, just PM me

[badders74]

When i drove the M4 i got soneone winding down the window to get a better look at it. Also a lot of head turning! It definitely stands out! Problem is the thieves will also like it!

[Steven1077]

Any M car is a waste of money on UK roads, you will never be able to use all the power, would I like one? Yes, would it be worth the money for me personally? No, even the 435i is too powerful, and I'm worried enough about about parking it with all the idiots out there, an M4 would be an even bigger target

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

Any M car is a waste of money on UK roads, you will never be able to use all the power, would I like one? Yes, would it be worth the money for me personally? No, even the 435i is too powerful, and I'm worried enough about about parking it with all the idiots out there, an M4 would be an even bigger target

+1

Pretty much sums it up.

Even with a lowly 330, you can't use the speed element.

Was using kick down today and boy it shifts, however once you suddenly hit 3 figs, then you think oops.

Lovely sound though.

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by 335i nthehouse

FACT- It is not cheaper to buy an M3 at today's prices over a 335i/335d, residual value or not, and it won't be this year or likely even next that that changes, so for now it is too much for me.

Correct, not against a standard (and heavily discounted) 335i. But this thread was about a £52k (after 15% discount) 335i kitted out with a load of the M Performance options....an M3/4 is definitely going to be cheaper than one of those.

[335i nthehouse]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Correct, not against a standard (and heavily discounted) 335i. But this thread was about a 52k (after 15% discount) 335i kitted out with a load of the M Performance options....an M3/4 is definitely going to be cheaper than one of those.

Point taken, I forgot those were the figures quoted from OP, thought your response was against my previous post and personal choice as you referenced 335i,

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Correct, not against a standard (and heavily discounted) 335i. But this thread was about a £52k (after 15% discount) 335i kitted out with a load of the M Performance options....an M3/4 is definitely going to be cheaper than one of those.

Correct, this is the point I was trying to make. I see a heavily kitted 435i with M Performance bits and ACS suspension as a potentially" viable alternative to an M4.... The descussion was around the perceived value of the M4 vs a pretty specil 4 series.

Originally Posted by 335i nthehouse

Point taken, I forgot those were the figures quoted from OP, thought your response was against my previous post and personal choice as you referenced 335i,

A standard 335i/ 435i would be around £20k cheaper than an M4, but is in a different market in my eyes. Still great cars mind.

[rich100]

I walked past a black M4 the other day and did a double take, it certainly had presence no doubt about it. I wouldn't ever get near to using it's full potential either but I really like the look of it.

Forgive my ignorance on this point having never owned a m but in terms of running costs on an m car e.g servicing / replacement parts etc, would I be correct in assuming these would be significantly higher than a 335i or would there not be much in it?

I know the warranties are more expensive so presumably maintenance would be also ?

[Pablo68]

IMHO it is (unless you track it) like buying a proper super car in the UK... do you think the extra cost to be in a car which is special, feels special and looks special but wont actually get you to work any quicker, (But which is pretty much guaranteed to make you grin every time you drive it) is worth it?

If it is easily affordable the answer is probably yes. If it is a stretch (financially) then I would say the answer is no because it would take the shine off it pretty fast.

However, like another poster on here, I just fell in love with this little beauty at the local Jag Dealers....

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

IMHO it is (unless you track it) like buying a proper super car in the UK... do you think the extra cost to be in a car which is special, feels special and looks special but wont actually get you to work any quicker, (But which is pretty much guaranteed to make you grin every time you drive it) is worth it?

If it is easily affordable the answer is probably yes. If it is a stretch (financially) then I would say the answer is no because it would take the shine off it pretty fast.

However, like another poster on here, I just fell in love with this little beauty at the local Jag Dealers....

My god that is beautiful!

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by rich100

I walked past a black M4 the other day and did a double take, it certainly had presence no doubt about it. I wouldn't ever get near to using it's full potential either but I really like the look of it.

Forgive my ignorance on this point having never owned a m but in terms of running costs on an m car e.g servicing / replacement parts etc, would I be correct in assuming these would be significantly higher than a 335i or would there not be much in it?

I know the warranties are more expensive so presumably maintenance would be also ?

M3/4 is £1000 (or was it £1200) service inclusive, perhaps twice the price of a 435i? Not earth shattering really.

Tyres, insurance and petrol most likely to be the killers.

[johno]

Originally Posted by ChesterM4

M3/4 is £1000 (or was it £1200) service inclusive, perhaps twice the price of a 435i? Not earth shattering really.

Tyres, insurance and petrol most likely to be the killers.

Service inclusive was £425 on my 435i
Tyres might even be cheaper since they are non-RFT. You might get through more of them though.
Insurance for me would be about £330 vs £200
Tax is £265 vs £205 (my E92 335i was £485)
Petrol 34mpg vs 39mpg - not realistic of course, put probably 15%-20% more

I've almost convinced myself to buy one.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by johno

Service inclusive was £425 on my 435i
Tyres might even be cheaper since they are non-RFT. You might get through more of them though.
Insurance for me would be about £330 vs £200
Tax is £265 vs £205 (my E92 335i was £485)
Petrol 34mpg vs 39mpg - not realistic of course, put probably 15%-20% more

I've almost convinced myself to buy one.

Do it, do it, do it, do it. Those insurance figures are impressive, don't show jusd'orange...too late

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Apl335d

My god that is beautiful!

Isn't it just?

Brand new XK-R (the 5.0 Supercharged V8) in Italian Racing Red with the ivory leather. I only got a short test drive but my God it felt fantastic, and definitely and occasion driving it. It's possible M4/3 would be faster round a track but there really was something special about the little Jag.

After some quick haggling I got them down to around the price of an M4 with no options, and I suspect there would be more to be had as well if I was prepared to sign.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

However, like another poster on here, I just fell in love with this little beauty at the local Jag Dealers....

He'll yes, Jag do their performs models really well, monster!!!

[Steven1077]

Originally Posted by ChesterM4

M3/4 is £1000 (or was it £1200) service inclusive, perhaps twice the price of a 435i? Not earth shattering really.

Tyres, insurance and petrol most likely to be the killers.

£1000 is about what I thought an M4 would cost me which is £400 a month more than my 435i, tbh £600 a month is painful enough, I started off only paying £410 on the 335d which is where I wanted to be, hence the fact the 435i will be going back when I've paid half the credit and I'll be buying an M235i, it's closer to the size I wanted in the first place and the monthly payments, I should have bought one of those in the first place

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

£1000 is about what I thought an M4 would cost me which is £400 a month more than my 435i, tbh £600 a month is painful enough, I started off only paying £410 on the 335d which is where I wanted to be, hence the fact the 435i will be going back when I've paid half the credit and I'll be buying an M235i, it's closer to the size I wanted in the first place and the monthly payments, I should have bought one of those in the first place

Ah sorry might have misled there. Yes M4 is approx £1k a month a month for a PCP with low deposit, but I was referring to the BMW 5 year Service Inclusive Package pricing. I like you're alternative plan though anyway