[stefan4]

m deals are so good and 340i residuals seem to be holding well, I'm VERY tempted to get into an m3.

My only concern is mileage, who here runs an m3 for 20k miles / year? Wills2 ?

[rosstin]

Tempting they may be, but if you are a 20k a year man it surely isn't the right car for you?

You need two cars

[MackM4Comp]

Originally Posted by rosstin

Tempting they may be, but if you are a 20k a year man it surely isn't the right car for you?

You need two cars

It’s my only car and I’m doing around 12k pa, they’re there to be used

[Ss66]

Originally Posted by rosstin

Tempting they may be, but if you are a 20k a year man it surely isn't the right car for you?

You need two cars

This. Quite simple really, now go out and purchase one man.

[lethbridge]

Originally Posted by stefan4

m deals are so good and 340i residuals seem to be holding well, I'm VERY tempted to get into an m3.

My only concern is mileage, who here runs an m3 for 20k miles / year? Wills2 ?

I've done a factory order (very few slots available now and you can't spec Individual items though, so be quick if you want to spec it) and got 13% discount & 0% discount. My mileage has dropped to c.20k/annum and I believe it will be manageable. I expect a range of 350 is achievable. Get the service pack at that mileage which is £999. High mileage indicates lots of m-way driving like me - I'm expecting 28-30mpg for me. My test drive avg was 25. Before people start banging on about how mpg is not relevant when you are buying a £75k car - it is the range that matters if it is your daily and you do 20k. Comfort wise I was really impressed - was expecting the ride quality and noise to be a concern but it is spot on and I'm looking forward to doing 400 mile journeys in it. Appreciate I don't drive one yet but I haven't made a mistake yet over my car choice and I'm very comfortable with this one. If you want a brand new M3 there won't be a better opportunity than now in my view... PS you need to get the CP DCT...

[Tengocity]

I'm in the same boat. It's not the ideal time for me to change really, but it does seem hard to believe there will be a better time to get a deal on a M3 or M4.

I found a dealer who has stock pre-reg cars for just over £50k, with 200 miles on the clock and still offering 3.9% APR.

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'm in the same boat. It's not the ideal time for me to change really, but it does seem hard to believe there will be a better time to get a deal on a M3 or M4.

I found a dealer who has stock pre-reg cars for just over £50k, with 200 miles on the clock and still offering 3.9% APR.

Heart v Head

Whats going to win

I had an AMG 5.5l once and loved how good it made me feel, 19mpg was the only downside but that that's just because I am tight

If you can afford it then just go for it.

I don't follow my own advise by the way

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by JLR1969

Heart v Head

Whats going to win

I had an AMG 5.5l once and loved how good it made me feel, 19mpg was the only downside but that that's just because I am tight

If you can afford it then just go for it.

I don't follow my own advise by the way

It's not affording it, it's things like having to keep the 330e till August next year and running with a coupe and a saloon, whilst we do use the tourer functionality a bit.

The wife has also just changed job and we are about to remortgage, so the head says don't add on more big changes to the credit report!

Really, I should wait till next Spring, get another winter out of the winter tyres etc.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

It's not affording it, it's things like having to keep the 330e till August next year and running with a coupe and a saloon, whilst we do use the tourer functionality a bit.

The wife has also just changed job and we are about to remortgage, so the head says don't add on more big changes to the credit report!

Really, I should wait till next Spring, get another winter out of the winter tyres etc.

Forget all this stuff about cars, what are you thinking on remortgage? I have similar to do in next 5 months for rental property and then main house in 12 months...

And I won't be swapping my car before 12 month marker...

[higgy]

Same here - deciding whether to pull the trigger on an M4. I have them at £4K down and £575 per month (based on 10k) for a car listing at just over £69k. I’m getting 11k off list (16%). I Will probably go zero down and up the monthly as it’s 0%. Will reduce mileage to 8k also, again as 0%, so will be looking at £649 ish per month no deposit.

Trade in for my 2 year old 440i with MPPSK is not great though. Will try tootle.

[lethbridge]

Only other thing I'd add is in my view, there is only urgency around deals on M3s as the stock will vanish soon and that will be it & I assume there won't then be many trade-ins either as there could be as much as a 2 year hiatus before a G80 CP is on the scene... Once the G80 is out it will cost more & deals won't be available until demand levels off and well you'd want the G80 once it is out wouldn't you...

The M4 isn't in that category so I'd assume deals can only get better unless Brexit or something like that pours cold water on them...

The M3 seems to have been driven to an earlier grave than originally planned due to emissions & the point there is no point modding a car that is nearing end of life. The M4 isn't in that boat... Just my own views on it but my focus has been on the M3 as I need the 4 doors and I decided I wouldn't wait 2 years and have to then pay top dollar for a G80 - I can run the F80 for 4 years and then should be in a good position to swap for a G80 then...

Mind you I love the concept of a good deal but I also know the car will still drop £15-20k as soon as I drive it off the forecourt... But I prefer to spec a car to my specific taste and that is the price you pay for the privilege...

[higgy]

Surely M3 and M4 emissions are the same ?

[Witney]

Originally Posted by rosstin

Tempting they may be, but if you are a 20k a year man it surely isn't the right car for you?

You need two cars

I keep thinking go two cars. A nice 5 year old low mile 911 for special days that sits in the garage with a sensible diesel for everyday commuting. And then I run the numbers and work out that the additional depreciation from heavy mileage on my main new car (I am a 20K a year chap) is a lot less than the combined depreciation, finance, tax and running costs on two.

Someone also commented that the beauty of the M3/4 is that is can be a daily driver as well as a beast! If I had not bought a 335d in Sept 17 I would be ordering an M3CP now.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Witney

I keep thinking go two cars. A nice 5 year old low mile 911 for special days that sits in the garage with a sensible diesel for everyday commuting. And then I run the numbers and work out that the additional depreciation from heavy mileage on my main new car (I am a 20K a year chap) is a lot less than the combined depreciation, finance, tax and running costs on two.

Someone also commented that the beauty of the M3/4 is that is can be a daily driver as well as a beast! If I had not bought a 335d in Sept 17 I would be ordering an M3CP now.

This is a constant circular debate in my head! The added factor for me is track usage, and not wanting to worry too much about how I get to work on Monday morning if I have an issue on track and kill/damage the car.

The other thing is that you take away the "specialness" of a car if you use it every day, for really mundane stuff.

[Witney]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

This is a constant circular debate in my head! The added factor for me is track usage, and not wanting to worry too much about how I get to work on Monday morning if I have an issue on track and kill/damage the car.

The other thing is that you take away the "specialness" of a car if you use it every day, for really mundane stuff.

Quite understand this. To take it a step further I then often move onto the point that if I was to have a second car in the garage I would want it to be out and out crazy fun and then start looking at Caterhams, Morgans etc, before finally thinking Ducati Monster!

[lethbridge]

Originally Posted by higgy

Surely M3 and M4 emissions are the same ?

Yes, could be wrong, but my understanding is they are fixing M4 but not M3 as in the end they decided the deadline to sort it was too close to end of production - believe it involves a change to drive shaft (carbon to steel) to reduce size to make room for a petrol particulate filter to catch the nasties... I don't know the details myself but I understand that is why the F80 has come to an accelerated end of life.

[lethbridge]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

The other thing is that you take away the "specialness" of a car if you use it every day, for really mundane stuff.

Opposite for me, I want to use the nice car all the time & not just feel special at the weekend! I also did the sums - it would only cost me £12k to buy out my 335d and the costs may just about net out for me running 1 vs 2 but why would I want to be in the 335d when I can be in the M3!! We're all different though

Having said that I will be running both for a couple of months as I'm touring up to north of Aberdeen fairly soon after I get the M3 and so working the RIS at 1200 miles into that plan just wouldn't work!

[alpine330D]

Work out the total cost of ownership of a weekender and a daily, then sit Back and marvel in your man maths that an m3 on its own doing 20k is a bargain.

I did the daily/weekender combo and found that in the end the weekender got neglected so consolidated both into a nice all rounder.

[GEP77]

Originally Posted by lethbridge

Yes, could be wrong, but my understanding is they are fixing M4 but not M3 as in the end they decided the deadline to sort it was too close to end of production - believe it involves a change to drive shaft (carbon to steel) to reduce size to make room for a petrol particulate filter to catch the nasties... I don't know the details myself but I understand that is why the F80 has come to an accelerated end of life.

Quite right. The M4 will be modified to get through the WLTP test whereas the M3 won't.

As far as I'm aware to get the S55 through the test it requires a particulate filter fitted.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by GEP77

Quite right. The M4 will be modified to get through the WLTP test whereas the M3 won't.

As far as I'm aware to get the S55 through the test it requires a particulate filter fitted.

Wonder how that will effect the sound. Probably not positively...
.

[lethbridge]

Originally Posted by alpine330D

Work out the total cost of ownership of a weekender and a daily, then sit Back and marvel in your man maths that an m3 on its own doing 20k is a bargain.

I did the daily/weekender combo and found that in the end the weekender got neglected so consolidated both into a nice all rounder.

No one should by an M car if they are bothered that much about cost comparisons - it is an expensive car to buy & run (just right now it is more affordable) - some choose to have as their daily, some for the weekend. For me it was always going to be my daily I did some quick sums in case it did make sense to keep my current car but then decided it would be pointless as I would always take the M3. It isn't man maths... I choose I want an M3 as a daily as I want one & I can afford it...

[higgy]

Just went to put deposit on new M4, I then saw a a lovely 6 month old M3 in Sakir Orange. Full carbon kit and service pack etc £45k.... head says that is the deal to go for. 5% APR. Just not sure if M3 is for me.... decisions , decisions ...