[goodbyalfa]

Like many here, I am finding BMW price rises over the last three years pretty unpalatable. For equivalent spec, the price has gone up by 25% in 3.5 years!!!
I truly felt I did an awesome job in my last negotiation back in may 2021, picking up a very well specced M340i for just over 50k(list was 58.5k). Relatively High miles is a pcp killer for me at 18-20k/yr, but with £6k up front, it left me with £620/m.

Fast forward 3 years, and for anything close to a comparable car and term, it's £900+...
My 4 year pcp term ends in May 25, so if I'm to think about a new build job, I need to get moving. However, it just does not sit right to add 50% to the car outgoings. The current car is still awesome. Love it. But the higher mileage (65k miles currently) does concern me, especially fast forwarding 2-3 years if I ended up paying the final payment to keep it at term. Not sure about seeing an M340i at 6 years old with 120k miles on it for resale...

I've looked at other cars, perhaps an x1 30e would work nicely for me now, but with a decent option list they come in at 58k with discounts. Combined with current Apr and it's not pretty...

What to do???

[Jonnyr7]

I'm thinking the same. I guess the planned impact of interest rate rises which cools consumer spending is working

new model is like you say, really expensive

used model on finance is also expensive due to high APR

outcome is we either pay the balloon on the existing car or replace with something less expensive / not as nice

I imagine the £25k to £35k used car business is booming at the moment. Anything more expensive than that is very expensive to finance, and new stuff all has crazy list prices.

I noticed the new Audi SQ5 is out today. £75k ish list.

[thescouselander]

I'm in the same position although my car is only on 26k mile. Anything that's better than what I've already got is totally unaffordable so there's no point in changing. Looks like I'll be sticking with the current car for a while yet.

[Carl99]

Here's my two pence worthy... You have already paid the bulk of the deprecation so pay the ballon payment, take up the BMW fully comp extended warranty for peace of mind, and keep on enjoying the car and save the monthly payment up for the next car but at 100K miles they will not warranty the car so it will be time to sell.

[Stevie_B]

I’m in an almost identical situation except my mileage per year is a little lower.
M340i with PCP contract ending in June 2025. £600 pm.

Looking around I just cannot justify the huge uplift in monthly payment for cars that offer little to no more. However don’t fancy the idea of swapping for something less exciting just to maintain a reasonable monthly…. The world we live in right now I guess!

Semi tempted to look at some of the older fast stuff like RS6 or Macans GTS, as not desperate to dive into the ID8 / extra tech world, but used % rates for those types of cars are pretty eye watering still.

All just brings me back to the realisation that the car I’ve got is probably the car I should keep…

[Torqueman]

Hi, great thread. I am in same situation. Deal ends April 2026 and price of a new car is just not worth the money. Likely to pay balloon figure and keep car. This must be affecting the dealers as they count on people not keeping the car.

[goodbyalfa]

The other thing is, that the current bmw range is a little uninspiring in the mainstream models, esp with the heavily Ltd engine options, and big push towards full electric and even hybrids (I need the boot space, so I'm not convinced in the current method of lobbing a big battery under the boot floor... When will a maker think about doing a hybrid proper, from the ground up, with batteries in the floor pan so that boot space and to some extent handling is retained?

It's too soon to go all electric for me.
With my mileage and boot needs, the hybrids do not seem to work for me.
I toy with the idea of an:
x3, but the looks are a bit, slabby...
x1, I like the idea of a 30e but the 1.5 engine and weaker boot size not sure I can make it work. Plus it's expensive for what it is.
4gc. M440i too expensive, 20i just a no...
Another 3 series. Not enough more for the cash that will be needed.

Option 1 - perhaps most likely. Pay the balloon, drive it for another couple of years...

Option 2 test drive a couple of the above cars, consider getting a roof rack for camping needs...

Option 3... Left field
Maybe it's time to jump to the darkside...
I think I like the look of the merc glc, maybe in 300d AMG premium guise (no diesel haters please, I do the miles). With 10k in, looking at £700/m... Looks interesting in blue. I've played with the configuration tool, watched a few you tube vids...
Anyone driven one?