[goodbyalfa]

So I've been looking at options for some time, as my M340i 4 year deal matures in May 2025. I cannot get over the obscene price increases and shrinkflation in spec, so cannot justify either a replacement M340i or a M440i which is asking £350-400/month extra than currently paying.

So I had a test drive in an i4 40e, followed by an extended drive in an ix2 30e on Monday.
After getting over the all the power then no extra delivery differences, best compliment I can give bmw is that they drive like ordinary cars.
Whilst in the show room, there was a heavily specced fire red ix2. Loved the colour. Glorious. I very nearly pulled the trigger on it, with a reasonable deal on the table...

In the end, I couldn't get around the practical real world range on offer with my typical daily motorway driving needs, so for the first time in 11 years I will be leaving the bmw fold, defecting into a merc glc come march with a new order. It will be a motorway tool and felt very well suited to that job.
I'll be honest, nothing else in the bmw range has got me excited right now, at a price I'm willing to pay. X3 internally was nice, but outside is an abomination. X1, engine choices are underwhelming and where's the idrive wheel gone??? perhaps the 30e but it loses a chunk of the boot to the batteries which doesn't work for me.
I can say for sure that the m340i is by far the best car I have ever had, and I'm gonna miss it, but with the miles I'm piling on it (70k after 3.5 years) it's soon time to move it on. I really considered buying it at term, but the pcp gravy train must continue..
Conflicted right now is an understatement, but I'm looking forward to the new one all the same.

[Nham68]

Did you look at the new S5 avant ? It’s probably now better value vs M340i and beautiful to look at. Very well specced and you get get good discount already.

[lnlyssg]

Another SUV on the road

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by Nham68

Did you look at the new S5 avant ? It’s probably now better value vs M340i and beautiful to look at. Very well specced and you get get good discount already.

The s5 is not a bad shout. Pretty car. But the £70k start point before I option it will quickly push this one out of range for what I want to commit to.

[Herr Gross Byte]

"I can say for sure that the m340i is by far the best car."

Keep it then. Pointless to spend £350 extra per month for essentially the same new M340i. 70k miles is nothing for a machine like that. Extend the warranty, keep it and enjoy. You'll also have stored potential to make the next move. I strongly suspect the next gen 3 series will have a high performance petrol/electric hybrid variant and that might float your boat.

[HeebieJeebies]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

"I can say for sure that the m340i is by far the best car."

Keep it then. Pointless to spend £350 extra per month for essentially the same new M340i. 70k miles is nothing for a machine like that. Extend the warranty, keep it and enjoy. You'll also have stored potential to make the next move. I strongly suspect the next gen 3 series will have a high performance petrol/electric hybrid variant and that might float your boat.

Couldn't agree more with that

[alFR]

Originally Posted by HeebieJeebies

Couldn't agree more with that

Seconded.

[Fox530]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

The s5 is not a bad shout. Pretty car. But the £70k start point before I option it will quickly push this one out of range for what I want to commit to.

There are almost no options to add to it - everything is standard. I think the only options I could see were a towbar and metallic paint and a few carbon things.

There are also large discounts available already. I found one for under £60k already.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

"I can say for sure that the m340i is by far the best car."

Keep it then. Pointless to spend £350 extra per month for essentially the same new M340i. 70k miles is nothing for a machine like that. Extend the warranty, keep it and enjoy. You'll also have stored potential to make the next move. I strongly suspect the next gen 3 series will have a high performance petrol/electric hybrid variant and that might float your boat.

I'm not convinced 70k miles is nothing, as in just 2 years time that will be over the mental 100k barrier, at 110k miles and rapidly going up. I'm not sure if I would want to buy a M340i with that many miles. To be honest, it's probably not the right car for how I use it 90% of the time. Motorways... I Probably should get something shit for the commute, but where's the fun in that..

[Herr Gross Byte]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

I Probably should get something shit for the commute,

Audi then

[The_Tok'Ra]

Originally Posted by Herr Gross Byte

"I can say for sure that the m340i is by far the best car."

Keep it then. Pointless to spend £350 extra per month for essentially the same new M340i. 70k miles is nothing for a machine like that. Extend the warranty, keep it and enjoy. You'll also have stored potential to make the next move. I strongly suspect the next gen 3 series will have a high performance petrol/electric hybrid variant and that might float your boat.

I agree too! Keep it. 70K is nothing for a 6 pot like the B58.

[goodbyalfa]

Unbelievable.
Just driving home tonight, had a little traffic light acceleration fun, and heard a pop. Next thing warning lights on, no power message. Pull over carefully.
Add coolent, danger of scalding.
Pulled over, some clear liquid coming out on the floor and a gentle steaming and burning smell.
Had a look under the bonnet, seems to have sheared something and also thrown a belt... Sat waiting for bmw assist....
70 K miles is nothing...
What on earth has sheared off?

[a.summers86]

Looks like the belt has snapped and taken out some of the plastic trim around the radiator fan.

On another note £67k for an ix1:0

[goodbyalfa]

If you look, There's something metal which looks to have sheared to me as well. Doesn't look too good to me.

[goodbyalfa]

The tow track finally arrived, He had some Knowledge and experience and thought that it looks like the flywheel sheared off, took with it the drive belt (intact) cracked and intercooler, and somehow the engine coolant system. 3.5 hrs waiting for roadside assistance. Not looking forward to the bill for this one.

[carrera77]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

If you look, There's something metal which looks to have sheared to me as well. Doesn't look too good to me.

it looks like aluminium die casting
It's pretty common to use in automotive components but it is brittle. There could be a casting defect that's just showed up. Or it could be under-designed for the stresses and load. Not good

I was just going to uptick the 70k miles is nothing for a B58 comment They probably are still ok at 110 k miles. If I was a buyer at that mileage, I think I would get an endoscope thingy and look inside the combustion chambers for carbon buildup

[Tommo3]

I love the way British drivers complain about the cost of the cars that they buy. Most of them buy cars that can never be used to their full potential on potholed, congested UK roads, but then they do not buy the car, they put it n some sort of finance. It used to be called HP but now has some exotic names that allows these people to overstretch their budget buying something that they cannot use fully and then complain about the cost.
There are many cars out there that cost a fraction of a top spec BMW and they will still get you about just as fast within the restricted speed limits of the UK.
Before you say anything, I have never had a vehicle on HP and started with a new BMW motorcycle at the age of 18 that I had saved for.

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

I love the way British drivers complain about the cost of the cars that they buy. Most of them buy cars that can never be used to their full potential on potholed, congested UK roads, but then they do not buy the car, they put it n some sort of finance. It used to be called HP but now has some exotic names that allows these people to overstretch their budget buying something that they cannot use fully and then complain about the cost.
There are many cars out there that cost a fraction of a top spec BMW and they will still get you about just as fast within the restricted speed limits of the UK.
Before you say anything, I have never had a vehicle on HP and started with a new BMW motorcycle at the age of 18 that I had saved for.

Why would you invest significant capital in a depreciating asset? Even with interest included, capital can be better invested elsewhere and amortise the cost of a car across its term. Personally I’d never buy a brand new car for that exact reason, but each to their own. Nothing to do with overstretching budget, in most cases. Even the very wealthy will still finance cars for this exact reason.

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Why would you invest significant capital in a depreciating asset? Even with interest included, capital can be better invested elsewhere and amortise the cost of a car across its term. Personally I’d never buy a brand new car for that exact reason, but each to their own. Nothing to do with overstretching budget, in most cases. Even the very wealthy will still finance cars for this exact reason.

Because I am not money driven. Why would anyone pay hundreds of pounds a month for a car that has restrictions on it and then hand it back leaving them with nothing? I could just leave money in the bank earning peanuts instead. If I want something I buy it with money that I have or save for it.
Do you think that by having finance you are saving money? No the Finance company or PCP company are making something and it is from you!.

[Nham68]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Why would you invest significant capital in a depreciating asset? Even with interest included, capital can be better invested elsewhere and amortise the cost of a car across its term. Personally I’d never buy a brand new car for that exact reason, but each to their own. Nothing to do with overstretching budget, in most cases. Even the very wealthy will still finance cars for this exact reason.

I dont think the wealthy finance cars. Can’t be bothered. Don’t need to think about squeezing more drops out the lemons. Same reason You don’t see them spending evenings away in a travelodge, happy to spend few hundred £ on hotel room.

[lnlyssg]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

I love the way British drivers complain about the cost of the cars that they buy. Most of them buy cars that can never be used to their full potential on potholed, congested UK roads, but then they do not buy the car, they put it n some sort of finance. It used to be called HP but now has some exotic names that allows these people to overstretch their budget buying something that they cannot use fully and then complain about the cost.
There are many cars out there that cost a fraction of a top spec BMW and they will still get you about just as fast within the restricted speed limits of the UK.
Before you say anything, I have never had a vehicle on HP and started with a new BMW motorcycle at the age of 18 that I had saved for.

Definitely not most of them. These stats are a couple of years old but 70% of drivers own their car outright according to https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en.../01042022.html, also includes some reasoning at the bottom of the article for why people do choose HP/PCP etc. It's not for me but I also don't understand why everyone loves giant, heavy and dangerous SUVs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[paulockenden]

I didn’t choose finance because I could afford to pay cash, and PCP or other finance just means there’s a third party in the middle which needs to make a profit. Some people reckon PCP avoids depreciation, but they are kidding themselves. Depreciation is fully factored in to the interest rate and final value.

Having said that, the iX1 I’ve just ordered will be on PCP, because there’s a £4k deposit contribution. But I’ll be cancelling that finance the moment I leave the showroom.