435i: Buy now or wait?
Discussion
Hi Pistonheads,
I've lurked without an account for year after year, reading the content with great pleasure like some kind of seedy voyeur, but I have a question that requires the expert advice of the hooning masses so Im finally going to get involved.
I'm looking at buying a car, preferably used and up to £30k and Ill likely hold on to it for up to 4 years. I do 12k a year, mostly short trips with an occasional 2-400mile blast every month or so so Ive ruled out diesels. I have no family to worry about so I want it to be fun and involving and preferably a coupe but realistically it will need to be a daily driver with a boot and 4 seats still. I'm hoping to buy a fun 2 seat weekend car next year so ideally this daily driver will be reasonably economical.
I've always been a fan of the 335i coupe and prices are great but there aren't too many in the spec I'd like and I've noticed the 435i has just about hit my budget and they are ideal being fast, good looking and mid 30's mpg and with lots more gadgets than the 335i. An Estoril blue one sold recently with 8k on the clock for £30k for example.
Question is: The 435i is still pretty new and am I buying used whilst its still depreciating too heavily? The 440i is looming and whilst its not really going to be a colossal improvement, and could be matched and bettered with a relatively light remap, will it impact 435i prices even more? I know cars depreciate and I do accept that I will be losing money on a car as we all do, but I'm worried I will be losing more than I need to.
Would it be better to buy something short term for 6-12mths while prices tumble further and then get a 435i and if that is the case, what would be on your radar? Or do I just say sod the massive depreciation and go for the 435i which I really like with all its lovely gadgets and hold on to it for the 3-4 years?
Please help!!
I've lurked without an account for year after year, reading the content with great pleasure like some kind of seedy voyeur, but I have a question that requires the expert advice of the hooning masses so Im finally going to get involved.
I'm looking at buying a car, preferably used and up to £30k and Ill likely hold on to it for up to 4 years. I do 12k a year, mostly short trips with an occasional 2-400mile blast every month or so so Ive ruled out diesels. I have no family to worry about so I want it to be fun and involving and preferably a coupe but realistically it will need to be a daily driver with a boot and 4 seats still. I'm hoping to buy a fun 2 seat weekend car next year so ideally this daily driver will be reasonably economical.
I've always been a fan of the 335i coupe and prices are great but there aren't too many in the spec I'd like and I've noticed the 435i has just about hit my budget and they are ideal being fast, good looking and mid 30's mpg and with lots more gadgets than the 335i. An Estoril blue one sold recently with 8k on the clock for £30k for example.
Question is: The 435i is still pretty new and am I buying used whilst its still depreciating too heavily? The 440i is looming and whilst its not really going to be a colossal improvement, and could be matched and bettered with a relatively light remap, will it impact 435i prices even more? I know cars depreciate and I do accept that I will be losing money on a car as we all do, but I'm worried I will be losing more than I need to.
Would it be better to buy something short term for 6-12mths while prices tumble further and then get a 435i and if that is the case, what would be on your radar? Or do I just say sod the massive depreciation and go for the 435i which I really like with all its lovely gadgets and hold on to it for the 3-4 years?
Please help!!
Your creepy opening paragraph, made me think I'd mistakenly logged onto porn hub instead of pistonheads 
Drive them both, but in my opinion, and many journos also said this, the 3 series coupe is more involving than the 4 series; not sure what spec you want but the old DCT is also better / more involving than ZF 8 speed. Buy a good one, approved used, and save the difference from your 30k budget for subsequent warranties and/ or repairs.
Drive them both, but in my opinion, and many journos also said this, the 3 series coupe is more involving than the 4 series; not sure what spec you want but the old DCT is also better / more involving than ZF 8 speed. Buy a good one, approved used, and save the difference from your 30k budget for subsequent warranties and/ or repairs. Find the car you want in the ideal spec 435i. Then screw the dealer to within an inch of his life. If the deal is sweet financially then go for it. Walk away if not happy, the next one will be just a page refresh away.
Waiting for the next great thing BMW wise can lead to frustration as there is always a desirable model just around the corner.
Life's to short. Budget, play hard ball with the dealer, it can be fun and get yourself a new motor. Good luck!
Waiting for the next great thing BMW wise can lead to frustration as there is always a desirable model just around the corner.
Life's to short. Budget, play hard ball with the dealer, it can be fun and get yourself a new motor. Good luck!
Thanks guys!
Smuler - Whats a Porn Hub? Haha I thought I'd make a light hearted entry to the forums but perhaps it was more creepy than I thought. A 335i might not be a bad shout really. I have to admit I love the interior and gadgets of the F32 vs E92 and I prefer the exterior too, though as you point out I may be losing a few percentage points in terms of driver involvement whilst only gaining a few in economy and performance.
I wouldn't mind that at all as I want the weekend car to really fill that driver involvement role but like you point out a 335i will save me SOOOO much money. Interesting to hear your thoughts on the gearbox, I thought the ZF8 is pretty much universally adored? Chris Harris absolutely raves about it.
Ftypical - 235i is meant to be a lot better to drive and is of course more powerful (why did they hold the 435i power back?!) and faster. Looking at the negatives though I find the looks to be a little squashed in comparison to the 4 series and have never been crazy about smaller cars, and price wise its reasonably similar to the 435i though and so I guess it will be in the same depreciation wise?
Moffat - Where have you got those 440i figures? Most sources I've seen have estimated between 320-340hp though I guess no one will know for sure till nearer the release?
MrBurt - Life is too short, you're right. I guess I do love everything about the idea of just going straight in for the 435i as it ticks every box other than my worry about the potential over the odds depreciation. I just wasn't sure if my thinking was sound or if there was another option I hadn't thought of.
Smuler - Whats a Porn Hub? Haha I thought I'd make a light hearted entry to the forums but perhaps it was more creepy than I thought. A 335i might not be a bad shout really. I have to admit I love the interior and gadgets of the F32 vs E92 and I prefer the exterior too, though as you point out I may be losing a few percentage points in terms of driver involvement whilst only gaining a few in economy and performance.
I wouldn't mind that at all as I want the weekend car to really fill that driver involvement role but like you point out a 335i will save me SOOOO much money. Interesting to hear your thoughts on the gearbox, I thought the ZF8 is pretty much universally adored? Chris Harris absolutely raves about it.
Ftypical - 235i is meant to be a lot better to drive and is of course more powerful (why did they hold the 435i power back?!) and faster. Looking at the negatives though I find the looks to be a little squashed in comparison to the 4 series and have never been crazy about smaller cars, and price wise its reasonably similar to the 435i though and so I guess it will be in the same depreciation wise?
Moffat - Where have you got those 440i figures? Most sources I've seen have estimated between 320-340hp though I guess no one will know for sure till nearer the release?
MrBurt - Life is too short, you're right. I guess I do love everything about the idea of just going straight in for the 435i as it ticks every box other than my worry about the potential over the odds depreciation. I just wasn't sure if my thinking was sound or if there was another option I hadn't thought of.
Adult version of you tube, the butt of many a joke or in other words a website more fitting of your opening line anyway, that was just a joke which I couldn't resist.ZF is a cracking auto, but it still feels like an auto. DCT feels like you have a F1 driver doing the shift for you. Very different. And even better in manual mode. Why it wasn't put in 4 series I don't know. Your not the first to say that about 2 series. You could always get a M3 as a do everything car and forget weekend car? Otherwise I'd still say 335i and keep the big savings toward its upkeep and the weekender.
anyway, that was just a joke which I couldn't resist.ZF is a cracking auto, but it still feels like an auto. DCT feels like you have a F1 driver doing the shift for you. Very different. And even better in manual mode. Why it wasn't put in 4 series I don't know. Your not the first to say that about 2 series. You could always get a M3 as a do everything car and forget weekend car? Otherwise I'd still say 335i and keep the big savings toward its upkeep and the weekender. 3 series LCI (facelift) is coming in August, so 340i will be here in September.
4 series LCI is still a year away so we won't see the 440i until at least summer 2016.
If your budget is £30k, find your perfect 435i and enjoy it.
ETA: personally i disagree about the DCT vs 8 speed auto.
I think the 8 speed auto is a MUCH better 'box than the DCT (my mum's got an M135i with the 8 speed which i drive regularly, and i've put 30k miles on my E92 M3 with the DCT 'box).
There's not a lot in it when using both 'boxes in manual mode but the 8 speed is a little less aggressive on changes, i think the DCT in 5 or 6 is too aggressive really.
And the DCT is not a good 'box as an auto, the 8 speed is sublime - smooth and seamless.
4 series LCI is still a year away so we won't see the 440i until at least summer 2016.
If your budget is £30k, find your perfect 435i and enjoy it.
ETA: personally i disagree about the DCT vs 8 speed auto.
I think the 8 speed auto is a MUCH better 'box than the DCT (my mum's got an M135i with the 8 speed which i drive regularly, and i've put 30k miles on my E92 M3 with the DCT 'box).
There's not a lot in it when using both 'boxes in manual mode but the 8 speed is a little less aggressive on changes, i think the DCT in 5 or 6 is too aggressive really.
And the DCT is not a good 'box as an auto, the 8 speed is sublime - smooth and seamless.
Edited by VerySideways on Sunday 31st May 09:57
M235i would be my choice too but I appreciate that the 4 is more "substantial". Personally the 4 is too large/cumbersome for me, particularly on twisty a roads or b roads. I always minimise footprint where possible. The irony is that the 4 has less rear headroom than the 2 due to the roof shape. The other benefit of the M235i is that it comes as std with :
- more front camber
- Michelin Supersport non-run crap
- 4-pot (Brembo made) calipers
I actually just bought a new decent spec 3-dr LCI M135i for £26k, no wonder the 4 initial depreciation is so savage and that the M135i/M235i have held their value so well. I didn't want to wait for the 140i and be an early adopter based on BMW's new engine tendency to take 3/4 years to become reliable. I feel the N55 is now stable, however "old tech" it may be perceived as being.
- more front camber
- Michelin Supersport non-run crap
- 4-pot (Brembo made) calipers
I actually just bought a new decent spec 3-dr LCI M135i for £26k, no wonder the 4 initial depreciation is so savage and that the M135i/M235i have held their value so well. I didn't want to wait for the 140i and be an early adopter based on BMW's new engine tendency to take 3/4 years to become reliable. I feel the N55 is now stable, however "old tech" it may be perceived as being.
Edited by nickfrog on Sunday 31st May 17:01
bigfish said:
Thanks for info
So as 435i will soon be an older model I will hunt done a deal I guess, or wait until the 440i is out
Not sure what your budget is but you can get a brand new 435i Gran Coupe M-Sport from Broadspeed for circa £31k (a discount of around 17.5%) and I'm sure most main dealers will at least match that if they're serious about making a sale. If you're looking to purchase using finance I reckon a new car with a discount will almost certainly work out cheaper per month for a given level of deposit because the finance rates on new ones are much lower.....So as 435i will soon be an older model I will hunt done a deal I guess, or wait until the 440i is out
JNW1 said:
Not sure what your budget is but you can get a brand new 435i Gran Coupe M-Sport from Broadspeed for circa £31k (a discount of around 17.5%) and I'm sure most main dealers will at least match that if they're serious about making a sale. If you're looking to purchase using finance I reckon a new car with a discount will almost certainly work out cheaper per month for a given level of deposit because the finance rates on new ones are much lower.....
really?... I have looked and is £37k. If it's 31 that solves lots of issue 
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