New M3 Convertible

[bad company]

Just been offered a demonstrator with delivery miles (but registered) for £50K and it's a fairly high spec.

Anybody here running one of these? I know the consumption will be around 21 mpg but I do around 18,000 miles a year and wondering about tyres & service costs etc.

Tempting.

[mph133]

tyres are about £320 each and last maybe 12,000 miles (rear) depending upon driving style
service costs are condition based ie also depend upon driving style
you can ask for a £1k service plan covering 5 years' servicing

[bad company]

£320 a corner for tyres!

When I had an M5 I went thru a set every 8 - 10,000 miles.

[sinizter]

£320 per corner sounds right.

I get 23+ MPG from my M3. But I do very little city driving, which explains the very high MPG I get.

Get the service pack if you can, entirely worth every penny.

I have done over 17,000 miles since I got it in June 2011 - but switched to winter tyres in December, so can't comment on the exact tyre wear rate.

[jon-]

Those tyres sound expensive, surely the 18s are only around £250 retail?

[pjv997]

19's are over £300 per corner and can sometimes be difficult to source.

But I got more like 13,000 to 14,000 out of my rear tyres and over 20,000 from the fronts.

[Urban Sports]

bad company said:

£320 a corner for tyres!

When I had an M5 I went thru a set every 8 - 10,000 miles.

You are bothered about £320 per corner when considering spending 50k on a car???

Does not compute.

[jon-]

pjv997 said:

19's are over £300 per corner and can sometimes be difficult to source.

But I got more like 13,000 to 14,000 out of my rear tyres and over 20,000 from the fronts.

What are they? 265/30 R19? You can get the Asym 2 for a whisker over £250...

[bad company]

Urban Sports said:

You are bothered about £320 per corner when considering spending 50k on a car???

Does not compute.

As I said I do a fairly high mileage. When I added in 22 mpg, heavy tyre costs and above depreciation I decided not to proceed.

For me the M3 is a great car buy yesterday's technology. Look at the new SLK 55 AMG, fantastic performance and 32 mpg. Even the Z4 35 sdrive has comparable performance but much cheaper to run.

Head ruled heart on this occasion.

[CooperS]

bad company said:

Urban Sports said:

You are bothered about £320 per corner when considering spending 50k on a car???

Does not compute.

As I said I do a fairly high mileage. When I added in 22 mpg, heavy tyre costs and above depreciation I decided not to proceed.

For me the M3 is a great car buy yesterday's technology. Look at the new SLK 55 AMG, fantastic performance and 32 mpg. Even the Z4 35 sdrive has comparable performance but much cheaper to run.

Head ruled heart on this occasion.

Isnt the SLK AMG more expensive (although would look to depricate less) and the Z4 isnt exactly cheap to buy and only be cheaper than the M3 on servicing as its tyres will no doubt be similar price.

Eitherway if your doing high mileage i dont blame you for not wanting an M// to do it in.

[krallicious]

Yesterday's technology is a bit harsh but the tyres are the most problematic part of the car. Servicing has been reasonable and I was at 20k after my first year of ownership although I never totalled up fuel costs as they would be frightening.

[bad company]

krallicious said:

Yesterday's technology is a bit harsh but the tyres are the most problematic part of the car. Servicing has been reasonable and I was at 20k after my first year of ownership although I never totalled up fuel costs as they would be frightening.

20K miles a year @ around 21 mpg is scarey. Mind you I bet you enjoyed every mile.

I have told the dealer no but can't get this car out of my head!!

[ecain63]

You should ask the C63 AMG owners about tyres. 7k miles is an average for rears if you're gentle.

[ecain63]

You should ask the C63 AMG owners about tyres. 7k miles is an average for rears if you're gentle.

[krallicious]

bad company said:

20K miles a year @ around 18 mpg is scarey.

EFA

Virtually every mile was fun. It really is a car for all occasions that really grows on you.

[x5x3]

please get serious - does anyone really buy these cars worrying about residuals and cost to run?

does 21mpg or 23mpg make any difference?

if you like it - buy it - if you don't then buy something else and be happy.

pretty easy really.

[Mr Moley]

bad company said:

Urban Sports said:

You are bothered about £320 per corner when considering spending 50k on a car???

Does not compute.

As I said I do a fairly high mileage. When I added in 22 mpg, heavy tyre costs and above depreciation I decided not to proceed.

For me the M3 is a great car buy yesterday's technology. Look at the new SLK 55 AMG, fantastic performance and 32 mpg. Even the Z4 35 sdrive has comparable performance but much cheaper to run.

Head ruled heart on this occasion.

Just done the rear tyres on my Z4 35i (19" runflats) and they were £300 per corner so don't expect it to be much cheaper to run than an M3!

My Z4 is hopefully being replaced by an E92 M3 in the near future - and trust me the performance is not even nearly comparable in anything other than a straight line on dead flat, dry tarmac!

[jon-]

M division don't tar their cars with runflats, so they should be a chunk cheaper

[bad company]

Mr Moley said:

Just done the rear tyres on my Z4 35i (19" runflats) and they were £300 per corner so don't expect it to be much cheaper to run than an M3!

My Z4 is hopefully being replaced by an E92 M3 in the near future - and trust me the performance is not even nearly comparable in anything other than a straight line on dead flat, dry tarmac!

How many miles did the tyres last on the z4?

I know the M3 would be great fun but petrol, tyres . . . .

[Schermerhorn]

Is the £1000/5 year service plan only available on new cars or on AUC cars too?

Certainly sounds worth it.