Best GBP5k or GBP10k M keeper?

[Hitch78]

I currently live overseas and am thinking of getting a car for occasional use on trips back to blighty - two or three weeks a year for me plus a month over the summer for my wife.

Obviously mileage will be low, so when I'm not home my old man will keep the car garaged and in occasonal use for me. When we return full time in five years or so I would resume full ownership.

I'm focusing on M cars due to the practicality of having a four seater, because I have always wanted one (as has my old man which is part of the temptation as he'd get a lot out of 'keeping it running' for me) and of course there's the lack of/slow depreciation.

I've always loved the E36 M saloon, I think an E36 M coupe will probably have the best long term residuals but the E39 M is also on my wish list, hence the 5k or 10k budget.

I'd really appreciate some experienced M owners/beards opinions on what this kind of usage would do to an M car (though I'm pretty certain my old man would drive it at least weekly except when he's on hols) and what the best car is to buy now for an ownership I see running for 10/15 years.

Thanks.

[jonttt]

Z3m roadster or coupe ;-) but I am biased, no good if 4 seats are a must though but looney performance and you may be able to get hold of a rare RHD S54 engined roadster (with c90,000 miles) for your budget. There were only 73 RHD ones made so one of the rarest ///M's you can get ;-)

If its for pure summer fun 2 seat ///m droptops are hard to beat for your money

[Hitch78]

Four seats is a must really - we'll be using the car instead of getting hire cars as we do now so a degree of practicality is required...and desired to be fair; I think Ms are at their best in full on respectable 'dressed for work but willing to bite' mode.

[Mermaid]

Hitch78 said:

Four seats is a must really - we'll be using the car instead of getting hire cars as we do now so a degree of practicality is required...and desired to be fair; I think Ms are at their best in full on respectable 'dressed for work but willing to bite' mode.

An average condition E30 M3? an M535i (not quite the real M)

[Slurms]

Personally i'd go for the E39 M5

Practicality and performance - also in 5 years one with limited mileage thats in good nick could be worth a few quid.

[jontysafe]

I think within budget an e36 M3 that`s been well cared for will fit the bill perfectly. Try and find an unmolested saloon and it won`t even depreciate with the miles you`ll be adding to it.

[gavm5]

You will get a very good example of an e34 M5 within that price range and its already becoming a sought after model - last of the truly handbuilt ///M's that can only appreciate the same way as the e30 M3 given the time scale you are talking about.

[belleair302]

Problem with an E34 M5 is lack of use means massive bills whne serviced and you will need to spend money on the bodywork. The youngest of these cars is now 15 years old and finding good people to check valve clearances, replace EDC dampers if failed and keep the bodywork looking good is not simple. A superb drive, a stunning classic but not a car to lock up for months on end.

BMW Z3M is an amazing 'old school dragster' not so cheap but well worth finding a good one. Otherwise for the size and ease of use the E39 M5 is an excellent choice.

[MC99]

z3m Coupe, a really identifiable M car, unique and a sensible ownership experience..I still wish I'd mothballed mine back in 01/02...E39 M5 would be my next best bet...

[M5Dave]

MC99 said:

z3m Coupe, a really identifiable M car, unique and a sensible ownership experience..I still wish I'd mothballed mine back in 01/02...E39 M5 would be my next best bet...

Unfortunately the OP needs four seats.

For 5k budget E36 M3, for 10k budget E39 M5.

For practicality and ease of ownership, these are the only choices.