M140i

[jdoubleu]

Hippea said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402156...

This has a very nice spec but what are thoughts on price?

I spotted this one earlier myself. If the condition checks out, I actually think the price seems very fair given the spec.

People dreaming about prices from 2019 are sadly reminiscing of a time that has long past. A new M135i with few options is going to set you back 40k so 1/2 that on a car that's 5.5 years old and 36k miles is quite cheap in the real world.

[Tam_Mullen]

Hippea said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402156...

This has a very nice spec but what are thoughts on price?

Thats a very high spec, but is probably main dealer money.

[Hippea]

I’d imagine there’s some room for negotiation on the price

[Hippea]

Struggling with the prices of these now when an M2 is basically the same price

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16159236

[Deep Thought]

Hippea said:

Struggling with the prices of these now when an M2 is basically the same price

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16159236

You pays your money....

With that one, there are some really nice upgrades including some - what looks like genuine - alcantara bits in the car.

Spec itself is quite low - no HK and no electric seats (though that may suit some people). Those wheels are Comp wheels, which freshen the car up - they're a ball ache to clean though.

Its also a pre facelift car - again some may prefer that.

Running costs though - check the insurance as thats whats driving down the prices of them. Some people have been getting quite horrendous quites.

And theres the M Tax when it comes to running costs. Parts are more expensive, servicing is more expensive (though ok on the N55 engine this one has), tyres are more expensive, upgrades are more expensive. Oh, and it runs on super unleaded, whereas the M140i will happily run on 95RON. I get around 20mpg in mine on superunleaded.

[CG2020UK]

Hippea said:

Struggling with the prices of these now when an M2 is basically the same price

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16159236

To me it’s a no brainer if you have funds go the M2

[Belle427]

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

[ScoobyChris]

Belle427 said:

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

Depends what you mean by unruly. I’ve spent nothing on mine and it handles just fine (I have adaptive suspension) for dailying and a spirited blast. If you plan to drive everywhere at 10/10ths you may have a different opinion

If you want to replace the suspension and fit an LSD, Birds are the go to people but you’re looking at around £3k - personally after having a go in their demonstrator, I decided it didn’t represent good value for me.

Chris

[Deep Thought]

ScoobyChris said:

Belle427 said:

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

Depends what you mean by unruly. I’ve spent nothing on mine and it handles just fine (I have adaptive suspension) for dailying and a spirited blast. If you plan to drive everywhere at 10/10ths you may have a different opinion

If you want to replace the suspension and fit an LSD, Birds are the go to people but you’re looking at around £3k - personally after having a go in their demonstrator, I decided it didn’t represent good value for me.

Chris

I would concur.

The M140i is a great all rounder, even in standard form.

I never really got the hand wringing criticism the suspension got from some. We did the lower rear brace as it was a cheap and easy retrofit but despite it being driven like we stole it a lot of the time (a) we didnt end up over a hedge in it and (b) we never thought "oh we need to spend £,£££s on this to make it driveable".

But yes if its a big issue for some, then its definitely possible to upgrade it, for those who need a 5 door rather than the coupe format of the M2.

[Deep Thought]

Belle427 said:

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

As said, they arent "unruly" in the first place.

[Hippea]

Belle427 said:

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

At the moment I’d say the OG M2 is the bargain compared to the M140i

[Belle427]

Hippea said:

Belle427 said:

I realise they are probably worlds apart on the limit but what would you have to spend on an M140 to make it a bit less unruly suspension wise etc?
Closer to £!5k they seem like a bit of a bargain.

At the moment I’d say the OG M2 is the bargain compared to the M140i

They have come down in price lately, insurance as suggested earlier cant be helping.

[Deep Thought]

Hippea said:

At the moment I’d say the OG M2 is the bargain compared to the M140i

The M2 will be 2 years older though?

And running costs are much higher.

[CG2020UK]

Deep Thought said:

The M2 will be 2 years older though?

And running costs are much higher.

I don’t think the running costs will be much higher on an OG. The comps are noticeably higher vs the OG.

Won’t be much in insurance as the M140i are firmly the asbo car of choice going by my instagram feed.

I’d be very surprised if it averaged out more than £25 a month in actual running costs.

The biggest issue with the cars is a rear light that needs a smack on the odd car and some cars need a speaker replaced.

[Belle427]

I think for me with day to day driving the difference between the 2 isnt that great so when M2 prices were closer to £30k they didnt make much sense.
Now closer to £20k they look more attractive, you can still save yourself £6k though by going for an M140.
I love both of them though and would like to try one.

[Hippea]

Belle427 said:

I think for me with day to day driving the difference between the 2 isnt that great so when M2 prices were closer to £30k they didnt make much sense.
Now closer to £20k they look more attractive, you can still save yourself £6k though by going for an M140.
I love both of them though and would like to try one.

I’m not sure you do save on a M140i, decent spec ones are around the £20k figure or more from a approved used.

[hiccy18]

M2's are fantastic but, for me, my car is the same 99% of the time, whereas 20% of the time the M2 isn't as good as mine. Yes it's hatchback and five door practicality versus two door coupe, and I love coupe's, but the missus was right. If only there was a touring F80 M3.

[Deep Thought]

CG2020UK said:

I don’t think the running costs will be much higher on an OG. The comps are noticeably higher vs the OG.

Won’t be much in insurance as the M140i are firmly the asbo car of choice going by my instagram feed.

I’d be very surprised if it averaged out more than £25 a month in actual running costs.

The biggest issue with the cars is a rear light that needs a smack on the odd car and some cars need a speaker replaced.

I think the insurance is definitely worth checking in advance on both. Theres people on the M2 groups seeing jumps by thousands. Granted the worst of that has been on the Comp but its affecting OGs too.

Fuel - as i said, the M140i will happily run on unleaded, the M2 requires super unleaded. We got an easy 27mpg in the M140i, the M2 i get 22ish - often its as low as 20mpg over a tank if i'm not doing any medium to long runs.

Tyres - I just put two new MPS4S rears on - approx £600. Thats double the price of rears for the M140i. Fronts - around £550 last time i checked, again, double the price of the M140i fronts.

I see that M2 is a manual, however the O/P has been looking at auto M140is. The DCT box on the M2 - its "recommended" that you change the oil at around 50K miles, from memory thats around £500 to do.

Front discs - nigh on £600 for front discs and pads plus fitting, around £500 for rears plus fitting - assuming you go OEM.

Everything you go to upgrade or enhace seems to be x2 the price you'd expect.

As the O/P is looking at an older car, those maintenance costs, and others will come in to play.

You can get away with non OEM parts on the likes of an M140i if needs be, but your typical M buyer down the line when you go to sell is going to expect a comprehensive maintenance history and the use of OEM parts.

The phrase M Tax exists for a reason.

Edited by Deep Thought on Wednesday 21st February 09:35

[Deep Thought]

hiccy18 said:

M2's are fantastic but, for me, my car is the same 99% of the time, whereas 20% of the time the M2 isn't as good as mine. Yes it's hatchback and five door practicality versus two door coupe, and I love coupe's, but the missus was right. If only there was a touring F80 M3.

I thought the same of our M140i at the time. Spend a day with an M2 though and the difference becomes night and day.

Even taking my M2 to the shop for a pint of milk puts a smile on my face.

But yes, the M135i / M140i is an exceptionally good all rounder and a great daily driver, and being a 5 door hatchback over a 2 door coupe is a massive plus in that respect.

Edited by Deep Thought on Wednesday 21st February 09:28

[CG2020UK]

Deep Thought said:

I think the insurance is definitely worth checking in advance on both. Theres people on the M2 groups seeing jumps by thousands. Granted the worst of that has been on the Comp but its affecting OGs too.

Fuel - as i said, the M140i will happily run on unleaded, the M2 requires super unleaded. We got an easy 27mpg in the M140i, the M2 i get 22ish - often its as low as 20mpg over a tank if i'm not doing any medium to long runs.

Tyres - I just put two new MPS4S rears on - approx £600. Thats double the price of rears for the M140i. Fronts - around £550 last time i checked, again, double the price of the M140i fronts.

I see that M2 is a manual, however the O/P has been looking at auto M140is. The DCT box on the M2 - its "recommended" that you change the oil at around 50K miles, from memory thats around £500 to do.

Front discs - nigh on £600 for front discs and pads plus fitting, around £500 for rears plus fitting - assuming you go OEM.

Everything you go to upgrade or enhace seems to be x2 the price you'd expect.

As the O/P is looking at an older car, those maintenance costs, and others will come in to play.

You can get away with non OEM parts on the likes of an M140i if needs be, but your typical M buyer down the line when you go to sell is going to expect a comprehensive maintenance history and the use of OEM parts.

The phrase M Tax exists for a reason.

Edited by Deep Thought on Wednesday 21st February 09:35

Insurance totally agree. I’m young so haven’t noticed a different but it is what it is and influences older drivers.

The M2 can run in 95ron as well, sticker in the fuel cap says so and unfortunately my local track hasn’t got a fuel pump with super nearby so need to run 95ron towards the end of the day and honestly I can’t tell a difference. I’m sure everyone would run super (97) anyhow on these cars (I run 99).

Average U.K. miles of 600 a month running super at 1.45L the difference between 22mpg and 27mpg is £33 a month. You can certainly get 28-30mpg in the M2 with DCT if you half sensible.

To run MPS4S I think you need the upgraded 19s to get a fair comparison as don’t appear to come in 18s (happy to be corrected using black circles). Black circles shows £82 between the 245/30 R19 and 265/35 R19 for each tyre at the rear. Fronts are the same size with the19inches. If you need new rear tyres a year you’re looking £8 a month extra tucked away.

I just got full OEM front discs £450 front and £390 rear from Lloyd Colne BMW. Pads, labour and fluids will be identical. Maybe save £200-300 on discs but then most people will get at 24 months (mine have last 5 years on the M2) out of them so £10-12 a month running difference.

The beauty of the OG M2 is its simplicity and running costs. It’s really not that bad at all. Now there is a noticeable difference in service costs and extended warranty going the M2 Comp or the other M cars but the N55 avoids it.

The posted M2 manual looks a brilliant buy. The owner has actually posted on the M2 buy and sell forum on Facebook if the poster wanted to search to reach out for more info.