To buy a new weekend toy? Or keep my 335d?

[J-Dev]

A change of job means my annual mileage will go down from about 20,000 to less than 10,000 so I have the option now to swap my rather lovley 335d for a weekend toy, something petrol and a bit more special. I’d like the replacement to be at least semi practical and must be able to carry 4 adults in relative comfort. I’m also a tad biased towards German cars but welcome people’s thoughts.

Here is the current motor, a glacier silver BMW F31 335d x drive with m sport +, media package and M performance bits and bobs.



I absolutely love it, it’s fast, grippy in the wet and I have had 50mpg out of it at a push. But now I won’t be commuting 70ish miles a day, I’m worried I may grow tired of the diesel as a weekend toy and I’d quite like something with a good soundtrack.

Cars I have considered with some notes:

B8 RS4 - The current firm favourite but it exciting enough? Dated interior?
E92 M3 - Another favourite but not as practical
M140i - Potentially not ‘special’ enough but lots of fun?


Cars that have been written off:

B7 RS4 - Too old
8P RS3 - Not exciting enough
E46 M3 - Too old
B8 S4 - Not special enough

What do you think? Have I missed anything obvious?

[nunpuncher]

What's the price bracket? Is a C63 within range?

I had a similar mileage drop a good few years ago and I couldn't get out of the diesel quick enough. For me they were always a necessary evil to keep fuel costs sensible while retaining some performance.

[xcesx]

C43? Still get all wheel drive and the they sound nice.

[xcesx]

nunpuncher said:

What's the price bracket? Is a C63 within range?

I had a similar mileage drop a good few years ago and I couldn't get out of the diesel quick enough. For me they were always a necessary evil to keep fuel costs sensible while retaining some performance.

I said C43 because of the price!

[Whizkid009]

J-Dev said:

A change of job means my annual mileage will go down from about 20,000 to less than 10,000 so I have the option now to swap my rather lovley 335d for a weekend toy, something petrol and a bit more special. I’d like the replacement to be at least semi practical and must be able to carry 4 adults in relative comfort. I’m also a tad biased towards German cars but welcome people’s thoughts.

Here is the current motor, a glacier silver BMW F31 335d x drive with m sport +, media package and M performance bits and bobs.



I absolutely love it, it’s fast, grippy in the wet and I have had 50mpg out of it at a push. But now I won’t be commuting 70ish miles a day, I’m worried I may grow tired of the diesel as a weekend toy and I’d quite like something with a good soundtrack.

Cars I have considered with some notes:

B8 RS4 - The current firm favourite but it exciting enough? Dated interior?
E92 M3 - Another favourite but not as practical
M140i - Potentially not ‘special’ enough but lots of fun?


Cars that have been written off:

B7 RS4 - Too old
8P RS3 - Not exciting enough
E46 M3 - Too old
B8 S4 - Not special enough

What do you think? Have I missed anything obvious?

Hi J,

I'm actually hunting for a nice 335D Touring is yours an auto?. Please could you pm me some more details if your considering a sale ? (Forum wont let me pm for 24 hours. I had to create a new account as my other one is bugged..)

Thanks Rich

[ZX10R NIN]

Now the B8 is cracking car but not as engaging as an M3 but more practical, there are two very good non German options.

One is a bit compact nut is a real grower they get under your skin & are really holding their money with running costs closer to your (excluding fuel) 335d.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

Now the second option will be just as practical as the RS4 but more engaging they're holding they're money amazingly well & to top it of it's a proper steer with a truly special V8 whilst having sensible running costs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

Now if it has to be German then for me it has to be the C63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011186...

4.0 C63

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

[J-Dev]

xcesx said:

I said C43 because of the price!

Now that’s something I definitely hadn’t considered! A quick google shows I could potentially afford an estate one too

[J-Dev]

ZX10R NIN said:

Now the B8 is cracking car but not as engaging as an M3 but more practical, there are two very good non German options.

One is a bit compact nut is a real grower they get under your skin & are really holding their money with running costs closer to your (excluding fuel) 335d.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

Now the second option will be just as practical as the RS4 but more engaging they're holding they're money amazingly well & to top it of it's a proper steer with a truly special V8 whilst having sensible running costs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

Now if it has to be German then for me it has to be the C63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011186...

4.0 C63

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

Thank you, some solid contenders there. Something about the Lexus’s just doesn’t excite me that much sadly. And the Vauxhall, while I’m sure it’s fun, just seems a bit chavvy. The c63’s are animals but my budget would only stretch to the older shape and I’m concerned they are big big drinkers?

[Welshbeef]

J-Dev said:

Thank you, some solid contenders there. Something about the Lexus’s just doesn’t excite me that much sadly. And the Vauxhall, while I’m sure it’s fun, just seems a bit chavvy. The c63’s are animals but my budget would only stretch to the older shape and I’m concerned they are big big drinkers?

s205 C63 here these are pretty good in fuel a proper max man if I’m honest.

[samoht]

J-Dev said:

The c63’s are animals but my budget would only stretch to the older shape and I’m concerned they are big big drinkers?

Do it! I just got a C55 and love the soundtrack, feel like it's a good match for what you're looking for.

AFAIK they aren't that much thirstier than other performance cars, maybe low-20s mpg unless you boot it everywhere. Really, over an annual mileage of less than 10k miles, the difference between a C63 and the other cars on your list feels like it won't be that significant as a proportion of overall running costs. And with the 6.2 M156 V8 being the last of the line, it may even hold more value. It's the sensible option, honest... ;-)

[ZX10R NIN]

J-Dev said:

Thank you, some solid contenders there. Something about the Lexus’s just doesn’t excite me that much sadly. And the Vauxhall, while I’m sure it’s fun, just seems a bit chavvy. The c63’s are animals but my budget would only stretch to the older shape and I’m concerned they are big big drinkers?

Test drive the Lexus you'll see it in a different light once you've been behind the wheel of one & when you're going to be spending some serious cash I'd personally put sometime aside to test drive the options.

VXR8 chavvy I'd say that title can apply to the German brands more than the Vauxhall (when was the last time you saw a chav one compared to the Germans?

None of the Germans are any lighter on fuel than the others so if you're thinking the 6.2 is any worse than the 4.0 RS4/M3 then you're mistaken.

The 6.2 Merc engine is a peach (I'm bias as I have one) & a bombastic power plant that get's even more epic once you remap it so you get full throttle,

Have a look at this VS to see that the 6.2 is a good choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwLxzxsLf1g

[shiversaint]

Like Rich, I'd also be interested in buying this as I'm thinking about a 335d. Also had to register to post this as I've simply been a lurker before...! Feel free to PM if it's a conversation you'd be interested in, OP.

[Martyn76]

ISF? £20K or just over looks to get you the later revision.

[Volvolover]

If you need practicality and ability to carry 4 adults then you still need a similar chassis to now, why not just swap out to a 335i, something like a C63 will cost far more to run and the only real differentiator will be the noise.........agree entirely.....what a noise.....but id probably still go 335i


If it were me i'd be looking at two cars here, one cheap, reliable and spacious to handle most commutes and practical weekend tasks and one fun car for sts and giggles and the odd commute on a nice day

[J-Dev]

Do it! I just got a C55 and love the soundtrack, feel like it's a good match for what you're looking for.

AFAIK they aren't that much thirstier than other performance cars, maybe low-20s mpg unless you boot it everywhere. Really, over an annual mileage of less than 10k miles, the difference between a C63 and the other cars on your list feels like it won't be that significant as a proportion of overall running costs. And with the 6.2 M156 V8 being the last of the line, it may even hold more value. It's the sensible option, honest... ;-)
[/quote]

God damn it maybe I do need a V8....

[Wagonwheel555]

Four adults in relative comfort would be ok in the M140i but not if they have any bags/luggage with them, I am assuming you bought a touring rather than a saloon for a reason?

I would look at the 335i/340i if it were me over the M140i for the extra boot space alone.

We have a kid, no way on earth we could survive with an M140i considering the clobber the Wife insists on karting round and its not worth the aggro to suggest we don't need it all