Classic Vs Modern - Boring vs Mad! car buying advice
Discussion
Hey there,
A couple of months ago I lost my beloved BMW e36 328i sport that I have owned for over 15 years due to a lorry. These things happen and nobody was hurt that is the main thing.
On to looking into a replacement im really at a cross road and appreciate they are all different cars.
1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
A couple of months ago I lost my beloved BMW e36 328i sport that I have owned for over 15 years due to a lorry. These things happen and nobody was hurt that is the main thing.
On to looking into a replacement im really at a cross road and appreciate they are all different cars.
1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
Alexcs said:
Hey there,
A couple of months ago I lost my beloved BMW e36 328i sport that I have owned for over 15 years due to a lorry. These things happen and nobody was hurt that is the main thing.
On to looking into a replacement im really at a cross road and appreciate they are all different cars.
1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
As someone that prefers Merc to BMW, I'd be looking at something like this;A couple of months ago I lost my beloved BMW e36 328i sport that I have owned for over 15 years due to a lorry. These things happen and nobody was hurt that is the main thing.
On to looking into a replacement im really at a cross road and appreciate they are all different cars.
1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206196...
Alexcs said:
Yeah I've heard C63 AMG you want after 2012 though? Apparently some engine tension bolt issues and a couple of other things were corrected
The head bolt issue was over hyped I have a 2009 CLK63 the OH has had two C63's with no issues I'd be happy buying another pre 2012, I also prefer the normal Auto don't get me wrong the MCT is quick & reliable.The normal auto is fine & a bit more robust, add 1k to the price of the car if you get one without a diff & give Quaife a call.
This is the one mod that really improves the drive on a standard C63, the one above looks like a nice one.
The one in the link below is a wheel refurb & diff away from being a very good pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205205...
Alexcs said:
On to looking into a replacement im really at a cross road and appreciate they are all different cars.
1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
Sorry to hear that your e36 was destroyed.1. BMW E36 under 40k miles 1 owner but is £15k
2. BMW 135m sport under 40k 1 owner also around £15k
3. Merc C63 AMG under 40k 1 owner but around £30k
I do not do much in the way of mileage but I do like my cars and can't entertain just having a normal one.
What are peoples views?
My thoughts are option 1 a future if not already a classic but probably looking at over sentiment rather than anything else.
Option 2 is a quick car and practical but perhaps a bit boring
Option 3 last of the V8s bound to be a future classic but is it a waste of £30k for a car ill barely drive.
Let me know your thoughts or alternative options.
Thanks
Alex
If you like small, light but overengined cars, I’d recommend a 130i over the 135i and another e36. It’s a similar weight to the e36, but much quicker, with more torque and power, plus shorter gears (far shorter gearing than the 135i).
It’s also naturally aspirated, which sets it apart from the 135i, which you may find too effortlessly quick if you’re used to older cars. I hated having to limit the amount of throttle I used in my old work M140i, both to protect my licence and avoid triggering the traction control.
The C63 might make a good sound, but I’d wager it’d involve even more holding yourself back with every day driving, which in my book is very tedious.
How about a V8 manual Audi S5? You get four-wheel-drive, so traction isn’t a limiting factor, as in the 135i and C63, plus a manual gearbox, which isn’t an option with the Merc, another musical V8 and it’s relatively light for a 4.2 V8…
What type of driving do you do? That might give you a steer on whether an older more analogue coupe, newer and faster coupe or heavyweight saloon is the best option…
Yeah I go like 1500 a year so not a lot.
Im still torn between all 3 to be honest and will take the advice on a 130 over a 135 like the naturally aspirated engines.
Im going to look at this at the weekend but is also a wheel refurb away from being nice and id probably lose the tinted windows if possible:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
Im still torn between all 3 to be honest and will take the advice on a 130 over a 135 like the naturally aspirated engines.
Im going to look at this at the weekend but is also a wheel refurb away from being nice and id probably lose the tinted windows if possible:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
Alexcs said:
Yeah I go like 1500 a year so not a lot.
Im still torn between all 3 to be honest and will take the advice on a 130 over a 135 like the naturally aspirated engines.
My 130i covered around 1,500 miles between the last two MOTs and hasn’t complained about being driven irregularly.Im still torn between all 3 to be honest and will take the advice on a 130 over a 135 like the naturally aspirated engines.
Took it out last night for a bit of exercise and it may not be exotic, but it’s definitely not ‘normal’ either. I find it great fun - more so than many far more expensive, more obviously sporty cars that I’ve driven. Decent ones are available from around £6k, so it’s a cheap option if that’s appealing to you.
If you fancy trying one out and are anywhere near NE London/Essex, feel free to drop me a line. I’ll shush about 130is now. :get me coat:
Sorry to hear of the demise of your 328i Sport Alex. 
Maybe it depends how much you loved it but I wouldn't want to pay £15K for any non-M E36.
Downside of the M135i is that it may still depreciate like the C63 option probably will!
The thing that puts me off Mercs is the lack of a manual gearbox, but maybe that's just me.
You know what to expect from an E36 so maybe you need to try an M135i and a C63 before you decide.
Maybe it depends how much you loved it but I wouldn't want to pay £15K for any non-M E36.
Downside of the M135i is that it may still depreciate like the C63 option probably will!
The thing that puts me off Mercs is the lack of a manual gearbox, but maybe that's just me.
You know what to expect from an E36 so maybe you need to try an M135i and a C63 before you decide.
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