Replacing an M140i?
Discussion
Happy Sunday, hoping to get some different perspectives and suggestions on what to look around for.
I have been stuck in a bit of a rut with my M140i for the past year or so, I have owned it for 4.5 years and done 40k with it. Nothing major has gone wrong with it and its still got the BMW assured warranty on it that I pay for each month, however I don't know if its boredom or just being fed up of paying out excessive amounts for insurance due to them being crashed and nicked on a regular basis but I keep looking at what to replace it with and every car I look into seems to have a major issue (or more, looking at you Land Rovers) so I give up looking for a few weeks then start again.
I know that was a bit of waffle but I hope others can sympathise!
My criteria at a minimum seems to be;
Hatch, Estate or SUV (I have a greyhound, he fits in the M140i boot fine but if we get a second I need more space)
Some straight line performance for overtakes but doesn't need to be on par with the M140i as I don't really use the performance on offer anyways
Not an EV or Hybrid, I will be owning it outright and don't fancy the increased risks with the batteries out of warranty
Less than £20k
I do mostly motorway driving, its rare that I would take the car out just for a drive
Something a bit interesting, a Tiguan on paper would fit the bill but test driving one it was just a bit boring?
I have considered getting something like a Cayman for ~£10k and then something a bit more dull like a 520d but then its the additional running costs of two cars over the one. Most long journeys are with the dog and wife but if I do regularly drive on my own so having the two would give the option of giving the second car a long run if I am on my own.
So far I have looked into (but not test driven);
Cayenne TDV8 - Sadly euro5 only in budget and the tdv6 are usually quite low spec and they have transfer box issues on both engine models?
L322/L405 FFRR TDV8 - The list of things that are "known problems" is quite high and also they're euro5
E90 M3 - Different from the above, dog can go on back seats but even though the running costs are comfortably manageable I am concerned that I'd get my wallet rinsed on a regular basis and not sure if its worth the jump in running costs over the M140i?
Freelander 2 & Cayman - Euro5 only again on the FL2 and we do go to places that have ULEZ
F31 335d - I had a F31 330dx before the M140i but the fuel economy was sat around 40mpg no matter how it was driven, which isn't much more than the M140i
F31 340i - None in budget and I'm wary that I would be looking at the cheaper cars on the market and potentially a moneypit
GR Yaris - Would need to look at financing one but maybe a bit small for my needs?
F40 M135i - Same as the Yaris, but maybe a good compromise?
As you can tell, its a bit of a varied selection but nothing seems to be jumping out at me. I'm also a bit wary about going to see dealers because I don't want to waste their time going to look at cars I may not be buying but then don't know how to test drive anything.
Suggestions are welcome!
I have been stuck in a bit of a rut with my M140i for the past year or so, I have owned it for 4.5 years and done 40k with it. Nothing major has gone wrong with it and its still got the BMW assured warranty on it that I pay for each month, however I don't know if its boredom or just being fed up of paying out excessive amounts for insurance due to them being crashed and nicked on a regular basis but I keep looking at what to replace it with and every car I look into seems to have a major issue (or more, looking at you Land Rovers) so I give up looking for a few weeks then start again.
I know that was a bit of waffle but I hope others can sympathise!
My criteria at a minimum seems to be;
Hatch, Estate or SUV (I have a greyhound, he fits in the M140i boot fine but if we get a second I need more space)
Some straight line performance for overtakes but doesn't need to be on par with the M140i as I don't really use the performance on offer anyways
Not an EV or Hybrid, I will be owning it outright and don't fancy the increased risks with the batteries out of warranty
Less than £20k
I do mostly motorway driving, its rare that I would take the car out just for a drive
Something a bit interesting, a Tiguan on paper would fit the bill but test driving one it was just a bit boring?
I have considered getting something like a Cayman for ~£10k and then something a bit more dull like a 520d but then its the additional running costs of two cars over the one. Most long journeys are with the dog and wife but if I do regularly drive on my own so having the two would give the option of giving the second car a long run if I am on my own.
So far I have looked into (but not test driven);
Cayenne TDV8 - Sadly euro5 only in budget and the tdv6 are usually quite low spec and they have transfer box issues on both engine models?
L322/L405 FFRR TDV8 - The list of things that are "known problems" is quite high and also they're euro5
E90 M3 - Different from the above, dog can go on back seats but even though the running costs are comfortably manageable I am concerned that I'd get my wallet rinsed on a regular basis and not sure if its worth the jump in running costs over the M140i?
Freelander 2 & Cayman - Euro5 only again on the FL2 and we do go to places that have ULEZ
F31 335d - I had a F31 330dx before the M140i but the fuel economy was sat around 40mpg no matter how it was driven, which isn't much more than the M140i
F31 340i - None in budget and I'm wary that I would be looking at the cheaper cars on the market and potentially a moneypit
GR Yaris - Would need to look at financing one but maybe a bit small for my needs?
F40 M135i - Same as the Yaris, but maybe a good compromise?
As you can tell, its a bit of a varied selection but nothing seems to be jumping out at me. I'm also a bit wary about going to see dealers because I don't want to waste their time going to look at cars I may not be buying but then don't know how to test drive anything.
Suggestions are welcome!
My hunch is the M140 is just as good as the others you gave mentioned and it isn’t a paper comparison - you simply want a change and that’s fine - we’re all like that. The Tiguans etc unless with the Golf R engine would be pointless. With the R engine it could be fine. If it is driving dynamics you’re after get a cayman and a cheap daily. The Yaris will be annoying on the motorway and its service intervals. The E92 too old. How about an M2? Dynamically much better than the 140 (but still nowhere near a Porsche.). An m4 is possibly better value.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
My hunch is the M140 is just as good as the others you gave mentioned and it isn t a paper comparison - you simply want a change and that s fine - we re all like that. The Tiguans etc unless with the Golf R engine would be pointless. With the R engine it could be fine. If it is driving dynamics you re after get a cayman and a cheap daily. The Yaris will be annoying on the motorway and its service intervals. The E92 too old. How about an M2? Dynamically much better than the 140 (but still nowhere near a Porsche.). An m4 is possibly better value.
I did forget to add, the M140i is modified with LSD, suspension etc RR thread here - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would love an M2 or M4, both are in budget for a nice one (not fussed about a comp) but I need something that can fit the dog as my wife only has an original countryman so although he fits, its not really the best for him on longer trips so if I change it needs to be something he can still travel in (as well as luggage etc if needed.
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