Decilde for me

[njr911]

After 2 years of a 100+ mile per day commute I'm now working back in Leeds with a 20 mile per day commute.

Therefor I can ditch the skoda barge and get something a bit less practical.

Only a bit less practical as I will occasionally need to transport the wife and baby.

Current thoughts based on a budget to purchase of circa £13k

E46 M3 - an itch I've always wanted to scratch.
E90 335i
E90 335d - Do I really need a diesel for 20 miles per day?

Are the second two even in budget ?

Now I married with a kid this seams a lot harder, 5 years ago I'd would have just bought another Exige.

Ta
N

[njr911]

Missed the E60 535d from the list

[Mr-B]

I had an e46 M3 from new and loved it, obviously as it was new I didn't have any worries re stuff going wrong as it was warrantied. Don't know how they have held up reliability wise since then but if you get one you won't be disappointed.

[njr911]

They have a habit of ripping apart sub frames (and on occasion chassies) should be coverd by a 10 year BM warranty.

Other than that pretty reliable though high running costs for a £10k car(£10k now, but £50k new and running costs to match)

[Mr-B]

Yeah the e46 is oldest from your choice selection so much more care will be needed in the buying process. It will be heaviest on fuel too obviously.

[billzeebub]

anything but the Diesel, with your short commute I would get the M3 definitely

[njr911]

I think you're right - anything else and I'll still have the M3 itch.

Do the tellys work in them any more now we have gone digital ? I know it's a gimmic that I'll never use but interested to know.

Ta
N

[The Stiglet]

njr911 said:

Only a bit less practical as I will occasionally need to transport the wife and baby.

Current thoughts based on a budget to purchase of circa £13k

E46 M3 - an itch I've always wanted to scratch.
E90 335i
E90 335d - Do I really need a diesel for 20 miles per day?

Maybe add: (based on purchase price and practicality)

E39 M5
BMW E63 645/650
Audi B6/B7 S4
Porsche 996....?!

We had an E92 335d from new - very fast (didn't chip it), comfortable, nice to look at, good space inside and some nice features but I don't think you can pick them up for £13k yet...? It did everything very well but the ride was horrendous with the run flats on rutted roads/country back roads and the fuel economy isn't exactly what BMW said it would be We had a full warranty on it so weren't concerned with turbo issues but I've read that they can be an issue.

[SBN]

335i all the way and should be in budget!

The diesels are great but at 20 miles a day the poor engine will barely get warm enough to give any decent economy!

[DennisCooper]

Hi

Plenty of choices and examples of M3's if that's what you do end up going for. Good alternative car choices as well !

If in your area the analogue TV signal has already been switched off, and the car you buy has an analogue TV unit, then you'll get nothing. If you still have signal in your area, it'll be gone by the end of the year.

If you decide to upgrade, the OEM hybrid analogue/digital TV unit, will be around £400-600 2nd hand, when and if they turn up. If you get the only aftermarket unit that's a direct plug n play - that'll be £500, plus any install costs for the antenna as I'm not 100% sure they can utilize the cars existing TV antenna's.

M3cutters.co.uk is a good resource for UK M3's plenty of information on the cars there!

Cheers, Dennis!

[r4_rick]

M3, it's got soul.

[paulmc]

I sold my modded 535d bought a Cayenne Turbo S remapped it to 600bhp did not like it. Bought a Q7 4.2tdi sold no likey. Both boring Now back in a 535d GT and love it. Remap will be soon

If I did not have 3 kids I would deffo have the 335i or 335d

A mapped 335 or 535 is an awesome car and plenty fast.

I never got all this soul pish with petrol cars.

Edited by paulmc on Sunday 15th January 02:46

[E38Ross]

for the TV - it still works in my 7 series but will stop working at the end of the year.

to be honest, i never use it.

[chriscoates]

Has to be the E46 M3 - the CS is the one to have and I've found one in budget: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3523299.htm

[AClownsPocket]

335i coupe. We got ours last year for 15K so I would imagine you may be able to find early ones for around 13-14k. Newer than the E46 and still stupid fast

[Patrick Bateman]

If it's an itch you've always wanted to scratch then you've answered your own question.

Will no doubt be far more fun than the others.

If you can accept the running costs then that's the one I'd pick, or an M5.

Certainly not a diesel with those miles.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 15th January 15:21

[njr911]

Thanks all, very useful and even a nice M3 CS in a nice colour suggested.

Would the M3 running costs be much higher than the 335i ? I could get a nice M3 for just over £10k so that saving would offset any higher running costs.

Maybe I should scratch the itch for a year.

I also have one eye on E90 prices taking a spaniking when the new shape is available.

Decisions, decisions.

I've never had choice like this before. When I bought my Elise, they only did one

Cheers
Neil

[fishman]

If you want to have all your spare money sucked out of the bank account then go for the E46 M3, youll be lucky to get 15-20mpg on such short journeys. Otherwise the smart money is on the 335d IMO

[fishman]

billzeebub said:

anything but the Diesel, with your short commute I would get the M3 definitely

Clearly you have not driven a remapped 335d, lots of fun when you've got 330bhp and 600nm of torque

[E38Ross]

fishman said:

billzeebub said:

anything but the Diesel, with your short commute I would get the M3 definitely

Clearly you have not driven a remapped 335d, lots of fun when you've got 330bhp and 600nm of torque

I'd still take the M3 all day long. Torque alone is meaningless without rpm, hence the M3 produces more power and is faster despite less torque.