M140i spec questions

[matt21]

Hi all

Looking to order a M140i tomorrow on behalf of my mum with the below spec. She is 65 so needs some of the sensible optoons

Questions are:

1. What is the 2019 P11d value for which triggers luxury tax for an auto. Google suggests £40555 at 2018 prices, is this now higher? Definitely want it to below this value, but it’s tough!
2. Is adaptive suspension worth it? Does it make things softer in “comfort” or just harder in “sport”?
3. Do the adaptive LEDs have the same level of wizardry as the 5 and 6 series? Or is it a simple version?

Current spec which has a £40315 list.

M140i Shadow Line Edition 5dr
Alpine White
Pro Nav
PDC front and back
Rear camera
High beam assist
Heated seats and steering wheel
Folding mirrors
Lumber support
Speed limit control

Not bad all in for £30k

[rasto]

Can't help on the tax figure.

Adaptive suspension, I'm glad I specced it as there is a fair amount of difference between the two modes. I leave mine in comfort most of the time but do switch it into sport mode when having fun on suitable roads - comfort handles potholes and rough surfaces better in my experience.
The adaptive headlights are only 'simple adaptive' I'm afraid, no fancy beam splitting. However, I still think they are pretty good and react quickly when they detect a car coming towards you.

Edit: the spec you list is pretty much what I have on mine, a good selection

[FWIW]

We’ve got adaptive lights and I was very disappointed to realise that they’re nothing like the ones on the 5er. I wouldn’t have bothered had I known. IIRC high beam assist is a separate option, also not as good as that on the 5.
Agreed that adaptive damping is well worth having.
30k is a bloody good price.

[B17NNS]

It’s £40k isn’t it?

https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-chan...

Applies to list price not discounted too. Your petrolhead mum might need a bit less power if she wants to pay less tax

[matt21]

Yep it’s actually based on list P11d value which excludes first year road tax and registration fee, so list price is nearer £40500

Oh and she wants to get it de badged!

[matt21]

Thanks guys. Will give the adaptive headlights a miss

What makes the adaptive suspension worth it? If it makes things softer she will go for it, if it’s sharpens up the drive she isn’t bothered

Plus would have to find £500 from somewhere else to avoid the luxury tax!

[FWIW]

Yes, I believe adaptive is softer in comfort mode.

[B17NNS]

I don’t follow Matt. You’re trying to avoid the £40k luxury vehicle tax but you’re optioning up a car to over £40k

[matt21]

B17NNS said:

I don’t follow Matt. You’re trying to avoid the £40k luxury vehicle tax but you’re optioning up a car to over £40k

The exact list price which triggers luxury car tax is just over £40k as the £40k threshold is based on P11d value (list price minus ref fee and 1st years road tax).

I’m trying to option the car up to stay below this value but maximise spec.

[schaeffs]

I have both adaptive LED and adaptive dampers on mine.

I would thoroughly recommend them both.

The LED also gives you high beam assist and the lighting is quite a bit better than the standard lights (i have a different version of them on an X5) so if you are driving outside of major towns in darkness a lot of the time - I would get them.

Adaptive dampers really are great - I split my time between comfort and sport/sport+ and comfort does a good job of soaking up the really bad roads whilst sport/sport+ firms up the ride nicely and gives some extra control when pressing on. I run 19" summer/18" winter wheels (non-runflat) and the only negative for me is the sport setting and 19"s can make the car "crash" on a really bad pothole. It doesn't happen on the 18"s.

The rest of your spec is spot on - the only thing I would have a look at is the lumbar support - for circa £300 (from memory) - think its probably worth it.

[BFleming]

On the adaptive damping question, it's all on one switch with Sport & Comfort modes - as your mum is 65 is she really going to be putting it into Sport mode? My experience of new car ownership with anyone in that generation is that they won't use such features. They'll spend the first month missing their old car, and the following period of ownership afraid to adjust anything. Unless of course she's downgrading from a M4?
Also, is the BIK yours or hers? I'm assuming yours, but I don't quite get why

[FWIW]

BFleming said:

On the adaptive damping question, it's all on one switch with Sport & Comfort modes - as your mum is 65 is she really going to be putting it into Sport mode? My experience of new car ownership with anyone in that generation is that they won't use such features. They'll spend the first month missing their old car, and the following period of ownership afraid to adjust anything. Unless of course she's downgrading from a M4?
Also, is the BIK yours or hers? I'm assuming yours, but I don't quite get why

I think you’re missing the point on both counts;
Adaptive is comfort mode is softer than non-adaptive, but you are of course correct that she’ll never use it in sport mode!
BIK/P11d value is being discussed in order the avoid the luxury car RFL uplift.

[BFleming]

FWIW said:

I think you’re missing the point on both counts;
Adaptive is comfort mode is softer than non-adaptive, but you are of course correct that she’ll never use it in sport mode!
BIK/P11d value is being discussed in order the avoid the luxury car RFL uplift.

I have adaptive - but yes, I missed the point. Comfort mode is still not a soft ride in a M140i though, is it?
I also get the BIK discussion - but surely it only affects one of them - him or his mum. I'm not sure why it affects him if it's her car. Stating the obvious, is he getting the car as a company car but effectively giving it to her? It just seems odd to me.

[FWIW]

BFleming said:

I have adaptive - but yes, I missed the point. Comfort mode is still not a soft ride in a M140i though, is it?
I also get the BIK discussion - but surely it only affects one of them - him or his mum. I'm not sure why it affects him if it's her car. Stating the obvious, is he getting the car as a company car but effectively giving it to her? It just seems odd to me.

No, comfort mode won't be as soft as non Msport suspension.
No, you're still missing the BIK point.

[BFleming]

FWIW said:

No, you're still missing the BIK point.

I really don't think I am. I'm just confused about someone ordering a new car for his 65 year old mum & why on earth BIK comes into it. I suppose it could be her company car, and the OP is helping her ordering it (apparently speccing it for himself in the process).

[dasbimmerowner]

Given she's 65 how much night time driving will she be doing? I have to commute, which means half the year I'm driving in the dark so headlights are pretty important to me, but at 65 and buying a new M140i, I'd guess she'll not have that worry? In which case, I'd ditch that and stick on adaptive suspension for comfort.

[FWIW]

BFleming said:

I really don't think I am. I'm just confused about someone ordering a new car for his 65 year old mum & why on earth BIK comes into it. I suppose it could be her company car, and the OP is helping her ordering it (apparently speccing it for himself in the process).

You are. It's not a company car. BIK (I.e. P11d) value is relevant because that is what dictates whether luxury car RFL is due - ie. if list price is over 40k

[BFleming]

FWIW said:

BFleming said:

I really don't think I am. I'm just confused about someone ordering a new car for his 65 year old mum & why on earth BIK comes into it. I suppose it could be her company car, and the OP is helping her ordering it (apparently speccing it for himself in the process).

You are. It's not a company car. BIK (I.e. P11d) value is relevant because that is what dictates whether luxury car RFL is due - ie. if list price is over 40k

Got it (at last).

[ladderino]

Make sure you remember to include delivery - I didn't, and was incredibly smug at how I'd priced it up to £39,920.

Turned out it was actually £40,600.

[matt21]

FWIW said:

BFleming said:

I really don't think I am. I'm just confused about someone ordering a new car for his 65 year old mum & why on earth BIK comes into it. I suppose it could be her company car, and the OP is helping her ordering it (apparently speccing it for himself in the process).

You are. It's not a company car. BIK (I.e. P11d) value is relevant because that is what dictates whether luxury car RFL is due - ie. if list price is over 40k

This man is got it.

It’s hers, not a company car and fully funded by her. she has asked for my help speccing it and we came to £42k list, so eliminating options to get the P11d value below £40k and avoid the “luxury” tax

She will hardly ever drive at night so probably have to avoid the adaptive LEDs cause of cost but the adaptive suspension may be worth getting in the spec somehow.

Thanks all!