M140i as a company car ?

[podman]

Afternoon all,

Considering one of these, a 5 door, as a company car.. It would seem from sources such as FB these are pretty reliable cars and not quite to bad on the pocket for servicing ?

I dont have to lug a load of stuff around with me nowadays for work but they seem quite practical ..If I can get a push bike (or 2) in the back, thats a bonus.

I do around 30k per year mileage wise, im paid at 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p there after.

Not interested in making money from the car scheme, just aiming for the running costs to be there or thereabouts.

Have a test ride in one tomorrow, just to make sure the ride isnt to harsh and the MPG isnt to terrible, online reports seem to vary considerably on that front, much of the use will be on motorways/ A roads but ill want to enjoy it a little on the B roads for sure.

Common sense would dictate to go for a diesel (again) but as a petollhead, id like to sample one of these, they look like a lot of fun.

Appreciate any feedback from some higher mile users of these.

[320d is all you need]

You can get 40MPG from these on a cruise quite easily.
Get adaptive dampers, I understand these help the ride quite substantially.

I would probably look to get a cheaper car (like a 320d for example!) and make as much money from your mileage and enjoy a weekend car.

[podman]

Your probably right but ive had a 320d and most diesels over the years so looking to change that while I can.

Have something already for weekend fun , aiming now for something with everyday fun..

[david-j8694]

I've done a full tank of entirely motorway driving in my 440i, so same engine as your prospective car, and returned 40.1mpg. It's easily doable and without driving like miss daisy.

Mixed driving you will be looking at mid 30s. If you sit in traffic all day it's gonna be in the 20s.

[toon10]

I ran its predecessor the M135i for nearly 4 years. I was getting about 25mpg but mainly town and shorter dual carriageways stretches. It'll do about mid to late 30's on a run if you stick to comfort mode and cruise at 60 - 70mph. I've not used eco mode in anger as I tried it once and the car felt broken.

For higher mileage I wouldn't recommend one to be honest. The fuel tank is tiny and you will be forever hunting out petrol stations. The boot is also tiny so I'm not sure about you bike situation either.

They're fantastic cars and ballistic even in stock form. I'm just not sure it's suited to what you are after.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Isn't it a case of what your heart wants?

If you are happy to pay a bit over your car allowance to get the motor you want and you can afford it then why not?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

You are going to be paid about £9500 at 30,000 miles per annum.

If it does 32 mpg and about £5.45 a gallon you'll spend about £5100 on fuel.

That'll leave you £367 a month to fund the car lease, servicing, tyres & insurance.

Mind, I'm not very good at sums

[320d is all you need]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have a friend who has a M140i.
Really nice car. I went with him to the Nurburgring once, we did around 35mpg on the journey from his house in Kent to Nurburgring itself, so most of that is at 80+ on European roads. I think the range was around 350 miles comfortably. That was at motorway speeds though, I guess 280 is better if you're doing a lot of town work.

I just assumed given the high miles that the majority are done on motorway/dual carriageways. Perhaps my mistake for assuming

I really like them actually. I'd have one but unfortunately not in a position to have 2 cars

[Uncle boshy]

If your planning as a company car make sure you do the tax calculation. I think the BIK is 37%, tax could be a bit eye watering

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Uncle boshy said:

If your planning as a company car make sure you do the tax calculation. I think the BIK is 37%, tax could be a bit eye watering

I'm guessing OP isn't actually getting a company car based on his first post?

[Veesix75]

I use a 640i for business miles, my own car not company. I know it’s a different engine and mines a barge but can’t see the 140i being worse ?

If on a regular 340 mile return journey darn sarf and back, m1, a43, m40, it’s 40 miles B roads and a bit of stop start, 300 is on the other 2 listed mways and a43, cruise control set at 80mph it returns an accurate 32 to 34 mpg.

If I drive slower, motorway busy so cruising at 60 maybe 36mpg maximum.

If I do 10 miles a day local taking the kids to school then 50 miles of just that gives 18mpg.

Just a single 60 mile trip on quiet B roads where I tried really hard to eek Max mpg and sat at 50mph it did 34mpg, obviously some stopping and slowing for junctions and I was gentle with the slowing and accelerating.

[podman]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

You are going to be paid about £9500 at 30,000 miles per annum.

If it does 32 mpg and about £5.45 a gallon you'll spend about £5100 on fuel.

That'll leave you £367 a month to fund the car lease, servicing, tyres & insurance.

Mind, I'm not very good at sums

Thank you for that...

I will have a car allowance on top of the pence per mile that will cover the £367 so its definitely do-able..

[podman]

Uncle boshy said:

If your planning as a company car make sure you do the tax calculation. I think the BIK is 37%, tax could be a bit eye watering

Aye, if the company was purchasing and supplying it to me, it would be out of the question but as I understand it, the BIK and emissions doesn't factor into the equation with a car allowance.

You just pay tax on the car allowance...So im led to believe.

Thanks for everyones posts so far, been really useful.

I'm test driving one tomorrow...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

podman said:

Uncle boshy said:

If your planning as a company car make sure you do the tax calculation. I think the BIK is 37%, tax could be a bit eye watering

Aye, if the company was purchasing and supplying it to me, it would be out of the question but as I understand it, the BIK and emissions doesn't factor into the equation with a car allowance.

You just pay tax on the car allowance...So im led to believe.

Thanks for everyones posts so far, been really useful.

I'm test driving one tomorrow...

OP, you did confuse most folk by your title. It's not a company car in the usual sense of the expression.

[Veesix75]

Yep, the taxman, er I mean taxperson, will tax you on the car allowance your employer pays you.

Reason I have the 640i is the same your are considering, the pence per mile means I make more than I spend on fuel, and the car alllowance covers the car costs. I buy used over 3 years old and it still costs in paying bills and servicing.

[craig1912]

I get around 35-40 mpg on a longer run. Average is sitting at 31mpg but that’s a lot of shorter journeys at the moment.
I have adaptive suspension and it’s fine although thinking of changing the rear springs (to M135 springs) as it can be a little jiggly if just me in the car and no luggage/load.
Great on motorways and all the speed and acceleration I ever need.

[podman]

Well, took this out this morning from Rybrook in Warwick, seem a nice bunch of people.

Had around 40 minutes in it, took it for a bimble down the M40 to Gaydon and then had a blat around the lanes in it, for the time I used it , average according to the OBC was 28MPG which seemed pretty fair to me.

It went well enough and makes great sound, ride was a bit jolty off the motorway but not bad at all for what it is.

Bootspace is big enough for me and id defintley get a bike in the back with the seats down.

I could well see myself in one, I think id pay a bit extra and go for a 2019 car with a decent bit of BMW warranty left on it but I have another couple of options to look at.

[320d is all you need]

Regarding warranty you can buy a BMW warranty online for around £35 per month on any M135/m140 under 60,000

I would probably buy privately and save the money on purchase price and enjoy the benefits of a full factory warranty taken out yourself.

[podman]

320d is all you need said:

Regarding warranty you can buy a BMW warranty online for around £35 per month on any M135/m140 under 60,000

I would probably buy privately and save the money on purchase price and enjoy the benefits of a full factory warranty taken out yourself.

That I did not know, thats really useful, thanks.

Any restrictions that your aware of , such as it must be serviced by BMW?

[podman]

Just looked online, appears you can have it serviced anywhere as long as VAT registered etc.

Cheers