Can I afford to run an M3 / M5 / M6?
Discussion
I am thinking about entering the world of the BMW M series. Considering an M3, M5 and M6.
Budget for the car is 15-20k.
I have previously owned and ran a Golf R32 mk 5 and a Subaru WRX STI type UK with the prodrive pack. My question is, will the real life day to day running costs of the aforementioned beasts be considerably higher than the last two vehicles I have owned?
I know it's the old "if you have to ask...." I think it should be fine but don't want to go in blind.
Mileage is around 1,000 per month with around half of that business miles that I can claim back. Am I likely to see in the region of 18-22 mpg combined or is that just wishful thinking?
Also is there much difference between the M3, M5 and M6 for every day use? I like the look of the M6 but think a M3 or M5 may be a safer bet (not sure why really just as they seem more popular)
Thanks in anticipation,
Paul.
Budget for the car is 15-20k.
I have previously owned and ran a Golf R32 mk 5 and a Subaru WRX STI type UK with the prodrive pack. My question is, will the real life day to day running costs of the aforementioned beasts be considerably higher than the last two vehicles I have owned?
I know it's the old "if you have to ask...." I think it should be fine but don't want to go in blind.
Mileage is around 1,000 per month with around half of that business miles that I can claim back. Am I likely to see in the region of 18-22 mpg combined or is that just wishful thinking?
Also is there much difference between the M3, M5 and M6 for every day use? I like the look of the M6 but think a M3 or M5 may be a safer bet (not sure why really just as they seem more popular)
Thanks in anticipation,
Paul.
Not wanting to kick off the whole M car debate again, but if you want a performance BMW, the M135i will be in your price range soon. Plenty of them on AT for £23k-£25k at 1 yr old.
Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
If you can afford a user approved car with a warranty (extended if possible) then I wouldn't personally worry about running those cars.
Without a warranty id only run the M3, however I think they can all have ruinous bills.
Expensive car = expensive bills. Just because they are cheap to buy now doesn't mean they're not still expensive cars!
Without a warranty id only run the M3, however I think they can all have ruinous bills.
Expensive car = expensive bills. Just because they are cheap to buy now doesn't mean they're not still expensive cars!
PompeyPaul said:
Mileage is around 1,000 per month with around half of that business miles that I can claim back. Am I likely to see in the region of 18-22 mpg combined or is that just wishful thinking?
Also is there much difference between the M3, M5 and M6 for every day use? I like the look of the M6 but think a M3 or M5 may be a safer bet (not sure why really just as they seem more popular)
Thanks in anticipation,
Paul.
Just on these two points...Also is there much difference between the M3, M5 and M6 for every day use? I like the look of the M6 but think a M3 or M5 may be a safer bet (not sure why really just as they seem more popular)
Thanks in anticipation,
Paul.
21-22ish is achievable in the M3 if you resist the temptation to exercise your right foot too vigorously.
The DCT box in the M3 is much nicer than the M5/6 SMG for everyday use, in my opinion, if you're going down the flappy-paddle route.
The e92 M3 seems to suffer far fewer big problems compared to the other two, if the forums are to be believed.
I ran my M6 for 4 years,and for a 500bhp V10 relatively cheap. Still miss that V10 howl and massive oversteer moments with the MDM 
The main killer is the fuel consumption - a 500 mile spirited run cost the best part of £250. My annual hoon to Europe would cost £1k in fuel and a litre of oil.
The servicing, even at the main stealer, was only around £400 every two years - I only did 7k miles per year. The rear tyres were £250 each and lasted approx 15k - never had to change the fronts. Insurance was cheap at ~£350. The V10 drinks oil so required 2-3l between servicing. If get a pre march 2006 the car tax is cheap otherwise its £500!
The extended warranty is probably a must, since it gives peace of mind - though I only used it once in the four years I had it.
The main killer is the fuel consumption - a 500 mile spirited run cost the best part of £250. My annual hoon to Europe would cost £1k in fuel and a litre of oil.
The servicing, even at the main stealer, was only around £400 every two years - I only did 7k miles per year. The rear tyres were £250 each and lasted approx 15k - never had to change the fronts. Insurance was cheap at ~£350. The V10 drinks oil so required 2-3l between servicing. If get a pre march 2006 the car tax is cheap otherwise its £500!
The extended warranty is probably a must, since it gives peace of mind - though I only used it once in the four years I had it.
dapearson said:
Not wanting to kick off the whole M car debate again, but if you want a performance BMW, the M135i will be in your price range soon. Plenty of them on AT for £23k-£25k at 1 yr old.
Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
Who's your insurance with? £210 sounds too cheap to me.Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
Monty Python said:
dapearson said:
Not wanting to kick off the whole M car debate again, but if you want a performance BMW, the M135i will be in your price range soon. Plenty of them on AT for £23k-£25k at 1 yr old.
Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
Who's your insurance with? £210 sounds too cheap to me.Ours is averaging 32mpg so far at 3k miles. Servicing isn't very often. We've got 19k to go until the first one.
With the flappy paddle auto box it would fit your town/motorway use nicely.
Tax on the auto is cheaper. Fully comp insurance was £210 incl business use and parked on the drive.
If running costs are a concern, it's a great compromise.
Thanks for the great feedback guys. What other cars do you guys think I should be considering in the 15-20k budget?
Only the two of us and don't need to carry much, so as long as there is some sort of boot that will be fine.
A mixture of motorway, but probably 70% urban driving, with some spirited country roads driving also.
Want something that will feel special, look special and be realistic for me to run much as per my opening post.
Only the two of us and don't need to carry much, so as long as there is some sort of boot that will be fine.
A mixture of motorway, but probably 70% urban driving, with some spirited country roads driving also.
Want something that will feel special, look special and be realistic for me to run much as per my opening post.
GavinPearson said:
I think with an M3 you could afford it.
M5 is a different proposition and while the fuel costs wouldn't be much different if anything went wrong your wallet would hurt.
M6 is another level of expense.
M5 is a different proposition and while the fuel costs wouldn't be much different if anything went wrong your wallet would hurt.
M6 is another level of expense.
What difference in running expense do you think there is between an M5 and an M6?GavinPearson said:
I think with an M3 you could afford it.
M5 is a different proposition and while the fuel costs wouldn't be much different if anything went wrong your wallet would hurt.
M6 is another level of expense.
The BMW M5 and M6 are essentially the same but with a different body; same engine, suspension, gearbox etc.M5 is a different proposition and while the fuel costs wouldn't be much different if anything went wrong your wallet would hurt.
M6 is another level of expense.
I have a BMW M6 V10. I have a 2 year BMW AUC warranty on it so if anything goes wrong, I take it in and they fix it. So far I have had an oil leak, VANOS pipe and VANOS valve replaced under warranty. With BMW labour prices I have saved over £1500 so far.
So, if you are going to buy one, buy one that is AUC from BMW and get a 2 year warranty thrown in as a deal breaker.
Fuel for the M6 is expensive. In the last 10 days I have done 220 miles on around £80. Most of that has been motorway but I have hammered it on country roads also.
On a steady run I did see 25mpg in the M6....around town with a lot of stop start I can see 7mpg. If you have a fuel allowance, then don't worry about it.
The rest of the car is farly reliable, everything works and is standard 6 series amenities and will stand the test of time. They are scary quick though. With 3 passengers on board and myself, the car weighed over 2 tonnes and still outran a 4.0 V8 M3 with just a single driver onboard - on country roads! Plus that V10 sounds mental.
No issues with my V10 M6, apart from the SMG gearbox being s
t which annoyed me.
I averages 19mpg, which I think was very reasonable for the performance. Tank is tiny though so not much over 200 miles range was tiresome.
I'd not buy one without AUC. As above if you buy any M car with AUC then running costs will be perfectly manageable.
t which annoyed me.I averages 19mpg, which I think was very reasonable for the performance. Tank is tiny though so not much over 200 miles range was tiresome.
I'd not buy one without AUC. As above if you buy any M car with AUC then running costs will be perfectly manageable.
Schermerhorn said:
The BMW M5 and M6 are essentially the same but with a different body; same engine, suspension, gearbox etc.
I have a BMW M6 V10. I have a 2 year BMW AUC warranty on it so if anything goes wrong, I take it in and they fix it. So far I have had an oil leak, VANOS pipe and VANOS valve replaced under warranty. With BMW labour prices I have saved over £1500 so far.
Shouldn't have gone wrong in the first place. It's not as if the engine is new and is subject to teething problems.I have a BMW M6 V10. I have a 2 year BMW AUC warranty on it so if anything goes wrong, I take it in and they fix it. So far I have had an oil leak, VANOS pipe and VANOS valve replaced under warranty. With BMW labour prices I have saved over £1500 so far.
edo said:
No issues with my V10 M6, apart from the SMG gearbox being st which annoyed me.
I averages 19mpg, which I think was very reasonable for the performance. Tank is tiny though so not much over 200 miles range was tiresome.
I'd not buy one without AUC. As above if you buy any M car with AUC then running costs will be perfectly manageable.
SMG bad for driving round town - hunting, not changing as slowing down etc - I put on manual and change myself.t which annoyed me.I averages 19mpg, which I think was very reasonable for the performance. Tank is tiny though so not much over 200 miles range was tiresome.
I'd not buy one without AUC. As above if you buy any M car with AUC then running costs will be perfectly manageable.
SMG brilliant on lvl 6 setting, manual and full on charge - those slam in the back at 8000+rpm changes are to die for - make PDK/DCT look tame.
I averaged 14.7mpg overall and 24.9@82mph on a run giving 312 mile range - iirc its got a 68 litre tank and I got 65 litres in even though I run on 0 miles for the last 10 before stopping for fuel.
Can you, who knows?
We have a 120i on our work fleet & it seems last year it cost more to repair than the MD's 2010 Bentley GTC!
You are buying a used car & unless you know previous owner(s) you are taking a risk.
It could be serviced in line with BMW schedules but who knows how ragged it was between them.
To me it's a BMW. If it can go wrong it will & the dealer will be only too happy to hang you out to dry.
We have a 120i on our work fleet & it seems last year it cost more to repair than the MD's 2010 Bentley GTC!
You are buying a used car & unless you know previous owner(s) you are taking a risk.
It could be serviced in line with BMW schedules but who knows how ragged it was between them.
To me it's a BMW. If it can go wrong it will & the dealer will be only too happy to hang you out to dry.
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