I want to buy an M3 for a few months only...

[Muppet32]

As above, I quite fancy owning an F80 M3. I'm ready to buy it now but will probably sell it towards the end of the year or maybe spring 2018 at the latest. I'd expect to cover fewer than 10k miles and I look after my cars well.

What's the best way to avoid taking too much of a financial hit, other than the obvious buy cheap, sell high?

Buy one of the cheapest (£34k) examples, high-ish mileage on the basis that the depreciation curve is slowing? Buy a newer, lower mileage example as the demand for these will be higher on resale? Do some dealers offer a guaranteed buy-back scheme? Trade / Private/ Auction?

Any comments will be gratefully received

[Willy Nilly]

Lease one or talk to some car hire companies. You only want to use it, rather than actually own it?

[Zetec-S]

Depends on your attitude to risk as well. Avoiding too much of a hit on depreciation is fine, but that will be wiped out if you get hit with a big repair bill.

Low risk option would be to lease, or buy at say 18 months old so you are still covered by the warranty.