Which BMW for depreciation free motoring for around £12-15K?

[HannsG]

It can't be an E46 M3 (I had one for five years and can't go through the pain of parting with one again!).

The car in question just be a petrol, 0-60 in less than 7 seconds and newer than 2010.

Been looking at 135i's and they seem decent. But will they drop much over the next few years?

Thanks

[SidewaysSi]

Yes they will lose loads.

[Jag_NE]

if you are using anything as an average mileage daily it will most likely depreciate as you are wearing the thing out. there are some cars that you can put in the garage and they may go up.

[aka_kerrly]

Are you considering the 135I coupe as even the regular petrol 3.0 coupes seem to be holding value rather well.

[R1 Dave]

I’m hoping the M140i may not be too bad on depreciation, my reasoning being that the next model is going to be a turbo IL4 which many regard as sacrilege after the turbo straight 6 in the current car. For this reason I’m hoping that tidy current model cars may hold their money better than they might otherwise have done. We’ll see though.

[p1stonhead]

R1 Dave said:

I’m hoping the M140i may not be too bad on depreciation, my reasoning being that the next model is going to be a turbo IL4 which many regard as sacrilege after the turbo straight 6 in the current car. For this reason I’m hoping that tidy current model cars may hold their money better than they might otherwise have done. We’ll see though.

How not bad? You can already pick up AUC cars for a bit over 20k and thats a 16 plate with 7k miles.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201804115432303...

[Big GT]

Look at 2000 onwards

645 / 650 coupe
Alpina B3
Z4 35i / Z4M

You will struggle to find anything newer than 2010 that wont depreciate.

[Shiv_P]

I would look at maybe a 130i E87

[Toed64]

I had a 2010 135i coupe from 2012 until 2 months ago and lost less than £1000 per year on depreciation. This was a nice surprise, as I expected it to freefall in value, like most other newish cars.

I suspect that if you search for the very highest spec, lowest mileage N55 135i, it will hold its value rather well. There are not that many of them around in comparison to the hatchback M135is that replaced them...and they can already be had for less than good coupes.

If you reduce your budget, the very best of the na 3 litre 130i and 125i have both pretty much stopped depreciating.

I think that the bigger engined Z4s, particularly the coupes have also reached the same sweet spot in the market

[TR4man]

You'll get a Z4M roadster within your budget which is unlikely to depreciate, may even appreciate.

Just below your budget to will get a very nice Z4 Coupe which appear to be static due to their rarity and the fact that they are drop dead gorgeous.

[Croutons]

p1stonhead said:

How not bad? You can already pick up AUC cars for a bit over 20k and thats a 16 plate with 7k miles.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201804115432303...

3 door, only option metallic, has done only 7K. Wouldn't want a leased one myself!

[ManOpener]

aka_kerrly said:

Are you considering the 135I coupe as even the regular petrol 3.0 coupes seem to be holding value rather well.

An N55, DCT 135i coupé would be a great idea I think- unusual, fairly rare and a great drive.
Can't see them losing too much money.

Edited by ManOpener on Monday 30th April 20:02

[SaggyOstrich]

I think the 135i coupes will hold their value, cracking cars as well!

[R1 Dave]

Croutons said:

p1stonhead said:

How not bad? You can already pick up AUC cars for a bit over 20k and thats a 16 plate with 7k miles.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201804115432303...

3 door, only option metallic, has done only 7K. Wouldn't want a leased one myself!

Yeah that’s pretty poor spec. I paid £22k for my 2016 with 20k miles but it’s got Adaptive LEDS, front and rear PDC, heated seats and HK Audio. I suspect buying a manual will hurt me later but it’s what I wanted so it’s what I bought.

[aka_kerrly]

ManOpener said:

aka_kerrly said:

Are you considering the 135I coupe as even the regular petrol 3.0 coupes seem to be holding value rather well.

An N55, DCT 135i coupé would be a great idea I think- unusual, fairly rare and a great drive.
Can't see them losing too much money.

Edited by ManOpener on Monday 30th April 20:02

Indeed, personally I'd need to try a DCT again to see if it really suits the engine/driving experience.

Perhaps too many babyBMW owners go auto for the ability to launch & have a computer magically add blips on downshifts and that (in my opinion) horrible noise (ignition cut? that causes blurrrp noises) at full throttle gear changes an haven't tried a manual so trying to get feedback on how the two compare seems rather difficult.

[Toed64]

aka_kerrly said:

ManOpener said:

aka_kerrly said:

Are you considering the 135I coupe as even the regular petrol 3.0 coupes seem to be holding value rather well.

An N55, DCT 135i coupé would be a great idea I think- unusual, fairly rare and a great drive.
Can't see them losing too much money.

Edited by ManOpener on Monday 30th April 20:02

Indeed, personally I'd need to try a DCT again to see if it really suits the engine/driving experience.

Perhaps too many babyBMW owners go auto for the ability to launch & have a computer magically add blips on downshifts and that (in my opinion) horrible noise (ignition cut? that causes blurrrp noises) at full throttle gear changes an haven't tried a manual so trying to get feedback on how the two compare seems rather difficult.

My 135i was a manual and I loved it. BMW state that their gearbox and diff oils are filled for life. This is not good advice for components manufactured by others who all, without exception, recommend oil services.

By 45000 miles, the quality of the gearchange was becoming baulky and perhaps more notchy. I changed the gearbox oil. The used oil was blackened and had a slightly metallic sheen. Within 200 miles the gearshift was markedly improved. It became slick and the baulkiness that had been particularly apparent when the car was cold, went away.

The other minor modification that made a big difference to the clutch and gearbox action, was to remove the Clutch Delay Valve from the hydraulic line to the clutch slave cylinder. This nasty little beast is designed to protect the clutch and gearbox from damage that might be caused by those that side-step the clutch. It slows the speed of clutch engagement. Consequently, it makes fast shifting jerky and makes the clutch slip in some circumstances too. Its removal, which only takes 10 minutes, allows proper clutch control.

I drove a friend's 135i with dct. It was interesting to compare the driving experience and I quite liked it, but I preferred my manual. I suspect that some prefer the dct because of the old oil in the gearboxes of used BMW manuals and because the CDV sabotages the clutch and gearshift.

[nunpuncher]

R1 Dave said:

I’m hoping the M140i may not be too bad on depreciation, my reasoning being that the next model is going to be a turbo IL4 which many regard as sacrilege after the turbo straight 6 in the current car. For this reason I’m hoping that tidy current model cars may hold their money better than they might otherwise have done. We’ll see though.

Supply and demand. There are hundreds of used M135i's (near as damn it the same car) on the used market.

If 2 seats will do and the 2010 requirement is moveable then I'd go for a z4 coupe. I very nearly bought one for £9k 5 years ago and really regret letting it go. it would still be worth that much now.

135i coupe is also a safe bet. There aren't many about and as said, supply and demand will always predict price. Its still a good looking car as well if a little dated inside.

[htid]

Z4 Coupe is best bet for depreciation free like others have said. Just have to accept a year or two older

[daemon]

p1stonhead said:

R1 Dave said:

I’m hoping the M140i may not be too bad on depreciation, my reasoning being that the next model is going to be a turbo IL4 which many regard as sacrilege after the turbo straight 6 in the current car. For this reason I’m hoping that tidy current model cars may hold their money better than they might otherwise have done. We’ll see though.

How not bad? You can already pick up AUC cars for a bit over 20k and thats a 16 plate with 7k miles.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201804115432303...

They can / could be bought new for around £27K so £3K odd per year for the first two years seems quite decent.

[daemon]

htid said:

Z4 Coupe is best bet for depreciation free like others have said. Just have to accept a year or two older

+1

Z4 Coupe 3.0Si Sport, a 130i M Sport or an LE if you can find one, or an M135i but i think the values will drop a bit yet, albeit slowly.