Man Maths Made Me Do It: M2 + Boxster S
Discussion
Hello all,
It’s been a long while since I’ve done one of these or even posted on PH, but given I’m in a position where I’ve got a couple of cars I have absolutely no intention of selling any time soon, I thought that I’d share them here.
2018 BMW M2 (N55 LCI)
I bought this in late 2024, after a considerable amount of man maths (as befits PH).
Since I sold my S1 Elise in 2018, I have had a host of sensible-ish, but not hugely ‘special’ cars. These were:
2014 Abarth 500 (pile of s
te, sold in 4 months).
2005 BMW 130i (absolutely brilliant - RWD, N52 six cylinder goodness in a pint sized package).
2009 Mercedes CLS 350CDI (purchased from a fellow PH’er who pampered it. An armchair on wheels, which sadly fell foul of the then expanding ULEZ zone).
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport (bang for buck one of the best all rounder’s I have owned, and dare I say it, the best generation MX-5? - flameproof suit on).
Anyhoo, by summer 2024 I’d had the MX-5 for a couple of years and had started to get itchy feet. I’m lucky to live within walking distance of work, so all my mileage is purely for pleasure. I was after one car that could cover all bases. Initially, I was sorely tempted by an X150 XKR or R171 SLK55 AMG, however, after being messed around by a couple of sellers, I decided to change my priorities and look for something a bit newer, with slightly less bork potential.
I quickly settled on a F20 BMW M135i. It felt like a more ‘grown up’ version of my 130i, and could do everything well. The search was on, but my criteria was strict:
Not black of white (nightmare to keep looking nice).
Not moon miles (I’m not averse to mileage, but if I’m spending £10-15k, I don’t want something leggy).
5 doors.
Harmann Kardon & Pro Nav.
Not crashed repaired.
Not modified.
The problem was very few cars met this criteria. Those that did were more expensive, and prices quickly escalated to the point where a Hire Purchase was outside of my budget, and a PCP was not available.
I changed my approach, thinking that perhaps an M140i was a good idea. My dad had one of these, and again, I’d have been very happy with one. As they’re also that little bit newer, HP was an option. However, with the same requirements above, cars were coming in at £22k-ish+.
Then there was that lightbulb moment. I had on an episode of The Grand Tour one day, where a certain Mr. Clarkson was driving the then new M2. As any of us will do, I went on Autotrader to see how much there were used, and was surprised to see that these weren’t all that much more than the M140i’s to buy - and a negligible difference on HP.
And that was the idea set. Tax was half the amount as the MX-5 per year. Economy (on paper) was pretty much the same as the MX-5’s, and I could get myself into a junior M car for smidge over what I was prepared to pay for an M-Lite. If I was a betting man, I’d also say the residuals on a M car could/would/should be a bit better than the M-Lite (man maths hard at work here - don’t look too much into it).
I had a test drive of one at a dealer, and whilst that particular example wasn’t the one for me, I was besotted with the idea of having one. The hunt was on.
A couple of weeks later, a deal was done and I made the journey to BMW Swansea to collect my new (to me) Long Beach Blue M2.
Since then, I can scarcely believe I’ve added over 20,000 very happy miles to the car. And aside from the rear light cluster failing on the drive home, which was covered by warranty, the car has been faultless.
I’m a proud member of a charitable organisation that offers rides in members’ cars in return for donations for children's charities we help to represent. In the last year, I’ve been to a load of events up and down the country putting smiles on faces having the most fun sharing the car with members of the public.
I’ve done a couple of longer trips away in the UK as well as two long weekend trips to Europe. The first being to Stuttgart (Porsche Museum) and Munich to the Concourse D’Elegance at Lake Turgensey, via the BMW Museum in July (and home via the backroads across France), and the second to central-ish rural France in late September.
Both times, the car has proved itself as a sublime long-distance tourer. On the autoroutes of France, it’ll happily sit at a 80mph+ cruise, returning 35mpg (give or take), and on the autobahns of Germany, it flies up to 150mph with ease. I deliberately didn’t measure the economy on the latter.
Suffice to say I hope this one stays around a little longer. On the horizon I have a couple of things planned:
New tyres all-round - I’m thinking of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’.
A new windscreen - Second one this year - bloody stone chips.
A full exterior detail and ceramic coating - This is already in very good condition all things considered, but I’d really like a professional to give it the ‘once over’ and make it look stunning.
At some point I’d love to get the car on track. I’m also looking at changing the centre console & DCT shifter trim for an OE carbon & alcantara piece. However, these are rare as hens teeth, and quite spenny. Let’s see!
Stick around for part 2 with my other potential financial mistake.
It’s been a long while since I’ve done one of these or even posted on PH, but given I’m in a position where I’ve got a couple of cars I have absolutely no intention of selling any time soon, I thought that I’d share them here.
2018 BMW M2 (N55 LCI)
I bought this in late 2024, after a considerable amount of man maths (as befits PH).
Since I sold my S1 Elise in 2018, I have had a host of sensible-ish, but not hugely ‘special’ cars. These were:
2014 Abarth 500 (pile of s
te, sold in 4 months).2005 BMW 130i (absolutely brilliant - RWD, N52 six cylinder goodness in a pint sized package).
2009 Mercedes CLS 350CDI (purchased from a fellow PH’er who pampered it. An armchair on wheels, which sadly fell foul of the then expanding ULEZ zone).
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport (bang for buck one of the best all rounder’s I have owned, and dare I say it, the best generation MX-5? - flameproof suit on).
Anyhoo, by summer 2024 I’d had the MX-5 for a couple of years and had started to get itchy feet. I’m lucky to live within walking distance of work, so all my mileage is purely for pleasure. I was after one car that could cover all bases. Initially, I was sorely tempted by an X150 XKR or R171 SLK55 AMG, however, after being messed around by a couple of sellers, I decided to change my priorities and look for something a bit newer, with slightly less bork potential.
I quickly settled on a F20 BMW M135i. It felt like a more ‘grown up’ version of my 130i, and could do everything well. The search was on, but my criteria was strict:
Not black of white (nightmare to keep looking nice).
Not moon miles (I’m not averse to mileage, but if I’m spending £10-15k, I don’t want something leggy).
5 doors.
Harmann Kardon & Pro Nav.
Not crashed repaired.
Not modified.
The problem was very few cars met this criteria. Those that did were more expensive, and prices quickly escalated to the point where a Hire Purchase was outside of my budget, and a PCP was not available.
I changed my approach, thinking that perhaps an M140i was a good idea. My dad had one of these, and again, I’d have been very happy with one. As they’re also that little bit newer, HP was an option. However, with the same requirements above, cars were coming in at £22k-ish+.
Then there was that lightbulb moment. I had on an episode of The Grand Tour one day, where a certain Mr. Clarkson was driving the then new M2. As any of us will do, I went on Autotrader to see how much there were used, and was surprised to see that these weren’t all that much more than the M140i’s to buy - and a negligible difference on HP.
And that was the idea set. Tax was half the amount as the MX-5 per year. Economy (on paper) was pretty much the same as the MX-5’s, and I could get myself into a junior M car for smidge over what I was prepared to pay for an M-Lite. If I was a betting man, I’d also say the residuals on a M car could/would/should be a bit better than the M-Lite (man maths hard at work here - don’t look too much into it).
I had a test drive of one at a dealer, and whilst that particular example wasn’t the one for me, I was besotted with the idea of having one. The hunt was on.
A couple of weeks later, a deal was done and I made the journey to BMW Swansea to collect my new (to me) Long Beach Blue M2.
Since then, I can scarcely believe I’ve added over 20,000 very happy miles to the car. And aside from the rear light cluster failing on the drive home, which was covered by warranty, the car has been faultless.
I’m a proud member of a charitable organisation that offers rides in members’ cars in return for donations for children's charities we help to represent. In the last year, I’ve been to a load of events up and down the country putting smiles on faces having the most fun sharing the car with members of the public.
I’ve done a couple of longer trips away in the UK as well as two long weekend trips to Europe. The first being to Stuttgart (Porsche Museum) and Munich to the Concourse D’Elegance at Lake Turgensey, via the BMW Museum in July (and home via the backroads across France), and the second to central-ish rural France in late September.
Both times, the car has proved itself as a sublime long-distance tourer. On the autoroutes of France, it’ll happily sit at a 80mph+ cruise, returning 35mpg (give or take), and on the autobahns of Germany, it flies up to 150mph with ease. I deliberately didn’t measure the economy on the latter.
Suffice to say I hope this one stays around a little longer. On the horizon I have a couple of things planned:
New tyres all-round - I’m thinking of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’.
A new windscreen - Second one this year - bloody stone chips.
A full exterior detail and ceramic coating - This is already in very good condition all things considered, but I’d really like a professional to give it the ‘once over’ and make it look stunning.
At some point I’d love to get the car on track. I’m also looking at changing the centre console & DCT shifter trim for an OE carbon & alcantara piece. However, these are rare as hens teeth, and quite spenny. Let’s see!
Stick around for part 2 with my other potential financial mistake.
Man Maths Strikes Again - 2001 Porsche Boxster S
I’ll start this by saying that last August I bought a little mileage basher to run alongside the M2. My thinking was that for the boring local journeys, trips to my parents (circa 80 mile round trip), and to my partner’s house (circa 120 mile round trip), this could take some of the miles off the M2 in an attempt to retain some value in it!
I ended up with a 2010 Mini Cooper - probably the least reliable Mini it’s possible to buy.
This is when I need a bit of a back story. In 2012, my father purchased a 2001 Porsche Boxster S. This came after his 1989 944 S2 cabriolet, which was sadly written off. We absolutely loved the Boxster - it was the perfect weekend toy and genuinely never required any work outside of an annual service in the three years he had it. It was a dab hand on track, being so poised and balanced, and had the perfect level of usable power on the road. It’s also the car I got caught speeding in (my one and only time *touch wood*).
Anyway, dad sold the car in 2015 to fund the purchase of his TVR Chimaera (which he still has). The chap he sold it to, Steve, was an absolute gent - we kept in touch, and it was evident he loved and cherished the car. Every year, usually prompted by Facebook telling me it was his birthday, I’d wish Steve the best, and remind him to offer me first refusal of the car, should he ever choose to sell. It became something of a joke between us. Despite this, Steve showed no signs of ever wanting to part with the car.
A week after I bought the Mini, and 10 years after dad sold the Boxster, Steve got in touch. You’ve guessed correctly, he was selling the car, and did I want to buy it?
Being perfectly honest, my first reaction was “st”. Of course I wanted the car, but even I couldn’t justify running it alongside the Mini and M2 (and an MGB V8 I was babysitting - that’s another story). Steve, being the gentleman he is, waited for me to sort finances out and get an inspection on the car. I found a new home for the Mini (but not before an oxygen sensor decided to break, costing me a few hundred quid), and a deal was done. Petal was back with us, and yes, the cars have names.
I picked up on a few gremlins on the car, but nothing too surprising on something that it had just celebrated its 24th birthday. I’m working through these are present:
Wheel wobble - Turns out a number of suspension components required a refresh, which all fed into the wheel wobble at motorway speeds - Now completed.
Major service with drive belt replacement - Now completed.
New drivers seat backrest adjuster - the current one was possessed by a poltergeist and moves of its own accord, most recently trying to fold me in half. Not ideal on a main 40mph road with nowhere to stop - Now Completed.
Mystery double beeping on locking/unlocking - Turns out to be a mixture of door locks and faulty wiring with the radio. This was a pest of a job and required multiple trips back to the (very understanding) specialist - Now completed
New tyres - Michelin PS5’s now fitted, with circa 1k miles completed. Very impressed so far.
In due course I’d like to do the following:
Refurb the wheels - The final piece of the puzzle with the wheel wobble. On having new tyres fitted, we found a couple of minor buckles. I’m thinking of changing the colour (silver painted outer edge, gunmetal grey spokes). I’ll ceramic coat these before being used, as the wheels are a bd to clean.
Replacement Steering Column Switch - On purchasing the car, I found that the OBC stalk was broken. It transpires that you can’t just put a new stalk in. Instead you have to purchase a new column switch. Added to this, the self cancel has gone on strike, and the right hand indicator also decided to stop altogether (although it now works again after 24 hours). If I’m going to the expense of a new column switch, I may as well buy a 4 stalk one and retrofit cruise control.
Android Auto/Carplay retrofit - To bring the infotainment into the 21st century.
Steering wheel retrim - been looking at Royal Steering Wheels, who have made some minor mods to thicken the wheel slightly and make it look nice.
Seat retrim - while the passenger seat looks like it’s never been sat in, the drivers seat is showing some wear that would be expected on a car of its age and mileage. Nothing dramatic, but my OCD can’t stand uneven wear.
Short shift kit - Purchased from Design911 as a Christmas present for me. The standard throw on a 986 is particularly long, so I’m hopeful this will improve things.
New interior mats - I wanted these so much when Dad owned the car a decade ago, but finding new ones from Porsche in Metropole blue was very difficult. I got these also as a Christmas present. Before I fit them, they’re going to be treated with Gtechniq’s hydrophobic coating as a form of protection.
Uprated front brake pads - New standard discs and brake fluid - then trackdays can commence!
A full exterior detail and ceramic coating - Full detail and repair of minor dent in the O/S/R wheel arch.
And there we have it. Two financially irresponsible purchases; of which one is rapidly draining my wallet, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for reading!
I’ll start this by saying that last August I bought a little mileage basher to run alongside the M2. My thinking was that for the boring local journeys, trips to my parents (circa 80 mile round trip), and to my partner’s house (circa 120 mile round trip), this could take some of the miles off the M2 in an attempt to retain some value in it!
I ended up with a 2010 Mini Cooper - probably the least reliable Mini it’s possible to buy.
This is when I need a bit of a back story. In 2012, my father purchased a 2001 Porsche Boxster S. This came after his 1989 944 S2 cabriolet, which was sadly written off. We absolutely loved the Boxster - it was the perfect weekend toy and genuinely never required any work outside of an annual service in the three years he had it. It was a dab hand on track, being so poised and balanced, and had the perfect level of usable power on the road. It’s also the car I got caught speeding in (my one and only time *touch wood*).
Anyway, dad sold the car in 2015 to fund the purchase of his TVR Chimaera (which he still has). The chap he sold it to, Steve, was an absolute gent - we kept in touch, and it was evident he loved and cherished the car. Every year, usually prompted by Facebook telling me it was his birthday, I’d wish Steve the best, and remind him to offer me first refusal of the car, should he ever choose to sell. It became something of a joke between us. Despite this, Steve showed no signs of ever wanting to part with the car.
A week after I bought the Mini, and 10 years after dad sold the Boxster, Steve got in touch. You’ve guessed correctly, he was selling the car, and did I want to buy it?
Being perfectly honest, my first reaction was “s
t”. Of course I wanted the car, but even I couldn’t justify running it alongside the Mini and M2 (and an MGB V8 I was babysitting - that’s another story). Steve, being the gentleman he is, waited for me to sort finances out and get an inspection on the car. I found a new home for the Mini (but not before an oxygen sensor decided to break, costing me a few hundred quid), and a deal was done. Petal was back with us, and yes, the cars have names. I picked up on a few gremlins on the car, but nothing too surprising on something that it had just celebrated its 24th birthday. I’m working through these are present:
Wheel wobble - Turns out a number of suspension components required a refresh, which all fed into the wheel wobble at motorway speeds - Now completed.
Major service with drive belt replacement - Now completed.
New drivers seat backrest adjuster - the current one was possessed by a poltergeist and moves of its own accord, most recently trying to fold me in half. Not ideal on a main 40mph road with nowhere to stop - Now Completed.
Mystery double beeping on locking/unlocking - Turns out to be a mixture of door locks and faulty wiring with the radio. This was a pest of a job and required multiple trips back to the (very understanding) specialist - Now completed
New tyres - Michelin PS5’s now fitted, with circa 1k miles completed. Very impressed so far.
In due course I’d like to do the following:
Refurb the wheels - The final piece of the puzzle with the wheel wobble. On having new tyres fitted, we found a couple of minor buckles. I’m thinking of changing the colour (silver painted outer edge, gunmetal grey spokes). I’ll ceramic coat these before being used, as the wheels are a b
d to clean.Replacement Steering Column Switch - On purchasing the car, I found that the OBC stalk was broken. It transpires that you can’t just put a new stalk in. Instead you have to purchase a new column switch. Added to this, the self cancel has gone on strike, and the right hand indicator also decided to stop altogether (although it now works again after 24 hours). If I’m going to the expense of a new column switch, I may as well buy a 4 stalk one and retrofit cruise control.
Android Auto/Carplay retrofit - To bring the infotainment into the 21st century.
Steering wheel retrim - been looking at Royal Steering Wheels, who have made some minor mods to thicken the wheel slightly and make it look nice.
Seat retrim - while the passenger seat looks like it’s never been sat in, the drivers seat is showing some wear that would be expected on a car of its age and mileage. Nothing dramatic, but my OCD can’t stand uneven wear.
Short shift kit - Purchased from Design911 as a Christmas present for me. The standard throw on a 986 is particularly long, so I’m hopeful this will improve things.
New interior mats - I wanted these so much when Dad owned the car a decade ago, but finding new ones from Porsche in Metropole blue was very difficult. I got these also as a Christmas present. Before I fit them, they’re going to be treated with Gtechniq’s hydrophobic coating as a form of protection.
Uprated front brake pads - New standard discs and brake fluid - then trackdays can commence!
A full exterior detail and ceramic coating - Full detail and repair of minor dent in the O/S/R wheel arch.
And there we have it. Two financially irresponsible purchases; of which one is rapidly draining my wallet, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for reading!
Both are exceptional. Congrats! I reckon the Boxster will be a beautiful example once you’ve gotten through the to-do list.
And I love the idea of buying back a car that had a special place in the family. I’m quietly hoping that I might one day find the AMG fettled Merc 300TE wagon that my parents owned when I was a kid.
And I love the idea of buying back a car that had a special place in the family. I’m quietly hoping that I might one day find the AMG fettled Merc 300TE wagon that my parents owned when I was a kid.
Thanks for the lovely feedback all! The BBS wheels are certainly a rarity on the car and have held up well since their last refurb (done in Dad's ownership). I think once I'm done I'll be left with a very well sorted car.
Hotfuzz said:
Both are exceptional. Congrats! I reckon the Boxster will be a beautiful example once you ve gotten through the to-do list.
And I love the idea of buying back a car that had a special place in the family. I m quietly hoping that I might one day find the AMG fettled Merc 300TE wagon that my parents owned when I was a kid.
I'm guilty, I must say, of having saved Autotrader searches of old cars of mine and Dad's "just in case", and checking the DVLA site for old reg's And I love the idea of buying back a car that had a special place in the family. I m quietly hoping that I might one day find the AMG fettled Merc 300TE wagon that my parents owned when I was a kid.
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