Check my man maths, M135i vs 330d vs 335d
Discussion
Due to a few factors I have decide to hand my work car back and run my own car and claim the 40p a mile for an average annual work mileage of about 10 thousand miles. Just looking at options for what to get (it's going to be a BMW) and wanted some advice as to weather my number stack up. My BMW car history is 2 x 130i's (should never have sold the last one!) and my wife now has a 2009 118d) My non BMW history is boring VAG estate cars for work and fast sports cars (caterham, turbo MX5 etc) for fun so it this would be a one car does all option as i don't have the time for a separate sports car right now (have a 3 year old son)
Options for me are 2014 M135i (the fun option), 2009/10 330d (the sensible option) and 2009/10 335d (the middle option) taking into account what i will get paid back from work for fuel the M135i will costs me £379 a year whereas the 330d I will get paid £764 but i will lose having to pay company car tax so i will be up about 1k even with time M135i! (happy days!) So the question is will the M135i be worth the extra 1k in term of fun? (probably yes i would say!?) I think i have discounted the 335d as it is too close to the M135i in terms of cost so would just go for the M135i.
In terms of my calculations i have predicted £1300 loss in depreciated from the 13k M135i, 500 for the 6k 330d and £1000 from the 8k 335d. sound about right? Fuel costs i have calculated at 30mpg M135i, 35mpg 335d and 40 mpg 330d. Is that realistic? Maintenance i am assuming about £500 a year for each car (i have very cheap labour costs as a friend manages a garage) This is also assuming that when i buy the car i start with everything done and fresh. One thing i would like to know more about it the E90 300d/335d reliability assuming that might have the ability to throw a larger bill as they are an older model than the M135i which seem to be rock solid in terms of reliability?
The mileage will be a mix of nice A roads and motorways
Opinions much appreciated
year one BMW M135i BMW 330D BMW 335d
purchase price 13000 6000 8000
year one running costs BMW M135i BMW 330D BMW 335d
tax 300 200 300
Insurnace 400 400 400
fuel 10k miles 30,40, 35 mpg 1879 1636 1432
maintence 500 500 500
depreciation 1300 500 1000
total year 1 4379 3236 3632
Money back from fuel 4000 4000 4000
Total cost -379 764 368
Options for me are 2014 M135i (the fun option), 2009/10 330d (the sensible option) and 2009/10 335d (the middle option) taking into account what i will get paid back from work for fuel the M135i will costs me £379 a year whereas the 330d I will get paid £764 but i will lose having to pay company car tax so i will be up about 1k even with time M135i! (happy days!) So the question is will the M135i be worth the extra 1k in term of fun? (probably yes i would say!?) I think i have discounted the 335d as it is too close to the M135i in terms of cost so would just go for the M135i.
In terms of my calculations i have predicted £1300 loss in depreciated from the 13k M135i, 500 for the 6k 330d and £1000 from the 8k 335d. sound about right? Fuel costs i have calculated at 30mpg M135i, 35mpg 335d and 40 mpg 330d. Is that realistic? Maintenance i am assuming about £500 a year for each car (i have very cheap labour costs as a friend manages a garage) This is also assuming that when i buy the car i start with everything done and fresh. One thing i would like to know more about it the E90 300d/335d reliability assuming that might have the ability to throw a larger bill as they are an older model than the M135i which seem to be rock solid in terms of reliability?
The mileage will be a mix of nice A roads and motorways
Opinions much appreciated
year one BMW M135i BMW 330D BMW 335d
purchase price 13000 6000 8000
year one running costs BMW M135i BMW 330D BMW 335d
tax 300 200 300
Insurnace 400 400 400
fuel 10k miles 30,40, 35 mpg 1879 1636 1432
maintence 500 500 500
depreciation 1300 500 1000
total year 1 4379 3236 3632
Money back from fuel 4000 4000 4000
Total cost -379 764 368
Mileage will be 10k work and about 3-5k private probably,
I was thinking the older models i might need to up the maintenance costs and i was thinking of having an additional budget for unexpected repairs (up to about 1k)
In terms of general maintenance thinking
Tyres last about 20k so change every 18 months at £400
oil service every year at £80 (as i say i have cheap/ free labour)
air filter, pollen filter, plugs all cheap and easy to do
have factored everything being fresh into the purchase price but say every 3 years i should factor in ads and disks (500) diff and gear box oil (£100) etc.
people experience with the cars mentioned would be appreciated
Cheers
"disillusion" Paul!
I was thinking the older models i might need to up the maintenance costs and i was thinking of having an additional budget for unexpected repairs (up to about 1k)
In terms of general maintenance thinking
Tyres last about 20k so change every 18 months at £400
oil service every year at £80 (as i say i have cheap/ free labour)
air filter, pollen filter, plugs all cheap and easy to do
have factored everything being fresh into the purchase price but say every 3 years i should factor in ads and disks (500) diff and gear box oil (£100) etc.
people experience with the cars mentioned would be appreciated
Cheers
"disillusion" Paul!
It's a Skoda Octavia estate and no i am not into the higher band. It costs me about £110 a month right now i think and this is going up in 2020 as there is going to be a 4 percent hike on deasils! I also hate it as i never feel like i am off work as it is all stickered up with the company name etc! I also hate the skoda, perfectly good car but so freaking dull and hate FWD.
As i say i do drive some really nice roads for work so be great to have a car i want to drive! Even if i add on £1000 for maintenance i will still be below the current cost taking into account tax for the skoda.
Cheers Paul
As i say i do drive some really nice roads for work so be great to have a car i want to drive! Even if i add on £1000 for maintenance i will still be below the current cost taking into account tax for the skoda.
Cheers Paul
many thanks for all the replies
I have upped my yearly maintenance budget to 1k as i think that is more realistic
I think i am going to follow my heart and go for the M135i!
I have found one with the exact spec i want which i am going to put a deposit on!
quite excited!
Cheers for the help
I have upped my yearly maintenance budget to 1k as i think that is more realistic
I think i am going to follow my heart and go for the M135i!
I have found one with the exact spec i want which i am going to put a deposit on!
quite excited!
Cheers for the help
yeah it will be really interesting!
I have driven my friends quite abit so i know i like it but my old 130i had a LSD and uprated suspension etc so i pretty much preferred it over my friends standard M135i but my new M135i i am going to buy has those boxes ticked so that is a big plus for me as i don't have to do them at a later date!
I loved My 130i's but i think for more miles and and work duties the M135i being more modern with things such as cruise control, DAB radio etc and more torque, slightly better MPG i think it makes sense over a 130i. well that's the theory anyway!
see how it goes!
I have driven my friends quite abit so i know i like it but my old 130i had a LSD and uprated suspension etc so i pretty much preferred it over my friends standard M135i but my new M135i i am going to buy has those boxes ticked so that is a big plus for me as i don't have to do them at a later date!
I loved My 130i's but i think for more miles and and work duties the M135i being more modern with things such as cruise control, DAB radio etc and more torque, slightly better MPG i think it makes sense over a 130i. well that's the theory anyway!
see how it goes!
Court_S said:
I reckon that's the right choice too.
My M140i is pretty good as a daily (in normal driving I don't think the handling / power delivery is as bad as the internet makes out). Its averaging just over 30mpg in 4,600 miles which includes slogging to work and enjoying it a bit.
Has the car you're looking at got pro nav or the standard smaller screen?
Doesn't' have pro nav but i am not that bothered as i will use sat nav on my phone to be honest that screen (small or large) is one thing that puts me off the M135i! as i just think it looks ugly and gets in the way of forward vision! My M140i is pretty good as a daily (in normal driving I don't think the handling / power delivery is as bad as the internet makes out). Its averaging just over 30mpg in 4,600 miles which includes slogging to work and enjoying it a bit.
Has the car you're looking at got pro nav or the standard smaller screen?
much more interested in the performance/ handling mods this one has!
that being said having cruise control and DAB radio and integrated bluetooth were a must on my list when looking for a work car!
Court_S said:
The screen used to offend me, but I've decided that I prefer it mounted a bit higher than it was in my previous car (Octavia vRS). The pro nav was a must for me because it brings a few extra bits of functionality.
The screen housing the same size for both options, the normal nav just had inserts either that made the screen smaller.
it is a late 2014 model so it has the bluetooth music streaming etc so hopefully all i need! also has a banging aftermarket speaker/ amp set up so looking forward to that after my crap VW one in the skoda! The screen housing the same size for both options, the normal nav just had inserts either that made the screen smaller.
LeeM135i said:
I went down the M135i route 4 years ago as company car tax goes up 1% per year and it was getting outrageous even on a 2.0d I also started a new job where my mileage dropped to 10k per year.
From the last 4 years and 35,000 miles I have…
Changed the rear tyres once, cost around £400
Changed the front brake disks and pads sensors etc £900
Serviced it in line with BMW recommendations
And that’s it.
The good
Can do 40mpg if cruising on the motorway. (400 miles on a tank).
Last 10,000 miles ave is 34.4mpg
Still makes me giggle when I start it up / use the pedal on the right.
Has never failed to start or had any issues at all.
You sit low in the car, I love it.
That engine makes a great noise.
The RWD chassis, although compromised no other car in the class drives like it.
The bad
Can do 10mpg in traffic or if your on it.
It’s small inside, I’m 6ft5in and no one can sit behind me, it’s essentially a 3 seater.
The ride can be jiggly on slow roads, it smooths out at higher speeds.
You sit low in the car, my wife hates it.
Some of the interior trim is a bit low rent.
It’s an old design now so some of the tech isn’t great.
It’s not that fast as this time of year as it struggles to put the power down.
Needs an LSD to release its potential.
When asked my opinion I always say if you want a great car buy a Golf GTI. If you want something fun buy the M135i. I planned to run it for 3 years and then move it on but it’s still in the garage as I haven’t got tired of it, it’s a bit marmite but I love mine.
Wow great info, many thanks! i am pretty excited now! mine comes with the BIRDS LSD and B1 suspension so really looking forward to exploring how it grips and handles with this set up (my friend has a standard one)From the last 4 years and 35,000 miles I have…
Changed the rear tyres once, cost around £400
Changed the front brake disks and pads sensors etc £900
Serviced it in line with BMW recommendations
And that’s it.
The good
Can do 40mpg if cruising on the motorway. (400 miles on a tank).
Last 10,000 miles ave is 34.4mpg
Still makes me giggle when I start it up / use the pedal on the right.
Has never failed to start or had any issues at all.
You sit low in the car, I love it.
That engine makes a great noise.
The RWD chassis, although compromised no other car in the class drives like it.
The bad
Can do 10mpg in traffic or if your on it.
It’s small inside, I’m 6ft5in and no one can sit behind me, it’s essentially a 3 seater.
The ride can be jiggly on slow roads, it smooths out at higher speeds.
You sit low in the car, my wife hates it.
Some of the interior trim is a bit low rent.
It’s an old design now so some of the tech isn’t great.
It’s not that fast as this time of year as it struggles to put the power down.
Needs an LSD to release its potential.
When asked my opinion I always say if you want a great car buy a Golf GTI. If you want something fun buy the M135i. I planned to run it for 3 years and then move it on but it’s still in the garage as I haven’t got tired of it, it’s a bit marmite but I love mine.
amazing that a a car with that performance can do 40mpg!
yeah the company car tax is getting silly! (definitely not a perk!) it annoys me that it goes up as the car gets older as well! you have to for 3 years and pay £300 more in the third year for a older car with 70k on it!
Had a 300bhp VW golf GTI and hated it! had it 4 months! got knows why they are so highly rated! engine sounds like a deasil, ride is crap, traction non existent and brakes are woefull! I think it's because they are easy to drive! god knows!
Cheers Paul
As an update I have just driven home 440 miles with my new M135i!
wow! defiantly made the right decision! car is bonkers and i think it is going to be alot of fun!
spec is DMS remap, Birds suspension and Quaife LSD
don't think i am going to get 30 mpg for the first few weeks! ha ha!
Cheers Paul
wow! defiantly made the right decision! car is bonkers and i think it is going to be alot of fun!
spec is DMS remap, Birds suspension and Quaife LSD
don't think i am going to get 30 mpg for the first few weeks! ha ha!
Cheers Paul
Sir_Dave said:
I was chatting the the owner about that car on Babybmw actually, spec with LSD/Birds was exactly what i wanted!!
Unfortunately, by the time he'd sorted out all the bodywork (assume you knew about this, if not, umm, sorry lol), i'd already bought a different one ...
BTW, if you didnt know about the damage, it was purely cosmetic, i have photos if you want to see them
Yeah i knew he got all the body work repainted, just said due to country living. Looks good now even though it had a few small scapes he didn't' say about but he took a bit of cash off so we were both happy! very glad i went 5 door and really like having the sunroof for the extra light in the cabin Unfortunately, by the time he'd sorted out all the bodywork (assume you knew about this, if not, umm, sorry lol), i'd already bought a different one ...
BTW, if you didnt know about the damage, it was purely cosmetic, i have photos if you want to see them
Sir_Dave said:
Yeah it was all pretty minor stuff. I was just impatient ... unfortunately i still need to get some bodywork done on the new one as some inconsiderate tw4t has scraped the bumper and rear quarter whilst parked. Only had it 3 weeks 
damn that's annoying! I have been smashing out the miles a bit since i have had it! loving it but the first few tanks of fuel have gone quick due to wanting to hear the noise and showing friends the car! ha ha!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff