Pick a car from this list
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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Soldato
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In Order
3) BMW 335d M Sport Coupe (E92)
OR
5) BMW 535d M Sport Saloon (E60 LCI)
Would then decide purely on the "three doors or five doors" decision.
3) BMW 335d M Sport Coupe (E92)
OR
5) BMW 535d M Sport Saloon (E60 LCI)
Would then decide purely on the "three doors or five doors" decision.
Well it clearly was a 'spec me' and you know it
As much as BMWs are the best cars ever, it'd be a shame to limit yourself to those four cars whilst having a look around..
Widening the field leads to indecision i think once you narrow it down, stick to them.
Especially at that budget, theres just too much choice.
There isn't really. I don't want to get into the realms of alternatives at this stage, but in breif:
The Audi A4:
The S4 and the previous shape model is ancient and not a world away from an E39 generation wise.
THe new A4 is bland and most of the cheaper ones have stupid diesel engines.
The Mercedes C Class:
Looks fantastic. Then they ruined the interior. And there is like 1 C350 in the entire universe.
The Lexus IS:
LOL
Mercedes E Class:
Like these. Not very me. I might be old before my time but not that much.
etc etc
The Audi A4:
The S4 and the previous shape model is ancient and not a world away from an E39 generation wise.
THe new A4 is bland and most of the cheaper ones have stupid diesel engines.
The Mercedes C Class:
Looks fantastic. Then they ruined the interior. And there is like 1 C350 in the entire universe.
The Lexus IS:
LOL
Mercedes E Class:
Like these. Not very me. I might be old before my time but not that much.
etc etc
Love them. But they are 7-8+ years old. I've got an 8 year old car at the moment. Ploughing cash into older cars gets boring
I need to be realistic. I love Mercedes SL's, I'd adore an SL55 AMG, I'd love a nearly new F10, I really fancy an E55 AMG but... they are cars beyond my station. I don't see the point in stretching myself to ridiculous lengths for my hobby. Not like that. I'll stick to admiring them as they drive past and maybe in the future I'll have the means to do one of those properly.
I'm keeping it for another 9-12 months I'd imagine. But I always do 6-9 months of research first, mostly because its fun but also becuase it means that when its go-time, I know exactly what to do.
Thats partly why I made this a more general thread really. I'm not really ready to get into specifics.
I love my E39. It's a fantastic car. I don't even know if I'll sell it when its replaced. It's in brilliant condition inside and out and I thoroughly enjoy driving it. But I've had it for 4 years now, and its 8 years old and the design of the car is 14 years old. I guess we all have to move on sometimes. Mine lacks some of the more modern features I'd love in a car - like a colour TFT screen allowing full control of all vehicle features rather than a two line monochrome LCD that controls my Ipod, etc etc.
I don't mind spending money on my E39 - it's my hobby. I'm not spending it on Golf club membership. But it's probably consumed about £1500 so far this year which isn't a huge amount away from the depreciation on a much newer car.
No manufacturers warranty, but I'd purchase a reputable aftermarket one, or extend the BMW one if appropriate.
Tough one, I'd say the 330i over anything else. The 335's are similar in performance and you say both have reliability issues yet the d is quite a bit better on fuel. Although a petrol head I couldn't justify the petrol over the diesel.
Get a later 350 not a 500
I would advise against that personally. Covered this before, but it's a disappointing car and you will never, ever get over the fact that the SL500, SL55, SLXX etc exist and are sharing the road with you. Unless of course your entire time is spent on a Miami boulevard at 13mph.
I will admit at this point that I haven't read the thread in full, but I was in a similar position almost exactly a year ago and will give my thoughts on what I went for.
In the end it was an E92 335i coupe (SE, not M-Sport though)
I work in Canary Wharf and commute by train and tube, so the mileage factor really wasn't a big deal for me as I cover less than 8K per year as social mileage.
I had a look at the 5 series and after a test drive or two decided it wasn't my cup of tea. As you already own a 5 it may be a different choice for you, but for me it just didn't feel as tight as the E92.
The 335i was the logical choice for me, not really giving a hoot about mileage but wanting the best all round car. It's as brilliant for a lazy cruise down the motorway as it is hooning around B roads and that was the deciding factor over the 330i personally.
It really is a car for all moods. The 330i may be a purer drivers car, but I really like the laziness of it, but the ability to turn it on whenever suits.
As far as I was concerned the SE has most of the benefits of the M-Sport in 335i guise, save a bit of bodykit and some badges and given that I got mine for around £4K cheaper than the chepeat M-Sport on the market at the time it was a good buy, but certainly the M-Sport would be the one to go for the way the market seems now.
Fox, not that I know you at all, but it seems that you're a guy who doesn't want to compromise and on that basis I would wholeheartedly recommend the 335i coupe rather than anything else you're considering unless you're planning on doing a rather large amount of mileage.
In the end it was an E92 335i coupe (SE, not M-Sport though)
I work in Canary Wharf and commute by train and tube, so the mileage factor really wasn't a big deal for me as I cover less than 8K per year as social mileage.
I had a look at the 5 series and after a test drive or two decided it wasn't my cup of tea. As you already own a 5 it may be a different choice for you, but for me it just didn't feel as tight as the E92.
The 335i was the logical choice for me, not really giving a hoot about mileage but wanting the best all round car. It's as brilliant for a lazy cruise down the motorway as it is hooning around B roads and that was the deciding factor over the 330i personally.
It really is a car for all moods. The 330i may be a purer drivers car, but I really like the laziness of it, but the ability to turn it on whenever suits.
As far as I was concerned the SE has most of the benefits of the M-Sport in 335i guise, save a bit of bodykit and some badges and given that I got mine for around £4K cheaper than the chepeat M-Sport on the market at the time it was a good buy, but certainly the M-Sport would be the one to go for the way the market seems now.
Fox, not that I know you at all, but it seems that you're a guy who doesn't want to compromise and on that basis I would wholeheartedly recommend the 335i coupe rather than anything else you're considering unless you're planning on doing a rather large amount of mileage.
The first thing I'd do is wipe any 5 series off my list.
While the styling is acceptable, its not something I could ever look at and be happy that I just spent a lot of money on. Its the Old shape 5 series already. When it came out it wasn't even better than its predecessor. A poshly named facelift isn't going to change that. Spending that sort of money on one when they are readily available for a lot less with a private plate would get to me. LCI or not, its still 'the old 5 series' now. You didn't want one when it was first released, therefore you don't really want one now.
That would leave me with the E92.
It looks like a new expensive BMW. The styling is spot on. It looks new and fresh and in the M sport models looks genuinely sporty. However I think the 330i is a bit of a waste here. I picked my 330ci because it was the top model, the fastest normal 3 series. The E92 330i just seems a little lost in the lineup to me, I'm not sure I'd have one. I mean the 335i is great, it looks different from all the others and it is BMW's best engine that they have to offer (apart from ///M's). Its the one that people buying an E92 really want to own but cant justify the extra.
The 330i just sits there, knocked down the pecking order. Its not the one you really want to own anymore because its bigger brother has stolen the limelight. I don't really see the point in buying it, I'd cut my losses and take the 325i over it. Cheaper to run, probably more of them to choose a nice example from. Still decent power, has all the same looks at the 330i and will cost less to buy.
After all that, I'd have the 335i.
ITs the one I'd really want to own, I'd never really be happy with the 330i as it'd always be the 335i I'd have wished I bought. So, either get the 335i and do a proper job or take a 325i admit defeat and cheer yourself up by spending the savings on a road trip to the French Riviera
While the styling is acceptable, its not something I could ever look at and be happy that I just spent a lot of money on. Its the Old shape 5 series already. When it came out it wasn't even better than its predecessor. A poshly named facelift isn't going to change that.
Spending that sort of money on one when they are readily available for a lot less with a private plate would get to me. LCI or not, its still 'the old 5 series' now. You didn't want one when it was first released, therefore you don't really want one now. That would leave me with the E92.
It looks like a new expensive BMW. The styling is spot on. It looks new and fresh and in the M sport models looks genuinely sporty. However I think the 330i is a bit of a waste here. I picked my 330ci because it was the top model, the fastest normal 3 series. The E92 330i just seems a little lost in the lineup to me, I'm not sure I'd have one. I mean the 335i is great, it looks different from all the others and it is BMW's best engine that they have to offer (apart from ///M's). Its the one that people buying an E92 really want to own but cant justify the extra.
The 330i just sits there, knocked down the pecking order. Its not the one you really want to own anymore because its bigger brother has stolen the limelight. I don't really see the point in buying it, I'd cut my losses and take the 325i over it. Cheaper to run, probably more of them to choose a nice example from. Still decent power, has all the same looks at the 330i and will cost less to buy.
After all that, I'd have the 335i.
ITs the one I'd really want to own, I'd never really be happy with the 330i as it'd always be the 335i I'd have wished I bought. So, either get the 335i and do a proper job or take a 325i admit defeat and cheer yourself up by spending the savings on a road trip to the French Riviera