[PurpleTT]

Because mine was in for a service today I had a spin in an M4 convertible. Only 'cos they didn't have an M3.

Anyway, whilst on paper there may not be a huge amount in it to a 335d, my ears, arse, eyes, hands and poor old ticker all agreed this was a whole new ball game! Crikey O'Reilly this is a performance car

So I've asked Mr Salesman to price up swapsy with mine. If it's hundreds and hundreds more per month I'll probably politely decline, but if it's within man-maths tolerances... oh gawd I know I shouldn't but...

Now here's where I need your help. He'll take a day or two to run some numbers (I really emphasised I was in no hurry and only went for a drive whilst mine was being serviced) and by then the excitement will have died down so I may be able to resist. To help, can we all please now refrain from M3 talk on here so the thought can be allowed to fade away and I can run the remaining 2.5 years of my 335d's PCP without disruption.

Thank you

Soz for the awful iPhone snaps in the rain!

Andy

ps - hour and a half of test drive around the local area with only a few opportunities to actually floor the damn thing was 22.4mpg... ouch!

[HighlandPete]

We could always talk about the M4 instead.

Many will feel your 'pain', it is a reason I restrict what cars I try, although I did try an M4 to see what the latest offering it like.

HighlandPete

[gtsussex]

Hah! I remember sitting down and going through figures after first driving one. Monthly was going to go up from £700pm to £1200pm plus another £170pm for company car tax. As lovely as it was, it wasn't £670pm lovely.

Be interested to see what you'll get offered. Admittedly I can get a lot more off one now but my car won't hit positive equity until 2030 which is why decided to do RS Suspension.

[AndyTo]

Number plate looks like 'Guiseppe', or 'Joseph' which is a masculine given name in Hebrew.
I only know this as a friends old car was GU51 EPE.

You may/may not (delete as appropriate) want my advice, but you only live once. If you can afford it, go for it. If I wasn't doing 25k+ miles a year i'd have likely convinced myself into getting an M3.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Lovely car, M4 definitely takes it over the M3.

Getting the wife into a £200 or less car (ST), pretty much leaves me £700 to £800 pm.

Admittedly my insurance might jump from £300 a year and the dog would get fat lol.

[JD6]

How about we talk about M5s instead?

For the 95% of the time when there is another car in front and no scope to overtake, at least the M5 will feel like you've got some luxury for all that extra cash.

Admittedly it isn't as sharp as an M3, but I think I would regret an early upgrade to a faster version of the same car, even if the handling is significantly better.

[chetalien]

Just managed to convince myself i dont need an M3/4 for 95% of my driving.

[Tengocity]

Nevermind the M3, most of us can barely justify the cars we have already!

[Wills2]

It's a slippery slope!

I test drove the M135i, M3 and M5 last summer then bought a 335d touring xdrive which was great, but like a scene out of the Manchurian candidate an email came through with a deal on an M5 and before I knew it I was driving it off the forecourt!

Be careful out there...

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Wills2

It's a slippery slope!

I test drove the M135i, M3 and M5 last summer then bought a 335d touring xdrive which was great, but like a scene out of the Manchurian candidate an email came through with a deal on an M5 and before I knew it I was driving it off the forecourt!

Be careful out there...

How come you did not go for an M3? Was the deal better on the M5 or did you just prefer it?

[PurpleTT]

Ha ha yes the M5 got a mention whilst in the dealership! Big discounts, 0% etc.

All i did was book a bloody service and then my subconscious took over... my powers of rational thinking are currently on holiday it seems.

[dopper99]

When you get one, there is always the option for ACS springs to lower it a little .....

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1104262

Oldly, looking at the pics it would appear the front is still higher than the rear, like our 335d's.

[MWA]

The first pic shows the convertible looking very ugly and out of proportion IMO

As a DD, the 335d would be more comfortable. The M3/M4 would need to be pushed and driven like a petrol (4-5k rpm or higher) to get the most of it. Its not that often you get an open stretch long enough to have that spirited drive but when you do, it would never fail to put a smile.

DCT is plenty of fun and enjoyable in manual mode but its never a full auto nor would be as smooth as your 8AT in your 335d.

My advice is, shut your computer down, go out and enjoy the most of the M4, when the novelty wears off, you could do just as fine with the 335d. I love my M4 and it does feel like a proper sports car, BUT its not as easy to thrash it around like you could with a 335d which is a little more fun at lower RPMs..

The M4 is the beauty and the beast in one, but its like dating a high class escort, higher initial + running costs. Fuel in comparison, 335d used to give me 230 miles till the fuel light comes on, the M4 gives me 165..

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by dopper99

How come you did not go for an M3? Was the deal better on the M5 or did you just prefer it?

I'd had 3 M3's so perhaps fancied a change and on the day I tested all the cars the M5 stood out to me, so much power and comfort but it was taught at the same time.

The M3 handled superbly but there were no deals available, the M5 was more expensive but not much more after discount so man maths won.

I also do a lot of miles 30k per year so the "big car" feel was important and the M Multifunction seats can't bettered.

[Kal101]

M3 is a seriously awesome car

Managed to blag a good test drive when i was looking at getting a 330d

Awesome car until salesman pressed the M1 button then it got even better. Fantastic sound handling and acceleration. Seriously thought about getting an m3 instead man maths even convinced me it wasn't that much more expensive really if you thought about it laterally.

Even to the point of booking a second test drive when the salesman phoned to defer as it was raining heavily and probably not the best time to take out an m3

Instead went for a 335xd. Almost all the fun but cheaper and can use it ever day.

Still want an M3 though.

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by MWA

Fuel in comparison, 335d used to give me 230 miles till the fuel light comes on, the M4 gives me 165..

230 miles is a typo surely? I can often get to 530 before the light comes on and I can't believe the 335d is that much worse over the 330d. 165 in the M4 puts the running costs into perspective.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

230 miles is a typo surely? I can often get to 530 before the light comes on and I can't believe the 335d is that much worse over the 330d. 165 in the M4 puts the running costs into perspective.

Seriously, pure in town with sports + most of the time. Comp showed 26mpg average. This carried on for over a year m, so defo not a mistake.

Pretty sure a chap here also from London got very similar reading.

So M4 on similar spirited drives, it's getting 165 vs 230 on 335d

[JustChris]

I'll help you out Purple TT with the pics on my sig and the news that you'll easily top 35mpg on long runs.

Plus you will get more from your pension due to living longer by smiling more in these important years you are approaching.

YOLO make it a good run!

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by MWA

Seriously, pure in town with sports + most of the time. Comp showed 26mpg average. This carried on for over a year m, so defo not a mistake.

Pretty sure a chap here also from London got very similar reading.

So M4 on similar spirited drives, it's getting 165 vs 230 on 335d

I've had the range over 400 a few times but full tank usually 350 ish.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Kal27

M3 is a seriously awesome car

Managed to blag a good test drive when i was looking at getting a 330d

Awesome car until salesman pressed the M1 button then it got even better. Fantastic sound handling and acceleration. Seriously thought about getting an m3 instead man maths even convinced me it wasn't that much more expensive really if you thought about it laterally.

Even to the point of booking a second test drive when the salesman phoned to defer as it was raining heavily and probably not the best time to take out an m3

Instead went for a 335xd. Almost all the fun but cheaper and can use it ever day.

Still want an M3 though.

Agree with all this Kal except the bit about M3 use every day?

Where does this come from?

Took delivery of M4 in winter and rain, snow or shine it's easily a DD car. Now you don't rag it in the wet, but seriously when I had an X5 I didn't really rag that in snow or rain either, it's more capable of course but depends if you want to drive at 8/10 and above every day in the rain. I doubt it's safe in any car and other people are more dangerous in those conditions.

Mini rant over, just saying the current M3/4 are easily the most DD type M Car probably ever, no worries taking the family out in wet and snow if you know how to drive it.

[PurpleTT]

Just reading the LCI discounts thread and there it is in black and white...

M4 - £5,999 customer deposit, £699/month.

M5 - £5,999 customer deposit, £699/month.

WTF

See for yourself: http://www.stratstone.com/brands/bmw.../bmw-m-series/

Or have I missed something?

[robwils]

Originally Posted by PurpleTT

Just reading the LCI discounts thread and there it is in black and white...

M4 - £5,999 customer deposit, £699/month.

M5 - £5,999 customer deposit, £699/month.

WTF

See for yourself: http://www.stratstone.com/brands/bmw.../bmw-m-series/

Or have I missed something?

Oh dear, I can hear the voices in my head already