M3/4 Running costs

[curvature]

Can anyone help with this one.

I'm getting nervous that pretty soon there won't be any good petrol engines cars to buy so I am thinking of buying an M3/4. Probably around a 2016/17 model but it will really depend on what is around at the time.

I'm currently driving a 640d GC and prior to that had a 330d F31 so I know that I'll take a massive dip in fuel consumption but believe it or not the M3/4 is several insurance groups lower than the 640 which is in Group 50.

So my question is what mpg am I likely to achieve on a motorway run at say 65-70mph? I do up to 20k miles a year.

Also what are service costs like?

Is an M car a lot more expensive to run than say a 440i?

Thank you and look forward to any comments.

[boxxer7]

I have a M2 comp so same engine, small service is about £315 the full service is a smidge over £1100. which i imagine is a fair bit more than you currently pay I know its more than my 235 cost by a fair sum.

Fuel consumption wise i have never seen more than 28mpg being driven normally, that said ive not done any particularly long journeys, and when pushing on its in the low teens even less on track days.

They're not the cheapest cars to run but i really like mine.

Hope that helps a bit

[curvature]

boxxer7 said:

I have a M2 comp so same engine, small service is about £315 the full service is a smidge over £1100. which i imagine is a fair bit more than you currently pay I know its more than my 235 cost by a fair sum.

Fuel consumption wise i have never seen more than 28mpg being driven normally, that said ive not done any particularly long journeys, and when pushing on its in the low teens even less on track days.

They're not the cheapest cars to run but i really like mine.

Hope that helps a bit

Thanks for that. Can I ask how old your car is?

My 640 has just turned 4 years old and the bigger service was £550, the 330 was £360.

[boxxer7]

Mine is a 2018, you can pop the reg in on https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/service-wor... and it will tell you how much the service costs.

[stewie177]

I had the M4 and would regularly get 40mpg+ showing when at 60-70 on the motorway when cruising in the limited speed limit on M6 etc. Once managed 48mpg in cruise control from Oxford to Carlisle, but it was dull.

Servicing wasn't too bad; good quality tyres are key for that engine/chassis, so you cannot scrimp on those.

If you are worried about running costs try the 135/235 platform - the extra cog (v the DCT) and one turbo makes a difference and tune up

[curvature]

boxxer7 said:

Mine is a 2018, you can pop the reg in on https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/service-wor... and it will tell you how much the service costs.

Thanks I'll have a play around.

I've just put my reg details in and as usual because I booked by last service on the phone they charged me more than the internet price!

[curvature]

stewie177 said:

I had the M4 and would regularly get 40mpg+ showing when at 60-70 on the motorway when cruising in the limited speed limit on M6 etc. Once managed 48mpg in cruise control from Oxford to Carlisle, but it was dull.

Servicing wasn't too bad; good quality tyres are key for that engine/chassis, so you cannot scrimp on those.

If you are worried about running costs try the 135/235 platform - the extra cog (v the DCT) and one turbo makes a difference and tune up

Many thanks, always interesting to know.

I think I am itching to have a full M car for a while so if I am going to suffer the increase in running costs I may as well do it properly hence not really looking at the 135/235 etc.

BMW do seem to be able to build cars that provide incredible levels of economy and performance. Most of my driving is on the motorway and these days I seem to sit between 65-70 mph.

Any thoughts on buying BMW AUC or independent dealers?

[Mark83]

I average 22mpg, but, this mainly town driving so this is the worst you'd likely see. At those speeds you mentioned, it'll be >30mpg. Road noise gets a little annoying on the motorway though and it's probably the worst car I've owned for motorway noise.

Servicing alternates between cheap (£300ish) and expensive £1000ish) and every two years / 18k miles from build date. I've only had my RIS so far and my oil service is due in Aug c.£350. These are main dealer prices and specialists will be cheaper.

A proper BMW extended warranty is c.£80pm and something I'd want. I'd maybe go with the higher excess as I'd just want peace of mind for big ticket items like turbo seals. Lots of mapped cars out there and BMW can easily spot them now so that warranty might be worthless if the car has been previously mapped. Buying AUC and getting written confirmation of a clean ECU would be my preference.

OE Michelins are c.£250 each front and rear, and wear well. I'm on 7500 miles and even with a couple of track days, the rears are looking good. Same can be said for the brakes too but I swapped the pads out for track days and the OEM pads are hardly worn.

Edited by Mark83 on Tuesday 23 March 11:52

[curvature]

Mark83 said:

I average 22mpg, but, this mainly town driving so this is the worst you'd likely see. At those speeds you mentioned, it'll be >30mpg. Road noise gets a little annoying on the motorway though and it's probably the worst car I've owned for motorway noise.

Servicing alternates between cheap (£300ish) and expensive £1000ish) and every two years / 18k miles from build date. I've only had my RIS so far and my oil service is due in Aug c.£350. These are main dealer prices and specialists will be cheaper.

A proper BMW extended warranty is c.£80pm and something I'd want. I'd maybe go with the higher excess as I'd just want peace of mind for big ticket items like turbo seals. Lots of mapped cars out there and BMW can easily spot them now so that warranty might be worthless if the car has been previously mapped. Buying AUC and getting written confirmation of a clean ECU would be my preference.

OE Michelins are c.£250 each front and rear, and wear well. I'm on 7500 miles and even with a couple of track days, the rears are looking good. Same can be said for the brakes too but I swapped the pads out for track days and the OEM pads are hardly worn.

Edited by Mark83 on Tuesday 23 March 11:52

Thanks Mark.

[Shanksy87]

If you're doing higher mileage I would suggest the DCT will return you better fuel economy for when you're not in a hurry. I have a manual M2C for reference and I don't see I could get it over 30mpg regardless of what I do, my best is 27 from a 200 mile cruise. This may just be a function of its limited mileage to date, but I would wager the lack of a 7th gear with the manual is the key factor.

HTH

[boxxer7]

curvature said:

Thanks I'll have a play around.

I've just put my reg details in and as usual because I booked by last service on the phone they charged me more than the internet price!

That's annoying, so much for fixed price servicing!!

[PorkInsider]

I saw 31mpg once on a steady motorway run in my M4 CP I think. Long term average about 24mpg I would guess.

F8x servicing costs aren't bad really but be aware that a major service (with plugs, etc) is around £900+ at dealer prices, before any discount you can secure.

A full set of brakes is around £2,500 at the dealer but you can of course do it much cheaper either at an indy or obviously even cheaper DIY.

A warranty is definitely a good idea. They're reliable cars on the whole but you have to bear in mind the potential costs if something does go wrong - turbos, etc.

Shanksy87 said:

If you're doing higher mileage I would suggest the DCT will return you better fuel economy for when you're not in a hurry. I have a manual M2C for reference and I don't see I could get it over 30mpg regardless of what I do, my best is 27 from a 200 mile cruise. This may just be a function of its limited mileage to date, but I would wager the lack of a 7th gear with the manual is the key factor.

HTH

I'd agree regarding DCT being the better option for any semblance of economy but to be honest you're unlikely to find a manual M3/4 for sale in a spec' you'd want, unless you really don't care about colours and options.

[curvature]

Thanks to everyone for commenting on this, it has been really interesting to read of your experience with the cars.

I'm so used to autos now that a manual wouldn't come into the equation for me so that does give me a lot more choice. The main things for me are colour, head up display and possibly a heated steering wheel.

As I have said above most of my driving is on the motorway and the times I do get to have a play on some A/B roads I find the 640 just that bit too big.

It's a great car but I have never had a car that causes so many negative comments from over road users. I think the size of it and the way it picks up mid range takes people by surprise. I once had a guy who I passed in a very responsible manner chase after me and make lots of rude gestures at the traffic lights a mile down the road. Another time a guy walking along a footpath put his hands in the air and shook is head at me because I was accelerating hard out of a roundabout. Both times on a derestricted A road.

Strange as the 330 wasn't that much slower but I can only think it is the size and noise, the 640 is a fair bit louder under acceleration than the 330 so would I be correct in assuming that with the M cars being a fair bit louder they can also draw such attention?

[Mark83]

I have DCT and don't regret it. I do a lot of town driving with traffic so it's ideal. I don't even feel that short changed on track.

This is my first car with a HUD and surprised how often I look at it for speed and say nav, on track the projected rev counter is handy. The heated steering wheel was also nice in the winter! 360 camera has saved my alloys so far too.

Can't say I've ever had anything other than compliments, so far. Mine is San Marino Blue and had people come over to me when stopped and compliment it. Even had a car come tearing up next to me on a motorway, I glance over and he was giving me a furious thumbs up before accelerating off. Not sure what happened there!

[PorkInsider]

They're not too noisy in comfort (valves closed) and you can dawdle around quite inconspicuously in terms of noise. I suppose they're aggressive looking cars but people don't seem to be offended by them.

A comp pack with a standard exhaust is pretty noisy in sport/sport+ with crackling and pops and bangs on overrun.

It's actually the cold start that's particularly loud, whatever the setting, which isn't ideal if you're making an early start and trying to be quiet about it.

[curvature]

I think with the M cars people expect them to be driven quickly with maybe an element of noise so actually quite like to hear/see them where as the 6GC just doesn't fit into that category.

Cold starts could be interesting as I do leave the house quite early on occasions but my neighbours have always commented that I have nice cars so hopefully this would just be another car. My bikes were louder!

Where I have my office a chap has an M5 Comp and I always smile when I hear that start and if no-one else is in I'll always watch him disappear up the road.

[liner33]

stewie177 said:

I had the M4 and would regularly get 40mpg+ showing when at 60-70 on the motorway when cruising in the limited speed limit on M6 etc. Once managed 48mpg in cruise control from Oxford to Carlisle, but it was dull.

Servicing wasn't too bad; good quality tyres are key for that engine/chassis, so you cannot scrimp on those.

If you are worried about running costs try the 135/235 platform - the extra cog (v the DCT) and one turbo makes a difference and tune up

Fwiw my 235i averages 26mpg so there isn’t much in it , the B58’s are a little better on fuel apparently

I’m in the market for an M4 I reckon it will cost me about an extra grand a year not including fuel to run over the 2 series

[R33FAL]

Average MPG in my 66 reg M3 Comp over 9600 miles is 21.2MPG. That's predominantly A/B roads and very rarely driving aggressively (always easing off the gas rather than using the brakes where possible, for example).

Still a lot better than my F10 M5 which was getting around 18.2MPG with the same kind of driving or E92 M3 which was on 20.2MPG.

[c3m]

So, I went from a 340i to an M4CP and then back to another 340i MPPSK. Honestly, the 340i MPPSK is the better car for me. Why?

• M4CP has very loud cabin noise (google it, common complaint). Doing 70mph on the motorway, it's just uncomfortable, you really need to turn up the music, having a convo with passengers is possible but not great.
• You really cannot use its power on the public road. The way it picks up speed, you can really only use it for a few seconds at most.
• My M4CP was manual, so fuel economy was terrible but I never really cared about how much it consumes. Note that when pushing on, it will drink quite a bit. On track, it goes below 10mpg.
• It's really not a good track car – it's way too heavy. I put Pagid RSL29 disc pads + braided hoses and that made it acceptable but it ate a set of front tyres over 2 track days. Having said that, I'm not a great track driver, so I tend to overbrake. But I managed to melt the tyres - do some Googling, it's common with the MPSS on track.
• Traction is just not good. Either you will be lighting the rear tyres with traction control turned off or the car will hold back so much, that you're basically using 350bhp. I basically felt robbed of the power because I could never use it fully below 70mph and didn't want to lose my licence going into lightspeed territory on the public road.
• As per the other thread in the forum, BMW Insured Warranty is invalidated if you take the car on track. Keep that in mind.
• It does not sound good from the outside. It's universally agreed that the 340i MPPSK sounds way nicer than the F80/F82.

So, what was great about it?

• Torque. It's awesome, any gear, it just goes.
• Merino leather.
• Manual + rev matching is engaging and fun.
• Last manual M4 RHD.

I only kept the car for 6 months, the shortest I've kept any car. Don't really miss it at all - I was so happy to see it go.

Definitely do an extended test drive, get it on the motorway/A road and over bumpy roads. Be careful of being impressed by the noise inside and the torque - make sure you can live with it on a daily basis.

[ro250]

PorkInsider said:

It's actually the cold start that's particularly loud, whatever the setting, which isn't ideal if you're making an early start and trying to be quiet about it.

They are loud on cold start. Was with a friend a while back who started his car for a tickover on the drive while we caught up and until the revs dropped, it was very loud. I was surprised how brutal it felt on the road - which is a positive in some senses as it felt so powerful. That said, I was considering one as a family car and I have now changed my mind.

I'm interested in the servicing costs too. So is the c. £1000 service every 2 years? I guess the price to pay for an M car but that is quite a hit.