Buy now or wait a year for decent depreciation?

[Strocky]

Had my eye on a second hand BMW M240i X-Drive however they've only dropped to around £35/38k from their £48k RRP (which is fair given they only came out in 2022 and are seen as better than the prev M2 generation)

My original plan was to keep my M135i for another year then hope the 240i has dropped to nearer the £25/28k margin however my M135i it's getting long in the tooth at 10 years old and now is prob the best time to cash in at around £10k

However I'm looking at scratching an itch for a full fat M car but looking for one that won't drop £10k depreciation in a year and would be easy to sell or trade in when I go for the M240i down the line

Any suggestions for a M Car with 4 seats that would fit the above (I'd be looking at a budget of £25/27k)
I'm minded to go down the BMW AUC route because of potential moneypit bills on a full fat M but appreciate that is going to limit my options

Or am I better just biting the bullet and getting the 240i now (I can just about stretch the funds for it)

[boxxer7]

Might be worth looking for a M2 or M4, the M2's took a hit over the last 18 months or so, I got rid of my M2C at just the right time.

OG M2s are quite attractive price wise 23k seems to get you one on 60,000 miles. spend a bit more and get less miles etc.

You might think its to similar to your current car but they are very different I went from a 235, really enjoyed the M2

[fflump]

Strocky said:

Had my eye on a second hand BMW M240i X-Drive however they've only dropped to around £35/38k from their £48k RRP (which is fair given they only came out in 2022 and are seen as better than the prev M2 generation)

My original plan was to keep my M135i for another year then hope the 240i has dropped to nearer the £25/28k margin however my M135i it's getting long in the tooth at 10 years old and now is prob the best time to cash in at around £10k

However I'm looking at scratching an itch for a full fat M car but looking for one that won't drop £10k depreciation in a year and would be easy to sell or trade in when I go for the M240i down the line

Any suggestions for a M Car with 4 seats that would fit the above (I'd be looking at a budget of £25/27k)
I'm minded to go down the BMW AUC route because of potential moneypit bills on a full fat M but appreciate that is going to limit my options

Or am I better just biting the bullet and getting the 240i now (I can just about stretch the funds for it)

You could get yourself a used approved M4 more or less in budget that will be on a flattish part of the depreciation curve.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407272...

Others outside the dealer network will be cheaper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408293...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407222...

I'm not sure you'd want to go backwards from there to a M-lite though?

[Strocky]

boxxer7 said:

Might be worth looking for a M2 or M4, the M2's took a hit over the last 18 months or so, I got rid of my M2C at just the right time.

OG M2s are quite attractive price wise 23k seems to get you one on 60,000 miles. spend a bit more and get less miles etc.

You might think its to similar to your current car but they are very different I went from a 235, really enjoyed the M2

Yep had sort of discounted a M2 given my current car and that the future M240i was basically as quick
Beginning to think about a M4 or a 650i 6 Series Gran Coupe (although they are quite rare)

[Strocky]

fflump said:

You could get yourself a used approved M4 more or less in budget that will be on a flattish part of the depreciation curve.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407272...

Others outside the dealer network will be cheaper.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408293...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407222...

I'm not sure you'd want to go backwards from there to a M-lite though?

Thanks for the links, you might be right, the main difference if I do "downgrade" is the new M240i has the newer dash displays while the older cars won't be different from my M135i

[resolve10]

Strocky said:

Thanks for the links, you might be right, the main difference if I do "downgrade" is the new M240i has the newer dash displays while the older cars won't be different from my M135i

It totally depends what your priorities as to what constitutes an 'upgrade' or 'downgrade'. Do you value a having a newer car with latest tech & design? Or would you rather have the best car to drive for your budget? If you can work out your answer to that question, then finding the right car should be the easy part.

[Jamescrs]

I am a big M car fan and I love my F82 M4, the problem is OP given your circumstances is that if you were to buy an AUC M4 and trade it in 12 months later for the new M240i you are going to take a bath on the depreciation.

I bought my F82 M4 a year ago as AUC and paid near enough 28k for it, if I wanted to trade it in now at the same dealer they would offer me circa 20k for it and based on what they sell similar cars for would list it at £24-25k. Whilst I don't see it losing the same again in the next 12 months, appreciating I bought at the peak of the market at the time i'm sure another couple thousand could come off so you could easily lose 6-7k in a 12 month period on an M car from a main dealer.

I'm not overly fussed by the depreciation personally as I love my car and no intentions of selling for years but in your position OP I wouldn't recommend it just to scratch an itch, either stick with what you have or make the jump to the car you really want.

[Strocky]

Jamescrs said:

I am a big M car fan and I love my F82 M4, the problem is OP given your circumstances is that if you were to buy an AUC M4 and trade it in 12 months later for the new M240i you are going to take a bath on the depreciation.

I bought my F82 M4 a year ago as AUC and paid near enough 28k for it, if I wanted to trade it in now at the same dealer they would offer me circa 20k for it and based on what they sell similar cars for would list it at £24-25k. Whilst I don't see it losing the same again in the next 12 months, appreciating I bought at the peak of the market at the time i'm sure another couple thousand could come off so you could easily lose 6-7k in a 12 month period on an M car from a main dealer.

I'm not overly fussed by the depreciation personally as I love my car and no intentions of selling for years but in your position OP I wouldn't recommend it just to scratch an itch, either stick with what you have or make the jump to the car you really want.

Aye that's what I was worrying about, TBH might just go for a cheap one year lease and get the M240i next year
Don't really want to be running a 8 to 9 year old M car with the potential big bills around the corner

[Strocky]

So looks like I'm in the market for M4 Competition that doesn't hit the luxury VED
If I went for the M240i I'd be getting hit for £600 a year for the next 3 years

Edited by Strocky on Tuesday 10th September 14:16

[Pablo16v]

Won't an older M4 Comp have higher running costs though, meaning the tax savings could easily be wiped out.

[Strocky]

Pablo16v said:

Won't an older M4 Comp have higher running costs though, meaning the tax savings could easily be wiped out.

A fair point however I think from a value proposition the M4 or M6 Gran Coupe at £25k+ is a better bet as I've always wanted a full fat M car

The £10k+ savings can be used to ensure the older car is well maintained and serviced