Need ideas/thoughts - Switching from an F10 M5

[shadowedition]

So as the title states I’m looking to maybe let go of my F10 M5 and buying something a bit more sensible.

Little summary - I bought a 2015 F10 M5 about 2 years ago with 30k miles before car prices jacked up (approx £29k from BMW AUC). At the time my job involved minimal commuting - I was maybe covering 150-200 miles max a week.

As of last September my job was shifted and my weekly mileage changed to anywhere from 300-500 miles a week so I bought a small diesel for work and it’s been covering the grunt of my mileage - it’s a small 1.6 TDI golf. My F10 has basically been parked for most of the year and I’ve just used it sparingly on weekends and the odd week at work when my Golf was in for service etc.

Now with the boom in car prices again I’m being offered decent money to part ways with my M5 (£25k and it’s now on 47k miles).

The issue is the M5 has literally been my dream car and there’s still loads of stuff I want to do with it like take it to Europe/Germany but with the current petrol prices the running costs are starting to get a bit out of hand and having a £25k weekend toy is a bit silly imo, and if I used it daily I’d be saving nothing each month lol.

So I’ve been looking at downgrading and have convinced myself that a 335d touring would be a reasonable daily and I could even get rid of the golf at this point. Even considered an S4 avant but they’re a bit rarer and prices are a bit more steep as I’d only get rid of the M5 for something cheaper. Found a decent 335d touring with 62k miles for a good price and I’ve sort of convinced myself that I just need a car that’s punchy and will run the next 60k miles until I finish this job and assess my options in 4 years or so. Plus something I could take to Europe any time of year/have fun road trips etc.

What are people’s thoughts? I’m happy driving the golf but it would be nice having a fast 4wd that I could use when I have a family and using it daily. Just having a hard time letting go of the M5 as it’s literally my dream car and ticks all the boxes (except that it’s not 4wd and I can’t take it skiing in the alps).

I’ve also considered 340i but the lack of 4wd and tbh the similar real world fuel efficiency is putting me off. C43 estate and other 4wd sub-5-second estates are also outside my budget of circa £20k.

Do I sell the M5 and get the 335d xdrive with 62k miles? And what are peoples thoughts on B8.5 S4 avants with >50k miles?

[Belle427]

If its a dream car I'd try and hang on to it for a few more years and use on weekends.
If you can afford it chop the golf in for something a little more interesting like an older 330d or a wafty Merc.

[jdoubleu]

I'm just throwing this in there, but it is easy to ignore depreciation in longer term calcs. Hypothetically, it is possible for a more thirsty petrol car to make financial sense if it holds its value significantly better than a fairly run of the mill diesel. Surely a nicely kept M5 will hit the bottom of its depreciation a lot sooner than a 335d. Plus - the M5 goes vrrrm vrrrm!

[Superflow]

Lexus Gsf

[ninjag]

The S4 Avant B8.5 is a great all-round car and can see anything from 35-38mpg and even higher if driving very carefully on a long trip. But it's not really suited for daily long commutes with spirited driving eating into the economy causing it to drop to anywhere below 30mpg. If that doesn't bother you then it's a fun car to drive with scary good traction. The B&O sound system is good (not as good as the Meridian Surround in the Jag) and if you do go for one try and make sure it's a late 2014 or 2015 with the CREC engine as it introduced MPI which solved the valve carbon issue and increased fuel efficiency (along with an electromagnetic clutch for the s/c and other improvements).

But personally, I would keep the Golf and the M5 and maybe use the M5 every now and then for commuting, perhaps on quieter and very hot days when the tarmac is nice and sticky?

[ZX10R NIN]

If the M5 is your dream car then I'd be inclined to keep it, where you're doing so few miles in it the depreciation hit will be lower & the maintenance costs will be lighter.

If you want a do it all car then I'd be looking along the lines of a 5 series/E Class in 3.0d form both will depreciate more than your M% as both will be having 300-500 miles added to them a week & may well cost more in maintenance than the Golf & M5 put together.

Also if you're going to go down the diesel route why do you need AWD? Yes they have torque but nothing that would hinder progress on a wet road & they'll also use less fuel than their AWD offerings.

Saying all of the above these would be where I'd be looking.

E350d AMG Line Premium: Very good cars that eat miles for fun & are a nice place to be too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

530d M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204265...

535d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

A6 Black Edition 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

S Line 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205085...

Leftfield.

CLS 350d AMG Line Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206126...

530d GT M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206166...

A7 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

[raspy]

It's your dream car. Don't abandon your dreams. I would suggest investing your time in upskilling and finding a job that pays more.

[shadowedition]

ZX10R NIN said:

If the M5 is your dream car then I'd be inclined to keep it, where you're doing so few miles in it the depreciation hit will be lower & the maintenance costs will be lighter.

If you want a do it all car then I'd be looking along the lines of a 5 series/E Class in 3.0d form both will depreciate more than your M% as both will be having 300-500 miles added to them a week & may well cost more in maintenance than the Golf & M5 put together.

Also if you're going to go down the diesel route why do you need AWD? Yes they have torque but nothing that would hinder progress on a wet road & they'll also use less fuel than their AWD offerings.

Saying all of the above these would be where I'd be looking.

E350d AMG Line Premium: Very good cars that eat miles for fun & are a nice place to be too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204275...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204164...

530d M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204265...

535d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

A6 Black Edition 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

S Line 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205085...

Leftfield.

CLS 350d AMG Line Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206126...

530d GT M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206166...

A7 272:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

Wow really thorough response, appreciate it.

My reasoning for wanting AWD is that I want a do it all car - will probably be having a family in the next couple years and want something i can go skiing in without being worried about getting stuck on mountain roads. I guess even if i got an S4/335d I would still use the golf every 3-4 weeks to ease the heavy miles on whichever car I have. Plus because the Golf isn't ULEZ it's a bit of a headache having to take that into consideration every time I'm going into London (every fortnight). But yeh I see what you mean. Hadn't thought much of merc but the ones you sent look stunning. Guess the reason I'm obsessed with 335d is that dropping from an M5 I still want an 'M-lite' car lol.

[shadowedition]

jdoubleu said:

I'm just throwing this in there, but it is easy to ignore depreciation in longer term calcs. Hypothetically, it is possible for a more thirsty petrol car to make financial sense if it holds its value significantly better than a fairly run of the mill diesel. Surely a nicely kept M5 will hit the bottom of its depreciation a lot sooner than a 335d. Plus - the M5 goes vrrrm vrrrm!

The 'vrrrrm vrrrrm' is the reason this is so hard lol.

[ZX10R NIN]

shadowedition said:

Wow really thorough response, appreciate it.

My reasoning for wanting AWD is that I want a do it all car - will probably be having a family in the next couple years and want something i can go skiing in without being worried about getting stuck on mountain roads. I guess even if i got an S4/335d I would still use the golf every 3-4 weeks to ease the heavy miles on whichever car I have. Plus because the Golf isn't ULEZ it's a bit of a headache having to take that into consideration every time I'm going into London (every fortnight). But yeh I see what you mean. Hadn't thought much of merc but the ones you sent look stunning. Guess the reason I'm obsessed with 335d is that dropping from an M5 I still want an 'M-lite' car lol.

There are plenty of RWD cars that drive to the Alps with ease you just have to have the right (which you'll have to fit even on an AWD car) tyres on, everything I listed was ULEZ/CAZ compliant so no more having to plan your journeys

If you're buying a do it all car then you don't need to keep the Golf, just use the car you bought to do it all! Don't worry about the depreciation those cars will see another 100k+ without any huge (personally changing the oil every 10k is a help) issues & keeping them that long also mitigates the depreciation.

As family cars if you get out of a 3/C Class & go to the 5/E Class there's a proper step up (not just interior wise but also in ride & body control) & having the M5 you'll know what I mean.

The (I'll don my flame suit) 335d isn't M Lite I personally find the ride in the Xdrive cars a bit off but that's my personal opinion, but I do find the 330d the better steer out of the two but prefer the overall ride & drive of the 5 Series.

The ultimate would be a D3/D5 estate but they're way out of budget & very scarce.

Personally I prefer the E class but the 5 series is also a good pick, tbh there are no bad options (all the above are good cars) at this size/spec of car, just personal preference.

Hope this helps.

[MarkJS]

Keep the M5 (especially as it’s your dream car) or get a 340i with a separate set of winter wheels.

A 335 x-drive or S4 Avant sitting on OEM standard tyres won’t keep you unstuck on a mountain pass heading for the ski slopes. Most cars on winter tyres will.

One last thing - the S4 is duller to drive than the 340i IME.

[Nelka]

I’d drive the 335d as it may kill the idea dead. I hated mine, it was like driving a pogo stick. It’s in no way an M-lite!

[griffter]

shadowedition said:

My reasoning for wanting AWD is that I want a do it all car - will probably be having a family in the next couple years and want something i can go skiing in

Sorry to be boring but IME do it all cars do nothing well.
Wait til you have a family to buy a family car. Again IME opportunities to use performance with the family on board are few and far between and anyway your priorities will change…

Keep the M5 for now.

[shadowedition]

Little update for you all.

Took a well spec'd 335d xdrive for a spin this morning. Really nice car in fairness but a huge step down from being inside a 5 series. The drive was...fine. Took it on some country roads and it gripped well and all but yes i can see why people tell me it's no "m-lite".

Definitely was rapid though. Will probably test drive a few more estates and see if anything gives me a buzz. As it stands, unless I'm making decent financial savings I'm gonna stick to the M5.

Will keep all posted.

[ninjag]

shadowedition said:

Little update for you all.

Took a well spec'd 335d xdrive for a spin this morning. Really nice car in fairness but a huge step down from being inside a 5 series. The drive was...fine. Took it on some country roads and it gripped well and all but yes i can see why people tell me it's no "m-lite".

Definitely was rapid though. Will probably test drive a few more estates and see if anything gives me a buzz. As it stands, unless I'm making decent financial savings I'm gonna stick to the M5.

Will keep all posted.

I found with my F30 330d x drive it was a great engine but steering was a bit wooly (same with a colleague's 330d), felt a little swaying on straights as well although x drive did have a lot of grip. Felt small inside and a big step down from the 530d I had as a loaner. Dash lighting and binnacles all felt dated.

I think you'll regret giving up the M5 and as already said wait until you have a family before deciding.

[covmutley]

Surely you have a perfect 2 car garage considering your mileage? A golf to put the miles on and to minimise the m5 depreciation.

[Mr Tidy]

If the M5 is your dream car I'd just stick with what you have so you can keep it.

But make a point of driving it now and again just to remind yourself why it's your dream car!

[shadowedition]

Soo little update.

Had my eyes on a B8.5 S4 Avant and been regularly scrolling through autotrader. Finally got my hands on one and will be test driving it this weekend. Financially kinda' makes sense to let go of my F10 with the current boom in prices and the potential savings (insurance/road tax/service prices literally half).

Basically if the S4 delivers 75% of the smiles of the M5 that will be the decision made to sell and swap into the avant.

[ninjag]

shadowedition said:

Soo little update.

Had my eyes on a B8.5 S4 Avant and been regularly scrolling through autotrader. Finally got my hands on one and will be test driving it this weekend. Financially kinda' makes sense to let go of my F10 with the current boom in prices and the potential savings (insurance/road tax/service prices literally half).

Basically if the S4 delivers 75% of the smiles of the M5 that will be the decision made to sell and swap into the avant.

There's one on Auto Trader that I'm even keen to trade mine in for as it's a late 2014 so has the CREC engine and it's fully loaded - in particular with adaptive cruise, but also a ton of other stuff.

[shadowedition]

The red one? Kinda' high on the mileage though.