Does 3 into 1 go?

[Muzzman]

I have three cars plus the family wagon.

They're all rubbish old BMW's but i think they're great individually but i'm thinking that the cost of keeping them all on the road is daft. There's always something to pay for. I was thinking of selling them all and getting one car that can do it all. Any thoughts what would fit the bill.

Cars:

2005 e63 630i Manual, 68,000 miles - £5,500 (that's what i've been offered)

2001 e46 325ti Compact - 3.0 engine, GAZ Gold coilovers, e36 m3 exhaust manifold, e36 m3 wheels, sticky tyres. Really i've just got it for planned annual trips to Nurburgring with the lads, done 1.5 trackdays, was built about 800 miles ago - £4,000 maybe

1988 e30 320i 4 door Manual, 85,000 miles. Nice example, new suspension, 15" BBS, 1980's beige with beige leather- £5,500.

So that's roughly £15k.

E46 M3 springs to mind as i could do with 4 seats but i hate the SMG, i've had one before and manuals seem a bit out of the price range for a decent one

Porsche 996 c2, again too much for a decent one.

Did think new Toyota GR86, lump down bit of finance but all sold out.

Nothings really jumping out at me. Any suggestions?

Edited by Muzzman on Saturday 23 July 08:02

[Leins]

Random one, but what about a MINI GP1?

I’ve owned similar to a few cars on your owned/want list, and I find the R53 more fun than them all. You may want more than two seats or RWD though

[MikeM6]

Is there an option to convert an SMG to a manual? That could get you into an E46 M3 cheaper.

[Muzzman]

Leins said:

Random one, but what about a MINI GP1?

I’ve owned similar to a few cars on your owned/want list, and I find the R53 more fun than them all. You may want more than two seats or RWD though

I owned a 260hp Mini R56, it was truly the worse car i've ever owned, that has put me off of Mini's i'm afraid. I do probably need four seats, even if they're only token ones. Keep the wife off my back for the occassional kid job.

[Muzzman]

MikeM6 said:

Is there an option to convert an SMG to a manual? That could get you into an E46 M3 cheaper.

There is, but i can't remember how much. I know converting a BMW M6 to manual is £6k, it was one of my mental ideas but the thought of the v10 going bang put me off.

[pb8g09]

Think I’d rather have what you own than any of the suggestions you’ve made really. Unless I could man maths it all into an M240i?

[RoVoFob]

Muzzman said:

I have three cars plus the family wagon.

2005 e63 630i Manual, 68,000 miles - £5,500 (that's what i've been offered)

2001 e46 325ti Compact - 3.0 engine, GAZ Gold coilovers, e36 m3 exhaust manifold, e36 m3 wheels, sticky tyres. Really i've just got it for planned annual trips to Nurburgring with the lads, done 1.5 trackdays, was built about 800 miles ago - £4,000 maybe

1988 e30 320i 4 door Manual, 85,000 miles. Nice example, new suspension, 15" BBS, 1980's beige with beige leather- £5,500.

Nothings really jumping out at me. Any suggestions?

Serial BMWist here…

You seem to have a refined and comfy - but manual - cruiser, a sharper track car and a classic with nice colours. There seems a lot of overlap.

My one-car solution to that would be a 130i LE. You get to keep the lovely 630i engine and manual combo, have a car that is lighter and sharper than that and the standard 325ti and has a standout colour combo with a light interior like the 320i. And if you go for a non-LE 130i, the option of four passenger doors. Mine’s on Bilstein B12 suspension and I find it more than sharp enough to be fun, while remaining decently comfy.

I had a 325ti previously and three 130is since and much prefer the newer car. I’ve often toyed with the idea of an E46 M3 or 996, and while I’m sure they’re better sports cars in a number of ways, a decent 130i is less than half the price, costs little to run and is more usable on the road.

What’s the family wagon - does that affect which fun car is right for you?

[Muzzman]

pb8g09 said:

Think I’d rather have what you own than any of the suggestions you’ve made really. Unless I could man maths it all into an M240i?

They do look very nice in the orange

[Muzzman]

RoVoFob said:

What’s the family wagon - does that affect which fun car is right for you?

What's an LE? Hadn't thought of those.

The family car is a 66 plate Citroen Grand Picasso. Whatever the top one is with panoramic roof etc.

Again, keep thinking of changing that but we've had it from new and only done 30k miles, it ticks a lot of family wagon boxes

[cerb4.5lee]

pb8g09 said:

Think I’d rather have what you own than any of the suggestions you’ve made really. Unless I could man maths it all into an M240i?

The M235i/M240i will be a great all round car I agree, but i'm another one who would probably stick with what the OP has got already though.

[cerb4.5lee]

Do you need 4 seats OP? If not what about a 350Z/370Z or a Z4M/Boxster/Cayman?

[Muzzman]

cerb4.5lee said:

Do you need 4 seats OP? If not what about a 350Z/370Z or a Z4M/Boxster/Cayman?

The kids are 6 & 8 so always good to have the option if the missus is doing something else. Although no reason why she couldn't take the two seater.

I do need to get golf clubs in the boot.

[Pistonheader101]

M140i

[Edible Roadkill]

Few grand on top would put you in a E90 M3, manual - V8 I think that’s where I’d be going.

Left field option - B7 RS4

[Muzzman]

I just ran the idea past the missus and she reckons that give it a year and i'd only buy another e30 so why don't i just keep the e30, sell two and buy one with the proceeds but then that's £10k and makes the choice of what to get even more limited.

[RoVoFob]

Muzzman said:

What's an LE? Hadn't thought of those.

The family car is a 66 plate Citroen Grand Picasso. Whatever the top one is with panoramic roof etc.

Again, keep thinking of changing that but we've had it from new and only done 30k miles, it ticks a lot of family wagon boxes

It’s a one-of-160 limited edition three-door model with dark blue/black paintwork, silver exterior trim, unique alloys and a ‘lemon’ leather interior, plus uprated speakers, sat-nav and some other options. Like this:




Jason Barker buys and sells lots of them:
https://www.jasonbarker.co.uk/listings/bmw-130i-m-...

Sounds like your sensible car is pretty sensible then, which opens up lots of second car options.

[Muzzman]

RoVoFob said:

Muzzman said:

What's an LE? Hadn't thought of those.

The family car is a 66 plate Citroen Grand Picasso. Whatever the top one is with panoramic roof etc.

Again, keep thinking of changing that but we've had it from new and only done 30k miles, it ticks a lot of family wagon boxes

It’s a one-of-160 limited edition three-door model with dark blue/black paintwork, silver exterior trim, unique alloys and a ‘lemon’ leather interior, plus uprated speakers, sat-nav and some other options. Like this:




Jason Barker buys and sells lots of them:
https://www.jasonbarker.co.uk/listings/bmw-130i-m-...

Sounds like your sensible car is pretty sensible then, which opens up lots of second car options.

How much did that go for? Interesting spec with the Quaife LSD etc

[RoVoFob]

Muzzman said:

How much did that go for? Interesting spec with the Quaife LSD etc

I don’t know. He charges reasonably high prices but does make sure cars are up to standard. I sold my second 130i to him and think he addressed a number of small issues before advertising the car. It was up for around £2,000 more than he bought it for, though…

The only 130i live on the site was up for £8,995, but that has an unusually good spec, including some BMW Performance bits:
https://www.jasonbarker.co.uk/listings/bmw-130i-m-...

Alternatively, you could upgrade your 325ti with a track-centric 130i:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325265781128?hash=item4...

[Muzzman]

RoVoFob said:

Alternatively, you could upgrade your 325ti with a track-centric 130i:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325265781128?hash=item4...

Then i still end up with three cars but another £6k out of pocket. The 325ti i've got has a 3.0 in it and performs pretty well on track. It's just i'mnot using it.

Not sure how they sourced a low mileage 1 series but now it has 150k on the clock, that's a lot of track work :-)

[Muzzman]

Edible Roadkill said:

Few grand on top would put you in a E90 M3, manual - V8 I think that’s where I’d be going.

Left field option - B7 RS4

I do like the E90 M3