Get the BMW if you can afford to get it serviced correctly, the parts when it needs work, and 15mpg round town. If you're only spending 9 grand on one, it'll need plenty doing to it at some stage.

Edited 24 March, 201016 yr by Irvtheswerv

I'd say BMW too.

More than enough grunt to tow a caravan, pay decent money and you'll have a good low-ish miles one thats been looked after, and there's no reason why it shouldn't last you many years.

Having a side-interest in horticulture helps if you want to be a Beemer owner .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/10/cracked_bmw_alloy_wheels_alter.html

Nick

That's a really difficult one.

I would say don't go with your head or your heart, go with your gut.

That just gets queezy thinking about it

I do have the ST220 as a 'reasonable' third choice, but I feel myself more drawn towards the Octy than to the Mondeo. However, it would still be falling in the head category

Seems the majority vote tells me to follow my heart... can't argue with the majority

How big/heavy is the snail shell?

How big/heavy is the snail shell?

I have no idea. Will find out next week, but for now I am assuming both are able to comfortably bring it to a sunny campsite in France somewhere

I found BMW parts to be a reasonable price in all the years

I owned them.

Does it have to be one singular car?

Could get something boring to tow and something fast to amuse you ?

Does it have to be one singular car?

Could get something boring to tow and something fast to amuse you ?

Yes, as we only do about 6K miles between us, having two cars on the drive makes no financial sense... twice the RFL's, twice the MOTs, twice the insurance, twice the servicing... the running costs would far outweigh the benefits.

BMW every time. I had the head / heart dilema between a V8 S4 and a mazda6 MPS. The Mazda won and I regretted it.

Then it was 335i touring Vs something diesely. The Beemer won and it was the best decision Ive made in years.

Go with the M5 and have it LPG'd

Funnily enough I currently have a 123D which was bought with my heart over the X-Trail that I nearly bought with my head (perhaps I should have bought it with money?). Anyway I am currently looking a buying a new car, but this time with my head, not my heart………go figure

Guess what... heart all the way!

More pictures when I've collected it, and pampered it for a day

Nice! My mate got one about 8 months ago and has just sold it again. Reason was it was 3 times the price of the 740 he also has, but was not 3 times the car, so the M5 has gone and the 740 kept.

Fuel economy was pretty shocking generally and it had a fair few niggles. He had to change the clutch which wasn't an easy job and there were quite a few niggles with sensors and the like which meant it was < 300bhp when he got it, Thankfully got it up to a dyno proven 395bhp before selling it on again.

Based on his experiences I would say go with the M5 for a year, and then follow the head.

Lovely.

I adore that shape of 5 Series.

Im very jealous

Guess what... heart all the way!

Good Man

You badass!!!

Is that an M5?

It most certainly is!

Am collecting it tomorrow evening, so I'll post up some proper pics when I've pampered it (and visited my local petrol station about 3 times )

Very nice! I'm impressed. Heart all the way!

Pics are here: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/161215-my-m5/