[richard in NC]

My 2020 M2 Comp is coming to the end of lease. I picked it up April 2019.

With the value of the car, I had planned to buy it out and keep the car for track days and mountain drives. I only put 4,000 miles on it the past year since I have an X3M as a daily and for long trips. This seems to be a lot of ongoing costs for 4K miles. Or I could drive it for a year or more and still sell it for a nice profit.

However, the dealer just offered a nice purchase/buy-out. They basically get the car for a VERY nice check back to me. No new loan required, etc. This is tempting because I'll be retiring this summer and lower monthly outlays would be nice. Or I could put the money into a trailer/RV for travel, or some other old BMW that I've longed for.... From an E30 to an E92 M3...

Should I take advantage of the offer while M2C values are crazy high, or keep the car to enjoy for longer. In the end its my decision but I'm curious what y'all think.

[happyjack]

seems like a pretty straight-forward decision...if it's not your 'forever car' then take the cash and move on.

[BigKutta]

This whole money thing is whacked. It's temporary, and any replacement is also equally inflated (especially an E30 or E92), so let's take that out of the equation. If the size of the check makes a big difference then get rid of the car and take the money. If that leaves a void that needs to be filled by another car, then it doesn't make sense

[W///]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

My 2020 M2 Comp is coming to the end of lease. I picked it up April 2019.

With the value of the car, I had planned to buy it out and keep the car for track days and mountain drives. I only put 4,000 miles on it the past year since I have an X3M as a daily and for long trips. This seems to be a lot of ongoing costs for 4K miles. Or I could drive it for a year or more and still sell it for a nice profit.

However, the dealer just offered a nice purchase/buy-out. They basically get the car for a VERY nice check back to me. No new loan required, etc. This is tempting because I'll be retiring this summer and lower monthly outlays would be nice. Or I could put the money into a trailer/RV for travel, or some other old BMW that I've longed for.... From an E30 to an E92 M3...

Should I take advantage of the offer while M2C values are crazy high, or keep the car to enjoy for longer. In the end its my decision but I'm curious what y'all think.

If you really enjoy your F87 and think it could potentially be a forever car, I'd consider keeping it because you've been the only owner and know how it has been taken care of.

Otherwise, I'd highly consider selling it. While the market for older M's are high, I don't see them going down because quite frankly, these cars don't exist in the new market anymore, and the clean ones will always be sought after. At worse, if you really regret selling the F87, you could realistically get back into one (or G87 even).

It's a tough one because it just depends on personal preference. I personally bought my F87C because I've been following the platform since the prototype days and it has even exceeded my expectations. I really can see this car staying with me for a long long time.

[MooMooM2]

I agree with W///

If you intend to keep it for a long time I would keep it but if its not really your dream car take the money and run and get whatever car you want. I also believe some cars are not going to go back down (maybe a tiny bit bot not crazy amounts), not going to be finding cheap E46s anymore for example. I think the e9x still decently priced and may go up still so maybe a good pick but really depends on what you want because the M2 in a way would be more reliable (you have owned it from new which the same can't be said from buying a used car from someone with many more miles most likely)

[CSBM5]

Richard,

Are you "completely done" with the M2C? Ask this question and see what responses your mind throws at you. You have a rare M2C in that its Sunset Orange, and it's a DCT (never to be seen again, everything in the future from BMW is slushbox automatics or 6MT), and a slicktop. You know its history, and you surely know how it drives in many facets. So are you at the point where you are done with it and don't want to own it out into the future? Has the car outlived its usefulness to you? Only you can really answer that question.

This decision is being forced on you by the lease ending. Throw that aside for the moment. If you had paid cash for the M2C at the beginning, would you sell the car right now for what you can get for it? This is a derivative of the BMWCCA car lottery question (i.e. at O'fest years ago they were giving away an E60 M5, and one person said he'd take the cash offer (car value lowered by the taxes withheld) instead of the car since he didn't want to pay the $25k in taxes. I simply asked him if someone offered him a brand new E60 M5 for $25k, would he buy it, and his reply was absolutely! lol -- reframing the situation often yields a different insight).

I keep cars a really long time for the most part, so for special cars I usually reach a point where I've done everything I ever wanted to do with a car before selling it. I was in year 15 of ownership with my E39 M5 when I reached that point, and while it was in immaculate condition and I knew I'd never find another one in that condition and with my knowledge of its past again, I just knew it was time...by asking that question of myself and just seeing what responses flowed out.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

Richard,

Are you "completely done" with the M2C? Ask this question and see what responses your mind throws at you. You have a rare M2C in that its Sunset Orange, and it's a DCT (never to be seen again, everything in the future from BMW is slushbox automatics or 6MT), and a slicktop. You know its history, and you surely know how it drives in many facets. So are you at the point where you are done with it and don't want to own it out into the future? Has the car outlived its usefulness to you? Only you can really answer that question.

This decision is being forced on you by the lease ending. Throw that aside for the moment. If you had paid cash for the M2C at the beginning, would you sell the car right now for what you can get for it? This is a derivative of the BMWCCA car lottery question (i.e. at O'fest years ago they were giving away an E60 M5, and one person said he'd take the cash offer (car value lowered by the taxes withheld) instead of the car since he didn't want to pay the $25k in taxes. I simply asked him if someone offered him a brand new E60 M5 for $25k, would he buy it, and his reply was absolutely! lol -- reframing the situation often yields a different insight).

I keep cars a really long time for the most part, so for special cars I usually reach a point where I've done everything I ever wanted to do with a car before selling it. I was in year 15 of ownership with my E39 M5 when I reached that point, and while it was in immaculate condition and I knew I'd never find another one in that condition and with my knowledge of its past again, I just knew it was time...by asking that question of myself and just seeing what responses flowed out.

Well put! I dont think I'll ever sell my M2C even if I buy the G87. I was too young to splurge that kind of money when the e46 M3 and the Z3M Coupe came out, and those are 2 special cars that I missed out on (new). I'll drive and enjoy my M2C for a few years and then park it for special occasions eventually.

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

I dont like the idea of putting the money into an RV or trailer. Just rent one when you want to travel. Then you don't have to worry about storing, ownership risk, etc.

But if your heart desires the experience of another car, there is no reason not to sell and buy something else to drive. Life is short, experience everything you can. If that means selling your M2C and buying an E92, so be it. Either way you end up with an awesome M car so there is no wrong answer here.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

Are you "completely done" with the M2C? Ask this question and see what responses your mind throws at you.

This is great advice.

In 2015 I was at 8 years of ownership of my Z4 M Coupe. 56k miles. LOVED that car. Original owner. Never hit/no paint work. But I lusted after an E39 M5 and the only way I'd ever own one was in place of the Z4M. So I had that conversation with myself, not once but many times over the course several months. Finally one day I decided to have the "final" conversation with myself, after which the car was either staying or I was ready to move on. I decided on the latter, and was at peace with the decision - UNTIL IT WAS GONE! To make things worse, I never fell in love with the E39. A lot of like, but no love. So I wound up unloading it a year later. 2 years later I bought another Z4M, its life (with me) to be cut short (2 years) after being hit by a careless driver.

Moral of the story - the M2c is also a very special car, as the Z4M was/is, and there will never be anything quite like it again. This is a big decision. Make sure to make the right one, whichever that may be.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by KevinC

This is great advice.

In 2015 I was at 8 years of ownership of my Z4 M Coupe. 56k miles. LOVED that car. Original owner. Never hit/no paint work. But I lusted after an E39 M5 and the only way I'd ever own one was in place of the Z4M. So I had that conversation with myself, not once but many times over the course several months. Finally one day I decided to have the "final" conversation with myself, after which the car was either staying or I was ready to move on. I decided on the latter, and was at peace with the decision - UNTIL IT WAS GONE! To make things worse, I never fell in love with the E39. A lot of like, but no love. So I wound up unloading it a year later. 2 years later I bought another Z4M, its life (with me) to be cut short (2 years) after being hit by a careless driver.

Moral of the story - the M2c is also a very special car, as the Z4M was/is, and there will never be anything quite like it again. This is a big decision. Make sure to make the right one, whichever that may be.

I agree, I miss my Z4M. It's not as capable as the M2C, but it was just much more connected and fun. Not that the M2C isn't fun, but it's just a different animal.

[IcewaterPete]

I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision you are facing. You’ve gotten some very solid advice already.

I’d ditch the x3 and pocket the cash on that one, but I’m assuming you leased that too. Then I’d take time finding a reasonably priced replacement which could take years now. I’d rent something bigger to haul stuff in the meantime.

Good luck with your decision!

[6speed_M2]

I think the E9x is the M car to have over the comp, especially if it's a manual and a weekend car, but you'll end up breaking even once you get a clean one that has rod bearings done & has enough modifications to be worth getting at all.

It comes down to M2 comp stock (maybe a tune if you're into that) or a clean M3 with mods & maintenance. For a daily, M2. For the track, M2. For fun, M3.

If you could I would consider selling the M2 and getting the new one when orders come in December.

Best of luck!

[Feint]

Sell the X3M. Your M2C will always have a higher resale value because BMW is only going to make them uglier. And used car prices are much higher now, but they will go down. And your M2C will retain its value much better than the X3M will, especially with the miles you aren't putting on.