To sell or not to sell my F80

[Leakhana]

I have a 2015 M3, and it’s paid off. It’s in great condition and I have maintained it well; all on-time oil changes, new spark plugs, new tires. Reasons why I’m thinking of selling is that I am expecting twins, and I just bought a Land Cruiser. I love my M3, it’s a great fun car. With the new generation M3/M4 looking the way they do...I mean, I personally don’t think they’re attractive. Is it worth keeping in hopes that it may be worth a lot later on? What would you do?

Edit 1/12/21
Thank you everyone for your responses and well wishes. I think I will hold on to my car for a little bit longer because it really is an enjoyable car to drive. I don’t like my husband driving it because he drives it hard. However, I need to be okay with it so that it’s worth keeping. Both of us need to get enjoyment out of it. Maybe I’ll need it postpartum. I’m hearing that this car is still very functional as a family car. For those in the same boat, if it’s simply maintenance you have to do, you know it’s still a little pricey. I mostly use it for errands, the beach, and driving a couple miles to work.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by Leakhana

I have a 2015 M3, and it’s paid off. It’s in great condition and I have maintained it well; all on-time oil changes, new spark plugs, new tires. Reasons why I’m thinking of selling is that I am expecting twins, and I just bought a Land Cruiser. I love my M3, it’s a great fun car. Is it worth keeping in hopes that bit may be worth a lot later on? What would you do?

I don't think it'll ever be worth a lot of money but the memories you could make in it with the kids... priceless.

Congrats on the expecting. I have a 3 week old daughter myself.

[jpy1980]

Bruh throw on the EL midpipes and take it for a drive when the wife gives you a moment to escape.

I have a toddler and 6 month old and if I didn’t have an escape, I’d go nuts. Trust.

Unless you can sell it for a more dedicated sports car but not sure what you want or can get that’s wife approved. Also my two kids fit perfectly with my wife and baby bags and stroller in the trunk. It’s a family car too!

[Leakhana]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Bruh throw on the EL midpipes and take it for a drive when the wife gives you a moment to escape.

I have a toddler and 6 month old and if I didn’t have an escape, I’d go nuts. Trust.

Unless you can sell it for a more dedicated sports car but not sure what you want or can get that’s wife approved. Also my two kids fit perfectly with my wife and baby bags and stroller in the trunk. It’s a family car too!

Lol! I am the wife. It’s my car. I absolutely love it and worked my butt off to buy it. It’s definitely something I am proud of because I think it’s beautiful. I mean, I look good driving it haha. Good point on it being an escape, and good to know everyone can fit in the car. I’m a nurse, and my job can be high-stress but once I get in that car everything just melts away.

[Leakhana]

Originally Posted by dmk08

I don't think it'll ever be worth a lot of money but the memories you could make in it with the kids... priceless.

Congrats on the expecting. I have a 3 week old daughter myself.

Congrats to you too!! You make a good point that it would be fun to drive the kids in it, but that’ll be in quite a few years.

I guess my reservation is that they don’t make M3’s like the F80 and I know I won’t get another car like it.

[RowanBuds]

IMO the used market right now is the hottest we've seen in a generation, and along with that your F80 is worth more than it will ever be - most likely anyway.

I don't know if you bought the car new but if so, depending on your current mileage, you're probably at the end of the steep depreciation curve segments (i.e, 10-20k miles/1-2 year old , 25-35k miles or so and 3-4 years old, then 5 years old) where you generally will start to equalize on the dropoff cliffs.

I have a 15 myself and my prevailing thought is that holding it another 3-4 years in reality it shouldn't cost me too much money to do so. Mine has 34k on it, fyi.

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by Leakhana

Lol! I am the wife. It’s my car. I absolutely love it and worked my butt off to buy it. It’s definitely something I am proud of because I think it’s beautiful. I mean, I look good driving it haha. Good point on it being an escape, and good to know everyone can fit in the car. I’m a nurse, and my job can be high-stress but once I get in that car everything just melts away.

Whoa! Mea culpa on my assumptions! I’m always trying to commiserate with other dads who are in similar situations that I never would’ve “thunk!”

Yet my words still apply. I bought my wife a Q7 which get the brunt of the family duty, but when it’s my time with the kids, they ride in Daddy’s race car. It’ll be doubly cool for your kids to ride in Mommy’s space ship! Although, with the lack of free time my wife gets between the kids, a nagging husband and work, she would never have the time to enjoy the car, if she were in your position. Tough choice. I say keep if, if the finances allow and then take it out for grocery and quick chore duty when you feel comfortable taking the kids in the car. Just lower the tire psi by a pound or two to soften the ride quality or throw on the OEM 18 inch wheels with the 40 profile tires for buttery soft yet sporty feeling Car.

Also can you call my wife and tell her that the M3 isnt a POS and that I couldn’t grow Up? Kthnxbye

[bsmf8x]

100% keep it, kids are stressful & a M car is a stress reliever. Reliability will be fine if you're stock. If you tune get the hub done.

[Leakhana]

Originally Posted by RowanBuds

IMO the used market right now is the hottest we've seen in a generation, and along with that your F80 is worth more than it will ever be - most likely anyway.

I don't know if you bought the car new but if so, depending on your current mileage, you're probably at the end of the steep depreciation curve segments (i.e, 10-20k miles/1-2 year old , 25-35k miles or so and 3-4 years old, then 5 years old) where you generally will start to equalize on the dropoff cliffs.

I have a 15 myself and my prevailing thought is that holding it another 3-4 years in reality it shouldn't cost me too much money to do so. Mine has 34k on it, fyi.

Thank you for the advice on the depreciation. I looked up what private sellers and dealers are selling similar to mine for, with higher mileage than mine, and they’re asking for a good amount of money.

[IVM3]

I'd highly recommend keeping the car and waiting at least a year to decide what you really want or need. One of the biggest mistakes I made was overreacting when I when is expecting a kid and thinking I needed much more room than necessary. I agree that going on drives in the f80 is a great stress reliever. Congrats on the twins!

[2011ninja]

Congratulations 🎉 on the twins!!!!!

The only reason to buy an M3 is because you enjoy driving; that's it!


If i was not driving an M3 I'd be driving a Toyota Camry.

Cause if I'm not driving an M3 everything else is a beater.

[fiveohwblow]

Congrats on the twins from a fellow twin parent. Geeeeeeet ready LOL.

As for the car, with twins the wife and I found it was necessary to go out and relieve stress and would usually trade weeks. One Friday I would go with friends, another she would. The rest of the time was spent at home together. If you don’t have activities around the car that relieves stress, it may not be as beneficial as the cash. Do you go to cars and coffee? Canyon runs? Long drives with the windows down?

[JagR2611]

Originally Posted by Leakhana

I have a 2015 M3, and it’s paid off. It’s in great condition and I have maintained it well; all on-time oil changes, new spark plugs, new tires. Reasons why I’m thinking of selling is that I am expecting twins, and I just bought a Land Cruiser. I love my M3, it’s a great fun car. With the new generation M3/M4 looking the way they do...I mean, I personally don’t think they’re attractive. Is it worth keeping in hopes that it may be worth a lot later on? What would you do?

Great question - I agree with your opinion and find myself thinking about the same thing.

Looking forward to all of the responses.

[N1rve]

Right now is the best time to sell if you want to move into something else.

I tried to sell my 2019 M4 this past month and I would have to say the depreciation isn’t much at all! I can literally pay off my car and sell it at a profit. One that stopped me was that this car is too awesome to give up. I couldn’t let it go. 😁

[///MB ///M3]

Congratulations on the twins! Fellow F80 owner with 2 kids under 2...don't overthink it, just keep it if you could afford to. It's a true family car when you need it to be and a toy when you want to let loose and have a little fun. I literally find any excuse to "escape" in it and help the wife out with running errands (groceries, Target runs, post office, whatever!) My son absolutely loves tagging along with me. Every-time he sees my car in the garage, he says, "daddy boo(blue) car, whoa!". The Memories are priceless...

You might mind yourself not driving it for a little while after you have the the kids but don't overreact and sell it! You will be itching to drive it in no time!

[agentrnge]

Ive heard so many times that people regret selling their "fun" car when kids come along. If you have the means to keep it, keep it. Its also not that impractical. Long term value, a well cared for f80 M3 will probably bottom out around $30k even if you hang on to it for another 15 years. You are basically just paying insurance, maintenance and a teeny tiny amount of depreciation per year at this point. Its like leasing a yaris, except it doesnt suck. Congrats on the twins!

[scoale]

It's not going to be worth more later on; used prices are artificially high now. Will the M be parked outside with the addition of the Land Cruiser? I would keep unless something comes along you like better. I've bought and sold enough cars to learn to keep the ones I'm happy with.

[m3elmo]

OP - my philosophy is the best car is the car you use.

If you feel with the twins coming you'll use the M3 a lot as your driver then keep it, if you know you won't use it, then sell it. You're required to rear face your children for at least 2 years, totally doable in the M3 and the trunk is large enough. The land cruiser will be bigger for longer trips but the M3 would be a good family DD.

value for a car is only good if you use it. If it drops 20K in 10 years but you put on 100K miles, who cares, if you put on 5K miles then that's a loss to you.

[jd__m4]

I'm not in quite the same situation, but last March I decided to sell my F80 as I was in the process of moving much closer to Philly, and within walking distance of my office. I figured I wouldn't be driving much, so I really didn't have a need for the M3. I picked up a 392 T/A Challenger as I still wanted something somewhat fun, and it was a pretty nice car- good amount of power, loud as shit after a mid muffler delete, and I loved the look.

After having it for 4-5 months, I kept telling my fiance that I missed having the M3. I started casually looking at M4's, and she told me to just get it over with and buy one already, so I did. I lasted 9 months without an M.

So, I'd suggest keeping it.

[RocketBoots]

If you really like the car, think it's fun, have maintained it well, and think the alternatives are less... attractive, I'd keep the car for those reasons alone. Only time will tell how much it's worth later, but it's not a rare car, although it would help to have a more rare spec (6MT, Silverstone, etc). I'd say the decision to keep is easier (with kids) because it's an M3, not an M4. Also, now that you're out of warranty, you don't do 'mods', you do 'maintenance' (eg, shock leaking a little, coilovers; exhaust rattling a bit, new exhaust )

[kchan]

I also say keep it. I also just went through the exercise in buying out my lease.
I have two kids, now teenagers. Back when they were new born, I had a E60, which is probably similar size , with a bigger trunk. A F80 M3 is really more than enough room. My kids also like to poke me through the open slots on the seats, they think it's fun!

I still remember I did a euro pickup of my E60 back in 2006 when my older daughter is 1 year old, now time flies and she's starting to learn driving that car. Recently just dig up some old pictures and compare it to now, just priceless. I think the F80 should have a good reliability and can last you quite some time.

I thought about the new G80, but personally not a fan of the look, and not to mention now it will cost an arm and a leg. I know the tech is newer, it's faster, but I hate to go back and be part of that big depreciation curve. My wife just got a G05, I have to say it's a very nice cruiser, so I can drive that on family trip or just want a relax ride.

[nate704]

Since the current used market is overpriced alot, I would sell the car now and wait it out until your kids get older (~2 year old ish) and get G80 LCI or later.