Trade base F80 for Competition?

[Bt31st]

I have a 2016 F80 non-competition that I ordered new and paid off earlier this year. Had planned on eventually trading it for the G80 but I hate the new look and will never consider getting one now. So my plan is to just keep my F80 for several more years. I got it in June of 2016 and it only has 30k miles. I will put even fewer miles on it now as a daily driver because I work 2 miles from home and don't take it on trips anymore. Probably only putting about 6k miles per year on it going forward max.

So the question is whether it would be worth trading for a slightly newer Competition package F80. Maybe a 2017 or 2018 with the minor upgrades it has. Keep in mind that I will be driving it everyday and will not be going to the track or modding it. I've seen some reviews saying the competition version is much stiffer and not great for daily driving. Of course some would say the same thing about the base model. Also curious about whether the seats in the competition are better aside from just looking different. I guess my question is if I plan to keep it for another 5 years or so, would I prefer to have the best version of this car? Or should I just keep what I have and enjoy having no car payments? Appreciate any advice

[65fastback]

No car payments FTW!

Enjoy your 16

[henrylee]

I think you’re just bored of your car but I rather keep your car since you are the original owner rather than buying a used car and making payments again

[itrocks4u]

Stick with your 16. Why do you want to buy a used when you have maintained yours so well. There are some differences in Competition but nothing crazy.

Save that money and add mods to your 16 (tune? Wheels? Exhaust?)

[JamesGames]

Trade in to take a loss on both cars that are used when you are the original owner of this car? Hard pass. Upgrade your suspension / seats with the tax you would've paid on the ZCP trade in.

[superbrew]

I was in a similar situation last year. I traded my 15 base model for an 18 ZCP. My main reason for trading was that the 18 was almost fully loaded, whereas my 15 was not. The cosmetic upgrades are nice, the little things like the seat belts and blacked out parts make the car feel a little more special to me. The ride is slightly stiffer, but I don't have that many rough roads around my area, so it's a non issue. The seats are very comfortable for me, but lack the lumbar support. Both cars had BM3 stage 1, so I can't really comment on the power difference. I also got CPO and the car had 7500 miles on it, so it felt like a new car.

[scoale]

Suggest you calculate exactly how much this is going to cost you (I'm betting $20k) and then do multiple test drives to confirm the juice is worth the squeeze.

I myself am looking to potentially switch from a 2016 w/ passive suspension to an M3cs. Will probably cost me $35k to make that change. There is no rationale justification - but i may do it simply because 1) I want to, 2) I don't want to do all of the mods to try to approximate a CS, and 3) I can afford to indulge myself.

You do you

[Bt31st]

Good advice all around. Just keeping what I have makes a lot of sense. Maybe an aftermarket exhaust would be better use of my money as that's my only real complaint about the car. Thanks for the input.

[2011ninja]

The ZCP is better on paper and arguably looks better.

I would pass in your circumstance.

You're the original owner of low mileage well maintained 2016 M3 that you hardly ever drive.

[maddmatth]

Flash the CS tune and software, or even go stage 1. Do some modifications. Waaaay better value for your money than a comp pack.

[hC1001]

Some would say the best version is the CS. That might be a car i would trade in because its a little more special and hold its value better being a limited edition.

I dont think there is enough of a difference to move to a used Comp. As others have said, keep the car and enjoy having no payments.

[LVI]

not worth it IMO. For one you have a known quantity in your car, since you're the original owner. That is worth something, especially when you see the demographics of those who purchased these cars new (i.e. much younger age bracket). Many of them have been tuned and beat on, at a much higher rate than with prior generations due to the FI platform.

In addition, real world differences were negligible for me and I drove two brand new cars back to back on the same route - one ZCP and one without. New, the premium for ZCP was somewhat justified because of the better looking wheels, marginally better sounding exhaust(minus the burbles) and marginally better handling. The ride was stiffer, and my guess is the 20" wheels had a lot to do with it. The power difference is not something I could discern on public roads. I did not care for the seats, and actually felt the standard seats were more comfortable.

In your case, the cost difference will be significantly more, since you're also going up 2 model years, but all said and done, you'll essentially be getting almost the same car you have now. Some of the ZCP features can be easily coded or added to gain much of what you're missing on your car.

All in all, unless you hate the color, or the spec of your car, i just don't see how it makes sense to make the jump. Now if you were debating going to a CS, that's a different story. The CS is definitely the best of breed, unless you want a manual. I ended up with a very low mileage 2016 non-ZCP 6spd car.

[Bt31st]

Originally Posted by lawrence1

not worth it IMO. For one you have a known quantity in your car, since you're the original owner. That is worth something, especially when you see the demographics of those who purchased these cars new (i.e. much younger age bracket). Many of them have been tuned and beat on, at a much higher rate than with prior generations due to the FI platform.

In addition, real world differences were negligible for me and I drove two brand new cars back to back on the same route - one ZCP and one without. New, the premium for ZCP was somewhat justified because of the better looking wheels, marginally better sounding exhaust(minus the burbles) and marginally better handling. The ride was stiffer, and my guess is the 20" wheels had a lot to do with it. The power difference is not something I could discern on public roads. I did not care for the seats, and actually felt the standard seats were more comfortable.

In your case, the cost difference will be significantly more, since you're also going up 2 model years, but all said and done, you'll essentially be getting almost the same car you have now. Some of the ZCP features can be easily coded or added to gain much of what you're missing on your car.

All in all, unless you hate the color, or the spec of your car, i just don't see how it makes sense to make the jump. Now if you were debating going to a CS, that's a different story. The CS is definitely the best of breed, unless you want a manual. I ended up with a very low mileage 2016 non-ZCP 6spd car.

Agree with everything you said. I'm happy with the car as is. May get a better sounding exhaust setup and leave it alone. Thanks for taking time to respond.

[Taco_Bueno]

I've contemplated the same myself. Trade my non-ZCP 2016 for a 2018 LCI ZCP...

Eventually decided against it because the money I would lose on both is way more than it would cost to upgrade my 2016. Just my 2 cents.

[Pittz1]

The LCI lights coming down the road at you are something different. Really sets it apart from the rest. The LCI lights were one of the main reasons for me holding out. I will say, having no car payment, forget the little LCI things and put a little cash into yours and enjoy it.

[kchan]

I have a 2018 ZCP, and my wife hates the seat. It may look cool, but it's not particularly comfortable, not much adjustment and it's more on the stiff side. My kids used to poke me from the open slots...

Agree with most everyone, save the money. Give it a detail, new sound system, mod, wheels, that will give you a new car feeling. I am planning to buy out my lease, and plan to spend some money to make it feel new =D

[GarlicBread]

Don't bother it's not enough of a difference. The seats I like but there is no way that's enough to just swap cars. The Lci lights are cool but who cares as the driver you don't get to see them anyway.

[kmouze]

I agree with majority in the comments section. Having driven the base f80 and owning a ZCP. The difference is negligible and you would be better off sitting on the paid off 16' and doing a little modding from there with the money you would have saved.

[jpy1980]

Just buy a competition badge to put under your m3 badge and get the666m wheels and youre set

youre welcome. Ahha

[SCS55]

Three points for my vote to keep what you have...

1)Original owner.
2)Paid for.
3) G80 LCI grill may have a redesign.

[bsmf8x]

Keep in mind that right now, used car prices are high. So you can get a good deal for selling your car especially considering the mileage.

Also the 2018 comp pack (loaded) is a pretty different car than a 2015 base, in my subjective opinion.

Lights, wheels and comp blackout stuff drastically improve the car, I saw a 2015 base silver m3 and a blacked out 2018 m3 comp both today and they look super different to me.

Also, the comp + LCI II (2018) will be worth more than the base models down the line. I'd change it up, get a nice spec with comp + exec + full leather (if you want) & maybe change up the color combo. The new comp exhaust + comp exterior + updates would be enough for me to justify the purchase, but only do it if you have money laying around in my opinion.

If you can daily a base you can daily a comp. worst case, trade your 666m wheels for someone's 437's and you'll make cash on top (smaller wheel = better ride).

[aerostar]

I don't think it's worth it, although I bought a comp.

However, no car payments is the shit. I can't wait for 1 more year to pass so I'm done.