Jon Jonzz- Thanks for your reply. I would suggest that 25% depreciation for year one on the M3 to be wide of the mark. If however you were to trade in this sort of 1 year old car to a BMW (or Audi/MBenz etc) dealer you would then be fleeced for 15 to 25% depreciation after year one, irrespective of spec/colour etc.
Jonathan (Chins)-Knew this thread would catch your eye!!. Again I would think that your figure of 20% for the first year is too high but, as above, it depends on where you sell and the spec/colour etc. I have budgeted for 10% in year 1 providing I get the spec/colour right and sell the car privately or to an agent, not as a part exchange to a rip off main dealer. I am still debating about the SMG gearbox and what value it will retain of the £2,400 option list price. At a guess I'd say it would retain 40% of it's value after 1 year..??
Andrew- I have also been offered similar iducements to sell my car on. For the moment I'm going to hold tight and see what happens...

Cheers,
Gareth.
P.S. Anyone seen the premiums being asked for the M3 convertable?. In the Sunday Times this weekend I saw them advetised at £52-£55k, £10-12£ over UK list...ouch!!