well i p/x mine for 19K( Dec 09 p/xed ) against my E90 M3 @£60K, mine was 55 plate with 70k miles but just had all brakes/disc done with full bmw service history, runs like a dream ..I had try to get friends/family to take it of my hands as it is a bargain @£19k, but sadly no one had £19k at thier disposal :(

the problem with the vxr8 is they all seem to be down south about 200 miles from me :(

bighead - ouch! Very very ouch!

Just had a taste of BMW costs - service (oil, filter, brake fluid and vehicle check) and MOT £420 (nothing needed doing apart from the usuals) and my rears are very worn after less than 8k miles - damn that torque!!!

Ouch! I've just had similar from Sandal BMW, but the total cost (basic service and MOT) was not much over half that!

Keep the hawk. Nothing else comes close for value for money

get a half decent run around for that

that nothing ......i had to pay something like £600 when my l/h side headlights fail to work...turn out that the l/h side light controlller module failed and it was replace @£265 plus they(stealers) had to encode the car's ecu in order for it to work (min half a day labour charge !! )...good thing was after the encoding (updates from Bmw ) the I-drive software was also updated on my car .
must said though I still would buy another as my current M3 just do not give me the same feeling as the E60 M5(even though the M3 is a better handling car , I just missed that V10 )

Slightly less than 200 miles..
http://www.archiemoss.co.uk/Used-Car...614577386.aspx

I had a look at it last week. It looks quite well worn for the miles.

Pete - I was only due for an oil service (just over £100) but the other three weren't far off so had all four done at once. The prices individually aren't too bad really (e.g. £74 for inspection service) and I'm glad the brake fluid has been done - they are firmer now.

I can't quite get my head around this staggered servicing stuff though! Had I done it by the book, I would have gone to the stealers four times in three months!

Anyway the tyre thing is a bit of a headache - inners are heavily worn (just above legal)m outers are fine. A common issue with 335ds but people usually get well over 10k from their rears. Will see if I can get the alignment done.

With insurance renewal (£460), the servicing (£420) and tax for the year (£245) plus possible new tyres (about £300), it's been a rather expensive week!!

Bighead - jesus, I hope you haven't added up the total cost of ownership for the M5?! TBH, I'd prefer an M3. I might test one soon...

It might be long shot but have you tried looking for the VXR8s Aussie rival the Ford Falcon GT or XR8?

There is a MINT m3 e46 in carbon black on autotrader/pistonheads at the moment. its only got 16k on it. looks brands new. £19k. awesome.

A possible and extremely rare alternative to the M5

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1859059.htm

there is no subsitute :)