Llew's F90 M5

[TurboLlew]

Oh, I also went to have a look at a few G90s and G99s while I was around.

Seems there are 24 (wagons and sedans) for sale brand new and as factory demos from BMW alone. Many are poorly or strangely specced which is probably not helping sell a R2.8M vehicle, though there are discounts on offer too... R67M worth of stock of what has become a very niche vehicle can't be fun to be sitting on, but even with discounts, first owners are likely to pay a hefty price come trade/sale time.

Again sitting in that interior and as someone who keeps cars longer than most, I think about my fairly simple LIN bus issue on my F90 caused by a dodgy LED, then I look at this 90's jol/club vibe of lights in the G90 and wonder what awaits in 5 or 7 years time, especially because it is more difficult than ever to DIY repairs and code/fix things. I do find the single-pane all-glass roof of the G99 glorious though...

We are two years into the launch of the G90 and I still see only one regularly. Seems the availability numbers back this up. By this point in the F90's lifecycle I feel like I saw more of them than M550s. Either owners are hiding them or it's that next tier of wealth that us plebs don't interact with LOL.

By comparison the M3 (and every other M) is selling like hotcakes.

I have no idea how Omar's, Milan Park, ADW etc are pricing these cars when you can walk into BMW and buy one for 500K-600K less for the same spec brand new or with equivalent mileage. They probably assumed this would be in short supply/limited runs.

Pricing is coming down on these as well.

 

[Bugger]

I think anyone with an F90 (Comp or not) should hold onto them. The G9x is going to prove to be a bit of a low key disaster for BMW in my opinion. As you have said, I also only see one every now and then, maybe every second week, and I WORK in Sandton, where you would expect to see a fair few. Between the polarising looks and the weight and the relative over abundance of tech, the age demographic this appeals to (that would be us more mature gentlemen lol) means that your typical M5 buyer is probably thinking nah, let me hold onto what I have got.

I tell you what I HAVE been seeing a lot of lately, is X3 and X4 M40i's!

 

[TurboLlew]

I think anyone with an F90 (Comp or not) should hold onto them. The G9x is going to prove to be a bit of a low key disaster for BMW in my opinion. As you have said, I also only see one every now and then, maybe every second week, and I WORK in Sandton, where you would expect to see a fair few. Between the polarising looks and the weight and the relative over abundance of tech, the age demographic this appeals to (that would be us more mature gentlemen lol) means that your typical M5 buyer is probably thinking nah, let me hold onto what I have got.

I tell you what I HAVE been seeing a lot of lately, is X3 and X4 M40i's!

Many factors here: It's that jump past R2.5M (or rather R2M). It becomes so much more of a mental barrier even if you can afford to finance it. The thought of having a R1M or 1.5M loan is daunting, and especially on a car that clearly isn't in demand and likely to be a boat anchor (weight/handling wise and in terms of resale/trade). If you have the cash you're not shopping for a G90/99 (IMHO).

While the interior speaks to the younger demo, the dynamics certainly will not. It is the least "M5" feeling M5 of all time to me. Perhaps it would appeal to even older folks than us? Unfortunately the dynamics are still the worst factor here. I'll live with the trading desk screen in a G80/2/7 because they are still incredible cars. I am not sure even at R1.8M this would be a 'buy' for me.

It's one of those where I feel whoever was going to buy one probably already has.