I agree that the MPS 6 is getting long in the tooth and I also looked at changing from my MPS6 to a Bimmer 335i. My conclusions:
BMW is:
- Galactically overpriced at around $130,000 by the time you get the options you reasonably want - nothing silly.
- Not AWD
- Corners well but the trade-off is that it rides like a board, especially on stock run-flats.
- Service costs through the roof.
- Prone to catastrophic radiator failure in relatively early life - a noted characteristic.
- Great engine and performance is OK, but not $80,000 worth better than the MPS6 in a straight line.
- Way smaller inside. Quite simply, I find it hard to fit inside one.
- Fit and finish is not outstanding which makes its local pricing seem even more of a gouge.
- Best Bimmer is the 3.0 TT diesel - it has great pull and economy.
I also looked at anything else in AWD and better than 200Kw.
- Audi S4 a stupid $147,000 with everything expensively optional.
- Volvo RDesign S6 nice but limited back headroom room, no spare, quirky instruments, nice engine.
- VW R36 - hard to get, costly and not known for reliability
I'm looking at a Range Rover Sport in TT 3.0 diesel now, instead. I remain concerned by Landrover's dreadfully low reliability record, however. It came out bottom of a list of most known manufacturers with 233 problems/100 vehicles. Lexus was number 1 with 71 issues/00 vehicles. Next were Porsche with 94, Lincoln and Toyota tied with 112 issues, Merc with 115 issues/100 cars, while Bimmer was 17th in the list with 133 issues/100 cars, way behind Honda, Mazda and Suzuki all better than industry average of 126 issues/100 cars. In fact, if I was going for a Bimmer I'd save money and get a Lexus SF350 or GS350 now.
Slim pickins out there in AWD +200Kw land!
CP_e Standback & PNP; CP_e 3" SS Downpipe; Corksport FMIC with Top-mount K&N filter & OEM Ram CAI; Turbosmart BOV; Dashhawk; Prosport Boost Guage; JBR solid shift bushes; DBA 4000 Wiper-Slot front rotors; Hawk Ferro-Carbon HPS Street front brake pads (@ 69,000km); Sumitomo HTRZIII's in 225/45 x 18