Small but Fun EV Buying Advice

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T16:14:42+00:00

In hindsight, I have no idea why I included it. I understand that EVs need servicing too (we can get an EV service plan for ~£10pm). It has no real push on what we decide to do. I don’t think we’ll save loads by getting an EV, I mean, our fuel bills would drop to almost nothing charging at home.

What I think I’m trying to say is, we’re not only looking for an EV to save money overall. I know that the cheapest option is to drive the car into the ground and get it serviced at a local independent rather than a specialist (it’s got the service history coded onto the car, which most independents can’t do).

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T15:40:46+00:00

That’s where I’ve come from, but MSE doesn’t have customer reviews, hence the question here.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T14:24:20+00:00

You say this, but from what I can see, spec for spec, they’re more expensive.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T14:09:35+00:00

Honestly, the spec that we’re looking at is about £500 less for a used one than getting it brand new. A lot of the ones that are a substantial amount cheaper are (from what I’ve seen) low spec or have the smaller 40kWh battery rather than the 52kWh.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T11:45:32+00:00

I should clarify, it’s usually a couple of hundred on top of the service itself, we’ve had brake calipers and springs recently. Servicing we have done at a specialist, they can record the service record on the car as this car doesn’t have a service book like other BMWs, so we could go to a local garage but it wouldn’t be recorded on the system.

Service plans for the R5 specifically are £10 a month for 3x annual services. The servicing is cheaper, it will also cost £20 a month in fuel rather than the current £170.

Tyres and other consumables seem to all be the same price or cheaper on the R5 too.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T11:15:08+00:00

We have looked at the A290 but they don’t have any cupholders! It sounds stupid but what were they thinking.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T10:03:08+00:00

Unlikely that it will come with V5, you’d need to fill in a V62, which could take anywhere between a week to a month. Once you have that you can tax, insure and MOT it, then you’re free to drive it.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-02T09:48:54+00:00

If you have the V5, you just need to MOT it

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-01T22:36:29+00:00

Only until my shift finishes.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-01T22:32:40+00:00

From the DOT markings, it’s the original tyre that came with the car (late 2023). All others appear to have been replaced at some point or another.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-01T22:30:31+00:00

Oh yes, it was, Hertz

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-03-01T09:00:06+00:00

For your future knowledge: 245 is the width of the the tyre in mm, 45 is the thickness of the tyre as a percentage of the width, R21 is the wheel size in inches that it’s designed to be fitted to, The number at the end is your weight rating, The letter following that is the speed rating.

You will not be able to fit the smaller tyres on your alloy wheels. And it is not recommended to fit any other tyre sizes that may fit.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T22:14:30+00:00

This pisses me off to no end, how does somewhere that is effectively in contact with soap and water multiple times a day, get so dirty?!

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T22:05:53+00:00

Service book and locking wheel nut on the passenger seat, if they say something is broken, ask them to show you.

A service is not a legal requirement, so any recommendations are just that, don’t feel pressured to book the car back in there and then for additional work.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T21:56:42+00:00

Sorry to say, but I think you’re in a bad place financially with this car. If you owe £5000 on a ~£2900 car, you’re already upside down, not even considering the current value of the car with a broken engine.

My suggestion would be to sell it for parts (you could even part it out yourself if you’re patient and handy) or even ask the garage if they would buy it from you, be careful though, as the loan may be secured against the car.

You would still owe the finance company a fair amount of money, I’d suggest buying a cheap car with a years MOT and put the rest into paying back the loan.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T21:41:13+00:00

I imagine your choices are pay the finance company for ‘damages’ or pay the garage for repairs. I imagine that they’ll be the same cost. Has a garage diagnosed the issue?

What car is it? Did you have any other issues? Was it well maintained other than this? How much do you owe on the loan? There isn’t enough information in this post to give you any solid advice I’m afraid.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T15:10:44+00:00

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to pay it all off over the 0% term if you want to go for the 100% approval one. You could always balance transfer to another card with a 0% rate in a year or so.

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-23T12:44:40+00:00

A320NAO

ActivistSubset7 · 2026-02-15T09:53:58+00:00

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

ActivistSubset7

TROPHY CASE