There's not a lot of love for the 4.2 on here but I've had one for 9 years and it suits me just fine. I guess it depends what you want from your car. This is old tech now and lightyears from your m4 but it ferries my family around in effortless comfort and style. I actually prefer the look of the 4.2 with its pinched in waist and pretty nose, no sideskirts or aggressive chin!
Your other thread about service costs made me dig out the file of receipts, I've never added them up before can't think why. I'll put this up here if it doesn't help you it might help someone else.
It's an early 4.2 that I paid £45k for in 2012 and have apparently spent almost exactly half as much again on maintenance. So my ownership experience works out to roughly £2.5k a year. I would guess my time has been fairly average - 4 services (£1-2k), the usual expenses front disks once and rear disks twice (epb seizing issue), suspension springs all round and front bushes. Some of the typical issues - water in the boot from rear window seal, abs sensor failure, park sensor failure, rocker cover seals twice. I've also had to replace the altenator, refurb the steering rack and brake calipers. A variator solenoid and the oil pressure check valve have both had to be replaced too.
I've had it waxoyled which is essential on the older cars and probably the newer ones too.
Chuck in a couple of batteries and numerous tyres and that's what it adds up to.
It's far from perfect I could spend a few thousand more on paintwork and the interior trim is peeling but the bottom line is if you find one with the usual brakes, bushes corrosion recently done then there shouldn't be too many surprises. It's been a pretty reliable car. Although i have found everything works in multiples of £1k.. that's broken that'll be £1k, oh you want one of those that'll be £1k. I was in the dealer network for the first few years but the indies are invaluable, as is this forum - a great source of wisdom and other things.
The one omission from the list is I haven't had the variators done. It has done 55k miles and is driven regularly all year round and apart from the odd noise on a very cold morning they aren't a problem yet....
Buy one and enjoy it!
