if denying yourself the enjoyment of a new M for one or two years is worth saving $10K or so, then it's certainly 'smart'. of course then you gotta ask yourself if you should be looking at a car like that in the first place. there are certainly 'better buys' out there if you're on a budget. maybe look at a used '99 or '00 instead, they are 'cheap' right now, and unless you take it to a track i doubt you'll notice that much difference...