BMW M5

This is the definitive super-saloon – the Godfather of big, immensely fast four-door executive cars: think Don Corleone in an aluminium suit and V10 firepower.

The current BMW M5, with its 5-litre 507bhp V10 engine was launched in 2005 and  is one of the world’s fastest four-door-saloons, capable of 205mph with the limiter removed.

An M5 costs more than £65k new, but we’ve found used examples of this motoring icon – which Jeremy Clarkson referred to as “simply amazing” – for less than £28k.

And you can pick up an earlier version of the BMW M5 for around £5,000 – less than the price of a 1-litre Toyota Aygo.

Find a used BMW M5 for sale on Auto Trader's Used Car Search

BMW M6

Launched in the same year as the ground-breaking V10-engined M5, the M6 was unveiled with BMW saying “lightning strikes twice - stay indoors when the storm clouds gather”.

Featuring the same V10 engine found in the M5, the M6 is a long-distance GT car which goes up against the likes of the Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin DB9 - but as a cheaper alternative.

It accelerates from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds and although limited to 155mph, the same engine in the M5 will break the 200mph barrier.

The BMW M6 has a starting price of £84,475 – but you can bag a used BMW M6 for around £30k on Auto Trader.

Find a used BMW M6 for sale on Auto Trader's Used Car Search

BMW M3

This is BMW's most famous product – the BMW M3.

Desperate to go touring car racing in the 1980s, the fabled M-Division cooked up a road-legal track racer to compete – and sold the car to the public, launching the 'E30' BMW M3 in 1986.

And since then, the M3 has become one of the most famous performance coupes in the world, and is the most popular BMW M car for sale on the site.

The new V8-engined M3 costs £51k brand new, but you can buy one of the world’s hottest sports coupes on the used market for around £35k.

If you plump for the previous generation model – with a thundering 343bhp 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine – you can pick one up for as little as £12k.

Find a used BMW M3 for sale on Auto Trader's Used Car Search

BMW 3 Series

But if you don’t fancy a bit of M-Power and want something a little more civilised, you can buy the UK’s most reliable car – the BMW 3 Series.

The new BMW 3 Series sets benchmark standards for ride, handling, refinement and quality – and it has the famous blue-and-white propeller badge stuck on the front.

The BMW 3 Series is the most popular Beemer for sale on Auto Trader, and one of the top searches – you can pick up a current generation used 320d saloon, which comes with an excellent 2-litre diesel engine, for around £13,000, saving more than £10k off the list price.

Find a used BMW 3 Series for sale on Auto Trader's Used Car Search