I'm going to disagree with the 2.5i getting better mileage than the 3.0i. With my 2.5i I got the same mileage as the 3.0i owners on here (and less mpg than the 3.0si models). Still better than the M though.
As for your dilemma, go for the 2.5! the manual transmission on that car feels fantastic, you can just throw it into gear it's a ton of fun. If you ever need more power just hold out for an M. I loved every thing about my 2.5i and I'm glad it went to a good home when I sold it to get an M.
In my mind a car with a known history that you know is perfect is a better deal. With any car you will always find details wrong with it after you've had it for a while, if you can already find things wrong with it, you're going to find a lot more down the line.
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