M3 or M5 what do you guys think?

[felstmiester]

I'm in the process of selling the 330. I'v wanted an M3 for a while now, and now they have come down in price, i have a chance to get one. After speaking to a few friends, some saying keep the 330 cause its different, some saying don't get an M3 get an m5. This has got me thinking, i wont be using the car much at all, maybe every other weekend, so economy isn't a problem. What do you guys think?

[BMW JAY84]

M3 but I am obviously biased :)

[M_Hunter]

its down to you.

What are you going to be using it for?
Day to day normal use at weekends or weekend rip-snorting fun round the twisties?

the M3 is good in day to day but is a high speed curve muncher, the M5 is the same but faster ;-)

///m

[M_Hunter]

Oh and
























Get an M6 lol

[XKaLiBaR]

Drive both. M3 looks better IMO. M5 your limited to certain colours, where as the M3 you have more options. you also have side bolster pumps :D

[Phil H]

will you be de modding? ;)

[benny boy]

will you be de modding? ;)

Of course he would bet could not resist

[jordan3054]

Get an M3. Absolute bargain at the moment. I test drove one for the first time last week and really enjoyed it. Couple of subtle mods here and there, and you've got yourself a gorgeous motor for decent money

Not driven an M5 so cant comment, but the M3 looks like it will be beter in the twisties

[jordan3054]

Oh and
Get an M6 lol

Prob a tad bit more expensive than an E46 M3 tho lol

[Pontio]

M5! having driven both i would go for an M5 if you dont mind having 4 doors. Every wally that can get a loan gets an M3 now and it has brought all M3 owners down with it imo. plus the power of an M5 is imense.

[cableguy]

Are we talking e46 M3 and e39 M5?

Had my e39 M5 for nearly two years, added Bilstein PSS9 Coilover suspension, uprated Eibach ARB's and a BBK and it felt just as nimble as a mates e46 M3 ;) , with the added benefit of being a much less common sight on UK roads.

Five litre V8.... need I say more. :cool:

C.

[Chaos]

Are we talking e46 M3 and e39 M5?
Most important question and it took 9 replies before anyone thought of asking it. What version M3, and what version M5?

Actually it's a surprisingly easy question to answer yourself, cos I'm following a similar line of planning myself. The M3 is a hard-edged sports car, the M5 is a torque-dangling super-saloon - especially in E60 form. So, when the weekend comes and you want to go out for a spin, do you want a track toy or a bruiser cruiser? If you want a fast car that can also cruise, get the M3. If you want a powerful cruiser that can also go fast, get an M5 (even moreso with the E60). Best of both worlds - E92 M3.

It will depend on what you drive (if anything) inbetween, and what you want from your weekend drives.

[peppernick]

I think it's between the E46 M3 and E39 M5. Different cars altogether.

M5 has a lot more grunt, you'll feel it even though you might not be going faster than an M3. The sensation itself is something. It's also a lot heavier; hence, going round corners it'll not feel as taut as an M3. The steering on the M5 is also less direct (recirculating ball as opposed to rack and pinion on an M3), some don't like it, other don't mind/can't tell the difference.

Although cheap to buy today, running cost of an E39 M5 is higher than an M3, on the whole. More wear and tear, given the weight of the car and the grunt form the engine. Rear tyres, fuel, bushes can go quite quickly. Plus insurance, check it out before buying an M car. For me M5 will cost 30% more to insure than an M3.

E39 M5s are fragile, if you drive it hard (drive it like it should be driven), chances are things will break, and it'll cosst £££ to fix. Vanos is an issue with the E39 M5s, even with cars that already have their vanos replaced. It can go at any time. A good warranty comes in handy when owning an E39 M5.

E46 M3s are very much problem free if you buy a mainstream car, especially a manual one. It sounds crap compared to the M5, but it goes round corners a lot better. Acceleration from stand still is good, but in gear acceleration is poor compared to the M5.

IMHO, if you buy an E39 M5 without a warranty, put aside £2k a year on top of running cost just in case things go wrong. If you can justify that, and don't chuck your cars round corners often, seriously consider an M5. In fact I would go as far as saying people look at you differently when you drive an M5, respect ;)

[mr sideways]

^^^^^ what he said!

[Pontio]

Reading his post i assumed it was between an E46 and E39. I think Nicks in depth description hit the nail on the head.. M5 :d

[whizzkid11]

///M5 - all the way... its a NO BRAINER REALLY....

[felstmiester]

Sorry guys! Yes it's between an e46 M3 and an e39 M5. I really won't be doing any mileage with the car, so running costs won't be so important, it will just be a car that can sit in the garage untill i want to use it.

Thanks for your oppinions though, i love the thought of owning an M5 but i do favour the looks of an M3. But like you said Nick, when i see someone driving a M5 i do think RESPECT!!:cool:

[felstmiester]

Sorry to bump an old thread. but who if any own an e39 M5 on here. reason why i ask is because i'v just got a couple of insurance qoutes and they're scary!!:eek:

[thegolfather]

zarnd and cableguy for starters....

[zarnd]

i bought mine five and half months ago, bear in mind i am 23 and it is about £1500 for the year in my own name etc...

[Jazz]

Five litre V8.... need I say more. :cool:



I'll second that. Been out in both cars and the M5 is a great perfomer, its just a torque monster:D

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h221/zchan28/RR02.jpg

[FullHouse]

Sorry guys! Yes it's between an e46 M3 and an e39 M5. I really won't be doing any mileage with the car, so running costs won't be so important, it will just be a car that can sit in the garage untill i want to use it.

Thanks for your oppinions though, i love the thought of owning an M5 but i do favour the looks of an M3. But like you said Nick, when i see someone driving a M5 i do think RESPECT!!:cool:

Just expanding from what Nick has already said about running costs, even if you do very minimal mileage, this doesnt deter from low running costs as bushes, seals and other stuff will dry / crack and seeze up, i also think £2k a year is being a little shy, i would put that figure closer to £3k.

[richbe]

I'm not saying the M5 is the right car for you, but like cable guy I have PSS9 coilovers fitted along with other mods including exhaust, I've had mine for a year and a half and love it. Goes round corners very well for a large car, requiring a fairly dedicated M3 driver to pull any distance. I went out looking for an M3 and came back with the M5, you hardly see any others around.

And the sound...V8 mmm :)

And so far only standard service costs keeping it going :) insurance is £800 with mods declared

[Raj]

From personal experiance I'd have the M5 too. Just a different beast and that noise with the right exhaust....:cool:

[Juber]

Even though the E39 is slightly dated compared to the E46, E46 M3 is so common, evey one has one. Thats why id chose the E39 M5, its a Beast.

[FRANKYM3]

I toyed with the same idea myself a few months ago but decided on the M3, pumped up looks, race car feel was what swung it for me (plus my local bmw agency didnt have or werent getting in any e39 M5s).

Also the much higher running costs, lower reliability and depreciation put me off, you can now easily buy an M5 for less than an M3 even though the M5 was much more expensive originally. For some reason performance BMW 5 series always dropped quicker than 3's. Just check out the way the price of the new M5 is dropping in comparison to something like the Audi RS4. the M5s achiles heel is that BMW didnt make it look different enough and therefore every 525d sport you see on the road looks like an M5 less the mirrors and exhausts.


However have always daydreamed about the M5 every time I see one on the road, would still like to sample one and a recent drive in an Audi S4 made me ache slightly for a V8 soundtrack!!

You only live once so (in a Jeremy Clarkson style change of heart) I would say just go for it and get the M5.... you can always find sense in a years time and by then I might even sell you my M3 to buy the new M5 myself!!!:D