E46 M3 v E39 M5
Discussion
For every day use - one car does all the jobs shopping commuting fast road fun which is the best (similar budget for both) - lets say no more than £10k or £11k at a push.
Clearly headline the M5 has 400bhp and the E46 has 343bhp and the M5 is a V8 which will use a lot more fuel than an E46.
Note I do 15-20k miles a year.
Clearly headline the M5 has 400bhp and the E46 has 343bhp and the M5 is a V8 which will use a lot more fuel than an E46.
Note I do 15-20k miles a year.
Neither is better. They both do what they do very well and both have their positives and negatives when compared with each other.
Which one you would buy is down to preference. I love them both. Anything else is just inflammatory. Quite a silly comaparison.
Which one you would buy is down to preference. I love them both. Anything else is just inflammatory. Quite a silly comaparison.
Edited by Neil.D on Monday 24th November 13:35
Well I guess you could say one is a 4 door family car one is a lighter 2 door coupe.
One cost £40k new the other cost £58k new but are now both same age similar milage the same to buy used.
Both offer similar outright speed - one is much more circuit focused the other much more of a GT.
The V8 is much more diesel like and the M3 much more Vtec like in delivery.
Looks - the M3 coupe is unique, the M5 E39 could be mistaken for lesser 5 series (much more Q car).
Which has the better seat for the "fuller man">?
One cost £40k new the other cost £58k new but are now both same age similar milage the same to buy used.
Both offer similar outright speed - one is much more circuit focused the other much more of a GT.
The V8 is much more diesel like and the M3 much more Vtec like in delivery.
Looks - the M3 coupe is unique, the M5 E39 could be mistaken for lesser 5 series (much more Q car).
Which has the better seat for the "fuller man">?
Seems like you have just answered your own question. It is all down to preference - as I have said.
You wont be disappointed with either, but you will if maintenance costs are a concern as they seem to be with you.
...but thats as far as and 'mapped' diesel comparisons go
You wont be disappointed with either, but you will if maintenance costs are a concern as they seem to be with you.
Welshbeef said:
The V8 is much more diesel like
It sounds like one at idle....but thats as far as and 'mapped' diesel comparisons go
Pip Pip Welshy old bean, I don't suppose it's occurred to you to actually go and sit in either of the bloody things? Or won't anybody let you near one any more? Logic (apologies if this is outside your sphere of reference) would suggest that either car (if "properly" specced in the seat dept.) would be a little snug for those with an enormous 4r5e.However,if you can manage to cram it all into your 20v coupe what's the problem?Other than a close-fitting seat's propensity to muffle your voice of course. BTW, I LOVED your theories on the Big Bang, black-holes, and the Universe in general. Most edifying. Steven Hawking must be quaking in his callipers (...what??... WHAT!!???) Anyway, what happened to the 535d? On second thoughts...maybe not.
I can hardly wait for your next rambling voyage into uncharted waters,although it is eating into my season-ticket with Youporn. Keep taking the mushrooms. Are you SURE you're not some students? Must go the warders are coming.
Fond regards, Rooty Toot-Toot
I can hardly wait for your next rambling voyage into uncharted waters,although it is eating into my season-ticket with Youporn. Keep taking the mushrooms. Are you SURE you're not some students? Must go the warders are coming.
Fond regards, Rooty Toot-Toot
for doing that kind of mileage i'd be leaning against the M3 (due the the fuel savings), though your at bottom of the M3 market for £10-11K... my mates just picked up a 95000 mile M5 for £9.5k and its absolutely beautifull! i after seeing it i certainly wouldn't be put off buying a higher milage M5 so your 10-11k will get you a really nice car 
so your 10-11k will get you a really nice car Totally different engines!
The E46 needs an expensive airbox to sound decent. It's a zingy reverbarating exhaust rasp. Yuk! - cracking motor though! :-)
V8 M5 sounds just awesome with a sports pipe. And you have oddles of torque.
Don't tell me, Head says M3, heart says M5????
I'd go for the M5, it's - if not already a classic! And will hold money better.
The E46 needs an expensive airbox to sound decent. It's a zingy reverbarating exhaust rasp. Yuk! - cracking motor though! :-)
V8 M5 sounds just awesome with a sports pipe. And you have oddles of torque.
Don't tell me, Head says M3, heart says M5????
I'd go for the M5, it's - if not already a classic! And will hold money better.
M3 looks better and 'fresher' in my opinion with its muscular stance, large 19" (if it has them) wheels and flared arches; they really set the car off. Get it in a colour like Phoenix Yellow and a nice spec (SMG, TV/Satnav, bluetooth) and you've got a cracking car.
The E39 M5 on the other hand, doesn't really stand out from the crowd like the M3 does. I sometimes have to do a double-take if I see one to see whether its a 530i sport or not.
The E39 M5 on the other hand, doesn't really stand out from the crowd like the M3 does. I sometimes have to do a double-take if I see one to see whether its a 530i sport or not.
Welshbeef said:
Think the Mrs would only permit a 4 door due to "possible nippers".
Just seen the Pre budget - and petrol duty is going up & the VED bandings will be phased in... so it will have to be pre 2001 - is that pre facelift?
Facelift was September 2000 build onwards (note not registered!!)Just seen the Pre budget - and petrol duty is going up & the VED bandings will be phased in... so it will have to be pre 2001 - is that pre facelift?
I do around 22-24k pa and see almost 22mpg in the E39 M5.
Just over 1500 E39 M5s were brought in to the UK... fairly rare, you'll have to try both to see what rocks your boat though.
Can't say one is better than the other unless you have specific driving requirements...
Both pretty similar in a straight line from the off, until you get up over 120 then the V8 torque has the advantage, so in normal use they are like for like in that area.
I have owned both these cars at the same time and have found it very hard to decide which i like more ! All thou i did use the M5 alot more than the M3 before i sold the M5 !!
The M5 was sold to a friend which asked if he could buy it, other wise would still be trying to decide which is to go first !
As an everyday car found the M5 to be so much nicer to use and seemed in sleath mode all the time where as everyone wants to race the M3 !
I expected the M3 to go , stop and handle well , but its the M5 that surprised me more on its abilities but took a few weeks of driving it to understand what all the fuss was about !
If i was to road test them for a hour or so i think would would choose the M3 on first impressions but the M5 would grow and last on you for longer !
The M5 was sold to a friend which asked if he could buy it, other wise would still be trying to decide which is to go first !
As an everyday car found the M5 to be so much nicer to use and seemed in sleath mode all the time where as everyone wants to race the M3 !
I expected the M3 to go , stop and handle well , but its the M5 that surprised me more on its abilities but took a few weeks of driving it to understand what all the fuss was about !
If i was to road test them for a hour or so i think would would choose the M3 on first impressions but the M5 would grow and last on you for longer !
kds keltec said:
I have owned both these cars at the same time and have found it very hard to decide which i like more ! All thou i did use the M5 alot more than the M3 before i sold the M5 !!
The M5 was sold to a friend which asked if he could buy it, other wise would still be trying to decide which is to go first !
As an everyday car found the M5 to be so much nicer to use and seemed in sleath mode all the time where as everyone wants to race the M3 !
I expected the M3 to go , stop and handle well , but its the M5 that surprised me more on its abilities but took a few weeks of driving it to understand what all the fuss was about !
If i was to road test them for a hour or so i think would would choose the M3 on first impressions but the M5 would grow and last on you for longer !
!The M5 was sold to a friend which asked if he could buy it, other wise would still be trying to decide which is to go first !
As an everyday car found the M5 to be so much nicer to use and seemed in sleath mode all the time where as everyone wants to race the M3 !
I expected the M3 to go , stop and handle well , but its the M5 that surprised me more on its abilities but took a few weeks of driving it to understand what all the fuss was about !
If i was to road test them for a hour or so i think would would choose the M3 on first impressions but the M5 would grow and last on you for longer !
Just read Ders views on the M5
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Regards Gandalf.......................
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Regards Gandalf.......................
I've had an E39 M5 for over a year now and can only say, it's one of the finest cars I've ever been in.
This weekend I took a trip to France, back through Germany and then Belguim in the M5 with 2 mates and the car was impecible.
It's so comfortable and fast on the motorway and so agaile in the twisty bits. It will speed all day down an autoroute at unreal speeds and then scream round hairpins and over mountain passes at speeds nothing can match, then blast back on the motorway like a new car.
It averaged 22mpg on this trip, a litre or oil and a good wash, it's like a new car again now.
An M3 is a teriffic beast but for me, you see one every day, wife's dropping kids off at school in them etc. The M5 is much rarer, bought only by people who want an amazing descrete car and not looking for a badge.
If I could only have 1 car and had to sell the others, there is no doubt in my mind, I'd keep the M5.
Do it,
Richard.
This weekend I took a trip to France, back through Germany and then Belguim in the M5 with 2 mates and the car was impecible.
It's so comfortable and fast on the motorway and so agaile in the twisty bits. It will speed all day down an autoroute at unreal speeds and then scream round hairpins and over mountain passes at speeds nothing can match, then blast back on the motorway like a new car.
It averaged 22mpg on this trip, a litre or oil and a good wash, it's like a new car again now.
An M3 is a teriffic beast but for me, you see one every day, wife's dropping kids off at school in them etc. The M5 is much rarer, bought only by people who want an amazing descrete car and not looking for a badge.
If I could only have 1 car and had to sell the others, there is no doubt in my mind, I'd keep the M5.
Do it,
Richard.
Have had an e36 m3 and e39 m5. I just felt the M5 was too heavy when you got to the twisties .. but then when you asked it to cruise it didn't do it so well because (a) it was a manual and (b) was relatively firmly sprung.
T/C was really agressive too; definately a 'version 1' when compared to newer cars. Basically you need to turn it off ..
M5 too much of a compromise for me. M3 perhaps more able to do one thing better - be the sports car.
T/C was really agressive too; definately a 'version 1' when compared to newer cars. Basically you need to turn it off ..
M5 too much of a compromise for me. M3 perhaps more able to do one thing better - be the sports car.
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