E46 M3 vs E60 M5 owners advice

[skeeterm5]

KTMboy said:

My theory is that the E60 M5 by default becomes a weekend car because of the high cost to run it, which mostly prohibits using it as an everyday car. I know that I only ever use mine at the weekend, and most of the time it sits under its cover, connected to a battery tender.

I'm not denyting it is a weekend car, I'm questioning whether it is a good weekend car......

I'm certain the M Division didn't think they were building a "weekend car" when they designed it. For sure, BMW couldn't have envisaged in 2004 that the high running costs would effectively castrate the everyday usability of the E60 M5.

An E60 M5 was intended to be a practical, fast, exhilarating, luxurious and sweet handling big car - to be used every day of the week.

A weekend car should be fun, by defintion a car to go out in just because....like a motorbike.

I have never gone out in the M5 just because.....whereas, I quite often jump in the wifes S4 cab for a quick rip round the lanes....and we all know they aren't anywhere near as good as an E60 M5

An E39 M5 is more of a weekend car. More fun to drive and fast becoming a cult classic....

I know that I would rather have a 1M under that cover in the garage ready for a quick Sunday morning blast, rather than any M5, and I'd buy a 730d to ferry the family around in the week.....

I couldnt disagree more. I am now on my 3rd E60 M5, run it every day and do 25,000 miles a year. A weekend car by definition (to me) is a complete waste - buy the car you want and drive it all the time.

S

[Cheburator mk2]

All I am going to say is this:

Last Friday night I drove down to Gosport in my Z4MC and then came back on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday morning I drove down to Southampton in the M5 Touring. When a friend of mine asked how was the Z4MC compared to the Touring all I could say was "meh..."

E60/E61 M5 don't not have the sense of occasion - utter, utter bollix...

[F2CSL]

skeeterm5 said:

KTMboy said:

My theory is that the E60 M5 by default becomes a weekend car because of the high cost to run it, which mostly prohibits using it as an everyday car. I know that I only ever use mine at the weekend, and most of the time it sits under its cover, connected to a battery tender.

I'm not denyting it is a weekend car, I'm questioning whether it is a good weekend car......

I'm certain the M Division didn't think they were building a "weekend car" when they designed it. For sure, BMW couldn't have envisaged in 2004 that the high running costs would effectively castrate the everyday usability of the E60 M5.

An E60 M5 was intended to be a practical, fast, exhilarating, luxurious and sweet handling big car - to be used every day of the week.

A weekend car should be fun, by defintion a car to go out in just because....like a motorbike.

I have never gone out in the M5 just because.....whereas, I quite often jump in the wifes S4 cab for a quick rip round the lanes....and we all know they aren't anywhere near as good as an E60 M5

An E39 M5 is more of a weekend car. More fun to drive and fast becoming a cult classic....

I know that I would rather have a 1M under that cover in the garage ready for a quick Sunday morning blast, rather than any M5, and I'd buy a 730d to ferry the family around in the week.....

I couldnt disagree more. I am now on my 3rd E60 M5, run it every day and do 25,000 miles a year. A weekend car by definition (to me) is a complete waste - buy the car you want and drive it all the time.

S

Interesting points all round

Think you guys are failing to see from other people's perspectives

I run a CSL and an X3, the M5 is a superb piece of kit, the best car in its sector at what it does bar none, but you really pay a high price to enjoy it as a daily driver. I dread to think what it costs to do 25k a year.
So for the poorer individuals(me) it makes sense to drive some thing a bit boring day to day and have something which really is a event, rather than something that is a very fast GT car

[The Ferret]

It can be an equally good weekend car as it can a daily driver.

Anything that can see off 99% of the cars on the road can be classed as a weekend toy in my book, it just so happens that the M5 has the comfort and space that the more traditional weekend cars lack.

[Laird]

KTMboy said:

My theory is that the E60 M5 by default becomes a weekend car because of the high cost to run it, which mostly prohibits using it as an everyday car. I know that I only ever use mine at the weekend, and most of the time it sits under its cover, connected to a battery tender.

I'm not denyting it is a weekend car, I'm questioning whether it is a good weekend car......

I'm certain the M Division didn't think they were building a "weekend car" when they designed it. For sure, BMW couldn't have envisaged in 2004 that the high running costs would effectively castrate the everyday usability of the E60 M5.

An E60 M5 was intended to be a practical, fast, exhilarating, luxurious and sweet handling big car - to be used every day of the week.

A weekend car should be fun, by defintion a car to go out in just because....like a motorbike.

I have never gone out in the M5 just because.....whereas, I quite often jump in the wifes S4 cab for a quick rip round the lanes....and we all know they aren't anywhere near as good as an E60 M5

An E39 M5 is more of a weekend car. More fun to drive and fast becoming a cult classic....

I know that I would rather have a 1M under that cover in the garage ready for a quick Sunday morning blast, rather than any M5, and I'd buy a 730d to ferry the family around in the week.....

Agreed.

I wouldn't/won't be keeping my E39 as a weekend car. It's special to drive, but it's not that special.

[F2CSL]

The Ferret said:

It can be an equally good weekend car as it can a daily driver.

Anything that can see off 99% of the cars on the road can be classed as a weekend toy in my book, it just so happens that the M5 has the comfort and space that the more traditional weekend cars lack.

It's not really about that, a weekend car should be fun, light on it's feet with good steering feel and interaction, sure the M5 is fast but its too heavy and numb to be an out-out drivers car.

[ecain63]

F2CSL said:

skeeterm5 said:

KTMboy said:

My theory is that the E60 M5 by default becomes a weekend car because of the high cost to run it, which mostly prohibits using it as an everyday car. I know that I only ever use mine at the weekend, and most of the time it sits under its cover, connected to a battery tender.

I'm not denyting it is a weekend car, I'm questioning whether it is a good weekend car......

I'm certain the M Division didn't think they were building a "weekend car" when they designed it. For sure, BMW couldn't have envisaged in 2004 that the high running costs would effectively castrate the everyday usability of the E60 M5.

An E60 M5 was intended to be a practical, fast, exhilarating, luxurious and sweet handling big car - to be used every day of the week.

A weekend car should be fun, by defintion a car to go out in just because....like a motorbike.

I have never gone out in the M5 just because.....whereas, I quite often jump in the wifes S4 cab for a quick rip round the lanes....and we all know they aren't anywhere near as good as an E60 M5

An E39 M5 is more of a weekend car. More fun to drive and fast becoming a cult classic....

I know that I would rather have a 1M under that cover in the garage ready for a quick Sunday morning blast, rather than any M5, and I'd buy a 730d to ferry the family around in the week.....

I couldnt disagree more. I am now on my 3rd E60 M5, run it every day and do 25,000 miles a year. A weekend car by definition (to me) is a complete waste - buy the car you want and drive it all the time.

S

Interesting points all round

Think you guys are failing to see from other people's perspectives

I run a CSL and an X3, the M5 is a superb piece of kit, the best car in its sector at what it does bar none, but you really pay a high price to enjoy it as a daily driver. I dread to think what it costs to do 25k a year.
So for the poorer individuals(me) it makes sense to drive some thing a bit boring day to day and have something which really is a event, rather than something that is a very fast GT car

+1. At the end of the day, your weekend car is your choice. That choice will be made based on budget more often than not.

Eddie

[Skrambles]

F2CSL said:

It's not really about that, a weekend car should be fun, light on it's feet with good steering feel and interaction, sure the M5 is fast but its too heavy and numb to be an out-out drivers car.

Depends what the owner needs it for. It's meant to be a daily driver, but, for the family man who takes the train to work, it acts as a great weekender. Obviously it doesn't aim to contend with 2 seaters etc.

I'm still looking for another one, as a daily driver, but am getting very tempted to see how the f10 has moved things on - M-DCT, bigger fuel tank and better fuel economy are a promising start.

[-Z-]

Also comes down to time, if I have a special car then I want to use it whenever I choose to, with or with out the family on board.

I don't want to wistfully look back at a Z4m as I pull out of the drive in a family diesel wagon!

[996turboman]

I feel that the m5 e60 now looks very dated. It's an amazing car and bullet proof but the mpg just puts be off. I ran a m6 for 6mths and drove it hard, ave mpg was 16. But saying this, the engine is one of the best I have experienced. So so fast once it gets going. The car is so well setup, 100 plus seems like 50mph. Last of the non turbo m5's. Just wish I fouls afford the fuel. They are animals!!!!......but great for fuel point card holders

[geordieexpat]

If I wasnt overseas all the time my M5 and Sagaris would have a lot more miles on them, but when given the chance they are used daily

Im not bothered about the costs as if I was I wouldnt have bought them

[japseye007]

Quite an old thread now so maybe some new opinions can be taken into account, would be interested to hear what people's thoughts are on this now with both these cars becoming a bit older?

[Cactussed]

FWIW, I ran an M5T for a year before changing to an E46 M3.

I've written about the M5 elsewhere but in a nutshell:
- Its got 4 doors and a big boot (which is a plus if you need them)
- the engine is good when you hammer it, but its blunted by the weight of the car so at normal speeds (or below 4k rpm) it feels sluggish. The AMG offering is miles better in this regard. Torque wins in a big car.
- I liked SMG
- I didn't like the car enough to keep it. Ultimately I found it boring unless driving like a rabid lunatic.

I swapped to an early E46 coupe.
- Its smaller, less practical and not having the 4 doors is sometimes a pain with 2 small kids, but its manageable.
- Its practical enough with the fold down rear seats
- Its slower after about 80mph but up to then (ie, most of the time) its just as quick
- Its feels far more nimble
- With the carbon airbox, its miles more fun
- It feels far less fragile

Horses for courses but I don't miss the M5. I'd miss the M3.

[zainster]

Cactussed said:

FWIW, I ran an M5T for a year before changing to an E46 M3.

I've written about the M5 elsewhere but in a nutshell:
- Its got 4 doors and a big boot (which is a plus if you need them)
- the engine is good when you hammer it, but its blunted by the weight of the car so at normal speeds (or below 4k rpm) it feels sluggish. The AMG offering is miles better in this regard. Torque wins in a big car.
- I liked SMG
- I didn't like the car enough to keep it. Ultimately I found it boring unless driving like a rabid lunatic.

I swapped to an early E46 coupe.
- Its smaller, less practical and not having the 4 doors is sometimes a pain with 2 small kids, but its manageable.
- Its practical enough with the fold down rear seats
- Its slower after about 80mph but up to then (ie, most of the time) its just as quick
- Its feels far more nimble
- With the carbon airbox, its miles more fun
- It feels far less fragile

Horses for courses but I don't miss the M5. I'd miss the M3.

I've owned 3 E46 M3's in different guises (Cab, Coupe & CS) then I got an E60 M5. Other than looks imho and a little cheaper to run, I found the M5 better in every way than the E46 M3 and performance is on a completely different level.

[Jazzer]

I used an E60 M5 as a daily driver, over almost 4 years and 48000 miles.

It was utterly sublime and virtually trouble free.

This was perhaps due to sympathetic driving, including stretching that glorious V10 regularly.

Get the E60 and get on with it!

[Khaki Suit]

I don't get the comments about the E60 not being a weekend car. I use mine for that purpose and it serves me well. I don't quite get the comments about it not being a sense of occasion?

No it's not as agile and nimble as a little two seater but then I don't like hairdressers cars. That said, it holds it's own against those types of cars. Less fun? Possibly but it depends on what you want from a car.

I've had an AMG Merc before and it was heavy up front and understeered like a pig. An M car not a drivers car? Come on..