A late E39 M5 or an early E90 M3

A late E39 M5 or an early E90 M3

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hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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Trying to understand the pros and cons between a late E39 M5 and an early E90 M3. I have to have a 4-door with a proper manual. No coupe as I have 3 two-door cars already.

As a daily driver to work (2-mile each way in central London and 50% of usage), driving out of London to visit clients (20% usage and mostly motorway), chauffeuring family (20%) and driving for fun (10%).

Which one would you choose?

Key is reliability, depreciation, all year-round drivability and robustness. I imagine running costs will be fairly similar, if not slight cheaper

Many thanks in advance.

Garry

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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E39 M5 for me, but then I have one so would say that......

pjv997

648 posts

181 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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E 90 M3 - newer, more reliable, a bit quicker and more fun, more expensive = more depreciation, lower running costs

E 39 M5 - a bit bigger so more practical, cheaper to buy, overall cost of ownership inc. depreciation will be lower

Had my M3 manual saloon (discreet in black) for two and a half years and I use it for all the things on your list.

As most will say - you need to try yourself and see what suits you best

mr sagman

1,718 posts

235 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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E39 M5... Not that Im biased or anything.. They're both superb but you need to try both.

Then buy the M5

vescaegg

25,489 posts

166 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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Is the E90 M3 not still a fair bit more than even the best E39 M5? Difference of £20-25k to £10-13k?

hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
I've driven both and I am happy with the driving aspect of either. The M3 is better for parking in central London parallel parking space, resident permit and NCPs (obviously) but the M5 is more comfortable as it is less firm, since I have to go through 8 speed-bumps and cobble-stones just to leave my streets near Tower Bridge.

My guess the big expenses would be suspensions bushes, control arms and ball-joints.

My W220 S320L CDI went through 4 sets of ball-joints, 3 sets of anti-roll bar bushes and 1 set of control upper and lower arms in 130k miles.

What's your view of suspension toughness on the M3 and M5?

hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
quotequote all
vescaegg said:
Is the E90 M3 not still a fair bit more than even the best E39 M5? Difference of £20-25k to £10-13k?
Yes, I can afford either but not both at the same time (nor the space for that matter).

I am planning to keep them until the next, very good, proper manual M3/M5 4-door comes along second-hand but that maybe a good 4-5 years away.

I enjoy driving both.

But choose with head rather than heart, 4-door manual M3 or M5?


spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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hygt2 said:
Key is reliability, depreciation, all year-round drivability and robustness.
Reliability - winner: E90M3 (newer, expect less to go wrong)

Depreciation - winner: E39 M5, also initial capital outlay is much lower (if outright purchase)

All year-round drivability - slight edge to E39 M5, as it will be more compliant over London roads

Robustness - tie, but E90M3 will be newer so expect less to go wrong, but E39M5 is built like a tank and feels more sturdy.


3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie

Total Score:
E90 M3 - 4
E39 M5 - 7

E39M5 takes it, but it's a close one... ask yourself if you like new cars, or older ones.

BriC175

961 posts

179 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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I had a passenger ride in an E92 M3 for the first time on Sunday. It was bright yellow, had an aftermarket exhaust (it sounded amazing!), and dark grey aftermarket alloys (couldn't say what make/type/size they were though). I really really liked it and could definitely see myself in one in a few years.

I currently own an E39 M5, and it's an awesome car. Quick, comfy, handles well, but it's costing quite a bit to keep on the road at the moment - the benefits of buying one of the cheapest M5s on the market tongue out

ArmaghMan

2,398 posts

179 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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Whilst all of the above is very interesting.... it comes down to what you want.

If you want a giant Honda Civic type R (i.e something which will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you rev it to 8500rpm) go for the M3. The noise is sensational. But if you dont want to rev the nuts off it tread carefully (E60 M5 is the same)
E39 only revs to 6500rpm but has real go from tickover in 6th, and the noise is tasty. The M5 is obviously a big engine as soon as you hear it.
Me I have an E39 M5 (my second) and love it.

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
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The M5 revs to 7000rpm.

phn

335 posts

242 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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Never driven an M3, but I can't fault my M5.

It's got supercar performance, but is also really easy to drive every day.

What impresses me most around town is you can drive it like a diesel if you wish (heresy I know) as it will easily pull from low revs in high gears, making choice of gear almost irrelevant. Having said that, following a recent drive through central London, it did get me thinking a more modern M5 (with an Auto gearbox) might be more convenient if you spend a lot of time in traffic jams.

I would think that the M5 would also suffer less much depreciation. I can't imagine prices going much lower than where they are now for what is sure to be a future classic car.

Just make sure you buy a good one!

CarbonBlackM5

3,029 posts

217 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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Having had an E39 M5 if I had the money and could afford to run one it would be the M3 everytime.

More toys, more technology and a lot less to worry about going wrong (esp if you could get one with a BMW warranty).

However, with your budget you could get a mint M5 and still have money for fixing it when it goes wrong (something will need doing no matter how good it is).


spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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Does the OP want manual or DCT ?

hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Friday 21st October 2011
quotequote all
phn said:
What impresses me most around town is you can drive it like a diesel if you wish (heresy I know) as it will easily pull from low revs in high gears, making choice of gear almost irrelevant. Having said that, following a recent drive through central London, it did get me thinking a more modern M5 (with an Auto gearbox) might be more convenient if you spend a lot of time in traffic jams.
Thanks but I am looking for a manual. The E39 clutch is very acceptable compared to some others I have.

Having driven the E60 in town, the clutch control was stupid.

For example, I often crawl forward by just lifting the clutch without throttle - very useful in central London traffic as well as parallel parking into very tight spaces. An auto-clutch just won't allow you to let the clutch in very gently or allow clutch slip.

Hence I am still going for a proper manual.

spareparts

6,777 posts

226 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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hygt2 said:
Hence I am still going for a proper manual.
Then I'd go for an M5. But that's because in this economic climate, I would rather spend
10k on a non-depreciating M5 rather than 30k on a still depreciating M3, and both cars are swings'n'roundabouts....

Hedgetrimmer

570 posts

256 months

Friday 21st October 2011
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I recently sold an E39 M5 and after a very brief relationship with a Maserati I am now driving an E92 M3. I loved the E39, it was a fantastic car and very reliable with only one problem in 3 years (sensor). I lost £250 in depreciation over the 3 years.

The M3 is certainly more alert but the limits are higher. The M5 was much easier to drift around due to the extra torque. The M3 has been less reliable but it is under AUC at the moment so not an issue. The M3 is more clinical where as the M5 has more character. The M5 is incredibly comfortable and then becomes a sharp tool when making swift progress along B roads.

The only reason I moved on from the M5 was the fact that rust was starting in some places (2001 car), albiet only small patches. I would love to own another M5 but it would need to have been garaged all its life, no panels replaced and relatively low mileage.

Best of luck hunting.

hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Friday 21st October 2011
quotequote all
Hedgetrimmer said:
The M3 has been less reliable but it is under AUC at the moment so not an issue.
What's been the problem with your M3? I am NOT planning to buy with AUC. The RAC Gold warranty has covered my cars so far with no trouble.

Hedgetrimmer said:
The only reason I moved on from the M5 was the fact that rust was starting in some places (2001 car), albiet only small patches.
Agreed. I have looked at 6 so far and the best one I have seen still had rust above the rear number plate where the 2 panels join and inside the petrol filler compartment, doesn't matter they are towards the bottom or top of the price range £8k - £12k.

I'm not too worried about the bootlid - it's easy enough to find a good scrap bootlid and if it is a difference colour, I have a local paint shop that looks after my other cars. I'm more worried about the filler well as you'll have to cut and weld which I don't have anyone who can do it for me on the cheap.

I'm looking at a regularly used, daily driver of 10k miles per year on 51, 02 and 52-reg (i.e. 90k to 110k) but with extensive maintenance history and rust-free. I would put about 10k per year anyway so don't want a low miler. Detailing and paint will be taken care of by people who look after my cars.

phn

335 posts

242 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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Guess I must have been lucky then, my M5 has no rust, no advisories on MOT, FSH, 70k on the clock and only cost 7K!

hygt2

Original Poster:

419 posts

178 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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phn said:
Guess I must have been lucky then, my M5 has no rust, no advisories on MOT, FSH, 70k on the clock and only cost 7K!
Which year?