E60 m5 vs e46 m3 real world comparison

E60 m5 vs e46 m3 real world comparison

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hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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I've had my e60 about a year now so by my normal standards it's time to change.

Now the plan was to sell it use my "roulette" m3 till I've fixed all its issues then sell that too and try something new. Maybe an e63 or cl600 bi turbo but that's another story.

So the comparison. I've had 3 M3's before and always had very fond memory's of them. But having not driven one for a few years I was quite shocked at how different they are.

Stepping I to the M3 the build quality is noticably different it all just feels a touch cheaper which I guess is to be expected. You instantly feel like your in a much older car I think this is magnified by the lack of i drive system and very clunky head unit for sat nav etc.

On the road.

The m3 FEELS Slow after the m5 and this one feels a little duller than I recall but that's probably down to the fact it's a cab and the extra weight over my old coupe.however the in line 6 is a peach of a motor and to me feels like it's a bit more tractable at low revs than the v10.

That said the v10 is a monster but you do feel that you have to work it hard get the best out of it which I still find slightly at odds with the character of a big business like the 5 series.

The steering is lovely and nicely weighted on both but the ride feels too giggley in the m3 where as the edc on the m5 is brilliant.

Gearboxes

In the past I loved the smg2 in the m3 but the smg3 really is so much better
The gear changes on the 2 somehow feel more brutal and require more finesse to get right however the 3 is much smoother with less driver input. Also you really miss the hold function that stops the car rolling back in the m3.
The m5 sounds amazing with modified back boxes but the m3 rasp which I used to love somehow feels a little dare I say chav ish.

They are both experience things to run the m5 averaging 14.5mpg and the m3 currently 19.8mpg although I recall 22/23 from my old M3's. The difference is probably that I'm driving it a bit harder to get the pace I'm used to and the extra weight being a cab.

It has shown how much I love the m5 and I will probably regret selling and no doubt it will be worth more in a year if I sell as normaly happens to me. But what I think I'm missing in my life right now is a massive wall of torque

Anyway after my endless words some











CrouchingWayne

682 posts

175 months

Sunday 16th October 2016
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Really enjoyed that comparison. How are you finding reliability/maintenance costs between them? I'd imaging the M5 would cost a fair bit more!!

hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Sunday 16th October 2016
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There are a lot of horror stories out there.

The m5 has been very good really.

Has a new rear caliper that seized and a clutch slave cylinder both parts were around £200.

The slave was a pain as the box had to come out but was an easy enough job.

Something else that drives me mad is that the M5 gearbox defaults to auto slow every time you start it where as the M3 stays where you put it.

Just a good excuse to press the M button I guess.

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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That is interesting!

We shall see how you get along with the M5. I have always fancied one but the running costs scare the hell out of me as do the stories of the engines spinning shells. What is hearsay or not is hard to decipher.

andygtt

8,344 posts

263 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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SebringMan said:
That is interesting!

We shall see how you get along with the M5. I have always fancied one but the running costs scare the hell out of me as do the stories of the engines spinning shells. What is hearsay or not is hard to decipher.
I have 2, both run without warranty, both are broken and would cost nearly the cars value to fix if i put it into a garage... I have a soft spot for the car (hence I had to have another when the first permanently broke with a box issue) but currently unless you are handy with spanners they are still silly money to repair.

I had the most fun with my first one as i did loads of miles with not a single issue... until it failed and never came back on the road, second one has been more temperamental despite having its actuators, clutch etc all replaced before I bought it.... Im officially not allowed to buy another M5 lol

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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Andy, I remember the first one dying but what happened to the Red one!

hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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andygtt said:
I have 2, both run without warranty, both are broken and would cost nearly the cars value to fix if i put it into a garage... I have a soft spot for the car (hence I had to have another when the first permanently broke with a box issue) but currently unless you are handy with spanners they are still silly money to repair.

I had the most fun with my first one as i did loads of miles with not a single issue... until it failed and never came back on the road, second one has been more temperamental despite having its actuators, clutch etc all replaced before I bought it.... Im officially not allowed to buy another M5 lol
Failed with a box fault you say. It's not a big job to change the box can be done in about 3 hours. Although the box is normally solid. It's normally the smg system at fault. Either way shouldn't kill the car.

I could be interested if you want to sell it to someone who would rescue it and get it back on the road

andygtt

8,344 posts

263 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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hoppo4.2 said:
andygtt said:
I have 2, both run without warranty, both are broken and would cost nearly the cars value to fix if i put it into a garage... I have a soft spot for the car (hence I had to have another when the first permanently broke with a box issue) but currently unless you are handy with spanners they are still silly money to repair.

I had the most fun with my first one as i did loads of miles with not a single issue... until it failed and never came back on the road, second one has been more temperamental despite having its actuators, clutch etc all replaced before I bought it.... Im officially not allowed to buy another M5 lol
Failed with a box fault you say. It's not a big job to change the box can be done in about 3 hours. Although the box is normally solid. It's normally the smg system at fault. Either way shouldn't kill the car.

I could be interested if you want to sell it to someone who would rescue it and get it back on the road
First one had red cog of death, while driving with no warning at all, when I stopped it never ran again. Garage misdiagnosed it then caused flood damage by not fitting the fuse box cover.... I replaced the whole smg system (fault that was diagnosed before flood damage) the engine loom, gearbox ecu and engine DME (all flood damaged) only for it to still have the original red cog issue.
The engine is now in my Capri.

Shame as it was a very high spec car with all the toys and I loved it.

I had the battery changed on the red one recently and it ran as rough as hell after, we all assumed it must be related as ran perfectly before, however BMW software said it was the solenlds but BMW put the price of these up from £100 to nearly £1000 each on 1st July this year so I was loath to change them unless I knew for certain it was them.... Turns out it's the vanos pump which is only £3kish lol.
I'm currently trying to find the time to strip it down and replace it along with the bearings while I'm there.

As I say I love the cars, but I'm not allowed another lol

hoppo4.2

Original Poster:

1,531 posts

185 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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Most common fault is not the pump but the high pressure line from the pump to the vanos. It fractures and you get no oil to move the vanos

andygtt

8,344 posts

263 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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It would need to be fully severed as I don't get any oil flow at all at the vanos, not even a slow dribble!

I am waiting for some upgraded rod bearings to come is (as might as well do those while I have the sump off) I will get the car in the air and remove the sump to see whats what.