2010 M3 or 2010 M5

[martylaa]

Seriously thinking about getting a M powered BMW. I love both the M3 and M5 and I am waiting for my local dealer to get one in so I can get a test drive. The only thing is I am concerned about the reviews of the semi automatic gearbox on the M5, is it a nightmare around town and parking? Any advice would be a help.

[SBN]

I have the dct m3 and a friend with the smg m5 he has got used to the smg but would prefer dct. The dct is smooth in traffic and then performs as it should when pressing on. I have driven several manual and auto bmw's and the dct definitely has a manual feel to it... You can actually feel the clutch engaging and slowly letting off to give you a smooth change but then press the m button and it snaps gear changes just like you'd want it to on full throttle but would hate in traffic. M5 owners are not as lucky and really need to work gear changes to make them smooth which would annoy me emmensely

[martylaa]

SBN said:

I have the dct m3 and a friend with the smg m5 he has got used to the smg but would prefer dct. The dct is smooth in traffic and then performs as it should when pressing on. I have driven several manual and auto bmw's and the dct definitely has a manual feel to it... You can actually feel the clutch engaging and slowly letting off to give you a smooth change but then press the m button and it snaps gear changes just like you'd want it to on full throttle but would hate in traffic. M5 owners are not as lucky and really need to work gear changes to make them smooth which would annoy me emmensely

Thanks for that, the last thing I'd want to be doing in that car is concentrating on making sure my gear changes are ok.

[Wills2]

You just have to lift off with SMG to smooth the changes, but having said that DCT gives you a choice, SMG style "emotion" when pressing on in S6 and smooth changes D2 when not (and all the variables in between)

[Schermerhorn]

I drive my M6 in S5 mode all the time. Give it a slight lift on up or down change and it is perfect and very smooth.

The only bug bear is clunky gearbox when cold and not being able to up shift if the car auto down changes for you if going uphill for about 5 seconds. When that happen I just go down a gear....build the revs and then upchange again as normal.


Oh.....that V10 is full on epic!!!

[Jazzer]

That V10 M5 is the one to have, it's just stunning.

So much nonsense is spoken about the SMG box.

Drive it with the paddles (never "auto") and refine the technique of lifting your right foot slightly to smooth up-shifts.....pull the right paddle back first, THEN lift your foot slightly, feel the change, then foot down again... it's really satisfying.

I have an F10, but still really miss the screaming V10 with gears banging in in max attack mode.....there's nothing like it.

Get the M5, it's a far more substantial, special car.

[mbromwel7]

Jazzer said:

That V10 M5 is the one to have, it's just stunning.

So much nonsense is spoken about the SMG box.

Drive it with the paddles (never "auto") and refine the technique of lifting your right foot slightly to smooth up-shifts.....pull the right paddle back first, THEN lift your foot slightly, feel the change, then foot down again... it's really satisfying.

I have an F10, but still really miss the screaming V10 with gears banging in in max attack mode.....there's nothing like it.

Get the M5, it's a far more substantial, special car.

Spot on Jazzer, I never drive in auto mode, paddle shift S5 every day, don't understand how some complain about jerky town driving either. IMHO it ain't the car !!!

[Sods Law]

Just sold my V10 back to the dealer 33K when bought, wouldn't do 100 mile between red cog, red warning triangle....

Only buy with a warranty and include this in your ownership costs long term...

check when the clutch was last changed... mine failed at 35K.... completely so don't trust the low mileage routine.
To headline 9 months and 4k miles of V10 ownership
Oil Cooler
Clutch
Throttle Solenoids
Brake Servo
Brake Fluid
Parking sensor system

Read the buying guides on here, the cars are epic to drive, but can be an epic wallet rapist!

As above stated the SMG box is good once you get used to it.

Or buy an E90 M3......

[rossb]

You need to try both to see what works for you - for me m5 is just too big for country lanes and prefer manual anyway so have an e90 m3. whatever m you buy - DO get a warranty. i paid £1647 a few months ago for bmw 12 month warranty on 60k+ miles car. Warranty was £1200 the year before but at 60k miles there is an uplift - perhaps with good reason - as we speak the car is in at the dealers for 2 new throttle actuators, wheel speed sensor etc - even with £250 excess - the warranty will be worth it for this visit to the garage alone.

However on balance after 35k+ miles in it - love it to bits - handles superbly is a genuinely quick A to B car - and for a high revving sonorous V8 which i have regularly got to the limiter in 6th - 22 mpg in it's 70k miles is not too bad. If you get M3 - OEM exhaust mod - essential. Whatever you buy - bear in mind that although these cars are now cheap to buy - terrific real world sportscar baiting performance comes at a price - they are expensive to run.

[skeeterm5]

The search function is really useful for this question which seems to come up every week.

S

Edited by skeeterm5 on Sunday 5th October 16:20

[JMBMWM5]

martylaa said:

Seriously thinking about getting a M powered BMW. I love both the M3 and M5 and I am waiting for my local dealer to get one in so I can get a test drive. The only thing is I am concerned about the reviews of the semi automatic gearbox on the M5, is it a nightmare around town and parking? Any advice would be a help.

The F10 M5 gearbox is the best out there bar none.
I just PXed my LCI M5 yesterday, waiting for the M6 GC comp pack to arrive next week or so, best gearboxes , for any situation, they are easy to reverse, no idea who says there are not!!!!!.
The old SMG box in the E60 was IMO a DOG.

[mb26]

Both amazing cars...The M5 SMG is a great when you come to terms with the fact that its an automated manual gearbox. Getting the most out of it requires a tiny amont of skill...less than a full manual gearbox...but more than a DCT. It does not in my opinion take anything away from the driving pleasure of the car. i have raced bike engined cars for years...so the preferred SMG gear change technique (lift-pull)is second nature...

However DCT seems bullet proof on the M3....SMG is sadly not....an AUC 2 year warranty would be more essential on the M5 than the M3 i think...