E60 M5 to E92 M3 Anyone?

[Jazzer]

Evening folks!

I was just wondering if any of you had made this move??

The lighter M3 appeals to part of me, especially the manual version, and I would probably have got one if I had not been smitten by the M5.....one hell of a car in every way!

I thought that the E39 M5 was in a different league to the E46 M3.....is it still the case with the new versions?

Jazzer

[andywaterfall]

I've gone from an M6 to an E92 M3 DCT (via a couple of other cars on the way), and I can highly recommend the M3 - if only for the gearbox. I'd take the DCT for a spin - it makes the SMG3 in the M5/M6 look silly, it's so good.

I see though that you're thinking of a manual M3 - I tried one when I had the M6 and wasn't that impressed, but the smoothness of changes in the DCT transforms the car, because you can always be in the right gear with no jerking/clunking/delay/effort, so the performance is all the more mind-blowing. Even so it's not quite as quick as the M6 when you're on a charge, but when you're at anything less than 9/10ths (and especially when just tootling or in traffic), it's much the better car.

HTH

[gilford]

You're in luck my friend! I sold my M5 last week and took delivery of my E92 M3 on Friday

if you have any questions ask away!

My main concern was speed, and can I reassure you the M3 has plenty of it! They both do 0-60 in 4.7 but the M3 feels quicker in my opinion (purely because if the driving position) and I would happily say it would stay with the M5 until you hit triple figures

I went for the manual, as you I yearned for a change, and I can say hand on heart there is nothing like stabbing this car in 3rd gear!

petrol is good also, I have been having fun since Friday and it's still averaging 20mpg which is double what the M5 dis when pressing on.

The only thing I miss are the toys and HUD My M3 is pretty well specced but nothing like the M5 (which was fully loaded) and I miss things like the TV when the wife is in the shop

overall, I'm extremely happy, and would 100% recommend the change, you will not be dissapointed!

Oh, and the V8 sounds amazing, much better than the V10 in stock form.

[Jazzer]

Congratulations on the new car Gilford!

I knew you were thinking in moving on, but didn't realise you were M3 bound.

I have only driven one briefly (but quickly)....felt lighter, sharper than the M5 (because it is)....steering lacked feel/weight compared to the M5 though. Great sounding V8....surely not quite a match for that screaming V10??

Performance wise.....the M3 would keep up within legal speeds, then it would be left well behind as the V10 gets into its stride. The M5 is much more comfortable....I too would really miss the technology on it.

I'm very interested to hear your thoughts and how you get on with it.....what was it that made you sell the M5 in the first place?

Jazzer

Anyway....I thought the M3 was for younger guys, with the M5 being the more

[Jazzer]

oops....meant to delete that last line!

[gilford]

I bought the M5 as we were expecting our first child. I had a 911, so wanted something quick with 4 doors, the M5 was the obvious choice

It is an epic car, but it is also HUGE, and to be brutally honest was much too big for what we needed. My little girl is now nearly 6 months and the Maxi Cosy fits perfectly in the back of the Coupe. My wife has a 4 door company car also, so I think I just jumped in with both feet when buying the M5.

I had a glorious year with it, I am yet to drive a car with such power and refinement, but the E92 M3 is just so much better for what I want in a performance car.

Under everyday driving conditions the M3 is just as quick, add a few twisties and it will wave goodbye to the M5 Like has been said, it is only when you get into triple figures that the M5 starts to stretch its legs, and what with the way the government are nowadays it is just not worth doing those speeds.

I would make the move, you wont regret it, I was so worried when I waved goodbye to the M5 but now I have lapped up a couple of hundred miles in this it is but a distant memory

[skeeterm5]

I test drove both a manual and dsg m3 when thinking about swapping the m5.

To be honest, I was left pretty underwhelmed by the m3;

- too much like a 320d in look, especially inside
- it was fast, but nothing like as viceral as the m5 in full attack mode
- the steering felt a little dead to me
- i really missed the HUD!

So my suggestion is drive one, it is a very personal thing

S

[gilford]

skeeterm5 said:

I test drove both a manual and dsg m3 when thinking about swapping the m5.

To be honest, I was left pretty underwhelmed by the m3;

- too much like a 320d in look, especially inside
- it was fast, but nothing like as viceral as the m5 in full attack mode
- the steering felt a little dead to me
- i really missed the HUD!

So my suggestion is drive one, it is a very personal thing

S

I felt like that about a lot of cars, but it's very easy to have rose tinted glasses when you still own the M5, once it gas gone you will see it for what it is, a big family saloon that is very fast on the motorway, the M3 is in a different league when it comes to winding roads.

I don't know how you can say the M3 looks like a 320d, my main gripe with the M5 has always been it's boring looks.

Take an extended test drive over an hour or so, I bet you will walk away a happy man

[manand38]

Gilford

you do change your tune, mate. When you had the M5, it was the best thing in the world, now it's the M3

Of course comparing the 2 cars is a bit irrelevant as ultimately they are aimed at different makets..

Enjoy the M3!

[gilford]

manand38 said:

Gilford

you do change your tune, mate. When you had the M5, it was the best thing in the world, now it's the M3

Exactly, which is why I made my point about the rose tinted glasses

I love the M5, just like I loved the 911 before it, and the CSL before that etc etc. We all have special feelings about the car we are sat in at the time, which is why I suggested the OP get rid of the M5 first and start with a "clean slate"

Fact of the matter is, they are both great cars, and if it were possible I would have both!

[Rallitart]

Slightly off topic, but relevant nonetheless.... I was looking to change my E92 335i Coupe a few months ago and had both the E60 M5 and E90/92 M3 in mind.

Having driven both cars back to back at my local dealer, it was the E60 M5 that brought the biggest smile to my face. Don't get me wrong, both cars are fantastic machinery in their own right, but for some strange reason the M3 left me feeling rather underwhelmed in comparison to the M5. Yes the M3 is "Fast" and nimble, but it also felt too refined and civilised for its own good. The ride is smooth-going-on-luxury while the steering, brakes and throttle response are curiously soft in response. In fact, it felt not to dissimilar to my 335i and I was expecting greater things. Even the sound of the V8 was diappointing... sounded more like a straight six (apart from when the needle swept past 7000rpm!!)

Having hopped from the M3 into the M5, I can honestly say that the M5 'felt' like in a different league. Its not perfect I may add (the SMG gearbox feels pretty old skool), but the car had 'soul' and character that the M3 lacked. I couldn't believe how composed it was, considering its weight, how brilliantly it steered and stopped, how crisply it responded to the throttle, and how cleanly it changed direction. Driving it felt more deeply satisfying than the M3. And to cap it off the sound of the V10 above 5000rpm was music to my ears! It felt like a true supercar big hitter but with four doors.

This is not to say that I think the M5 is a "better" car than the current M3 (which it isn't). All I'm saying is that the I found the M5 just more deeply satsifying to drive.... but each to their own.

[manand38]

thanks for that Rallitart

[ChrisMCoupe]

I have nothing to add to this thread, but just wanted to say thanks for all the comments so far.

I'm still currently deciding myself between an M6 and M3 and after reading this thread I will be taking a much closer look at the M3. If it really is as quick as you say it is below 3 figures then it could definitely be the car for me

[krallicious]

ChrisMCoupe said:

I have nothing to add to this thread, but just wanted to say thanks for all the comments so far.

I'm still currently deciding myself between an M6 and M3 and after reading this thread I will be taking a much closer look at the M3. If it really is as quick as you say it is below 3 figures then it could definitely be the car for me

There will be a spare seat in mine in June if you want a ride at the end of the day

[Jazzer]

Hi all!

I've just had a good drive in a manual E92....great fun indeed.

Observations.....

Sounds great when it screams at the top end....nimble, sharp turn in

Nowhere near as fast as I expected

Naff manual...spoiled things....would go DCT if I got one!

VERY disappointed with the lack of feel through the steering wheel....felt a wee bit like the E46 in this regard

Seriously crap paint finish.....on a £50K car FFS!

I can fully understand why some people, like young Gilford, would choose the M3 over the M5.

For me though, the M5 is in a different league in crucial areas like steering feel, grip, handling (really!)comfort, quality and image.....not to mention the performance and grunt from that awesome V10.

I felt much the same about the previous versions of these cars....the M5 remains the Daddy!

[Rallitart]

"I Concur!"

[gilford]

Jazzer said:

For me though, the M5 is in a different league in crucial areas like steering feel, grip, handling (really!)comfort, quality and image.....

There is a reason why the M3 beats the M5 round the Ring by circa 10 whole seconds, it is because of the grip and handling

I do know what you mean, but you cannot make such a judgment with a blast down the road in a demo car! I have had the E92 for a week now and the M5 is but a distant memory (very fond one though).

If your age is the issue, then yes, the M5 may be for you..........

Orange peel was present on my M5 much worse than on my M3, so much so I had to get the car pro detailed to get it how I wanted it, but I have read some cars are worse than others.

I think the consensus on this is buy what you want, because we are all different! lol

I had the M5 and loved it, a bit big but a brute! I now have the M3 and love it, much more nimble and in my opinion the 80bhp less power is much more usable in real world day to day driving.

In 12 months I will have another car, I dont know what yet, and I'm sure I will think it is much better than both of these

[Rallitart]

You've hit the nail on the head! We're all here posting on this forum because we're all passionate about the cars we drive.

No one can deny that both the M3 or M5 (past or present) are great great cars.... I would be happy to own either. As the saying goes.... 'Variety is the spice of life'. Life would be boring if we drove the same car for the rest of our lives.

What I do know for sure, is that my current M5 won't be the last car I ever own! Its what floats my boat for now.

[Jazzer]

I'm off out now to hunt down M3s....shouldn't have to travel too long, they're pretty common cars you know

[gilford]

Jazzer said:

I'm off out now to hunt down M3s....shouldn't have to travel too long, they're pretty common cars you know

Nah, you'll run out of petrol before you find one