Discussion
Hi All,
I've just after a bit of advice/opinion please as I can't make my own mind up.
I've had an E36 M3 Evo for 8 years (which I can't bear to part with!) so I'm thinking of getting it a friend in the shape of an E90 M3 or an E60 M5 (fun, weekend only car) but I can't decide which. Now I know I should drive both & I am planning a test drive of the M5 on the weekend.
I'm not thinking about price too much yet as I want to decide which I definitely want then worry about finding the money after.
I'm aware of the M5 running costs etc & have done a fair bit of research.
I know most of the pros/cons of each car from the research I've done so what I'm after really is what others would do in my situation, basing the decision on the fact that I'm keeping my E36 & which I would get the most fun out of!!
Thanks,
Ben
I've just after a bit of advice/opinion please as I can't make my own mind up.
I've had an E36 M3 Evo for 8 years (which I can't bear to part with!) so I'm thinking of getting it a friend in the shape of an E90 M3 or an E60 M5 (fun, weekend only car) but I can't decide which. Now I know I should drive both & I am planning a test drive of the M5 on the weekend.
I'm not thinking about price too much yet as I want to decide which I definitely want then worry about finding the money after.
I'm aware of the M5 running costs etc & have done a fair bit of research.
I know most of the pros/cons of each car from the research I've done so what I'm after really is what others would do in my situation, basing the decision on the fact that I'm keeping my E36 & which I would get the most fun out of!!
Thanks,
Ben
Having owned both I'd say the E9x M3 is a better car as an all rounder, feels a lot more up-to-date and trying to compare SMG to DCT would be impossible.
I have a nice E90 for sale!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
I have a nice E90 for sale!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Well I had to pick between an rs4, m3 and the m5.
At the end of the day I picked the m5 for the experience of driving it and the amazing engine. Compared to the others it just felt more special and even as a weekend car it just feels epic when I get in it, which the others did not.
The m3 is a stunning car and does everything but the m5 just felt more special to drive.
Basically you can't go wrong with either and you will just get in one and go yep that's the one for me. My mate had tried both and thinks the m3 is better suited to flying around in on the roads but again believes the m5 just feels special.
Also the SMG box is real marmite, but I actually really like it as once you get how to use it it shifts well but it does have the rawness to it which helps the overal experience IMO
If you go m5 tho an exhaust change is a must as the v10 when in motion is just perfect.
At the end of the day I picked the m5 for the experience of driving it and the amazing engine. Compared to the others it just felt more special and even as a weekend car it just feels epic when I get in it, which the others did not.
The m3 is a stunning car and does everything but the m5 just felt more special to drive.
Basically you can't go wrong with either and you will just get in one and go yep that's the one for me. My mate had tried both and thinks the m3 is better suited to flying around in on the roads but again believes the m5 just feels special.
Also the SMG box is real marmite, but I actually really like it as once you get how to use it it shifts well but it does have the rawness to it which helps the overal experience IMO
If you go m5 tho an exhaust change is a must as the v10 when in motion is just perfect.
TheAngryDog said:
Id say an E60 M5 is more the daily driver.
Why is that? E60 is going to be more expensive to run, probably an older car and not as good in traffic as an E90. A few reasons why it probably isn't the better daily driver.But it surely depends on the OPs requirements from the car.
pjv997 said:
TheAngryDog said:
Id say an E60 M5 is more the daily driver.
Why is that? E60 is going to be more expensive to run, probably an older car and not as good in traffic as an E90. A few reasons why it probably isn't the better daily driver.But it surely depends on the OPs requirements from the car.
Thanks for the replies so far, definitely food for thought.
I was wondering (hoping in some ways!) if anyone would suggest that the e90 M3 wouldn't be different (i.e. better) enough compared to my current E36 but as no one has so far I guess I probably wouldn't be disappointed with the M3!...but a part of me keeps saying I need to own that M5 engine!
I'm hoping that when I drive the M5 it will answer a few questions.
Thanks again, all views/opinions gratefully received.
Cheers, Ben.
I was wondering (hoping in some ways!) if anyone would suggest that the e90 M3 wouldn't be different (i.e. better) enough compared to my current E36 but as no one has so far I guess I probably wouldn't be disappointed with the M3!...but a part of me keeps saying I need to own that M5 engine!
I'm hoping that when I drive the M5 it will answer a few questions.
Thanks again, all views/opinions gratefully received.
Cheers, Ben.
better than the M5 dare I say it. Prices are coming down nicely too 
Now that is the kind of guidance I need, thanks! I do like the looks of the M3, but then when I see an M5 I think I like the looks of them just as much!
I've noticed the M3's are coming down in price nicely, as have the M5's. I'm determined to make up my mind based on which one I really want (been saving hard for years!) & then worry about affording it, maintenance, running costs, etc etc etc. Decisions, decisions!
Cheers, Ben
I've noticed the M3's are coming down in price nicely, as have the M5's. I'm determined to make up my mind based on which one I really want (been saving hard for years!) & then worry about affording it, maintenance, running costs, etc etc etc. Decisions, decisions!
Cheers, Ben
M5 vote for me. I've had mine for about 16 months now, thats a long time to hold a grin !! Never regretted a second of it. Just my opinion but the M5 outclasses everything else. I regularly attend BMW Car Club meets and my wee E60 will sit quietly sit there in the corner knowing "I'm the daddy !", where the M3s are yelping "look at me, look at me!!!" 
If, as you say, it's a weekend toy you are after, then be sure to take a Z4MR and Z4MC out for a test drive. Both are loads more fun and have loads more character than an M3 IMO. Not much faster than your Evo and the M3 has a more stable chassis, but give them a try especially the MR with the roof down.(Big Smiles per mile)
Do you really need the back doors? If not then look at the M6 too.
When testing the V10 use the paddles from the off, don't bother with auto mode - manual S5+ changes combined with a little throttle lift are really rewarding.
I got out of an M6 and into an M3 on th track. The M3 deffo felt lacking on the straights. Better in the bends though.
As has been said already there is no wrong answer/bad choice between the two, but when you do decide which model, pick your actual car very carefully.
When testing the V10 use the paddles from the off, don't bother with auto mode - manual S5+ changes combined with a little throttle lift are really rewarding.
I got out of an M6 and into an M3 on th track. The M3 deffo felt lacking on the straights. Better in the bends though.
As has been said already there is no wrong answer/bad choice between the two, but when you do decide which model, pick your actual car very carefully.
pjv997 said:
TheAngryDog said:
Id say an E60 M5 is more the daily driver.
Why is that? E60 is going to be more expensive to run, probably an older car and not as good in traffic as an E90. A few reasons why it probably isn't the better daily driver.But it surely depends on the OPs requirements from the car.
The E60 is also perfectly good in traffic, never judders or anything... its my family/company car and does the job fantastically... it NOT a weekend toy, which I guess is whats being suggested the M3 is.
To the OP... having had the E36 and the M5 on the drive together I can say I wasnt ever disapointed to drive either... the engine in the M5 is the M3's bigger brother and if you turn off all the gadgets traction etc, it hooligans around like a bigger bother as well.
One benefit the older E60 M5 will have will be that it will become cheaper to repair... I've already seen specialists appearing to fix mystical electronic for low hundreds that BMW want many thousands to sort... I think it wont be many more years before the E60 prices recover as they are a genuine supercar bargain atm
200mph for £10K?
Oh no, so much more to take into account! But thanks, this is the kind of info I was after.
I have to admit that, although I've been tying to make a decision based solely on which I prefer, the scary bills I've heard about associated with the M5 have been niggling me a little...but then, as mentioned above, perhaps they are not always as bad as thought.
The M6 is definitely an interesting shout. I don't need the 5 doors (single, living on my own) & I didn't realise how much they had come down in price.
Never really fancied Z4, although I'm sure it's a very impressive car, I have a kind of fascination for the V8 & possibly an obsession with the V10! (even though I haven't even driven either yet)
Thanks for the replies.
Cheers, Ben.
I have to admit that, although I've been tying to make a decision based solely on which I prefer, the scary bills I've heard about associated with the M5 have been niggling me a little...but then, as mentioned above, perhaps they are not always as bad as thought.
The M6 is definitely an interesting shout. I don't need the 5 doors (single, living on my own) & I didn't realise how much they had come down in price.
Never really fancied Z4, although I'm sure it's a very impressive car, I have a kind of fascination for the V8 & possibly an obsession with the V10! (even though I haven't even driven either yet)
Thanks for the replies.
Cheers, Ben.
All relative really. What's the cost ofthe v8 if it goes wrong? Realistically with a high performance engine you either cover under warranty or be prepared to put a second hand one in as the cost of rebuilds would start to make it unviable unless you have skills with a spanner IMO but I am usually wrong 
Luckily my opinion is both engines are reliable given the performance but I would always go warranty route on both.
Luckily my opinion is both engines are reliable given the performance but I would always go warranty route on both.
If it has to be a V10, then I'd have an M6 over the M5, better looking, better handling, rarer, and dare I say, cooler, plus I've never liked the E60, still looks unresolved to me and a bit boring. Having said that though, I'd still have an E92 M3 with DCT; much better looking than the M5, lighter, smaller, more nimble, V8 is a piece of work anyway, better transmission, and better fuel economy.
I can't help feeling that the V10 is wasted in this country. It would ultimately frustrate as the opportunities to explore the top end performance would be few and far between.
I can't help feeling that the V10 is wasted in this country. It would ultimately frustrate as the opportunities to explore the top end performance would be few and far between.
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