An unusual conundrum - e61 M5 or i3!!!
Discussion
So, I’m in a bit of a pickle. I can usually figure out what I would like but I’m a bit stuck at the moment. Two very different cars to choose from at the moment! So here’s some possible incoherent ramblings and it would be good to hear your thoughts.
One of these is to be a replacement for my e91 320d which has just spun a bearing. Again. Or at least I think it has, the engine is knocking really badly. It’s being diagnosed at the moment. 1st engine took it to 297k. Second, second hand engine only took it 3k further in the last 10 months and had suffered the same fate.
So wondering if I should pony up and fix the three again. Or replace with something either more fun or cheap to run. Or just fix it again!
So, I’m thinking it may be time to part ways and replace. If I don’t do it now, I’ll have the three until it’s properly broken again and it’s uneconomical to repair, again! I’ve always lusted after the e61 M5 and now could be the change to get one. My mileage has significantly reduced so petrol isn’t such a concern. Same practicality, just a little bigger then my e91. So all good and a known package, well, apart from rod bearings and smg issues.
The other choice is a i3 Rex 94aH. Four seats with more passenger room behind me than I currently have in my three. Main issues being boot size is smaller and range. Is the range extender worth the extra cash and same goes for the bigger 94aH battery. How do these suffer from battery degradation? Also what’s the real world range like on these. I regularly do a 50 mile motorway round trip and it would be useful to do this on battery only. Is the bigger battery going to be worth it?
So, should I go for the m5 tourer. Something I’ve lusted for for ages. But will most likely ruin my wallet. I’m not sure I can justify the expense as I have other toys in my garage to play with. Or, go for an i3, should be cheap to run and maintain while still being a bit fun and different, while it continues to justify having different fun cars in the garage as my daily costs peanuts to run. Free vs £600 road tax and cheap leccy vs 20 mpg if I’m lucky!
Any real world experiences greatly appreciated along with suggestions I might have missed. I’ll probably buy with cash and look to keep for 5-10 years or until uneconomical to repair. I’ve had my three for almost 8 years now.
So it’s a head vs heart vs wallet vs just repair it again scenario. I can find plusses and minuses for each! Just very tempted with the M5.
One of these is to be a replacement for my e91 320d which has just spun a bearing. Again. Or at least I think it has, the engine is knocking really badly. It’s being diagnosed at the moment. 1st engine took it to 297k. Second, second hand engine only took it 3k further in the last 10 months and had suffered the same fate.
So wondering if I should pony up and fix the three again. Or replace with something either more fun or cheap to run. Or just fix it again!
So, I’m thinking it may be time to part ways and replace. If I don’t do it now, I’ll have the three until it’s properly broken again and it’s uneconomical to repair, again! I’ve always lusted after the e61 M5 and now could be the change to get one. My mileage has significantly reduced so petrol isn’t such a concern. Same practicality, just a little bigger then my e91. So all good and a known package, well, apart from rod bearings and smg issues.
The other choice is a i3 Rex 94aH. Four seats with more passenger room behind me than I currently have in my three. Main issues being boot size is smaller and range. Is the range extender worth the extra cash and same goes for the bigger 94aH battery. How do these suffer from battery degradation? Also what’s the real world range like on these. I regularly do a 50 mile motorway round trip and it would be useful to do this on battery only. Is the bigger battery going to be worth it?
So, should I go for the m5 tourer. Something I’ve lusted for for ages. But will most likely ruin my wallet. I’m not sure I can justify the expense as I have other toys in my garage to play with. Or, go for an i3, should be cheap to run and maintain while still being a bit fun and different, while it continues to justify having different fun cars in the garage as my daily costs peanuts to run. Free vs £600 road tax and cheap leccy vs 20 mpg if I’m lucky!
Any real world experiences greatly appreciated along with suggestions I might have missed. I’ll probably buy with cash and look to keep for 5-10 years or until uneconomical to repair. I’ve had my three for almost 8 years now.
So it’s a head vs heart vs wallet vs just repair it again scenario. I can find plusses and minuses for each! Just very tempted with the M5.
OP, very nice to be in a position to choose like that and what a wonderful choice.
You don't say what your other cars are, but if you have something else that is "fun" to drive, then I would be going with the i3, I can't comment on how far the battery will get you though.
Having said that, the heart would be jumping at the M5.
So I haven't really helped much, sorry.
I think though, if you already have some straight 6 goodness from BMW (older the better for me) in your garage, then go with the i3 which will save you loads of money to spend on your other cars if required.
You don't say what your other cars are, but if you have something else that is "fun" to drive, then I would be going with the i3, I can't comment on how far the battery will get you though.
Having said that, the heart would be jumping at the M5.
So I haven't really helped much, sorry.
I think though, if you already have some straight 6 goodness from BMW (older the better for me) in your garage, then go with the i3 which will save you loads of money to spend on your other cars if required.
Olivergt said:
I think though, if you already have some straight 6 goodness from BMW (older the better for me) in your garage, then go with the i3 which will save you loads of money to spend on your other cars if required.
This is my fun BMW. No straight six’s in the garage at the moment. 
It’s a pleasant, but odd situation to be in, two very different cars. The others are in my ph garage. There’s a few in there, some with rather wallet ruining reputations at times. That’s why a quite a lot of me wants to follow my head with the cheap to run i3, but then my heart says M5 with man maths no depreciation making it make sense! My “sensible” car should really be sensible, but then my wife has a Range Rover. So, anything could arrive as long as it’ll fit kiddy seats and the dog!
The i3 is a brilliant car, probably the best run around/commuting car I've ever had. But it gets frustrating if you use it outside of it's range. A rex might help with that, but that engine can be problematic I believe, although I have a 120ah BEV version. If you have a semi practical car for longer journeys and a few fun things in the garage it makes a lot of sense. But if you don't have something else practical for longer journeys then reconsider. If you do go for an i3, i'd recommend the S model for better stability, especially flr motorway use.
It also can't compete with the noise that M5 produces!!
It also can't compete with the noise that M5 produces!!
Two lots of glowing praise for the i3. I was expecting it to be a slam dunk for the m5 just because it’s the petrol heads type of car. I guess I’m looking for excuses to justify that, the i3 really does seem to fit the bill well. It’ll generally be used in the local area, rarely going more than 60 miles, but that will be on the motorway. I’ll have to try and test drive one and see what it’s like at speed with crossings and tramlining.
Now to decide whether it’s a early 60aH or a late 95aH. Can I justify the extra cash and is the range of the 60 really sufficient for me. How much of a pain is it having to switch to switch the range extender on reasonably regularly on my longer journey if it’s close or traffic is bad?
They look like really sensible little practical cars which would do 95%-98% of my journeys (if it’ll easily do my 60 mile journey electrically). Otherwise I’d just switch cars with my wife or take a toy. I’d also appreciate the cost saving running one too. But all I come back to is which would I look back at when I walk away, an i3, or a unicorn of a m5. Then there’s the sound of the v10, with an eisenmann exhaust
Maybe I should just give up and buy a another 320d estate and it’ll all be easy
Now to decide whether it’s a early 60aH or a late 95aH. Can I justify the extra cash and is the range of the 60 really sufficient for me. How much of a pain is it having to switch to switch the range extender on reasonably regularly on my longer journey if it’s close or traffic is bad?
They look like really sensible little practical cars which would do 95%-98% of my journeys (if it’ll easily do my 60 mile journey electrically). Otherwise I’d just switch cars with my wife or take a toy. I’d also appreciate the cost saving running one too. But all I come back to is which would I look back at when I walk away, an i3, or a unicorn of a m5. Then there’s the sound of the v10, with an eisenmann exhaust
Maybe I should just give up and buy a another 320d estate and it’ll all be easy
I vote M5, obviously, but only if you buy wisely and get a good one! I know someone with a touring on over 200k miles (dread to think of the fuel cost over that time) and loads of them well over 100k, but they are not cheap to run. It's not even the SMG or the V10, it's the little things that quickly add up. I imagine having a 300k 320d you know what I mean!
In a few years time there will be no more good V10s out there. You'll have missed the chance to own one, and the good V10 tourings will be extremely expensive. They already command a £5k premium over the E60 saloon, and they are both steadily heading the way of the E39 and E34 before them price wise.
The i3, brilliant as it may be, is a sign of the future and not something you will miss if you never chose it.
Oh yeah, and the V10 sounds brilliant and is a bit of an animal between 6000-8250 rpm.
In a few years time there will be no more good V10s out there. You'll have missed the chance to own one, and the good V10 tourings will be extremely expensive. They already command a £5k premium over the E60 saloon, and they are both steadily heading the way of the E39 and E34 before them price wise.
The i3, brilliant as it may be, is a sign of the future and not something you will miss if you never chose it.
Oh yeah, and the V10 sounds brilliant and is a bit of an animal between 6000-8250 rpm.
I’m going to vote M5, just because there’ll never be another M car like it. Yes, there is the propensity to destroy your wallet, but they can’t all be a pain in the bum.
The i3 is however a cracking little thing, a friend has the REX and loves it. I’ve driven it and it is a lot of fun. I like the way they look too.
The i3 is however a cracking little thing, a friend has the REX and loves it. I’ve driven it and it is a lot of fun. I like the way they look too.
I like all the responses, you do have a nice dilemma:
I would go with the M5 but the i3 is great...
I would go with the i3, but the M5 is great...
I've looked at your garage, a fine fleet you have there and will forgive you for not having any straight 6's, the rest make up for that omission nicely.
You are obviously not averse to taking on cars that some might consider "brave" but I think as I said previously, the i3 is the one to go for, at least you then have one "sensible" car that will always work and be cheap to run (but left field and fun at the same time). Which frees up time and money to keep the rest of the fleet in fine fettle.
The only other option I would consider in your position would maybe be (but this is getting complicated now!):
Get an i3 and maybe swap the 840 for an e39 M5 (I think the e39 M5 is going to be more collectible in years to come and probably a little easier to live with)
I would go with the M5 but the i3 is great...
I would go with the i3, but the M5 is great...
I've looked at your garage, a fine fleet you have there and will forgive you for not having any straight 6's, the rest make up for that omission nicely.
You are obviously not averse to taking on cars that some might consider "brave" but I think as I said previously, the i3 is the one to go for, at least you then have one "sensible" car that will always work and be cheap to run (but left field and fun at the same time). Which frees up time and money to keep the rest of the fleet in fine fettle.
The only other option I would consider in your position would maybe be (but this is getting complicated now!):
Get an i3 and maybe swap the 840 for an e39 M5 (I think the e39 M5 is going to be more collectible in years to come and probably a little easier to live with)
I dont think there would be any issue in going for the M5 - the problems are all well documented and there are so many parts out there for them, that it's worth really buying one and getting those potential issues sorted out. I dont think the bearings are as big of an issue as they can be made out to be, just treat it as something to service. M539 Restorations on youtiube has a fantasticv video about them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMDTXlgZeV4
For teh SMG issues, again there is a lot of knowledge now about these transmissions, the faults, and the fixes. Again, go in with your eyes wide open and have things done as a matter of precautionary maintenance rather than having something fixed after leaving you stranded.
Buy one form an owner who knows what they are doing with them, and you'll likely not have any issues yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMDTXlgZeV4
For teh SMG issues, again there is a lot of knowledge now about these transmissions, the faults, and the fixes. Again, go in with your eyes wide open and have things done as a matter of precautionary maintenance rather than having something fixed after leaving you stranded.
Buy one form an owner who knows what they are doing with them, and you'll likely not have any issues yourself.
Olivergt said:
I like all the responses, you do have a nice dilemma:
I would go with the M5 but the i3 is great...
I would go with the i3, but the M5 is great...
This is exactly my problem. I can argue it each way. I’m sure the m5 isn’t as ruinous as some say and I have a great BMW specialist who knows them well. But they’ve even said I’ll get to know them better if I get one! So that’s not an issue. It’s probably just that there isn’t a right answer as they are such different cars. I hate having to go with head or heart decisions. I would go with the M5 but the i3 is great...
I would go with the i3, but the M5 is great...
The M5 is something I’ll never be able to get into again in the future. It’s something I could happily take to cars and coffee with the family and dog in the future. All my others are a bit tricky for that at the moment!
I’m not fully risk averse, but I have a few cars that can truly pull my pants down and ruin me, adding another with a similar reputation is just worrying me a bit. There is only a limited fund for looking after them all.
I really don’t want to be stretched with maintenance for any of them. I’ve had a few big bills already recently with both daily’s and can’t always keep it up. Especially when the toys need looking after too. The wife gets a bit unhappy after a while!
Getting a good M5 would probably look after me well, the issue is that there aren’t many about. Especially as I’m probably needing one sharpish. Plenty more i3’s around. Anyone know of a good one that doesn’t cost a fortune! I don’t mind high mileage, if we’ll looked after. As I’ll be using it every day, I probably shouldn’t ruin a garage queen!
Anyway, sorry for more ramblings, I’m sure I don’t make much sense! But I think it’s helping. Thank you all so much for you inputs. It’s definitely helping me think, even if my mind is turning into a mess over it!
The Big G said:
The M5 is something I’ll never be able to get into again in the future. It’s something I could happily take to cars and coffee with the family and dog in the future. All my others are a bit tricky for that at the moment!
This would have me hunting for an M5 then. I’d be all over the forums etc seeing what is up for sale etc.
Plenty of time later for stuff like the i3.
)sam.rog said:
Putting my mystic meg hat on. I can see the values of the m5 climbing. They are hideously expensive to run and as such good ones are rare and will become rarer.
Its a family estate with ferrari running costs.
It's not near Ferrari costs though, its a little above regular BMW servicing, expensive fuel, but insurance is cheap and they can do BIG miles ok. You can even warranty them from BMW still!Its a family estate with ferrari running costs.
They are only ruinous if knackered, so buy a good one and look after it.
I know I shouldn't interfere, but there is something that might not be quite as ruinous and has an engine the OP should be familiar with:
E60 Alpina B5 was available in a touring as well.
Not far off the power and performance of the equivalent M5 but much rarer.
I can't find any for sale, but did find a lovely Alpina B10 (straight 6 loveliness )
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104091...
E60 Alpina B5 was available in a touring as well.
Not far off the power and performance of the equivalent M5 but much rarer.
I can't find any for sale, but did find a lovely Alpina B10 (straight 6 loveliness )
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104091...
So, been going round and round again in my head and I’ve kinda changed positions towards the M5. Especially as I probably won’t get a chance like this again and I’ve lusted after one for as long as I can remember. See how ruinous it can be over a 12-36 month period. If it’s too bad then it can go and an i3 can come in and replace it. The good thing about that way is that the i3 will depreciate further in that time whereas the m5 should hold its value. Hopefully! Then also the extra running costs excluding petrol but including the extra horrendous m5 bills would be offset by the then cheaper price of the i3. The joys of depreciation! Not sure if that makes sense though!
I have also been considering alpina’s, but thanks for mentioning them to me. There is something wonderful about them. E91 D3’s don’t seem to be much of a step on from what I already have, although mine is currently in broken form. Far better off just fixing mine again. E61 b5’s, yup, I’d seriously consider these, supercharged V8 goodliness. But they are even rarer than the M5’s! E39 b10, I like these, but I think they are getting on a bit for daily duties. I won’t be able to get it past the wife. I looked at and seriously considered a b10 V8s tourer when I was searching for my e31. But at that time I wanted a coupe! Then there are later B/D3’s. There is a lovely black tourer with red leather on autotrader. But it’s sold and out of my price bracket! If cheaper and not sold, I’d be finding it difficult not to seriously consider it too!
So, I’m probably going to go and look at a few e61 M5s and see if I can find one I like. Just need to find the time for it and as always they are at the opposite end of the country to me! The only nagging feeling I have is I should just fix my three again with a second hand engine then spend the next 6-12 months waiting for the right one at the right price to come up, rather than one of the ones available right now.
Many thanks again for all your insights and suggestions. All very useful and has made me think.
I have also been considering alpina’s, but thanks for mentioning them to me. There is something wonderful about them. E91 D3’s don’t seem to be much of a step on from what I already have, although mine is currently in broken form. Far better off just fixing mine again. E61 b5’s, yup, I’d seriously consider these, supercharged V8 goodliness. But they are even rarer than the M5’s! E39 b10, I like these, but I think they are getting on a bit for daily duties. I won’t be able to get it past the wife. I looked at and seriously considered a b10 V8s tourer when I was searching for my e31. But at that time I wanted a coupe! Then there are later B/D3’s. There is a lovely black tourer with red leather on autotrader. But it’s sold and out of my price bracket! If cheaper and not sold, I’d be finding it difficult not to seriously consider it too!
So, I’m probably going to go and look at a few e61 M5s and see if I can find one I like. Just need to find the time for it and as always they are at the opposite end of the country to me! The only nagging feeling I have is I should just fix my three again with a second hand engine then spend the next 6-12 months waiting for the right one at the right price to come up, rather than one of the ones available right now.
Many thanks again for all your insights and suggestions. All very useful and has made me think.
Thought it might be time for an update here.
I went for a look at an i3 and it seemed far bigger on the inside, boot excluded than I was expecting. The seat behind the driver was still useable when I was comfortable in the front! I knew the boot was going to be small!
But, the need for it or an M5 has moved a little bit into the future. My three series was surprisingly easy to repair for a relatively minor sum even though it sounded like it had an awful death rattle from the big ends. So, it’s been fixed and is running well.
This gives me a bit more time to make up my mind. I’ll go and look at a few more and be in a far better position when the unfortunate time comes to require a replacement.
Your words of wisdom were all greatly appreciated. My wife and I decided that we’d go down the M5 route, see how ruinous it could be. If it got too bad, swap it for an i3. Seemed like a good compromise. Then I jokingly mentioned a TVR cerbera as a laugh and somehow didn’t get a no. No idea why she gave the green light for one of those too! Makes the M5 seem like the sensible choice!
So, going to look at them all again and take my time. But again so grateful for all the help getting things sorted out in my mind.
Now I know I need to go down the big engined path to keep myself happy. But I kinda knew that anyway when I look back on in.
Thanks again for all your help
I went for a look at an i3 and it seemed far bigger on the inside, boot excluded than I was expecting. The seat behind the driver was still useable when I was comfortable in the front! I knew the boot was going to be small!
But, the need for it or an M5 has moved a little bit into the future. My three series was surprisingly easy to repair for a relatively minor sum even though it sounded like it had an awful death rattle from the big ends. So, it’s been fixed and is running well.
This gives me a bit more time to make up my mind. I’ll go and look at a few more and be in a far better position when the unfortunate time comes to require a replacement.
Your words of wisdom were all greatly appreciated. My wife and I decided that we’d go down the M5 route, see how ruinous it could be. If it got too bad, swap it for an i3. Seemed like a good compromise. Then I jokingly mentioned a TVR cerbera as a laugh and somehow didn’t get a no. No idea why she gave the green light for one of those too! Makes the M5 seem like the sensible choice!
So, going to look at them all again and take my time. But again so grateful for all the help getting things sorted out in my mind.
Now I know I need to go down the big engined path to keep myself happy. But I kinda knew that anyway when I look back on in.
Thanks again for all your help
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff