M3 or M5?

[uknick]

I'm looking to replace my 987 Cayman early next year.

I'm musing on getting an M5 a couple of years old. These are about £40k as a BMW approved car. But, I see an M3 of similar age is about the same. Why is this as the list price of the M5 was quite a bit higher than the M3?

Is it because M5s were originally sold much lower than list? Is the new M5 depressing prices? Or, is the M3 a more desirable car therefore keeping its value better?

[Jaybmw]

Are you buying as an investment or for the passion of the car? The m3 may hold it's value more and may be better suited coming from the wee porsche. An m5 will be massive in comparison. For me the e60 was huge coming from the e46

[uknick]

I'm intending to keep it for 3 years. Mind you, I said that when I bought the Cayman, and 9 years later I still have it. So, it's not for an investment.

I don't need the size of the M5, as it's just me and my other half to move about. But, I've had a hankering for an M5 going back some decades. I like the discrete aspect of the M5 compared to the M3. Also, around here there are loads of M3s and not many M5s (which probably answers my question as to pricing).

[hertfordshire1]

Drive both and see what you prefer.

Some people will prefer M3 - some the M5.

I've had F10 from new last 2 years. Its the family car. Does everything very well. Will also destroy most things on the road.

Like you say, don't see many about - i've had no issues with mine at all - its on about 26k miles.

It is a heavy car - so if you intend to track it lots etc, then consumables need to be considered.

Cheers

Steve

[Andy M]

Not a direct answer to the question:

I'm an F10 M5 owner who is holding off buying the next gen M5 due to what I perceive to be an almighty cockup BMW made of the current M3 (traction issues, sound etc).

If I were in the market for an M3 I would seriously be considering the current C63s, but neither can hold a candle to the M5 IMO.

[msingh1]

I had an E92 M3 and now have an F10 M5. The E92 was much smaller, more agile and much more chuckable on regular roads. The M5 is less involving but much more involving and stupidly, ridiculously fast when you actually can stretch it's legs - but you need space to do so. I like both in different ways. As the E92 has held it's value quite well and the F10 is still depreciating the price gap for a used one is not as big as you'd imagine. You could get a nice used F10 for under £35k. I would recommend test driving both. I wouldn't even bother with the new M3 as it loses the excellent engine of the old M3 and loses the comfort of the new M5.

[DT398]

I have owned both in the last couple of years and this is my take on it. F80 M3 was a bit of a disappointment. Yes it was lighter and more pointy than the M5 but the noise was frankly embarrassing and it never really felt that planted on the road and didn't feel particularly solid either in terms of the cabin. I'd got rid of an M5 to get the M3 but only kept it for a year before going back to another F10 M5 which does everything so well and as someone said above is pretty untouchable in terms of pace if you want it to be. The size isn't really an issue for me and you get used to it pretty quickly. It's big but not massive like the M6 GC for example.

It's a lot more discreet than the M3 in my view but actually sounds a lot better when you press on. Can't go wrong with the F10 M5 where as the M3 is a bit marmite.

[uknick]

Thanks for the input on how they compare, but I'm pretty sure if I go M it will be an M5. Size is not really an issue as very little of my driving is on narrow country lanes these days, most of the 8k miles I do a year is on motorways or A roads. I've had loan Cayenne and Panamera over the years and never found the difference in size an issue. Also, I'm never going to track it.

But, back to my original question, why are the prices about the same for 2nd hand? Is it just down to demand?

I might be looking at it wrong but, if I can get an M5 for the same price/age/mileage as an M3, that's pretty good value for money.

[FlabbyMidgets]

Im probably, if not definitely wrong, but the M3 is very popular with a younger, urban clientèle, which may explain the higher demand pushing up prices. I don't think the M5 has as much of a demand in comparison. Might be one of the reasons. I vote for M5, love the subtleness of them. One for my wishlist

[SebringMan]

I'd need to drive an M5. Today I might be tempted.

If wer are talking F80 M3 I'd drive one. They are very good but they can be a handful. My mate's M4 manual on 15k is very twitchy on the rear ; it will have the DSC light flashing with your foot hard down in 3rd and 4th! I hate to say it but my E46 feels more planted at low throttle situations!

That said it is fun.

[DT398]

uknick said:

Thanks for the input on how they compare, but I'm pretty sure if I go M it will be an M5. Size is not really an issue as very little of my driving is on narrow country lanes these days, most of the 8k miles I do a year is on motorways or A roads. I've had loan Cayenne and Panamera over the years and never found the difference in size an issue. Also, I'm never going to track it.

But, back to my original question, why are the prices about the same for 2nd hand? Is it just down to demand?

I might be looking at it wrong but, if I can get an M5 for the same price/age/mileage as an M3, that's pretty good value for money.

M5 list price was higher but they always gave big discounts ( and 0% finance ) to shift them as nobody wanted to pay anywhere near list. There was less discount available on the much more recent M3. Depreciation on the M5 is and always has been a shocker. For example, I have a December 2016 M5 competition pack. List was £90k. I paid £68k. We buy any car is now offering £45k, so I'd imagine a trade in at BMW would be £50k or so. That would be an £18k hit in 9 months. That's what you are seeing in the pricing. For the same money I'd always go for an M5 even if a bit older.

[uknick]

DT398 said:

M5 list price was higher but they always gave big discounts ( and 0% finance ) to shift them as nobody wanted to pay anywhere near list. There was less discount available on the much more recent M3. Depreciation on the M5 is and always has been a shocker. For example, I have a December 2016 M5 competition pack. List was £90k. I paid £68k. We buy any car is now offering £45k, so I'd imagine a trade in at BMW would be £50k or so. That would be an £18k hit in 9 months. That's what you are seeing in the pricing. For the same money I'd always go for an M5 even if a bit older.

Thanks DT. This is what I'd seen in the past on the net, but wanted to see if it was still pertinent today.

[zainster]

I owned an F10 M5 CP with MPE and it was a great car and sounded amazing. if you are mainly doing main roads and motorway journeys then the M5 is not only the more comfortable car than the F8* M cars but a nicer place to sit and so much more stronger performance wise from a roll of say 50mph +.

I ran an M4 for about a month and covered 1k miles in it. Interior felt low rent in comparison to the M5, not as comfortable or refined. Cabin not as good at keeping tyre/road roar out of the cabin and didn't sound anywhere as good either. Lacked top end fizz. The positives for me were it was lighter/smaller so more fun and involving at lower speeds and on smaller roads. To some the more aggressive exterior and shouty looks might appeal more though.

Overall, I guess it will be horses for courses when choosing between the two.

Edited by zainster on Friday 15th September 18:56

[cosworth330]

Every generation of M5 has depreciated quicker than the M3. Just like most large cars do. Obviously changes a bit when they get 10 years plus old. After 8 years of M5's I've gone back to M3 (F80) and absolutely love it.

[pvogue]

Why not M6?

[Wills2]

M5 is a large, heavy autobahn blaster (crazy fast from 80-130mph) perfect for doing 30k a year in zooming up and down the motorway but it's a bit numb when you come to a twisty country road but it'll still bomb down one but it's all a bit detached as an experience, the M3 is much more alive and nimble and just as quick up to about 90mph but feels cheap inside by comparison.

Horses for courses, try them and decide.

[beanoir]

I had a Cayman R and the F10 M5 at the same time and eventually time came I had to sell the R. At first I was gutted thinking I'd sold all my fun cars and was just left with a family saloon barge with a bit of poke.

Now I've spent more time and learnt how to drive the M5 properly it actually is a surprisingly capable for a larger car. It can do the twisties in a way that defies physics I think, if you trust it. It's obviously not ever going to be as engaging to drive as the Cayman, but then no BMW is so why bother with a half way house M3...

[skeeterm5]

I have owned a Cayman S, an E90 M3 and now run a F10 M5.

As many people have said the F10 is a real grower, it has unbelievable capability and it takes times to really get to appreciate it. It is also very versatile, the Cayman was a bit of a one trick pony, although very good at it.

For me, I wouldn't bother with the M3. For all of those saying it is more pointy, better drivers cars etc then I say that you would be beyond points and into jail territory if you drove it like that on the road. If you are talking about tracks, then there are far better track weapons.

On the road the M5 is in a different league.

S

[Wills2]

skeeterm5 said:

For me, I wouldn't bother with the M3. For all of those saying it is more pointy, better drivers cars etc then I say that you would be beyond points and into jail territory if you drove it like that on the road. If you are talking about tracks, then there are far better track weapons.

The complete opposite in my experience, the F80 M3 is the car that rewards more at sane speeds, it's hugely lighter and sharper it's got the keenest front end of any of the 5 M cars I've had in fact it' it's the best handling M car I've ever owned by some margin, but it also has the worse sounding engine and a not great interior.

I loved my F10 M5 so much power, great on the motorway, beautiful inside, the multifunction seats are amazing, it's a wonderful car but there are things that the F80 M3 does better and if you drove both back to back they'd be obvious to you as well.

It's horses for courses as I said.

[tenmantaylor]

What's the main reason you are selling the Cayman? What is it you want from an M car it can't do? And what do you like most about the Cayman?