E39 M5 To M3 CS
Discussion
Im Potentially looking at making the change from M5 to M3 CS, Purely because I fancy a change after 3 fantastic years with the M5, I have become very interested in the CS after reading a few very favourable write up's, I literally haven't read a bad word about the car.
Question 1.. Will I miss the masses of torque that the M5 offers? That is my concern.. Or will I be too busy relishing in the engine note/ responsivness of the handling etc to even notice the difference.
I have my eye on a manual and a SMG car at the moment and plan to drive both in the next few days.
I seem to be warming to the SMG at the moment even though that goes against my petrolhead instincts.
I would ideally love a CSL but am not sure it would make a suitable daily driver.
Any comments very gratefully received, Particularly from anyone who has made the move across.
Question 1.. Will I miss the masses of torque that the M5 offers? That is my concern.. Or will I be too busy relishing in the engine note/ responsivness of the handling etc to even notice the difference.
I have my eye on a manual and a SMG car at the moment and plan to drive both in the next few days.
I seem to be warming to the SMG at the moment even though that goes against my petrolhead instincts.
I would ideally love a CSL but am not sure it would make a suitable daily driver.
Any comments very gratefully received, Particularly from anyone who has made the move across.
The best thing about the S54 engine is that it keeps revving to 8k - this will be the first thing you'll grow to love 
The e46 M3 still has a respectable amount of low down torque, so you shouldn't find it too lacking. I went from a 330d to the M3.
SMG is superb - after 3.5 years in a manual e46, I wanted something a little different, and am still very happy with my choice of SMG after nearly 3 years of M3 ownership. It suits the ballistic nature of the engine, and in terms of driving experience comes - opens up a whole new world when driving at ten-tenths.
The e46 M3 still has a respectable amount of low down torque, so you shouldn't find it too lacking. I went from a 330d to the M3.
SMG is superb - after 3.5 years in a manual e46, I wanted something a little different, and am still very happy with my choice of SMG after nearly 3 years of M3 ownership. It suits the ballistic nature of the engine, and in terms of driving experience comes - opens up a whole new world when driving at ten-tenths.
The CS is a brilliant car. Yes you'll miss the torque as the engine only gets going over 3.5k rpm but saying that it certainly makes up for it at the top end. You'll learn to drive it differently to the M5 so don't be put off if it does feel sluggish at low revs on your test drive.
The SMG is pretty basic and I found the auto mode useless. The SMG really comes into its own when pressing on and IMO suits the engine dynamics in spirited driving. I've not driven a car with better steering feel than the CS.
I've gone the opposite way to you, CS IL6 to a V8 (M3) and find the new car a lot more relaxing to drive but ultimately not as fun day to day.
If I could have justified having two M3's as weekend drivers I'd still have my CS sitting in my garage!
Let us know how you get on.
The SMG is pretty basic and I found the auto mode useless. The SMG really comes into its own when pressing on and IMO suits the engine dynamics in spirited driving. I've not driven a car with better steering feel than the CS.
I've gone the opposite way to you, CS IL6 to a V8 (M3) and find the new car a lot more relaxing to drive but ultimately not as fun day to day.
If I could have justified having two M3's as weekend drivers I'd still have my CS sitting in my garage!
Let us know how you get on.
I made the move. The E39 M5 is definitely a beast of a car and quite possibly the best super saloon ever to have been manufactured. An awesome car that does everything spectacularly well.
My CS is a manual. It's a great car to drive. I find it more demanding than the M5 when making progress. You can leave an M5 in 4th gear all day long and it will just deliver ballistic drive from 40-140 ish in that cog. The M3 requires more from the driver, but this is definitely rewarded in equal measure. Overall, there's very little in it performance wise.
The steering on the CS is much more direct than the M5. Being about 250kg lighter, the M3 has quicker reactions to driver input. The CS feels more nimble. Not necessarily any quicker from A to B, but lighter on its feet.
The CS will take 4 adults and luggage, just like the M5. It just won't be quite so comfortable.
Overall, both cars are fantastic. You shouldn't miss the torque too much, but you will notice a difference in delivery. I'm happy I made the change, but wouldn't hesitate to have another E39 if I was in the market again and the right car came up. Currently, I'm sticking with the CS.
Matt
My CS is a manual. It's a great car to drive. I find it more demanding than the M5 when making progress. You can leave an M5 in 4th gear all day long and it will just deliver ballistic drive from 40-140 ish in that cog. The M3 requires more from the driver, but this is definitely rewarded in equal measure. Overall, there's very little in it performance wise.
The steering on the CS is much more direct than the M5. Being about 250kg lighter, the M3 has quicker reactions to driver input. The CS feels more nimble. Not necessarily any quicker from A to B, but lighter on its feet.
The CS will take 4 adults and luggage, just like the M5. It just won't be quite so comfortable.
Overall, both cars are fantastic. You shouldn't miss the torque too much, but you will notice a difference in delivery. I'm happy I made the change, but wouldn't hesitate to have another E39 if I was in the market again and the right car came up. Currently, I'm sticking with the CS.
Matt
Thanks for the replies so far guys and please keep em coming,
I think I need a good test drive in one to really get a proper feel for it , My only concern is letting my near perfect M5 go and later on regreting it, I had a great blast in the M5 yesterday and came back grinning and thinking how can you improve on that.. But ultimately us petrolhead guys have this incurable addiction to try as many high performance cars as possible before they eventually get banned or become uninsurable.
If Im blown away on the test drive it will make the decision easy for me I suppose.
I think I need a good test drive in one to really get a proper feel for it , My only concern is letting my near perfect M5 go and later on regreting it, I had a great blast in the M5 yesterday and came back grinning and thinking how can you improve on that.. But ultimately us petrolhead guys have this incurable addiction to try as many high performance cars as possible before they eventually get banned or become uninsurable.
If Im blown away on the test drive it will make the decision easy for me I suppose.
Big E 118 said:
The CS is a brilliant car. Yes you'll miss the torque as the engine only gets going over 3.5k rpm but saying that it certainly makes up for it at the top end. You'll learn to drive it differently to the M5 so don't be put off if it does feel sluggish at low revs on your test drive.
The SMG is pretty basic and I found the auto mode useless. The SMG really comes into its own when pressing on and IMO suits the engine dynamics in spirited driving. I've not driven a car with better steering feel than the CS.
I've gone the opposite way to you, CS IL6 to a V8 (M3) and find the new car a lot more relaxing to drive but ultimately not as fun day to day.
If I could have justified having two M3's as weekend drivers I'd still have my CS sitting in my garage!
Let us know how you get on.
+1The SMG is pretty basic and I found the auto mode useless. The SMG really comes into its own when pressing on and IMO suits the engine dynamics in spirited driving. I've not driven a car with better steering feel than the CS.
I've gone the opposite way to you, CS IL6 to a V8 (M3) and find the new car a lot more relaxing to drive but ultimately not as fun day to day.
If I could have justified having two M3's as weekend drivers I'd still have my CS sitting in my garage!
Let us know how you get on.
The CS I had is still my favourite M3. I agree about the SMG for pushing on and the useless auto mode. I loved the alcantara steering wheel and paddle combination and I think the E46 is the best looking M3.
I found my E39 M5 a bit big and heavy, but the CS was superb, it was one of those cars that felt perfectly balanced and the relationship between engine, steering, brakes and cornering was spot on.
I wish I still had mine!
I'm someone else who recently made this change. Felt like it was time for something different and I've always fancied the M3, so when a CS appeared that ticked all the boxes I went for it.
First thing you'll notice is that it does feel slower. And then the ride in the CS is pretty harsh by comparison. But once you get the car out onto some proper roads, engine on song, it's so much more tactile and involving than the M5. The steering is wonderfully sharp and precise, the alcantara steering wheel fronting that bulging bonnet as you nail it from corner to corner, engine screaming away - you'll love it. And then there's the way it looks.
I do miss the M5 and in an ideal world I'd have kept both, but I don't regret making the switch.
First thing you'll notice is that it does feel slower. And then the ride in the CS is pretty harsh by comparison. But once you get the car out onto some proper roads, engine on song, it's so much more tactile and involving than the M5. The steering is wonderfully sharp and precise, the alcantara steering wheel fronting that bulging bonnet as you nail it from corner to corner, engine screaming away - you'll love it. And then there's the way it looks.
I do miss the M5 and in an ideal world I'd have kept both, but I don't regret making the switch.
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