BMW M5 F90 vs F10 vs E60

[TobyTR]

So towards the end of the year I’m seriously considering pulling the trigger on a c.6-month-old F90 M5. but before doing so I’m fascinated to read the views on experienced M5 owners who’ve owned the E60, F10 and are now in the mighty F90…

In your view, which is the best M5 ownership experience on UK roads?

I’ve always been a die-hard naturally-aspirated engine fan with the sound and sublime throttle response you get, but times are changing and the new turbocharged motors combined with the latest gearbox technology are just… so damn good and ruthlessly efficient.

The thing that puts me off about the F10 and F90 are their proportions. Much like the Bangle E60 design, the F10’s styling has really grown on me the last few months and I think it’s a looker now. But there's no getting away from the fact they are a very big car. To put things into perspective, an F80 M3 is pretty much the same size as an E39 M5 now...

So would a year-old F80 M3 Competition do everything an M5 would in the real world, be more entertaining to drive and fit UK roads better? Plus a considerable saving on the initial outlay.

My inner BMW M beard finds all of this deeply fascinating Thoughts fellow M fans?

[MDifficult]

I guess the biggest question is what you plan to use it for?

Is it going to be a daily driver racking up miles? A weekend blaster? Or something that'll be for sunny days and polish?

My gut feel is that if it's going to be your main car, you might want to go F10 for the dual-personality benefits... comfy cruiser when you need it and mentalist when you want it.

On the other hand, if the car is going to be kept for more special moments, I'd go for E60/E61 every time. Rock-solid residuals for a really good one, a soundtrack to die for and an economic incentive to invest in the things it needs to get the best from it (and keep it reliable).

[Smuler]

Why not a E90 M3 ?
Smaller , N/A and V8
Rarity will help values.
Fuel economy surely beats E60

[TobyTR]

It will be my main car, so I'm siding towards '16-plate F10 or nearly new F90 later in the year...

The devil's advocate has brought M3 Competition into the mix too, just because a few posters have successfully switched from M5 to F80 M3 and Autocar's Matt Prior reckons the M3 is more entertaining and fitting of the super-saloon tag.

[Wills2]

I went from F10 M5 to F80 M3, M5 better on the motorway, M3 better everywhere else, interior of M5 miles ahead of M3, M3 looks better with the flared arches and carbon roof, M3 20% better on fuel (if that's a consideration) DCT and LSD are shared between the two, M5 mighty above 80mph serious quick car but that's the ban zone if you keep your foot in.

[physprof]

For me F10. Had year in a F80 M3, it was pointy, great turn in, but as non comp, rear always seemed odd. Easy to place on road but rear never inspired me with confidence. That said F10 needs judicious throttle use. As daily driver it is streets ahead in ambiance if really well spec’ed. It shrinks in size once used to it. Carbon roof a bit of gimmick, love sunroof on F10. As above, monster fast above NSL. F80 feels quicker off line but in manual and right gear and MDM F10 is brutal everywhere. F80 8 k miles 21 mpg, F10 in 10.5k is 19.9 mpg. A in town run at 30/33mph, 1050rpm in 6th gear .... You’ll be in a F80 and then a F10 will roll up beside you and you’ll think... yes, maybe I should have ...

[cosworth330]

I went from an E60 M5 to the F80 M3. I don’t use the car everyday, about 6000 miles a year. Mine seems great on fuel compared with the V10. I did a 1500 mile trip earlier this year and averaged 33 mpg. Same trip in the V10 was 21mpg.
I was set to buy a F10 M5 after the E60 but bought the M3 instead for a few reasons, F80 M3 is the first M3 with a reasonable size boot, in my eyes the M3 is a better looking car, the smaller size of car is just easier for parking etc. Cheaper running costs. Glad I bought the M3. M3 is quicker than the V10 to 100mph but after that I think the V10 feels quicker. M3 is much more nimble,love it.

[TobyTR]

Thanks for the replies all, that's very insightful.

I'm going to view an M3 Competition Pack with 9k miles & AU later today... Excited is an understatement!

[hawker1986]

I cant offer much re F90 or E60 as ive never driven either.

But when I started looking a few years ago my heart was set on an F80 M3 and I test drove the M5 on some advice from forum members despite my reservations around its size. One test drive and I knew it was the F10. The quality of the interior is leaps and bounds above the M3 and as a daily driver and much nicer place to be. While it is a big car I don't find it problematic (granted ive only had it a week!), really I find its long rather than wide - only a couple of inches wider than my MK8 civic at the mirrors so it feels fine on the road anywhere to me. And the length is only an issue because the DCT is a bit fiddly at low speeds and my garage only has a total 20cm clearance in length on the car but ive not crashed it into the back wall yet! If the M3 had the same interior quality and true split personality the M5 has I would happily take the M3 but it doesn't.

Depends what you want from the car as others have said, I doubt I would be unhappy with either!

[skeeterm5]

I have owned 2 E60 M5, and E92 M3 and an F10 M5.

I kept the 2 E60's for nearly 2 years each, I am now almost a year into my F10 ownership. I kept the E92 M3 for less than 3 months before selling it back to the dealer I purchased from.

For me there is little sense of occasion with the M3, it isn't as nice a place to be as the M5 and it lacks any drama. By that I mean that I drive on normal roads and am not a driving god and in those real world circumstances the M3 was simply boring. The M5 however has drama every time you try to put your foot down plus i can drive around in a super relaxed big saloon way when I don't want drama.

I would seek an extended drive in either car, I bought the M3 on a whim based on reviews about how brilliant it was, and I am sure it is on a racetrack. However I regretted it within a couple of weeks.

S

[Stever]

I owned an E63 V10 M6 for a couple of years and the reasons for changing it mostly were due to the SMG gearbox which is obviously the same in the M5. There's no getting round it 75% of the time it's a pig - only when pressing hard does it make sense and by then you're going too fast. It doesn't have the best sound at cold start either but both the M5 and the M6 look fabulous IMO.

I test drove an M4 and an M5 back to back, I wouldn't have bought an M4 because I prefer the looks of the M3 but the M4 was to test the engine. It doesn't sound very good again my opinion and while I thought it was brutally fast it was all a bit soulless for me. The M5 immediately gelled sounded great, was plenty quick and was the one for me which is why I then bought an M6 GC!

As you say the turbo charged engine is brutally efficient and rapid and the DCT is a dream - so fast compared to the SMG which isn't a surprise is it!

I like a nice noise and the F80 didn't have it

[JMBMWM5]

TobyTR said:

So would a year-old F80 M3 Competition do everything an M5 would in the real world, be more entertaining to drive and fit UK roads better? Plus a considerable saving on the initial outlay.

My inner BMW M beard finds all of this deeply fascinating Thoughts fellow M fans?

The F80 M3 CP would fit your bill.
I have had E90 M3, two F80 M3 CP , M6 GC CP, and M5 LCI,.
M6 and M5 are just idling at the speed limit, they only wake up over 90 MPH, so all a waste IMO.
Test drive first for yourself but I got bored with the F10 M5 inside 12 months.

Edited by JMBMWM5 on Friday 18th May 21:58

[Schermerhorn]

The F10 is what, only 6 months out of production? It's still an ultra modern and fresh car and LCI models are now sub £30k too.

A light tune can easily see them push past 600BHP.........