Stuck deciding next car M3/M4 (F8x) or M5 (F10)
Discussion
First off... I have NEVER been indecisive about next car - always been clear what I want well ahead of buying.
My B9 S4 is off within the next week or so - nice car; practical, quick but a bit dull. Now I’m working from home I have an opportunity to put something a bit more special on the drive as mileage will be down to around 6-7k a year
Started looking at the F8x M3 or M4, but the F10 M5 has caught my eye. I’m looking in the region of £28k +/- which looks like a 2015 or so car with around 50k miles, if I pick any of the 3 mentioned (AUC pricing)
The wife’s car is a Q5, so we have something practical for the dog and for trips away (2 kids).
My car would be for commute (max 2 days a week once things open up again), school run every other week, and at the moment is typically the default weekend car as I prefer driving the S4 to the Q5
Any pointers on which way to go - all seem great cars. A 911 could be in the equation price wise, but think that may be a step too far in maintenance costs and practicality.
My B9 S4 is off within the next week or so - nice car; practical, quick but a bit dull. Now I’m working from home I have an opportunity to put something a bit more special on the drive as mileage will be down to around 6-7k a year
Started looking at the F8x M3 or M4, but the F10 M5 has caught my eye. I’m looking in the region of £28k +/- which looks like a 2015 or so car with around 50k miles, if I pick any of the 3 mentioned (AUC pricing)
The wife’s car is a Q5, so we have something practical for the dog and for trips away (2 kids).
My car would be for commute (max 2 days a week once things open up again), school run every other week, and at the moment is typically the default weekend car as I prefer driving the S4 to the Q5
Any pointers on which way to go - all seem great cars. A 911 could be in the equation price wise, but think that may be a step too far in maintenance costs and practicality.
Edited by mrobbie on Thursday 15th April 12:59
Similar dilemma, keep coming back to the M3/4.
Theres the Mustang GT of course, maybe a bit Yee Haw and not as fast as the BMW, very nice and though similar in intent, quite different in execution.
911 wise you are on a 997 gen 1 with its known issues, quite a bit older car.
Caymans and Boxsters, can get into a Gen 2 987 but only 2 seats.
TTRS, in the middle ground between the Mk2 and Mk23, i.e. got more than you need for the former but enough for the latter.
RS4 wise, gets you something nice, but fairly old.
Good choice in the super barge stakes, CLS 63, E63, M5, S8 but all a bit big and unwieldy. Panamera at this price is a ugly thing, great for covering distance all these but are they suitable as a fun car ? kind of attainable and doable as not for big miles, but would you choose one for a "fun" car ? And if doing big miles, running one would be really expensive. A lot seem to prefer the M3/4 to the M5, M5 will walk away, they are manically fast but get the impression the M3/4 is more enjoyable and plenty fast enough.
Hot hatches are a step down.
Oddball stuff like Monaros I suppose, perhaps a bit big and specialist for my tastes, generally not that fast unless messed with.
Stretching distance of an early GTR or R8, but the GTR is perhaps a bit much and R8 at the bottom of the market a bit of a risk.
The M3/4 is that sweet spot between being special, quick, modern, not too old, not to hyped price wise, in good supply and generally pretty robust (Crank hub and turbos notwithstanding)
Downsides are people hate you and constantly make hilarious indicator "Jokes".
Theres the Mustang GT of course, maybe a bit Yee Haw and not as fast as the BMW, very nice and though similar in intent, quite different in execution.
911 wise you are on a 997 gen 1 with its known issues, quite a bit older car.
Caymans and Boxsters, can get into a Gen 2 987 but only 2 seats.
TTRS, in the middle ground between the Mk2 and Mk23, i.e. got more than you need for the former but enough for the latter.
RS4 wise, gets you something nice, but fairly old.
Good choice in the super barge stakes, CLS 63, E63, M5, S8 but all a bit big and unwieldy. Panamera at this price is a ugly thing, great for covering distance all these but are they suitable as a fun car ? kind of attainable and doable as not for big miles, but would you choose one for a "fun" car ? And if doing big miles, running one would be really expensive. A lot seem to prefer the M3/4 to the M5, M5 will walk away, they are manically fast but get the impression the M3/4 is more enjoyable and plenty fast enough.
Hot hatches are a step down.
Oddball stuff like Monaros I suppose, perhaps a bit big and specialist for my tastes, generally not that fast unless messed with.
Stretching distance of an early GTR or R8, but the GTR is perhaps a bit much and R8 at the bottom of the market a bit of a risk.
The M3/4 is that sweet spot between being special, quick, modern, not too old, not to hyped price wise, in good supply and generally pretty robust (Crank hub and turbos notwithstanding)
Downsides are people hate you and constantly make hilarious indicator "Jokes".
The F10 M5 is an autobahn missile, and hides speed. Mine was a 2014 LCI and I found it somewhat muted, comfortable and not that special. Brilliant as a long-distance, continent crusher but at legal speeds not that interesting. Never had a F8X but that is where I would look if you don't need the M5 size for practical reasons, try to look for a LCI.
Stever said:
4 door M6?
More special than an M5 and much nicer place than M3/4 IMO
There will unlikely be much choice on the AUC website for a M6 GC @ £28k otherwise awesome looking/going things.More special than an M5 and much nicer place than M3/4 IMO
I was in a similar decision making position - have always been an M5 man but a 2016 M4 Competition is what I ended up going for; looks better, quicker 0-60mph, sounds better (subjective - some may say it sounds worse but the F10 M5 is mute) and a far better driving experience. The M5 has the M4 licked for top end speed but realistically how often are you going to appreciate the superior acceleration from 110mph+ (the M4 still won't be slow). The M5 is also going to be the more spacious and comfortable but you have a Q5 for that.
Best of luck with whichever you go for, you'll love both I am sure.
TDutchy said:
There will unlikely be much choice on the AUC website for a M6 GC @ £28k otherwise awesome looking/going things.
I was in a similar decision making position - have always been an M5 man but a 2016 M4 Competition is what I ended up going for; looks better, quicker 0-60mph, sounds better (subjective - some may say it sounds worse but the F10 M5 is mute) and a far better driving experience. The M5 has the M4 licked for top end speed but realistically how often are you going to appreciate the superior acceleration from 110mph+ (the M4 still won't be slow). The M5 is also going to be the more spacious and comfortable but you have a Q5 for that.
Best of luck with whichever you go for, you'll love both I am sure.
Well that's true but I did consider selling mine recently and trade in quotes for my 2014 model with 44K were in the region £24-29K and the op did say +/-. So a private sale could be in reach and then as I did put a BMW Insured warranty on and you get a better car for less money. The insured warranty has been faultless and the few claims have been met without quibble. Incidentally, before buying the M6GC, I test drove an M4 and an M5 back to back at Sytner and while the M4 was brutally fast and I love the looks, I didn't like the noise and preferred the interior of the M5. Lucky we're all different and as you say that little M badge on the front grill makes all of them special.I was in a similar decision making position - have always been an M5 man but a 2016 M4 Competition is what I ended up going for; looks better, quicker 0-60mph, sounds better (subjective - some may say it sounds worse but the F10 M5 is mute) and a far better driving experience. The M5 has the M4 licked for top end speed but realistically how often are you going to appreciate the superior acceleration from 110mph+ (the M4 still won't be slow). The M5 is also going to be the more spacious and comfortable but you have a Q5 for that.
Best of luck with whichever you go for, you'll love both I am sure.
Thermobaric said:
I've been looking at AUC M3s and M4s too. I hadn't realized how more common M4s were compared to M3s. 200+ M4s nationally compared to 40+ M3s. I guess not many people have traded in their old M3s yet. I don't blame them.
M3's stopped production in 2018 as well(because they couldn't get the emissions fuel filter to fit), whereas the M4 remained in production until 2020. 
In answer to the original question it is difficult to choose between the 2 in many ways. The V8 in the M5/M6 is a really big plus point for me, however the M5/M6 are a fairly big car and they have the added weight that goes with that. So what appeals to me is the smaller and lighter weight of the M3/M4 that bit more, all of them are quick cars though regardless. So you can't lose in that way I reckon.
Literally faced the same conundrum as yourself.
Was dead set on a F10 M5, then read reviews and real world ownership posts and felt that the F80 is more suited to my needs (it's what I am planning on purchasing soon). Need 4 doors so the M4 is ruled out immediately.
Just a pain in the rear finding an F80 that ticks all the boxes.
Was dead set on a F10 M5, then read reviews and real world ownership posts and felt that the F80 is more suited to my needs (it's what I am planning on purchasing soon). Need 4 doors so the M4 is ruled out immediately.
Just a pain in the rear finding an F80 that ticks all the boxes.
I miss my E46 M3 which I sold a few years back - divorce meant I needed a more practical car... queue a Focus ST, then a F11 530d, then an Audi SQ5 and then the S4. The M4 puts me back in something more nimble, but the M5 has the V8 and a shed load of comfort.
The S4 goes next week so time to step up the search!
The S4 goes next week so time to step up the search!
I’ve had my F80 M3 4 years and love it. Never had any issues and it’s been cheap to run. I was set on an F10 M5 after my E60 M5 but found the F10 was just too big for my needs plus it was looking a bit dated compared with the F80.
I can only see one F80 M3 under 28k on the AUC site, they hold their money better than the M4.
I can only see one F80 M3 under 28k on the AUC site, they hold their money better than the M4.
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