Who has gone from a V10 M5/6 to a V8 M3?

[Db750]

I have done a search and found a few older threads, but I wanted to hear from current owners of the V8 M3 who have previously owned a V10 powered M car. I sold my M6 a few months back as my wife and I were moving into a new house and I didn't need a ticking time bomb sitting in the garage. Well, I've held out as long as I can! We traded my wife's 335i in on a 2015 M235i which I absolutely love, but I just need a high revving NA engine in my life!

I learned durning the ownership of my M6 that the experience of something blowing up every 2-3000 miles was much more enjoyable when it was under warranty. Since there aren't any M5/6's still under factory warranty (and I want to try something else) that leaves the e92 M3 as one of my only options. I have driven a few, but I haven't been able to let loose, and have only driven them for about thirty minutes total.

Really the only thing I can think of that I may miss from the V10 other than the sound is the incredible top end. I loved the way that car pulled on the interstate from third gear at 70mph!

Anyway, previous V10 owners, please let me know how you are enjoying your V8s. What are the upsides and the downsides? What do you miss from the old car?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[mercedesc63]

I currently drive a 2011 E93 M3 and I love it.

However I recently drove a used 2010 M6 and it drives exactly the same as the M3 except for the great unrefined SMG which is fun but I dont know how good it is exactly. I also had a 2007 M6 so many years ago.

There are many great deals on the E9x's out there since the new M4 came out. Lately I've been so interested in unrefined cars and the M6 was just one of them with the unrefined engine and gearbox. I think an E46 M3 is the car ur looking for because its unrefined and drives amazing, better than my E93. I think you should go drive another M6, a E46 M3 and, E9x M3 and if you dont want to buy one with a warranty you can just buy an aftermarket one. Thats what I have and it covered 4k in issues already no deductible!

[STooK]

Can't speak from experience but I don't think you'll regret it. The S65 is after all, in the same family as the S85 so it should have the same characteristics of the M6 in just a slightly smaller and lighter package.

The S85 is the best sounding BMW engine I've heard but the S65 is pretty bad ass itself. The e9x M3 is pretty reliable from what I've researched and I haven't had any issues myself yet although it's too early to tell. Prices are falling so it's a good time to pick up a CPO with extended warranty and enjoy it. I'm sure you will feel right at home with the m3.

[Db750]

Originally Posted by mercedesc63

I currently drive a 2011 E93 M3 and I love it.

However I recently drove a used 2010 M6 and it drives exactly the same as the M3 except for the great unrefined SMG which is fun but I dont know how good it is exactly. I also had a 2007 M6 so many years ago.

There are many great deals on the E9x's out there since the new M4 came out. Lately I've been so interested in unrefined cars and the M6 was just one of them with the unrefined engine and gearbox. I think an E46 M3 is the car ur looking for because its unrefined and drives amazing, better than my E93. I think you should go drive another M6, a E46 M3 and, E9x M3 and if you dont want to buy one with a warranty you can just buy an aftermarket one. Thats what I have and it covered 4k in issues already no deductible!

Thank you for the response. I have never driven an E46 M3, but I would of course love to some time! Right now in life though I am looking for something that I can enjoy on weekends, and if something goes wrong BMW will fix it for me for free.

More specifically I am looking to take over a lease on an E92 M3. This way I can pick a payment I am comfortable with and I don't have to worry about anything else. My wife and I are also purchasing stuff for our new house, so having a set budget with the cars will help with that.

Really appreciate your thoughts!

Originally Posted by STooK

Can't speak from experience but I don't think you'll regret it. The S65 is after all, in the same family as the S85 so it should have the same characteristics of the M6 in just a slightly smaller and lighter package.

The S85 is the best sounding BMW engine I've heard but the S65 is pretty bad ass itself. The e9x M3 is pretty reliable from what I've researched and I haven't had any issues myself yet although it's too early to tell. Prices are falling so it's a good time to pick up a CPO with extended warranty and enjoy it. I'm sure you will feel right at home with the m3.

What you're saying is pretty much what I'm thinking. I'll be giving up some of the top end power and that crazy sound, but in return I will get a lighter, better handling car that still sounds incredible and I will also get the better DCT and newer Idrive (the CCC SUCKS!).

Also, I just want to add that I will most likely be taking over a lease for this M3 for several reasons:

1. Lowest cost of entry for desired term of ownership and age of car.
2. Warranty!
3. There is very little inventory in my area which makes it difficult to buy, and especially sell high performance cars.

Thank you for your response, Stook.

[M3kingz]

I just came from a 07 m6 coupe to 11 e93 m3..only thing i miss on the m6 is the sound. For the m3 i jus love it overall. Im supercharged so i got the speed back lol. & the gas in the m6 is no joke compared to the m3

[mercedesc63]

The maintenance is cheap on all those cars also keep that in mind cheaper than a lease.

Keep ur eyes peeled for the 600-700$ m3 leases those are the ones u want the price is almost up to par with used. But used is and always be cheaper by more than just a couple thousand.

[Bavarian Beast]

I had an 07 M6 coupe and then a 10 m6 vert. I got rid of the last one because of the maintenance. I currently drive a 2011 M3 vert. I do miss the engine sound, power and the overall way the car sits down and just holds the road. I never felt unstable in the M6-at any speed up to 205mph. The M3 is similar in a lot of ways, but it doesn't satisfy the way the M6 did. I didn't expect it to and it is a close second. It still has good sound, decent power and is fun to drive, just not the top end feel of the M6. I have been considering suspension options since I begin to feel a little loose once I hit around 150 and I want it to sit down more. A tune goes a long ways for making up the power difference so that isn't really an issue. In the end, I do miss the M6, but I think the M3 is one of the best options as a replacement for overall feel. And it does better on a track. I guess the other thing is if you don't have the 'Bahn and won't be traveling the high-end speeds I do, the only real issue I have, suspension, is a non-issue. I am sure others will have different opinions, just my two cents after having both a coupe and vert M6 for a few years and driving my M3 for a year or so.

[Ezio]

the S65 is a great motor, proably the second best motor from BMW ever. the first best is the V10. i think you will not be 100% happy with the S65 and the E92 m3. its just that simple.

[marc6SPD]

I would go with the M3. I have an '08 M5 and '11 M3 and, in my opinion, the M3 is a much better car to drive overall. I have not driven the M6 so can't compare but ever since I got the E90, I barely drive the bigger one. I do agree with the sound and power comments on the crazy V10 but somehow the V8 won me over.

[whats77inaname]

For those complaining about missing the power, why not just s/c the car? Problem solved.

[BrewRifle]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

For those complaining about missing the power, why not just s/c the car? Problem solved.

My thoughts exactly. The car will pull harder than any NA M5/M6 with the V10.

[Bavarian Beast]

I am not complaining about power, I just felt the M6 was must more settled at higher speeds, which can be fixed, I figure, with some suspension upgrades. For those missing the sound, maybe we can get the BMW engineers to pipe it in through the speakers. HA!

[SunnyD]

I've owned both. The S85 is truly a masterpiece, but one difference I noticed between the S85 and the S65 is the torque curve. The curve wasn't as flat in the S85; you had to be above 5500rpm to really feel the car go (peak torque at 6100rpm). Whereas in the S65, the curve is pretty flat and peaks at 3900rpm, so to me it feels a little punchier down low.

But, I will tell you the m3 does kind of feel like my old M5 without the power button on sometimes, especially accelerating at fwy speeds.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

For those complaining about missing the power, why not just s/c the car? Problem solved.

not to many people are into the fact of do heavy mods on a car.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by Ezio

not to many people are into the fact of do heavy mods on a car.

I consider that more of an expensive bolt-on mod!

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Ezio

not to many people are into the fact of do heavy mods on a car.

To me, that's not a heavy mod, that's a bolt on. To me, a heavy mod is a something that isn't easily reversible. That's just me, though

[Gr330zhp]

My father has an 07 M6 cabrio 6 speed. I have put plenty of hours behind the wheel and it is a blast! Comparing it to the M3 though, most of the extra power is really only felt in very high rpms. Not that the M3 feels slow by any means. And frankly around town, the M6 does sometimes feels doggy in town with the gearing compared to the M3. The S65 is a smaller version of the S85 after all! You won't regret it!

[SunnyD]

I've always felt that the S85 was a great engine in the wrong car. The M5 is meant to be a daily driven vehicle given how comfortable and spacious it is, but was too heavy to be a weekend track/fun car. But with the E60 it lacked the low end torque and gas mileage/range to fulfill that duty.

BMW should've put that engine into a smaller coupe and made an R8 competitor.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I've always felt that the S85 was a great engine in the wrong car. The M5 is meant to be a daily driven vehicle given how comfortable and spacious it is, but was too heavy to be a weekend track/fun car. But with the E60 it lacked the low end torque and gas mileage/range to fulfill that duty.

BMW should've put that engine into a smaller coupe and made an R8 competitor.

F**KEN RIGHT!!

Or if it was an easy swap into an E9x that would make an awsome car!!

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I've always felt that the S85 was a great engine in the wrong car. The M5 is meant to be a daily driven vehicle given how comfortable and spacious it is, but was too heavy to be a weekend track/fun car. But with the E60 it lacked the low end torque and gas mileage/range to fulfill that duty.

BMW should've put that engine into a smaller coupe and made an R8 competitor.

your ideas are intriguing to me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[BPMSport]

I've had 3 E60 M5s.. Top end is no match, the V10 is a monster, especially tuned with 8,600 RPM redline. Low end is better on the M3, the M5 sings more up top. The S85 drinks gas like no other, but you have to pay to hear that beautiful symphony. I like the vanos supply of the S65 more as it's less prone to catastrophic failure, but then again we have these lovely bearing debacles.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

I've had 3 E60 M5s.. Top end is no match, the V10 is a monster, especially tuned with 8,600 RPM redline. Low end is better on the M3, the M5 sings more up top. The S85 drinks gas like no other, but you have to pay to hear that beautiful symphony. I like the vanos supply of the S65 more as it's less prone to catastrophic failure, but then again we have these lovely bearing debacles.

yes, I don't care for HP vanos either, but FYI the lower end is the same so the bearings are =/=