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      02-23-2011, 05:35 PM   #1
///M Ryder
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Talking ///M3 VS 650i Review

Well, I had a little time on my hands today so I decided to write my comparison review between the ///M3 and 650i. I’ve had a few people ask me, why did you take a step down in cars? At first I was thinking, what are these folks talking about. But then it hit me…..the general populous is of the “the higher the badge number the more expensive so it must be better theory”. So to those people I say, it’s not all about the badge or the price tag. Now sit back and learn a few things. To all of you enthusiasts, let’s get this ride going.

First the 650i………My general description has always been, a super nice luxury car with some sport characteristics. This car is all about arriving in comfort and style. From the minute you open the door and notice the lighted door sills, to the minute you start the engine, the 650i is nice and quiet while performing its daily duties. The interior isn’t as large as you would think (it looks much bigger from the outside). The technology in the car is all about comfort. The climate control system does everything but heat and cool your house and it’s all done through the iDrive. The logic 7 sound is far superior to the premium sound found in the ///M3. I don’t think the Dakota leather is as nice as the Novillo leather offered on the ///M3. It feels stiff and nowhere near as soft. Now to the driving experience. As stated above, the 650i handles business in a quiet and adult manner. The steering and the brakes are what you would expect from a BMW. Though I never tracked the 650i I can tell you that body roll is non-existent on normal streets and freeways. And as you would all expect the torque is unbelievable down low. Turn off the DTC, hit the sport button and move the shifter over to manual mode and you now have a car that is very capable of running the streets. I have literally been pinned to the seat through 3 gears. While at rest, the 650i has a commanding presence. It gets all kinds of looks. People would often ask if it was a new model. So, if you want a luxury GT coupe’, get yourself a 650i…..you will not be disappointed.

Now the ///M3……My initial impressions after taking delivery were this will be fun. My general description is a sports car that you have to make behave. The ///M3’s character is, arrive quickly and let them know you are coming. I’m not new to the ///M family, but this was a different experience. From the minute you open the door and notice how thick the steering wheel is, to the minute you hit the start button and “Benson” the seatbelt attendant ensures that you get buckled in for what is sure to be an intoxicating ride. As noted above, the Novillo leather is butter smooth and as soft as a baby’s bottom. The technology found here is all about getting you there quickly and quickly and then quickly. Even with all this quick tech dumped into this car, you can still arrive almost as comfortable as you would in the 650i. The trick to doing it is to figure out what the hell all the acronyms mean…EDC, MDM, DSC, PDC and even power (damn didn’t I already start the car), and TPM. WOW, so now I see why there is a supplemental manual. So after getting all of this sorted, I’m ready to drive. Now I see why you enthusiasts rant and rave…..I also see why the premium sound is not as good as the Logic 7 found in the 650i. ///M3 drivers want to hear the sweet exhaust note……. we don’t care if the bass isn’t as tight. Besides every throttle blip would drown out the bass anyway. The DCT (another damn acronym) took a little time to get used to, but once you get it, boy do you get it. The shifting and acceleration are instant (if you’re in the right mode). The steering and braking are not BMW like, they are ///M like. If you’ve never owned a ///M car, you wouldn’t understand. The road feel is superb….this car is very well connected and gives immediate feedback to the driver. The ///M3 has a different type of onlooker than the 650i. Those that know what those 3 colors and M represent look with pleasure, those that don’t know look and take note so that they can hit Google when they get home. Once this car has made its 1200 mile journey and the mad scientist at your local dealership give it a quick fluid transfusion, it’s a whole new ballgame. All I can say is this car is designed for someone who loves driving. I don’t mean commuting, I mean driving! To all of you that use your ///M3 as a garage queen, shame on you. This car doesn’t even wake up until you are north of 5000 rpm. I have been absolutely amazed at how this car handles and the manner in which it goes about it. Every driver should be blessed enough to own this car.

Finally.....To the people that asked the, why did you take a step down question, here’s your answer. I took a step down only in the garage. The ///M3 is shorter and takes up less space. The CEO has more room to navigate when she’s in there….and we all know that when momma’s happy, life is good. No seriously, the 650i has its place in a driver’s tool box. It really boils down to how you want to get from point a to point b. You can own the 650i and arrive quietly and comfortably or you can drive a ///M3 and arrive with the biggest grin on your face and pretend you forgot something so you can make the drive again. Either way, get out and drive, that’s what BMW’s are all about. “The Ultimate Driving Machine”

Phil
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Last edited by ///M Ryder; 02-23-2011 at 08:18 PM..
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      02-23-2011, 05:41 PM   #2
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nice read, thanks.
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      02-23-2011, 05:53 PM   #3
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Great writeup great car
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      02-23-2011, 05:58 PM   #4
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nice write up!
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      02-23-2011, 06:04 PM   #5
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Very well said. Enjoyable read.
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      02-23-2011, 06:06 PM   #6
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excellent writing.
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      02-23-2011, 06:11 PM   #7
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Quite the pensmith!
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      02-23-2011, 06:37 PM   #8
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Good review! LOL @ Benson.
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      02-23-2011, 06:39 PM   #9
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Those are two cars that are pretty far apart.
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      02-23-2011, 07:37 PM   #10
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Paragraphs please.
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      02-23-2011, 07:40 PM   #11
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i would say "nice write up", but whoa, paragraphs should be your best friend.
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      02-23-2011, 08:02 PM   #12
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As a recent owner of both cars, I think you sum it up quite fairly.
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      02-23-2011, 08:13 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdosu View Post
i would say "nice write up", but whoa, paragraphs should be your best friend.
My bad guys, I guess it was a little difficult to read. I hit the edit button and broke it up some.....now enjoy.............Phil
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Last edited by ///M Ryder; 02-23-2011 at 09:13 PM..
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      02-23-2011, 08:17 PM   #14
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Thanks lol very good writeup though
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      02-23-2011, 08:33 PM   #15
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very well written!

you nailed it!
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      02-23-2011, 08:52 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FStop7 View Post
Those are two cars that are pretty far apart.
when I was car-shopping, I had the opportunity to get either one of these cars for around the same price...it was a tough call but after test driving both the M3 showed me that it really is on a different (not necessarily better, but very dependent on what the individual driver is looking for) "tier" in BMW's lineup, as the OP mentions.
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      02-23-2011, 11:45 PM   #17
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Nailed it... It's about driving. I love this car
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      02-23-2011, 11:51 PM   #18
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Brilliant. Thanks for a great comparo!

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      02-24-2011, 12:53 AM   #19
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Loved the write up. Owned both and feel I made a great choice. The 650 works very well for me, and loving how it drives, although I loved the M3 as well. It is all about preference. They are both stellar driving machines.
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      02-24-2011, 08:32 PM   #20
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wonderful comparison and write up.
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      02-24-2011, 08:41 PM   #21
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Good read.

I'd say that I could basically write the same comparo between my F10 550i and my E90 M3. Owning both affords me access to the opposite ends of a wonderful spectrum depending on my mood that day while still always feeling very BMW.

Similarly to your situation, I have people asking me why I traded down from my '09 Carrera S to the M3, but I don't see it as a trade down merely because the M3 is $20K less (most of which is simply due to economies of scale rather than the Porsche being $20K superior), but rather a trade to another equally fun car with a very different driving experience. Variety is the spice of life!
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      02-24-2011, 10:41 PM   #22
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So if the 6-series gets the high number oohs and ahs, but the M3 has the M performance fun... is a M6 the best of both worlds?

I've never been in a M6 so I wouldn't know.

I have some friends with M5s, though. The M5 has a ton of power, but it still seemed really cushy to me. Still quiet, ride was soft and comfy.
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