M3 vs M5

[ynotony]

I am sure everyone remembers when the M5 was reviewed by major magazines and journalists for the first time. A lot of the buzz was generated by comparing it to an F430 saying that it could keep up on the mountain backroads and, although not as fast on a track, is just as fun and more practical. People say the M5 is currently one of the most exciting performance vehicles blah blah blah. The M5 seems to make such a bold statement and holds an overwhelming presence. When I see pictures and read reviews of the M5 I feel proud to drive a BMW and it makes me think the M5 is the greatest car to carry the BMW badge.

So when the M3 comes around, is it expected to be anywhere within even spitting distance of the M5? Is the M5 the greatest performance car that BMW makes? Will we see comparisions of the M3 to a F430? After all, if a $60k BMW can keep up with the F430 than surely it is more impressive than the $90k BMW that can, right? If someone to whom money is no object wanted to buy BMW's most proud performance car would they buy an M5 or M3? I always thought that the M3 was the smaller sportier car but now I am beginning to think that it is just the little brother of the M5 and that the M5 is the "real deal" (so to speak).

This may seem like I wish to know which car will be faster (and to some extend that is true), but what I am really wondering is what comes to mind when you think of an M5 and an M3. Is the M3 the true sports car and the M5 is just and powerful big sedan? Or is the M5 the true sports car and the M3 is the kid brother that is always looking up?

I am curious to hear your opinions. This will obviously depend majorly on personal taste. Maybe it is the fact that M5's are more rare but whenever I see one today I get all excited, and whenever I see an M3 it is "just another M3". Besides, isn't the 3 series BMW's "entry level" car?

[aem]

What comes to mind when i think of M3 and M5 are:

M3 is more for the young and bachelor.
M3 would be more fun to drive.
M3 is the 'perfect' package (look-wise and all). Better for city living...

M5 is for the family executive man. Is more mature with the 4 doors...
M5 has the power...
M5 would be faster but isn't what i would call fun to drive (compare to the M3)...not that much of a city car due to size.

If i were an exec i would not get the M5, rather a CSL M3 cos it's just pure sex.

[ynotony]

Yes, the M3 is bought by younger people because it is more attainable (cheaper) and has a younger image to it (seems like every teenager in LA has an M3 these days). But does that mean it is less of a car than the M5?

If you cruise on over to the M5 boards for a moment you'll see that they compare their cars to 911s and ferraris (a lot own all three) and it seems like the M5 is in a whole league above the M3. Is it just the price of the M5 (and the 500hp) that elevates it? Is the M5 supposed to play with exotics while the M3 is just a boy's car? I have never heard an M3 owner talk about taunting a Ferrari before.

In my eyes the M3 is quicker than the M5 in everything (save for maybe straight line) but the M5 is still considered the benchmark for some reason.

Does it come down to price range in the end? Do people choose between a 911 and an M5 because they set a price range that excludes the M3?

[Steved]

The next E92 M3 CSL will be the fastest car BMW have ever built. Even the current E46 M3 CSL is faster around a track than either M5 or M6, so I'd expect the next M3 CSL to totally eclipse them. Top speed will be less than M5/M6 but acceleration will likely be on a par.

[ward]

M5 makes more compromises in performance to make it a luxury highway burner

[ynotony]

Originally Posted by ward

M5 makes more compromises in performance to make it a luxury highway burner

And the M5 is compared to an F430. Surely an F430 doesn't make performance compromises right? So when the new M3 comes out will we hear people comparing the M3 to the F430 at all?

[jo2k]

Originally Posted by ynotony

And the M5 is compared to an F430. Surely an F430 doesn't make performance compromises right? So when the new M3 comes out will we hear people comparing the M3 to the F430 at all?

M3 seems to be off F430's league a bit too much in terms of client base . People would rarely consider a M3 to be anywhere near to be an alternative choice to F430, M5 has a much higher probablity. In that sense, M3 CSL might be a more proper candidate up against F430.

[ward]

neither an M3 or M5 is a proper comparison to a F430

F430 is more expensive than either, faster than both, and less practical than both.

M3 even in CSL trim would be a stretch to compare to the F430

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by ynotony

I am sure everyone remembers when the M5 was reviewed by major magazines and journalists for the first time. A lot of the buzz was generated by comparing it to an F430 saying that it could keep up on the mountain backroads and, although not as fast on a track, is just as fun and more practical. People say the M5 is currently one of the most exciting performance vehicles blah blah blah. The M5 seems to make such a bold statement and holds an overwhelming presence. When I see pictures and read reviews of the M5 I feel proud to drive a BMW and it makes me think the M5 is the greatest car to carry the BMW badge.

So when the M3 comes around, is it expected to be anywhere within even spitting distance of the M5? Is the M5 the greatest performance car that BMW makes? Will we see comparisions of the M3 to a F430? After all, if a $60k BMW can keep up with the F430 than surely it is more impressive than the $90k BMW that can, right? If someone to whom money is no object wanted to buy BMW's most proud performance car would they buy an M5 or M3? I always thought that the M3 was the smaller sportier car but now I am beginning to think that it is just the little brother of the M5 and that the M5 is the "real deal" (so to speak).

This may seem like I wish to know which car will be faster (and to some extend that is true), but what I am really wondering is what comes to mind when you think of an M5 and an M3. Is the M3 the true sports car and the M5 is just and powerful big sedan? Or is the M5 the true sports car and the M3 is the kid brother that is always looking up?

I am curious to hear your opinions. This will obviously depend majorly on personal taste. Maybe it is the fact that M5's are more rare but whenever I see one today I get all excited, and whenever I see an M3 it is "just another M3". Besides, isn't the 3 series BMW's "entry level" car?

Let me take a shot on my view between an M5 and an M3. Having just recently bought a E90-06, I felt underclass amongst all BMW enthusiast out there. I enjoyed the e90, still do, and plan to keep it.

but during my early ownership, of the E90, people with muscle cars, like M3, M5, AMG, G35 were always taunting me to race, even smoke their tires in front of me at Stop lights.

So, I frequent the M5 board and was convinced that a 2002 M5 will shut these people up that taunts me. No doubt M5 is the car of the century! But after a few days of ownership, I realized that this is not an everyday car for driving 35/45/55 mph. This a a race toy and as such have to be maintained like a formula car.

Visiting the M5 board it was nice to note that 2000-to-mid 2001 had most of the share of carbon build up engine problem that may cost up to 8k to fix. M5 Clutch replacement on this are normal wear that cost about 900-1800, brakes changes are about 800-1k.

An early M5 owner posted that his maintenance of the 3-4 yrs of an 00/01 M5 cost him about 11k. This included such repair as MAFS, vanos issues etc etc. But there are others that didnt have such difficulty of course, or at least didnt admit to it.

So, this knock the sense of me, to realized that first, this car will get me speeding ticket-trouble and secondly I will be faced with high cost of maintenance as mileages adds up that even an extended warranty would not cover.

so, I traded it back the M5 in for another ragular car, and have the record shortest M5 ownership. After which I have sometimes visit the same M5board to noticed that even some new 2006 E60/M5 owners are having a tough time with this new M5 machine with all its bells and whistle, and they just could make the car to want then want to do, without learning the new M5 ways of doing things.

Im glad I got rid of the M5. It was nice to have as a trouphy car if I had some extra cash floating around.Yes Im back to my e90, Im still underpowered and undersport car when I drive, but I think an M3 would fixed that.

If I had to decide between an M3 and and M5, I'd do it again but Id go M3!

[Steved]

Originally Posted by ward

neither an M3 or M5 is a proper comparison to a F430

F430 is more expensive than either, faster than both, and less practical than both.

M3 even in CSL trim would be a stretch to compare to the F430

People choose different types of cars for all different reasons and status sometimes doesn't have anything to do with it. Up until 6 months ago my Ferrari dealer had £5k of my money as deposit against a new F430 Coupe. I decided not to buy it because I was getting screwed around on the waiting list (2 years, then 3 years, then 4...) and I had this nagging feeling that most prospective buyers were shallow minded loons who just bought the next best Ferrari to show off. Which is not me.

Even though I cuold buy a F430 I still find myself conscious of the value I would gain from doing so, how often I'd use it and the trend for most Ferrari owners to hardly use their cars (for fear of depreciation). I have an E92 CSL on order and have no doubt that it will achieve most of what the F430 can do whilst being a heck of a lot more usable.

I wouldn't worry about status amongst BMW ranks (M3 vs M5), I own 4 BMWs, all conveying a different status; a 4.8is X5, and M3 CSL which cost the same, an Alpina Roadster S and a Mini Cooper S Works. So I don't care if someone in an M6 sees me in my Z4 based Alpina and thinks I'm beneath them. I'll content myself with just enjoying my cars.

[donger274]

Originally Posted by Steved

The next E92 M3 CSL will be the fastest car BMW have ever built. Even the current E46 M3 CSL is faster around a track than either M5 or M6, so I'd expect the next M3 CSL to totally eclipse them. Top speed will be less than M5/M6 but acceleration will likely be on a par.

will they make the csl not soo limited like bmw has done wit the e46? and do you really drive a csl? ... i wish i could even think about putting my name on a new ferrari waiting list

[Steved]

By "really drive a CSL" do you mean "use it"?, because no I don't. It spends most of it's life parked in my garage, hibernating over winter but being driven hard during summer on tracks or long drives. Some people use them everyday, but it's not as practical as a regular BMW.

[jo2k]

I suspect the new M3 CSL will still be limited like e46 - to justify the price premium, also, of course to showcase it's hardcore racing nature that can't be compromised by our average joe's daily activitiy needs. lol

I am glad that 4 door is coming back - my M3/4 serves me extremely well hualing the baby & grocessries, and my wife won't touch a stick. :P

[donger274]

ive never known someone who owned a csl but i guess this is a forum where i would find one. how much was the sticker when bought? and im guessing the csl wont be out till around 2010

[Steved]

Originally Posted by donger274

ive never known someone who owned a csl but i guess this is a forum where i would find one. how much was the sticker when bought? and im guessing the csl wont be out till around 2010

Do you mean how much did it cost? I paid £59,800 for my CSL compared to the £44,500 that I paid for my previous SMG equipped M3. Both at full sticker price. Nearly 3 years on it's worth around £38k on the second hand market.

The E92 CSL I have been informed will likely be available in mid-2008, which is 5 years on from the E46 CSL and 1 year after the E92 M3 is released.

[donger274]

will the e90 M3 be avaliable anywhere near begining of 2007? looking to truly buy 2006 or the e90 but will drop the idea of getting a e90 m3 if its any later than the begining of 2008

[Steved]

All the current indicators are pointing towards Spring 2007 as a likely launch date. The Current E46 Coupe stops production in May 2006, so I assume that means the E46 M3 will cease at that time also. BMW will not want to be too long without the halo model, particularly since they will need a higher priced icon to allow them to price lower version E92 Coupes higher than today's E46 version.

[aem]

I don't know if this proves anything but here's a nice vid..

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0...E6FFC85226.htm

[donger274]

damn the skyline won out of no where