Replacing An E55 AMG with a M3?

I'm thinking of replacing my W211 E55 AMG (500+hp, 560tq) with a CPO E92 M3 with DCT. I love everything about the M3 but the only thing I'm worried about is the actual straight line performance. I'm so used all the torque in the E55 that I'm not sure if the M3 will still be fun in city driving. On the other hand, I know the handling will be night and day difference. Has anyone else gone from a car with a tremendous amount of torque down low to a E9x M3? I love the C63 but I just feel like I want more of a race car at this point in time and the M3 fits that bill much better even though it may not be as fast.

Don't Worry, I had a 2006 cls55 same engine, and I am fine with the M's torque. The car handles so well compared to the MB, its night and day. I also had a porsche turbo(996) and an ISF, I honestly don't miss any of them compared to the M3. Good luck with your purchase!

Your E55 is charged yes? If you can afford it ESS Charge the M3

BMWPWR wrote

Your E55 is charged yes? If you can afford it ESS Charge the M3

Yah the E55 is supercharged. I want a NA engine while I can still get one so I'm not interested in adding FI to the M3

CityOfAngels wrote

Yah the E55 is supercharged. I want a NA engine while I can still get one so I'm not interested in adding FI to the M3

Famous last words.

you'll be disappointed with the torque, especially around town and in the low RPM

swanson wrote

you'll be disappointed with the torque, especially around town and in the low RPM

Ugh thats the only thing I'm afraid of. What about just keeping the car at a lower gear/higher RPM?

The M3 pulls good at high RPM. Low RPM is pretty lackluster. But when it does pull, it is very linear and not torquey so you might miss the feeling of getting pushed into your seat while accelerating. Going uphill I usually find I need to downshift a gear or two to keep it from slowing down as well. While it doesn't "feel" fast, the M3 is pretty fast, you just don't have the feeling of torque. The M3 is also a smaller car, I don't know if that is what you are looking for?

I had an M5 before my M3 and yes the torque was disappointing, but it's all relative and you'll soon forget about the straight line once you hit your first corner.

Well, if it helps at all, I smoked an e55 yesterday (in a straight line). Then again, I have a lil something ESS which probably helps.

No idea what year it was though....i just know he thought he was gonna have his way with me...so after baiting me for a few lights, i decided to prove him wrong.

CityOfAngels wrote

Ugh thats the only thing I'm afraid of. What about just keeping the car at a lower gear/higher RPM?

Na, too much unnecessary strain on the engine/transmission. I really think a C63 would be the better choice. Still handles way better then the E55 and has plenty of HP/TRQ.

chris s wrote

Well, if it helps at all, I smoked an e55 yesterday (in a straight line). Then again, I have a lil something ESS which probably helps.

No idea what year it was though....i just know he thought he was gonna have his way with me...so after baiting me for a few lights, i decided to prove him wrong.

chris s wrote

Well, if it helps at all, I smoked an e55 yesterday (in a straight line). Then again, I have a lil something ESS which probably helps.

No idea what year it was though....i just know he thought he was gonna have his way with me...so after baiting me for a few lights, i decided to prove him wrong.

CityOfAngels wrote

Ugh thats the only thing I'm afraid of. What about just keeping the car at a lower gear/higher RPM?

Drive in a lower gear/higher rpm around town and everyone around you will think you are a douche because you'll just sound like you are trying to street race everyone. I pretty much putt around town for that reason. Whenever I need to overtake a prius, it sounds like I'm trying to race it (at least to other drivers).

If that feeling of being pushed to the back of your seat is really important to you, you'll most likely be really disappointed with the M3. Because of the smoother power band and torque delivery, the car feels slow even though it is accelerating pretty quickly.

IMO, handling > torque and I believe that you will also realize this once you step into an M3. Have you driven one yet?

EvosM3 wrote

IMO, handling > torque and I believe that you will also realize this once you step into an M3. Have you driven one yet?

I drove one about a year ago but it was a short test drive in downtown LA so there was a good amount of traffic. I haven't driven one recently as the dealers in the bay area don't get that many M3s (or they just sell them to quickly).

Dude! Going from 560tq to 295tq you will be PISSED. I went from 360tq modded evo to the M3 and I was a little disappointed. I can only imagine what your gonna think.

Just picked up a 2006 E55 Amg Estate for my best friend.....

City driving, e55 would put couple of car lengths on M3.... I know this is not the forum to discuss this, but it is the sad truth....

E55 can not touch M3's handling and track performance. Get a C63 if day to day performance is important to you..... You would further be disappointed with m3's city performance if you get a 6 speed manual.....

M3 is a track monster not a city one

Hey whatsup buddy, its me tbal from mbworld

Picked up a 08 M3 Vert... must say the overall feel of the car, the handling, transmission, and power is well balanced, and TOO much fun. Vert is quite heavy, coupe is the way to go. Had a 06 M6 prior to the E55... and can say the overall feel of the m3 is far better than the m6. Of course M6 was fast, but the smg tranny was too jerkey. E55 is raw power, but thats about it... m3 feels SUPER slow after driving my e55.... 3x more torque I guess thats expected lol...

New M5 is your answer.

CityOfAngels wrote

I'm thinking of replacing my W211 E55 AMG (500+hp, 560tq) with a CPO E92 M3 with DCT. I love everything about the M3 but the only thing I'm worried about is the actual straight line performance. I'm so used all the torque in the E55 that I'm not sure if the M3 will still be fun in city driving. On the other hand, I know the handling will be night and day difference. Has anyone else gone from a car with a tremendous amount of torque down low to a E9x M3? I love the C63 but I just feel like I want more of a race car at this point in time and the M3 fits that bill much better even though it may not be as fast.

Do a lot of city drag racing or what?

I don't understand why you are considering an M3. I also can't understand why I would need more power than my M3 provides for city driving.

Get a 2013 GT500 so you can be king of the city streets lol

TTG wrote

Just picked up a 2006 E55 Amg Estate for my best friend.....

City driving, e55 would put couple of car lengths on M3.... I know this is not the forum to discuss this, but it is the sad truth....

From one stop light to another? I'm so confused by the need for the fastest car over a hundred yards.

TTG wrote

E55 can not touch M3's handling and track performance. Get a C63 if day to day performance is important to you..... You would further be disappointed with m3's city performance if you get a 6 speed manual.....

M3 is a track monster not a city one

What is a "city monster"?