F10-550 or M3 Individual -2011 - Thoughts..??

Hello Bimmer Fans,

Next Thursday I have a meeting with my rep at BMW to setup a Euro Delivery order for a 2011 model. I am about to sell the M5 due to a lack luster SMG experience and want to go back to the good old days of stick (530i plus current great 135i). Anyhow I am looking for some serious input because I am torn between two models- M3 sedan (6speed-Individual) or F10-550 6spd loaded.

My thought process is that this my be the last NA engine BMW ever makes and I should atleast experience it for a while - never owned an M3 The F10 is a brand new model and there will be plenty of time to get it in the future. While I might miss some of the luxury and space of the E60 platform I want something practical that I can throw around and the M3 individual euro delivery might be perfect. The other side of the story is my gadget fetish and the new F10 comes with tons of them.

Thanks for listening and commenting.

Joe

M3 sedan all the way.

- Much lighter (3600 lbs vs 4500 lbs)
- Much more agile
- Much more exciting N/A engine with similar characteristics of your M5

uhn2000 wrote

Hello Bimmer Fans,

Next Thursday I have a meeting with my rep at BMW to setup a Euro Delivery order for a 2011 model. I am about to sell the M5 due to a lack luster SMG experience and want to go back to the good old days of stick (530i plus current great 135i).

Which is why stick shift will never be extinct.

330CIZHP wrote

M3 sedan all the way.

- Much lighter (3600 lbs vs 4500 lbs)
- Much more agile
- Much more exciting N/A engine with similar characteristics of your M5

Which is why stick shift will never be extinct.

+1. Naturally aspirated, agile and manual is the way to go. And I'm over 60!

I owned a 2002 e39 540iA prior to getting a 2007 e90 335i 6MT. It was definitely a different feel going to a smaller car. Of course my experience is not apples-to-apples since I had an older 5, but still relevant.

The e90 felt much smaller until I got used to it...closer to windshield, closer to passengers. The e90 was not as luxurious (5-series had carpeted door pockets, heavy doors, solid feel on everything you touched, etc). My 5-Series was a fantastic highway car...very smooth, powerful, etc. Definitely more luxury with the 5. I really enjoyed the car.

I also had a Porsche Boxster manual tranny at the same time as the 540i. I wanted to go to a single car due to two young kids, so I sold both to get the more "practical" 335i. The 335i was definitely a step down in luxury, but the lighter weight, smaller car with 6MT was a blast to drive. Not as fun around corners as Boxster or as torquey (no debates please) as the 540i, the 335i was a perfect car at the time.

I just turned in my 335i for a 2010 e90 M3 6MT. Again, the M3 is not as luxurious as the 5, but the fun factor is much (much) greater. I imagine the new 550i is very responsive and will treat the passengers to a very smooth ride. The F10 will have a lot of gadgets to keep your attention.

I recently drove the e60 550i and it felt too heavy. My e39 was too heavy also. While some will say the M3 is heavy (definitely compared to Boxster), it handles the weight well.

The M3 is more of a drivers car. As others have stated, the M3 is much lighter which helps with the fun. I plan to track my M3 like I tracked the 335i. I doubt I would ever track a 5-series (e39, e60, f10) as they are too heavy. They are not as fun on the back roads (which I have many around me) and are not as much fun to toss around.

In summary:
M3 if you want a drivers car...more nimble, tossable, and trackable
550i if you want a larger, heavier, luxury, powerful, smooth highway car

They are definitely different types of cars. Once you understand the M3 is not a 5-series (size and luxury), then you will love the M3 more....at least it was my experience.

Good luck.

oh yeah...Euro Delivery was fantastic. Make sure you take advantage of driving in Germany for a while . The roads are fantastic....and IMO don't be so rigid when following the break-in procedures. 150MPH will not hurt the car.

If the big engined BMWs hold reasonable money secondhand in the US then I would say hang off until you get to drive the F10 550i. The new ZF 8sp is a cracking gearbox to use and now that it's got proper paddles it will work similar to the DCT and you nor I will notice the difference in shifts. The others are right that it the M3 will be more focused and agile than the new 550i but is that really what you are looking from your next car.

I say try both before making that decision.

+1.

wait and drive the new 550i and then decide. moreover, it's a twin turbo, so a simple tune will give it around 500 bhp.

Go for the M3, it will be more exciting and since you are familiar with the M product it will be a easier transition!

P.S. Check your inbox

uhn2000 wrote

I am about to sell the M5 due to a lack luster SMG experience and want to go back to the good old days of stick (530i plus current great 135i).

I am curious if you have tried M-DCT yet? Depending on what were your main complaints about SMG III in the M5, you may find that you actually like M-DCT. It's just a thought. Doesn't hurt to at least try it out.

Anyhow I am looking for some serious input because I am torn between two models- M3 sedan (6speed-Individual) or F10-550 6spd loaded.

Have to agree with everyone else - get the M3. As you said, you can pick up an F10 later, and by then the F10 M5 will be here. Probably no 6MT offered in that car, but as I said above, you might find you like M-DCT. Certainly you'll probably like everything else about the F10 M5 more than the F10 550i.

M3 vert wrote

Go for the M3, it will be more exciting and since you are familiar with the M product it will be a easier transition!

P.S. Check your inbox

Got it chief. Yes this is mine for sale, I fixed it up a bit last night to create some spacing in the description.

http://www.autotrader.ca/used_cars_Cars_details/TORONTO_Ontario_2008_BMW_M5+LOADED+%26amp%3b+ENTHUSIAST+OWNED_3420935.html?srcid=1668944&source=24&pgno=1&srt=70&CompanyID=&r=ontario&ad-attributes=photos,,

footie wrote

If the big engined BMWs hold reasonable money secondhand in the US then I would say hang off until you get to drive the F10 550i. The new ZF 8sp is a cracking gearbox to use and now that it's got proper paddles it will work similar to the DCT and you nor I will notice the difference in shifts. The others are right that it the M3 will be more focused and agile than the new 550i but is that really what you are looking from your next car.

I say try both before making that decision.

Thanks chief. I tried the DCT and while others might completely disagree I found it no better "experience wise" than SMGIII. Its the same concept just quicker shifts. Its the control and engagement of the car/engine that I miss. However I would love to try a 6 speed 550i - they can't get here fast enough

I didn't think the new F10 550i was getting offered with a manual this time but I could be wrong.

footie wrote

I didn't think the new F10 550i was getting offered with a manual this time but I could be wrong.

100% it is in all versions in North America and limited versions the rest of the world.

Racing Dynamics F10 550i and 535i plans outlined & initial peek wrote  

The Racing Dynamics BMW 550i R50S will boast 620hp

I'd wait and drive both...

uhn2000 wrote

100% it is in all versions in North America and limited versions the rest of the world.

Well if so then wait and try the manual 550i before making that decision. Coming from a M5 you may well find the M3 too compact, also I believe the M/Sport version of the 550i will be out from either Oct/Nov which will probably look similar to the future M5. This might be a nice compromise between the two.

P.S.
Don't rule out the ZF 8sp, it's bloody good.

simple.

would you take the panamera or m3? if your answer is panamera, then m5 is for you.

graider wrote

simple.

would you take the panamera or m3? if your answer is panamera, then m5 is for you.

How does that help him decide between an M3 and 550i?

mkoesel wrote

How does that help him decide between an M3 and 550i?

+1, we aren't taking about the F10 M5, only the 550i and the M3. Also the price difference between the Panamera and the 550i is huge.

uhn2000 wrote

Hello Bimmer Fans,

Next Thursday I have a meeting with my rep at BMW to setup a Euro Delivery order for a 2011 model. I am about to sell the M5 due to a lack luster SMG experience and want to go back to the good old days of stick (530i plus current great 135i). Anyhow I am looking for some serious input because I am torn between two models- M3 sedan (6speed-Individual) or F10-550 6spd loaded.

My thought process is that this my be the last NA engine BMW ever makes and I should atleast experience it for a while - never owned an M3 The F10 is a brand new model and there will be plenty of time to get it in the future. While I might miss some of the luxury and space of the E60 platform I want something practical that I can throw around and the M3 individual euro delivery might be perfect. The other side of the story is my gadget fetish and the new F10 comes with tons of them.

Thanks for listening and commenting.

Joe

Joe, you have been told you can buy an M3 "Individual"? With the choice of exterior colors, interior leathers, seam striping, woods, etc., that would be great news to me.

Crops wrote

Joe, you have been told you can buy an M3 "Individual"? With the choice of exterior colors, interior leathers, seam striping, woods, etc., that would be great news to me.

He is in Canada so he can order "Individual" Colors, Interiors, and Trims.

In Canada we do not have all of the individual options available to us on 3-Series cars but we do get to choose from a limited number of the Individual options.

Crops wrote

Joe, you have been told you can buy an M3 "Individual"? With the choice of exterior colors, interior leathers, seam striping, woods, etc., that would be great news to me.

Note that the OP is from Canada.

RichB wrote

I owned a 2002 e39 540iA prior to getting a 2007 e90 335i 6MT. It was definitely a different feel going to a smaller car. Of course my experience is not apples-to-apples since I had an older 5, but still relevant.

The e90 felt much smaller until I got used to it...closer to windshield, closer to passengers. The e90 was not as luxurious (5-series had carpeted door pockets, heavy doors, solid feel on everything you touched, etc). My 5-Series was a fantastic highway car...very smooth, powerful, etc. Definitely more luxury with the 5. I really enjoyed the car.

I also had a Porsche Boxster manual tranny at the same time as the 540i. I wanted to go to a single car due to two young kids, so I sold both to get the more "practical" 335i. The 335i was definitely a step down in luxury, but the lighter weight, smaller car with 6MT was a blast to drive. Not as fun around corners as Boxster or as torquey (no debates please) as the 540i, the 335i was a perfect car at the time.

I just turned in my 335i for a 2010 e90 M3 6MT. Again, the M3 is not as luxurious as the 5, but the fun factor is much (much) greater. I imagine the new 550i is very responsive and will treat the passengers to a very smooth ride. The F10 will have a lot of gadgets to keep your attention.

I recently drove the e60 550i and it felt too heavy. My e39 was too heavy also. While some will say the M3 is heavy (definitely compared to Boxster), it handles the weight well.

The M3 is more of a drivers car. As others have stated, the M3 is much lighter which helps with the fun. I plan to track my M3 like I tracked the 335i. I doubt I would ever track a 5-series (e39, e60, f10) as they are too heavy. They are not as fun on the back roads (which I have many around me) and are not as much fun to toss around.

In summary:
M3 if you want a drivers car...more nimble, tossable, and trackable
550i if you want a larger, heavier, luxury, powerful, smooth highway car

They are definitely different types of cars. Once you understand the M3 is not a 5-series (size and luxury), then you will love the M3 more....at least it was my experience.

Good luck.

oh yeah...Euro Delivery was fantastic. Make sure you take advantage of driving in Germany for a while . The roads are fantastic....and IMO don't be so rigid when following the break-in procedures. 150MPH will not hurt the car.

Well put thanks. I totally know exactly what you are saying regarding "getting used to"...

I think once you appreciate the M3 for what it is you will begin to love it more and more.

If it were me I'd go for the Individual. But I'm not in Canada so I can't get this.