M3 Sedan or 550ix M sport??

[dave70]

Debating between the two. I have test driven both, but sometimes test drives are a little deceiving due to lenght.

Obviously 5er is more luxury, I am also concerned about driving M3 in Northeast, even with winter tires. The 550ix has the torque, heads up display, ventilated seats, upgraded electronics, black panel etc.. but I read so many great things about the M3 and the sedan's practicality as a DD.

Does anyone care to chime in as to why I should opt for M3. I need a little convincing before I make the final call

Thanks

[Poppin Fresh]

If you want creature comforts and a plush ride, the 5 series would be the car for you especially if you're going to be driving it daily in NY and probably in the city. The M3 although a great daily driver has it's quirks that some might find irritating i.e. low torque, if lowered; clearance issues, no luxury amenities (hud, heated steering wheel, vent seats, etc)

Other than that, the M3 is capable of being used like any normal car. Just make sure you buy a set of dedicated snow tires.

[Prince_of_Persia]

It is 550xi not ix. They are two completely different cars! M3 is fast and sporty and it has an engine that you don't get tired of listening to it. Most of M3 drivers in this forum have been a car enthusiastic for a long time. As for driving in snow, I live in Canada and I am sure you don't have more snow than us and it is a pleasure to drive it in winter, but you definitely need good winter tires! if you just need comfort and you are not a car enthusiastic, I would get the 550xi.

[sensi09]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

It is 550xi not ix. They are two completely different cars! M3 is fast and sporty and it has an engine that you don't get tired of listening to it. Most of M3 drivers in this forum have been a car enthusiastic for a long time. As for driving in snow, I live in Canada and I am sure you don't have more snow than us and it is a pleasure to drive it in winter, but you definitely need good winter tires! if you just need comfort and you are not a car enthusiastic, I would get the 550xi.

A 5 series is no M3, but you can surely be a car enthusiast and drive spiritedly while behind the wheel of a 550.

[dave70]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

It is 550xi not ix. They are two completely different cars! M3 is fast and sporty and it has an engine that you don't get tired of listening to it. Most of M3 drivers in this forum have been a car enthusiastic for a long time. As for driving in snow, I live in Canada and I am sure you don't have more snow than us and it is a pleasure to drive it in winter, but you definitely need good winter tires! if you just need comfort and you are not a car enthusiastic, I would get the 550xi.

Nope, its 550 I Xdrive, not xi.
Thanks for the advice

[M3LISSA]

I was going to say thats wierd I didnt know they made a 550 with all wheel drive.. That would SUCK.. lol..

Get the M3, I had the 550 right before this and while I loved it and thought it was the best ever!! Then I got the M3 and all I can say is.. "what 550?" lmao

Oh and Dave, im in NY too, As long as you get winter tires on EITHER CAR which youll need 1000%, it doesnt matter, youll be fine either way. Dont let big old man winter scare you out of an M.. Its a few days of snow, maybe a week altogether where driving wasnt a possibilty.
I had continental DWS on my 550(rear wheel drive) and blizzaks on the M (still rear and my daily driver to shuffle kids around and errands and all that other shit) GET THE M SILLY!!!

[Chowster]

Just to clarify, are you considering the F10 550i Xdrive? Or an E60?

There are more than a handful of us here that have switched over to E90 M3s from E60 535/550s. I'm not sure how many go the other way around.

You are already aware of the differences from a 5er to an M3. It's totally a personal preference weighing the luxury amenities and larger capacity of a 5er against the smaller and very performance-focused M3.

Don't forget, it's your last chance to get an M3 sedan this year. E90 allocations are running low, and it's up for debate as to exactly when you can still order one. F10s will be plentiful for many years to come. Maybe that'll sway you towards an M3?!?

[Chowster]

Looks like Mel beat me to it!

[ADV.1 Matt]

I think if you are going to be planning on using it heavily in the winter (and you get a lot of snow) you might want to opt for the all wheel drive.

Even with snow tires I think the M3 could be a little lively for daily use in the white stuff.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by Poppin Fresh

The M3 although a great daily driver has it's quirks that some might find irritating i.e. low torque,

What do you guys do with your cars? M3 has a lot of torque...

[Gkap]

two completely different cars.
M3 being a drivers car and the 5 series being a cusion on wheels.

[dave70]

Originally Posted by Chowster

Just to clarify, are you considering the F10 550i Xdrive? Or an E60?

There are more than a handful of us here that have switched over to E90 M3s from E60 535/550s. I'm not sure how many go the other way around.

You are already aware of the differences from a 5er to an M3. It's totally a personal preference weighing the luxury amenities and larger capacity of a 5er against the smaller and very performance-focused M3.

Don't forget, it's your last chance to get an M3 sedan this year. E90 allocations are running low, and it's up for debate as to exactly when you can still order one. F10s will be plentiful for many years to come. Maybe that'll sway you towards an M3?!?

Yes, my debate is the 2011 F10 550i Xdrive with M sport package vs. the 2011 M3 Sedan. Another concern is that the new 3 series body style is arriving later this year and the current M3 (while beautiful) will be a bit dated.

[calintexas]

It sounds like to me that you really want the 550, but the M3 has caught your eye a bit. If there is a question in your mind, an M3 is not for you. Get the 550. You do give up a lot of luxury do-dads and plushness with the M3. The big advantage of the M3 is that it will really hustle on curvy roads when you want it to.

[Griz]

If the X is the one you want, but you're trying to talk yourself out of it, get it.

[dave70]

Originally Posted by calintexas

It sounds like to me that you really want the 550, but the M3 has caught your eye a bit. If there is a question in your mind, an M3 is not for you. Get the 550. You do give up a lot of luxury do-dads and plushness with the M3. The big advantage of the M3 is that it will really hustle on curvy roads when you want it to.

I am actually leaning toward the M3 now that I have driven one. My wife, however, is against it as she thinks its a racing car...and i drive my son to school each day. I want you guys to give me some ammunition...

[///M Ryder]

OP try this thread..............Phil

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494112

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by dave70

I am actually leaning toward the M3 now that I have driven one. My wife, however, is against it as she thinks its a racing car...and i drive my son to school each day. I want you guys to give me some ammunition...

My wife also thinks it's a racing car, and would have preferred that I got an F10 for the smoother/larger/quieter ride, and the luxury amenities. She's getting used to it, and tolerates it as she knows I love the M3 so much. Saying all that, I drive my daughter to pre-school in the M3 all the time. Easy ingress/egress with the sedan; car seats fit no problems. You'll be forever wiping footprints off the back of the front seats, but that's a small price to pay.

Lots of guys here drive their toddlers/kids/teens around in their E90s, and even their E92/3s. That's the allure of the E90 for us Dads. You can tell your wife it's just as safe as a 550 - purely depends on how you choose drive it, and the tires you select for the winter months.

[Prince_of_Persia]

Originally Posted by dave70

Yes, my debate is the 2011 F10 550i Xdrive with M sport package vs. the 2011 M3 Sedan. Another concern is that the new 3 series body style is arriving later this year and the current M3 (while beautiful) will be a bit dated.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about the older 5 series.
The next generation of M3 will be released in 2014 - 2015 as far as I know and honestly how BMW is designing the new cars is that 3 series is the smaller version of 5 series which itself is the smaller version of 7 series (there are a lot of similarity between them, opposite of before that M3 or 3 series looked totally different from M5 or 5 series). Again in my opinion, I think the current M3 coupe is way nicer that the new 5 series. But at the end, you are the one who is going to enjoy your car while driving it.

Good Luck

[RayC]

The only thing I wanted from a 5 series was the HUD.

OP, I think you should stick with the 550. It's a super nice ride and like other posters mentioned, you do give up a lot of luxury.

Most M3 owners are willing to give up that luxury for a more sporty experience.

[dave70]

Originally Posted by RayC

The only thing I wanted from a 5 series was the HUD.

OP, I think you should stick with the 550. It's a super nice ride and like other posters mentioned, you do give up a lot of luxury.

Most M3 owners are willing to give up that luxury for a more sporty experience.

Going to test drive the M3 one more time tomorrow and then make a decision. Thanks!

[calintexas]

Originally Posted by dave70

I am actually leaning toward the M3 now that I have driven one. My wife, however, is against it as she thinks its a racing car...and i drive my son to school each day. I want you guys to give me some ammunition...

Ah....Well then, the M3 with electronic variable dampening is almost plush in comfort mode compared to an E46 M3, but will still come across as stiff to someone that's used to a 5 series or an X5. In the middle D modes, the M-DCT transmission works almost as smoothly as an automatic . There are occasionally a few minor clunks going into reverse and back into drive, but overall the transmission works very well. If the ride comfort is acceptable, the M3 can easily be driven sedately enough that the passengers will never have any idea how strong the car really is. They are great daily drivers with almost no annoying foibles.

Either car should be very nice. They just have different focuses. Good luck to you. Please let us know what you decide.

[klammer]

I have an e90 m3 as well as an 2008 x5 (big engine) and do not think I give that much up in the m3 comfort wise nor does my wife, find it more comfortable than my old Infiniti m35. For me the sedan is the perfect dads car and an easy sell to the wife( the 4 doors are for US not me) and I literally smile every time I drive the car, can't see that coming out of the f10 unless your talking about the M5, that's a different conversation...don't hear alot of regrets from the m3 crowd.... For a reason