I frequent ebay motors more often than I should (especially during work ) and I've noticed that you can get a real nice m5 with pretty low miles for ~$50k. For example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6131

yes yes the buy price is $62k, but thats the price of a new fully loaded m3 as well. Here are a few questions

1. Which is a better buy in terms or features/performance/luxary, etc
2. How is the reliability of both the m3 and m5 in general (i.e. can you take them to, say, 120k miles without any major work)
3. Finally, if you had that kind of cash in your hand, and you just HAD to buy an M, which would you buy?

 

I'll answer 1 and 3

1. Features and Luxury would most likely go to the M5. I mean the car is about 15-20k more brand new. Performance would likely go to the 3 because its smaller and lighter. So if you want a little more sport get the M3 and if you want a little more lux get the 5.

2. My opinion more than an answer but I haven't heard about too many issues with the M5, but have heard about the early M3s having engine issues. DOn't really know though

3. I would personally get the M5 because I am more of a sedan guy (I have a TLS). Plus the fiancee wants an M3 so I figure one of us should have the sedan!

 

lol tru tru...actually id prefer an m3 over the m5, because of the weight, and that dam smg

 

This is no contest, the M5. The 5 series is what truly makes BMW shine, they feel great. Drive one from each generation and its amazing, same sports lux feel with more and more refinement. And check the bimmer boards the M5 is fast as hell. And if you felt the need to you can mod that car with a supercharger and CAI and it will fly.

I would take an M3 no questions asked, but if I had the option to buy either one, its not a hard question to answer.

And screw the SMG you buy that car you buy a manual period. I dont care how much faster you can launch it.

 

M5 - Performance on par w/ the M3, 4 doors and much more exclusivity than the M3. I see maybe 4 E46 M3's and 4-5 E36 M3's in any given week. M5's?- maybe 1 a month

 

well you know if offered either, i would not be dumb enough to turn it down "...yea i want the other M...", but to me an M3 has a youthful vigor that is just lacking in the M5. Plus the smg, though it is a small option, would allow me the option to drive in auto when I feel like...who wants to shift throught 6 gears ALL day EVERY day even in traffic?

finally stock for stock m3 just SLIGHTLY faster than m5? Of course both are already god-like fast, so Im just asking out of curiosity

 

yes that is quite true...here at uci I've seen 3-4 m3's, but only 1 m5. But...the m3 is such an awesome car that i'd be more than willing to part with exclusivity. In fact if I could, I would remove all M markings from the car (with the exception of the quad-exausts)...I prefer lower-profile cars with the ability to suprise when necessary. Thats why I dont mind that my car doesnt have the TypeS sticker anymore

 

M5. 4 doors room for 5, a 6 speed, Luxury, & fast. Maybe a hair slower the the M3, but a race stock for stock would be dead even. I've driven both too.

 

M5 is faster than the M3... they are equally 'quick'. 0-60 or maybe a 1/4-mile... they are on par. Anything beyond that, the M5 wins. Even the 1/4-mile... the M5 wins at least by 1 car length.

 

I would go with the M3 all the way.

 

so...going back to the original question...m5 with 10-20k miles on it, or a brand-spanking new m3?

 

m5 all day and night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

 

M5

 

Well I live in LA and I dont drive an automatic and wont. And one of my good friends who lives down the block has a 6spd 540 and he wouldnt drive an auto either so that should answer that question. I've lived in Co and the traffic doesnt compare, trust.

The M3s are nice, id take one for sure, but the M5 is classier and roomier and with the larger engine will rule on the highway period over the M3. A true Sports sedan.

Now these are purely my opinions, but I have been a Bimmer fan since I started driving. look at my sig and see the first car I bought. The 5 series will always hold the number spot with me over the 3 series. And SMG, maybe when im 60 and have bad arthritis in my knees, till then i gots to have a clutch even in shitty LA traffic.

 

anyone know about the lifespans of the M3/5? Im only curious because ferraris, for example, need lots of expensive maintenance. Nsx however doesnt. So what is the story with bmw? about how much can you expect to shell out on maintenance once the initial free full maintenance term runs out?

 

Bmws are higher maintenance then a honda/acura and they are way more expensive to maintain, especially the M's.

But if you treat your bimmer right and have all the scheduled maintenance work on it done, then youll car will live a long long time.

I dont know how much has changed, I know things are as good as they used to be even with hondas/acuras. but my 85 bimmer ( i can never remember the design number E??) was considered one of the most bulletproof bimmers ever. Near the end of my owning it it was a 14-15 year old car with over 100k and the engine and tranny were still good as new it was everything thing like window motors and condenser fans that was going. but even then it was more expensive to maintain regulary then the accord i got when i sold it.

you want a great car find an 850csi. manual with 2 inline 6's under the hood. maybe not as fast the M's of today but damn its one sexy car. one of my all time favorite cars to beat the band.

 

lol

I luv my SS mode. Its fun shifting up and down through [light] traffic, and trying to stay at a certain powerband all the time...but somtimes i just want to relax, turn on some music, and drive home in auto...but again this is a minor concern, if I had bought a manual trans car, Im sure I would feel as you do

 

hmm actually there was a discussion on this a couple of months back...when I asked about a comparisone between a used nsx and an 840...and a bunch of ppl talking about the recals and maintenance problems the whole 8 series went though...but I agree it is an awesome car...always turns my head when i see it go down the street

 

Screw the M3 and M5, get the M coupe, such a rare car, really cool looking, will turn heads wherever you go for sure, and is definitly the most "raw" of all of the M cars.

 

you're right, it is...but the M coupe would have to be your second car right (imagine trying to go pick up someone from an air port with it...lol). I love how the new M coupe has 65 more hp than the old...dam thats cool of bmw to do

 

I agree the M coupe is a sweet little ride, Id love to have one as a weekend cruiser, but Id still go M5 over all of them.

 

Unfortunitly they dont make that or the M roadster anymore...

 

really??? no 2003 M roadster?? I didnt know that...oh but they will have a Motorsports edition of the z4 right? They'll have to in order to compete with the slk 32 amg

 

Im not sure if 02 or 03 was the last year of the M coupe/roadster, but i do know that they are no longer making them because of the switch to the Z4 from Z3, but there will be a new M based on the new Z4 prob in about a year or so i would guess.

 

I had a 00 Mcoupe, would have hated to drive that car everyday....but lots of owners do though.

The guy that bought mine is like 50 and drives it day in and day out.

 

M5 easy faster and looks better.

 

M5 is old....due for a major change very soon.....

M3 will prolly be around in current form for a few more years.

Performance is similar, but the M5 is faster and costs more.

Neither will be as reliable as your average Toyota or Honda. Believe that.

 

ok guys thx for your inputs...real insightful

 

they are putting a v10 in the m5 by the end of this year/beginning of next year

i still say m5 all the way. im only 16, but i had the chance to drive one. everything on it was perfect. loved the gearbox/clutch...it all worked perfectly

 

The gearbox is very good, but the clutch sucks on the M5.....its actually one of the worst aspects of the car. Other than that, the M5 is a hard car to fault (other than the style being ancient).

 

m5 or m3 you will still be the pimp!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sidemarker

 

if the clutch is anything like the clutch on the 6spd 540i which does indeed suck, its a very easy to fix, on the bimmer websites there is a place to order a replacement vavle or whatever that makes the clutch butter. that and a short throw shifter and boom amazing amazing ride.

 

I would say ...

If you are the young and impatient type, with no cares about road rules and constantly ponder the thought of blasting by a speed trap at 155 and attempting to get away with it ... Get a M3.

If you are the more mature type, with responsibilities and maybe a family (4 doors). And, you like refinement over raw engine speed, and at times like to cruise at higher gears yet still retain most of the engine power (high torque), then get a M5.

Either way, as sidemarker said above, you'll be a pimp.

So ... where can I get some hos to pimp?

 

M5

 

The M3 is a lot more raw than the M5....it's louder, stiffer, and a lot bolder. The M5 goes about its supercar status with dignity...it's like Denzel Washington. The M3 screams, it shouts, it's obnoxious, it's LOOK AT ME; The Chris Tucker of cars if you will.

By the way, like it or not sequential manual gearboxes are here to stay....with the new 7 speed gearboxes coming out and such.

 

holy crap this post is old as fuck

the order I have now is:

2003 m5 > 2004 m3 > 2005 m5

 

I agree...

But I've started autoXing since this post was made...
So, while the 03 M5 is still my favorite...the M Coupe is more suited to what I do

 

Considering there is NO 2005 M5...the new V10 M5 doesn't come out till next year as an 06 model...and I am proudly on the waiting list!

 

Judging everything I've read on that car, and being a former bimmer owner, I'm sure you'll love the hell out of that car.

BUT crappy interior and no manual = phhhhhhhhhhht for me.

I dont care what the reviews are saying about that car...It at least needs a stick to make up for what it lacks in overall design.


newest gen M6 > newest gen M5 imo.