So im ready to move up from my STi. I have done tons of test driving and even more research, yet still cant come to a conclusion. Im between an e46 M3 and an e39 M5- both would be an 01 or 02 (possibly an '00 for the m5)with around 60k-80k miles, but definitely no more than that. Please persuade me one way or another. Any input is greatly appreciated!

Keep the STI.

Hmm... what are your prefferences?
Speed?
Size??
Maintainance???
:az

M5 all the way baby!!!! :buttrock

Tell us the pros and cons of both in comparison to your sti and we'll chat it up about which car better suites you :D

you want the monstrous torque and brutal animal like acceleration of the m5. go drive it.

Hmm... E46 ///M's are unbearable sexy tho....
:az

M5 will kick the E46 butt

For every M5 out there, there are at least 10 M3s. I'd so much rather go for the M5, Amazing V8, More exclusive and teh sexier choice (I'm a 5er guy though so i'm obviously biased + i'm like 90% sure i want one after my 540)

i think the M3's are too small so that leads for me to go with the M5!!!

I'd recommend the E46 M3 if you're coming from an STI to be honest - I think you'll appreciate the nimbleness more in the smaller car. Yeah they're a bit more common but with the right mods are soo sexy.

M5 because there are a billion m3's out there

m3 if you are okay with a 2 door coupe

m5 if you want a grocery getter that really hauls

whats your budget????

that could determine the mileage/age on either of the cars...

in terms of maintenance i'd like to say the m3 is a bit cheaper to maintain as its a 6cylinder...BUT
they are both ///m cars so i don't know.....i could be wrong...

I think ///M3's are HAWT!!!!

But i wouldn't mind wakin up and seein this....
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2056/e3a3cb50d89ae653640eceaab8.jpg

Definatley go ///M5.

;)

The M5 will require deeper pockets. The maintenance costs can be brutal. Especially if this is a daily driver. It runs (and cost) like a Ferrari disguised as a four door sedan. Just to give you an idea, the cost of a set of brake pads and rotors (parts only) make a DIY brake job well over $1,000. I have a friend who has both cars, and his weekend car (the M5) cost more to maintain than the M3 which is his daily driver.

If you are OK w/ the size of the M3, it's a lot more practical.

The M5 will require deeper pockets. The maintenance costs can be brutal. Especially if this is a daily driver. It runs (and cost) like a Ferrari disguised as a four door sedan. Just to give you an idea, the cost of a set of brake pads and rotors (parts only) make a DIY brake job well over $1,000. I have a friend who has both cars, and his weekend car (the M5) cost more to maintain than the M3 which is his daily driver.

If you are OK w/ the size of the M3, it's a lot more practical.
How often do you change brake rotors? Maybe once in 60K mi. No big deal here. what else $$$$ besides the brakes?

:az

Brakes are just an example. Friends w/ M5's say their maint cost average over $2,500 per year, and thats on cars that are only used on weekends and trips.

Keep the STI.

:rofl

Gumbi, you so crazay!

:rofl

Gumbi, you so crazay!


Yes I know. LOL!!

Actually I would go with an E46 M3 with a Horsepower freaks turbo. It will rip the doors off of any M5 out there. Go to their website. That Turbo is insane!

i don't know this is hard.....

I'd love to stay with a 4-dr, as it would be my DD. Both run within $5k of each other in the DC area, so its basically down to which is more dependable at the 60k-80k range. The STi is AWESOME, but at the same time, it just doesnt have the creature comforts of a BMW (leather, navi, speakers that arent made out of paper...) Whichever I choose will stay N/A with moderate to light mods.


I wish they brought the e39 M5 wagon to this country.....

M3's dominate tracks, but I'd get a M5 for the longer wheelbase alone for more comfortable cruising.

Also consider that 333hp out of an I6 is not that impressive anymore, alot of I or V 6's are creeping awfully close to that even N/A ones.

IMO, the M5 E39 with a drop is the best looking M car.

I'm biased so I would say M5 just because of some things said here. M3's are too common these days, you hardly will see an M5 considering there was only about 9500 brought to the US from 2000-2003.

I would personally say stay away from a 2000 model becuase of the older style piston rings and a few other minor problems that could build up on those models.

But like Chief said you have to be ready for the expenses of owning one. Things aren't cheap on this car.

5.

Buy a 540i/6. Get the M5 body kit, s/c, lsd, bigger brakes then call it a day.

My mind says ///M5...
My heart says ///M5...
But then my eyes see this....

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8797/mg413263592b9jm5.jpg

QUICK!!!
Somebody post some sexy M5 pics ASAP!!!!!
:eek:

Do it!!!!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/brandon5069/DSC_0090.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/brandon5069/DSC_0025.jpg

Do it!!!!

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/brandon5069/Pic5.jpg

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/brandon5069/beastpower-acs10.jpg

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4030/m346461420sh5.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8624/rs4rimsedit6466ed3hy3.jpg

TOO MUCH HOTTNESS!!!!!!!!!

3 doesn't come close to touching the 5.

No competition FP:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/sc540i/DSC00182.jpg

Although the magma in that csl has me rethinking things...:az

Brakes are just an example. Friends w/ M5's say their maint cost average over $2,500 per year, and thats on cars that are only used on weekends and trips.


I spent over 5k last year :embarrasm on maintenance

SOMEBODY CANCEL MY IMAGESHACK ACCOUNT!!!

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2507/e46m3frontbig6514c32ax6.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9315/325bigthumbnail654ccbevb7.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1990/bmw51pn3.jpg

Ok, enough devils advocate...
I just wanted him to have a fair idea of what an M3 looks like...

:devillook

No competition FP:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q286/sc540i/DSC00182.jpg

Although the magma in that csl has me rethinking things...:az

There's alwasy room for friendly competition...
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3940/full2yi2.jpg

The way I see it, we're all winners for gettin to look at these beauties...
:alrightbmw

If only the E46 M was available in a sedan...

If only the E46 M was available in a sedan...


Yup...
Thats the final blow to this argument for me anyways...
3's are way to small for me... E39's are perfect.
:D




























still....
:ponder

The 540i/6 M-tech is a compromise you could consider. After talking to friends and driving many different BMW's,(including several M5's) that's what I did. All the looks and much of the performance of the M5 w/o the extremes. By that I mean it isn't quite as frustrating as a daily driver, because it is tuned and set-up for normal street use. It also doesn't break as often, because it isn't as highly stressed as the M5, and when it does require maintenance, the parts cost a hell of a lot less. It is essentially a practical street version of the M5. Also, unlike the M5, there is a repair manual available for us DIY types.

They are a bit hard to find, since there were only 1,265 made (less than M5's).

It has to be the M5, it's an animal! Also what better way of frightening three of your friends in comfort!

Yeah, lets not kid ourselves here... the guy wants an ///M....

Oh, and Lobo...

:rofl

Of course these are just stock

http://www.exoticcarsite.com/pictures/Cars/bmw/m5_e39/bmw_e39_m5-3.jpg
http://www.exoticcarsite.com/pictures/Cars/bmw/m5_e39/bmw_e39_m5-1.jpg

Wow.. what a creepy 2nd pic!!!

:eek:

Wow.. what a creepy 2nd pic!!!

:eek:

LOL i had to look at the pic to see what you were talking about...see it's an omen that you must get the M5

get a 545i and call it a day....

get a 545i and call it a day....




Whomp... :shifty

get a 545i and call it a day....

Negative :)

The 540i/6 M-tech is a compromise you could consider. After talking to friends and driving many different BMW's,(including several M5's) that's what I did. All the looks and much of the performance of the M5 w/o the extremes. By that I mean it isn't quite as frustrating as a daily driver, because it is tuned and set-up for normal street use. It also doesn't break as often, because it isn't as highly stressed as the M5, and when it does require maintenance, the parts cost a hell of a lot less. It is essentially a practical street version of the M5. Also, unlike the M5, there is a repair manual available for us DIY types.

They are a bit hard to find, since there were only 1,265 made (less than M5's).
The same story over and over again. Nothing better than your 540i/6 M-tech. Sorry, just couldn't resist.

The same story over and over again. Nothing better than your 540i/6 M-tech. Sorry, just couldn't resist.

:rofl

I think a M-ed up 525 would be the most practical version of an M5...
:stickoutt

The same story over and over again. Nothing better than your 540i/6 M-tech. Sorry, just couldn't resist.
useless comment....:rolleyes

useless comment....:rolleyes

Dude....we're just ribb'n a fellow bimmer head. Buy your panties one size bigger...

Ok.. i can see this thread is going down the "my 5's better then your 5" road... I was better off postin M3 pics.. I'm outta here!!!

***flees vs thread***

I really like the raspy chainsaw like sound that the s54 produces...

On the other hand, the m5 that I heard on Saturday was seriously awesome. AWESOME!!!!

I'm a feel/sound kinda guy. I enjoy the driving experience. I'd love to drive around imagining I'm ripp'n through cars with my chainsaw, but the M5 gives you the feeling that you're just devouring cars...like they're getting sucked into that big mouth up front.

Big nasty beast or nimble evil chainsaw....:az

The 540i/6 M-tech is a compromise you could consider. After talking to friends and driving many different BMW's,(including several M5's) that's what I did. All the looks and much of the performance of the M5 w/o the extremes. By that I mean it isn't quite as frustrating as a daily driver, because it is tuned and set-up for normal street use. It also doesn't break as often, because it isn't as highly stressed as the M5, and when it does require maintenance, the parts cost a hell of a lot less. It is essentially a practical street version of the M5. Also, unlike the M5, there is a repair manual available for us DIY types.

They are a bit hard to find, since there were only 1,265 made (less than M5's).

This is exactly what I did. I sold my 2002 M3 after two years and picked up a mint 2003 540i M-Tech. The M3 was an extremely frustrating car to drive in the bumper to bumper traffic that I found myself in so often in Atlanta. If it's going to be your daily driver, it's not the greatest IMO.

The 540i on the other hand is incredible and much more enjoyable in everyday driving. It has much more torque than the M3 and actually feels faster 0-60 because of it (although we all know it isn't). I'm much happier with the 5er.

Negative :)


ya but for the same money as a m5 you could be driving a 545i, i think they have less maint issues.... but if your stuck on the m series the m3 is way better looking, handles better and overall fun i mean how often are you going to carry more than 4 people anyway... but the m5 has way more class and more fun when your on the freeway.....i have driven so many sports 2dr cars and when i got into my 540i i was like whoa this is huge, but now i love and would never drive a mini car again

ya but for the same money as a m5 you could be driving a 545i, i think they have less maint issues.... but if your stuck on the m series the m3 is way better looking, handles better and overall fun i mean how often are you going to carry more than 4 people anyway... but the m5 has way more class and more fun when your on the freeway.....i have driven so many sports 2dr cars and when i got into my 540i i was like whoa this is huge, but now i love and would never drive a mini car again

Yeah I get what your saying about Maintenance but it's just not the same in my opinion. With the M5 your more connected with the road and not just driving a sedan with power.

I have liked the M3's in the past but always liked the size and luxury of an M5. It has the power i love with a body and luxury and comfort that i don't think the M3 can offer in my opinion. Don't get me wrong the M3's are nice cars but just not my personal style.

You can make an M5 handle as well or better than an M3 for a couple grand, but you're not going to make an M3 faster or feel as torquey as an M5 without forced induction.

The fact that there were 5 times as many M3s built as M5s and I see more like a 20:1 ratio on the street is also nice.

M5! CLA$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Y, alex roy drives an m5.

speaking of M5's...there has been a beautiful black one parked outside my apt on 79th st...my opinion, 5>3

Brakes are just an example. Friends w/ M5's say their maint cost average over $2,500 per year, and thats on cars that are only used on weekends and trips.

I spend more than that on my E34 M5...throw in my E39...its probably double that a year.

COME ON NOW. Who here finds $208.33 a month in maintanence expensive?

You want an M car, you should know what you are getting yourself into.

I spend more than that on my E34 M5...throw in my E39...its probably double that a year.

COME ON NOW. Who here finds $208.33 a month in maintanence expensive?

You want an M car, you should know what you are getting yourself into.



LMFAOOOOO!!!!!

HE DID THE MATH!!!

:lol

i think the M3's are too small so that leads for me to go with the M5!!!

+1