debating trading in the M3 for the M5.

i currently own a e46 M3 and have been debating the e60 M5. i saw a previous post about guys trading in their M3's for the M5. do u miss the M3 at all? what would you say are the biggest pros/cons? i want the manual but i heard that you will not be able to fully disengage the DSC on the 6 speed. that is no fun.

Originally Posted by TomSchneider

i currently own a e46 M3 and have been debating the e60 M5. i saw a previous post about guys trading in their M3's for the M5. do u miss the M3 at all? what would you say are the biggest pros/cons? i want the manual but i heard that you will not be able to fully disengage the DSC on the 6 speed. that is no fun.

Don't debate, DO IT!
If you currently driving an M3, the M5 will def. be fast enough, wether you can fully disengage it or not (as the M5 is right now, that's totally sufficient for U.S. traffic...
The biggest advantages is the additional space, features and comfort. I love my "two-in-one"-car (race-car and cruising-sedan at once)....
The only disadvantage is the weight, but that's somehow a must due to its size...

i know its a bit heavier but doesnt the extra 167 HP over the M3 make up for that? i have a son on the way and it will be tough for me to use a baby seat with a 2 door M3. that back seat area is useless.....lol

Originally Posted by TomSchneider

i know its a bit heavier but doesnt the extra 167 HP over the M3 make up for that? i have a son on the way and it will be tough for me to use a baby seat with a 2 door M3. that back seat area is useless.....lol

Well, in that case, the M5 is perfect for you! And yes, the extra 167HP do make up for that. There are just some M3-owners complaining that they couldn't get that beast aroung curves as easy as the lighter M3 when driving on the racetrack due to the extra weight, but in everyday driving and with a little son in a baby-seat in the back, you won't take it to the racetrack that often, right?

So like I said: The M5 offers a bit of everything: Sport AND space!

i actually have never even taken my M3 to a track (sigh). i use it as my everyday driver back and forth to work (22 miles one way). i just love to fly on the interstates. and no......lol i wont be doing it with my son in the rear.....lol. so it seems that the M5 is made for the type of high speed straight driving like i do?

Originally Posted by TomSchneider

i actually have never even taken my M3 to a track (sigh). i use it as my everyday driver back and forth to work (22 miles one way). i just love to fly on the interstates. and no......lol i wont be doing it with my son in the rear.....lol. so it seems that the M5 is made for the type of high speed straight driving like i do?

IMO, the car is a perfect match for you....

I'd be a bit hesitant about giving the M3 up. I never owned either of them, but my dad had an M3 and has an M5. The M3 is just purely the perfect car. I can't imagine anything better. Sure the M5 has more power and the SMG is fun, but it just feels like you're driving your car, and it's not too exciting. You don't feel liek you're going fast in it. In the M3, the car becomes a part of you. You don't drive the car to somewhere, you just go and it takes you. There's also the issue of the M5 being bigger and heavier, so in-town driving just isn't as much fun, but if what you're mostly doing is on the freeway, then I suppose there isn't a big difference.

I'd at least test drive the M5 before giving up your precious M3.

This afternoon I was able to drive both the M3, M5, M6, and Z4 M Roadster at the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg. I had never driven an M car previously.
All four cars were incredible, but the M5 was clearly the standout in this great group of four M series cars.

I drove the M6 first and could not believe how smooth, powerful...just completely wonderful in the slaloms, tight corners, and acceleration on the staightaway. It was the nicest driving car I'd ever driven...until I drove the M5! The M5 is a beast and performance wise impressed me much more than the M6 I had just driven. The M3 and Z4 M were great too, but among all this greatness, my pick would have to be the 5.

I don't think there is a wrong choice. Just a matter of personal choice, need, and pocketbook.

i had a e46 m3 before, which i sold it in May. now i m driving a m5. i think if u love your m3, u will love m5 even more. the best thing i like m5 is the v10 engine, which m3 just can't compete with. it is like you put a light weight boxer in the ring with a heavy weight, if i have to compare these two cars. anyway, i don't regret it at all for letting my speed yellow m3 go.

You're traveling on interstates mainly meaning an M5 would be perfect, if you were driving on windy roads I'd say keep the M3.

Originally Posted by samplemaven

This afternoon I was able to drive both the M3, M5, M6, and Z4 M Roadster at the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg. I had never driven an M car previously.
All four cars were incredible, but the M5 was clearly the standout in this great group of four M series cars.

I drove the M6 first and could not believe how smooth, powerful...just completely wonderful in the slaloms, tight corners, and acceleration on the staightaway. It was the nicest driving car I'd ever driven...until I drove the M5! The M5 is a beast and performance wise impressed me much more than the M6 I had just driven. The M3 and Z4 M were great too, but among all this greatness, my pick would have to be the 5.

I don't think there is a wrong choice. Just a matter of personal choice, need, and pocketbook.

Now that's a surprise to me (M5/M6 comparison). I often hear the M6 would perform far better than the M6...

That's interesting...

Originally Posted by TomSchneider

i know its a bit heavier but doesnt the extra 167 HP over the M3 make up for that? i have a son on the way and it will be tough for me to use a baby seat with a 2 door M3. that back seat area is useless.....lol

Congratulations on up coming baby! I have a 19 months old son and its much easier for me to get him in and out from my E46 than my wife's 545 2006. The rear door on the 545 is too narrow and i have all the access i need in my E46. good luck!

Congrats on the baby, that is the determining factor in my world. For that, go M5, and on very practical reasons.

I had an '04 M3 drop top with the SMG, and I liked it just fine. Who wouldn't? Except for the SMG, which I cursed daily. I was only able to drive it in Florida, and I knew every curvey road within 100 miles. Both of them. I traded it for an '06 M5, and I couldn't be happier with it. I live in the NC mountains now, and have been able to push the M5 considerably. Power, handling, road holding, and the SMG! BMW has finally got the SMG working, IMHO. I would always confuse the M3 SMG, but the M5 (once you learn it) actually can give you a higher level of performance. Granted, it's not as satisfying as getting a perfect combat downshift, but if the goal is to get the car to its highest level of performance, the M5's SMG will let you achieve it. I have no regrets! Oh, and the motivator for the swap? My 13yo daughter. She was miserable in the back seat of the M3 convertible (narrower in the back seat than the coupe), and it has a concave seat back; now I just make her car sick. One downside to the M5: I just had to replace the tires after 10,000 miles. All that mass has it's cost. And, although a Ferrari 360 is an order of magnitude greater in terms of just about everything a sporting driver desires, the M5 will accelerate almost neck and neck up to those speeds where LEO prays (preys?) to find you. Go drive one like you own it, and I'll bet you get the M5. Enjoy it, and be careful!