My main reason was that I needed the extra room and 4 doors. I do like the added exclusivity too, and the torque. I wouldn't mind an M3 either as a second car...

 

Simple for me: Kids. I needed the 4-doors and room. If I were single or with no kids, I'd probably have bought the M3. The M5 is the ultimate sleeper and much more rare/exclusive.

 

Simple for me: Kids. I needed the 4-doors and room. If I were single or with no kids, I'd probably have bought the M3. The M5 is the ultimate sleeper and much more rare/exclusive.

With that do you think they will hold their value better than your average BMW? BMW's don't tend to hold resale value well in the US. I come from the line where my car is 10 years old and I can sell it for almost as much as it originally sold for. Granted I have put 40K into it... lol. :wroom: :crying:

 

If the E46 handled like the E36, no questions asked, too bad it's just that much heavier.

Wanted something that'll pack 4 adults and their golf bags while saying :byebye: to "most" mercs :biggrin: and not to mention to "fit in" to the M5 board :1:

At the end, it just came down to love at first site lovelove

 

I had a chance to get the e46 M3 when I purchased the e39 M5 but I passed because:
1. I wanted a four door to carry passengers when needed.
2. M5 more refined looking (A sleeper car).
3. M5 is more rare than M3...Seems like a lot of people have M3 but only about 9000 e39 M5 ever delivered in the U.S.
4. e39 M5 stronger/faster than e46 M3.

 

With that do you think they will hold their value better than your average BMW? BMW's don't tend to hold resale value well in the US. I come from the line where my car is 10 years old and I can sell it for almost as much as it originally sold for. Granted I have put 40K into it... lol. :wroom: :crying:

I think the M cars hold their value fairly well. I was looking at E55 amg's in the local paper last weekend and was surprised to see them selling for 10 -15k less than a similar year/milage M5! I had always thought MB's held their value better.
Mike

 

I had a chance to get the e46 M3 when I purchased the e39 M5 but I passed because:
1. I wanted a four door to carry passengers when needed.
2. M5 more refined looking (A sleeper car)
3. M5 is more rare than M3...Seems like a lot of people have M3 but only about 9000 e39 M5 ever delivered in the U.S.
4. e39 M5 stronger/faster than e45 M3

I'm not sure about the faster part, maybe at higher speeds.

The M5 or any other 5 series is absolutely stronger. I don't even drive my m3 hard and the subframe was seperating, drive shaft currently wants to rip through my car floor, and lots of problems that are totally ruining the m3 experience.

If I could drive a regular manual I would have gotten the m5 over the m3 in a heartbeat. There is just something about the m5 that can't be touched. :flag:

Go for the m5 :byebye:

 

Hmm, i don't have M5 only M3. For one person it's optimal choose. M3 is strong enough and looks great. If i want space i take 7 series


But M5 is better. It is indisputable fact :flag:

 

2 extra doors, versitility, V8 over I 6. And the m3 while a better track car is a bit boy racer vs the M5 being a mans man car.

 

2 extra doors, versitility, V8 over I 6. And the m3 while a better track car is a bit boy racer vs the M5 being a mans man car.

Excellent point Jayson! Coming from a 530i, and prior to that a heavily modded E36 4-door, I kept thinking that I had to keep moving up in the series, especially since I'm older now (41)...didn't really want to have a "kids" car!

That being said, I did come very close to picking the E46 M3, and I would still like one, but only in addition to my M5.

 

Excellent point Jayson! Coming from a 530i, and prior to that a heavily modded E36 4-door, I kept thinking that I had to keep moving up in the series, especially since I'm older now (41)...didn't really want to have a "kids" car!

That being said, I did come very close to picking the E46 M3, and I would still like one, but only in addition to my M5.

I'm 24 and still think of the M3 as a bit boy racer

 

Because the fine folks at M5board persuaded me to get an M5

Also, I wanted a car that my dad would look pretty good in if he ever wanted to drive it, and the M3 wasn't it. A 51 year old looks much cooler in a sedan. It's a shame he never drives the thing though.

 

Two factors for me: Torque and ride comfort. E46 M3 is FAR deficient on both counts.

CP

 

THE SOUND ...

E46 M3 = Tin Cans
E39 M5 = Mans vehicle

Not to mention living in America most roads are straight, this is where the M5 excels
and when it comes to corners do not underestimate it .. it maybe heavy but with a
suspension i'll race the M3 happily on back roads

 

Why? Theres nothin like a V8! Nothin sounds like it, feels like it, makes you feel like you are THE KING! end of story! :viking:

 

More Room, 4 doors, more POWER...different class of an M3...Sport business sedan...

 

Four doors, more room, more "grown-up", more exclusive (there are a TON of M3s running around the SF Bay Area; some would say a ton of M5s, too, but really there are less of them than M3s), more comfortable, more useful, and besides, I had an M3 and while I liked it a lot, the M5 is just.... better. :M5launch:

 

Too many dayum kids with M3's rolling around SoCali, M5 was cheaper preowned anyways for me and I always like big VIP sedans with muscle.

 

6 reasons for me:

1. Exclusivity (see maybe 1 a week, never seen another Imola), everyone has an M3 over here!!

2. 5.0L V8!!!!

3. Build Quality

4. Value for money

5. Torque (i dont like to have to take a car to the redline for it to scare me!)

6. did i mention 5.0L V8? :hihi:

Cool thread btw
Foxy :byebye:

 

I have both and I can say the guys above all have it right.

When you ask the question, my gut reaction says: it aint even close, the M5 wins hands down.

The places where there M3 is better is steering feel and brakes in terms of them feeling "sharp". However, the M5's steering is good enough and the brakes are actually very good and well suited to its sedan mission.

But the M5 is beyond numbers. Everything important is right- its a terrific balance of luxo crusier/ sports car. I'll never sell my E39 M5.

Im selling the M3 tomorrow...

 

I have both

with envy

 

The market is flooded with E46 M3's - its a common car!

Now coming up to 3yrs old, watch the streets fill up as lease companies dispose of their cars.

heres an example: http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB6

Additionally, the M5 is the king of the road, 5.0L V8, 400hp since the last millenium, others are just catching up now. kinggf

And my favourite saying to tease my M3 owner friends -

"M3 is the mummy, M5 is the daddy, and we all know what daddy does to mummy!" :15:

 

M5 is so much more practical and better to drive across Europe, especially with the Active Seats (mmmm... yeah baby!).

 

that yellow ones nice :7:

 

that yellow ones nice :7:

It looks very nice - theres one ebay last night, in yellow with the optional hardtop, and he wanted to EXCHANGE IT FOR AN M5 !

That actually says it all for this thread... :1: - mind you, he had a change of circumstances