M3 vs. M5

[twboy1999]

m3 is faster around the track
m3 and m5 has around the same speed from stand still

but on highway that is where m5 shines....
m5 can hang with modena on the highway

[TT]

Originally Posted by cho_888 now jabba dosnt bitch at TT, TT is like jesus. Always knows want god wants.

HAHAHA, when I moved the topic I forgot to reply

LMAO cho_888 you made me laugh pretty hard

[firdausasri]

Basically shorter wheelbase car like the M3 will have better turn-in upon reaching corners but for a driver enjoyment, a slightly longer wheelbase like M5 is more ooozzes to that. You can enjoy the balance between tail stepping and counter steering hence longer the slide is. Just look for Tiff, he'll tell you the same thing.

[coombsie66]

Originally Posted by ae86_16v Different type of car for a different purpose. It might be just the simple truth that he has an family and finds the M5 more comfortable and we are young and sees the M3 is the ultimate sports car. Both machines are awesome and benchmarks respectively for their class. Personally I am 22, I wouldn't mind either car. I like the M5 a lot, but the E46 M3 w/ the 19" wheels are just so damn sexy. Titanium Silver M5 or Imola Red M3 please.

I pass an M3 in that colour and those wheels evey day on the way to college, oh man it does look good!!! Oh and its gotta be lemans blue M5!

I think the M5 sounds nicer than the M3 (not the csl ofcourse!) and if driving experience encompasses the fact that you could comfortably take 4 of ur mates for the extreme driving experience wiv u, then thats got to be a winner for the M5??!?

[rift321]

Man that sucks.... BMW needs to get their act together then. I love the compactness and power of the M3 and the 5 just looks like a boat to me. I just can't invision a car of it's size really taking off like that.


Everso, you should've raced him longer.

Someone who has cash, or at least looks like they do, go to an BMW dealership and take some test drives or something and tell me about it. I want to find out which is better cuz i'm going to own one some day.

[coombsie66]

^^^^ Hmmmmmm, 5 litres, double vanos, loads and loads of lovely lovely torque!!!!!!!
M5 does pull like a stream train once its rolling! A heavy car to get off the line tho.

[StanAE86]

It's a matter of physics. A big mamma' jamma' like the M5 will never handle as well as an M3 with similar modiciations. You just can't do it with an extra 800lbs to lug around, and only 70hp more (E46 M3 with 333hp and E39 M5 with 400hp).

BMWs are the "Ultimate Driving Machine" because everything about the car is designed to bring about driving enjoyment. From the 318 to the Z8, they're all designed to come as close to a 50/50 split in weight difference, but no more than something like a 55/45. The motors are designed to rev and to live at Autobahn speeds without sweat and the chassis and suspension are designed to keep the car hugging the road.

While various cars may match the performance of a BMW, you have to always ask whether track times is the only concern you have. If so, my previous track car, a 1985 Corolla GT-S turbocharged to 230RWHP at 14psi of boost would kill most roadcars on a track and could run down the quarter mile in the 13s. But I wasn't able to drive it around town or to a club. And after stomping an FD RX7 on Buttonwillow Raceway Park, that guy sure didn't wish he had my car instead. But my car served the sole purpose of going fast on the track. Was it the ultimate driving machine then? Well, it was one hell of a track car.

I'm skeptical that an RX8 will rip off the same track times as an M3 on any of the premier road courses around the world. There's a reason you see the M3 in LeMans and the Speed Challenge Cup series. Put the RX8 and an M3 on Laguna Seca or the Nurburgring and I'm sure the M3 will leave the RX8. There is no doubt in my mind. As for price, the question is why is there a market demand that will justify a $55k M3 versus a $30k RX8? Why would a $55k RX8 not sell? Why does a $55k M3 sell? Why would you rather have an M3 than an RX8? I'm not knocking the RX8, but I'd rather have an M3.

Back to the orginal question of M3 vs. M5, it's really a matter of matching your taste with the car. Do you want a smaller edgier coupe? Or do you want a larger comfortable saloon? I wasn't choosing between the E46 and E39, I was a generation back and was choosing between the E36 and E34 M cars. At the end of the day, the M5 was the right choice for me. But, either way you go, with a BMW or better yet, with your choice of an M car, you'll be at the pinnacle of motoring enjoyment.

[astonmartinandy]

The m5 I think was really designed for people who wanted an m3 but needed the practicality of a saloon. The m3 would definitely be more of a driving experience and will be a raw experience. Then again both have legendary engines and I don;t think you would be disappointed with either!! The point about an m5 pulling at 130 mp/h is even more proof that the m5 is much more capable of auto-bahnstorming!

[rift321]

Originally Posted by everso in summary...i would take an M5 anyday over an M3. i think Jeremy Clarkson says it best when he says its embarassing to be in an M3. lol. you look at the people driving E46 M3s, they're mostly pricks.....M5 drivers are much nicer.

very true... I would feel like a prick driving an M3 although it is a beautiful driving machine. I'm getting the impression that the M5 is more of the conniseur's car. I think it's more tasteful... however, the M3 seems like a much more fun toy .

[FerrariFerrari]

Different type of car for a different purpose.

That's exactly what I say. We are comparring apples to oranges here.

Incidently, I heard that they they going to make a modern day E30 M3,
if that's true it will probably be the best driving machine BMW ever made.

[twboy1999]

Originally Posted by rift321 Originally Posted by everso in summary...i would take an M5 anyday over an M3. i think Jeremy Clarkson says it best when he says its embarassing to be in an M3. lol. you look at the people driving E46 M3s, they're mostly pricks.....M5 drivers are much nicer. very true... I would feel like a prick driving an M3 although it is a beautiful driving machine. I'm getting the impression that the M5 is more of the conniseur's car. I think it's more tasteful... however, the M3 seems like a much more fun toy .

i dun get it.. why would u feel like a prick driving a m3??
just dont look cocky like most teenage bmw driver

in toronto.. 70% of the m3 on the road, are ppl who are 25 and under driving it

and for m5. if u go to www.m5board.com u would realize, most ppl that own m5, own exotic cars, ferrari, lambo and etc,, they want m5 because it has good performance and can carrry 5 ppl.
they own sport cars before they own m5..

dunno waht my point was,, but just wanna say waht i said above

[BADMIHAI]

Originally Posted by cho_888 now jabba dosnt bitch at TT, TT is like jesus. Always knows want god wants.

Well..I'm orthodox (only officially...I really don't believe in God), so Jesus is God. God is Jesus (the sun) , the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

back on topic: I like the M3 better, because it's smaller, and lighter. Of course, the M5 is a badass sleeper

[rift321]

i agree with the whole feeling like a prick thing w/ the m3 only because of a little generalization.... I was down in Ft.Lauderdale last year and saw some cheap metrosexual peel out in his M3. I just didn't like the look, but i did like the car.

if i was under 30 and had the money for an M3 and an M5, I'd probably get the M3 and put some money into it, because I'm most likely going to be a prick until I'm at least 30. And not liking the guy peel out in Ft. Lauderdale was probably just out of jealousy.

I've contradicted myself at least 3 times on this topic. I think i'm done.

[Bigdaddytwon]

One word torque.. in order for the M3 to have the same displacement to weight ratio as the M5 it would have to be running almost a 4litre engine. Yes the M3 does put out more HP/la than the M5, and yes it will beat it (by a second or 2) on the track.. But in day to day driving on the street the M5 will feel faster (i'm guessing you're not going to gut the interior and go pure racing ). basicly the M3 will out corner the M5 hands down.. but the M5 will take it on corner exits every time because while the m3 makes close to its peak hp over a very small rpm range, the M5 will pull hard from anywhere.

When it comes down to it.. yes the m3 is faster but the m5 is easier to drive fast..

[rift321]

the m3 makes close to its peak hp over a very small rpm range, the M5 will pull hard from anywhere

good call man... it's still a boat tho... a sexy boat that's fast and corners well.