E46 M3 or E39 M5?

[Nick]

My dad is looking into his next car... and has to make a decision before it's time to order the M3. He is going to order the M3 in May.

Help me out with your opinions. He commutes 50 miles round trip every day to downtown Baltimore. He has put 18,000 per year on his 528i.

Which would you choose?

2002 M3
Cold Weather Pkg
Premium Pkg
Width Adj. Seats
Bi Xenons
Nav
HK sound
Individual Paint - Avus Blue
Black leather

-or-

2000 M5 with under 15k miles for same price?

He was dead set on the M3 until he drove my GTI to work one day (it has a relatively stiff suspension compared to his 528... but way less stiff than a M3) and he is concerned that he would get sick of the bumps in that car. He is 55, and this will most likely be his last car. He literally wants to keep it forever.

Thanks for the opinions!!!

Pics to help you out.

Avus M3


Avus M5

[Ryan]

I love the M5 but c'mon the M3 has Avus blue. Plus the M5 doesn't even have angel eyes Def. go for the M3.

[Nick]

Originally posted by Ryan
I love the M5 but c'mon the M3 has Avus blue. Plus the M5 doesn't even have angel eyes Def. go for the M3.

The M5 would be Avus most likely also...

Does the M3 have angel eyes?

[Ryan]

Originally posted by Nick


The M5 would be Avus most likely also...

Does the M3 have angel eyes?

oh ok way to make the decision even harder asshole. J/K
well if hes 55 and drives 50 miles a day the M5 would be the more logical solution. My friends is very comfy and very smooth. Not to mention has lots of power when you wanna go somewhere.

[dram-]

since hes 55 i think he would like the roomy m5 better
then a smaller m3...

all the driving he does i think the m5...

of course if i was him i'd take the m3, but im 20

edit: i doubt this thread would sway his choice anyway

[Nick]

Originally posted by dram-
edit: i doubt this thread would sway his choice anyway

It won't, he's never been on DTM, but it might sway mine, and he values my opinion a lot.

[Andy]

I say since it is gonna be his daily driver he should go for the M5. It is a more practical car for his needs. Besides, he already has the Porsche for the weekends.

[Nick]

Wow not many M3 fans

Anyone with both a E46 M3 and E39 M5 want to chime in?

[dank]

i said the M5.. thats b/c its bigger.. more luxurious.. much rather have that at his age than an M3. plus m5 = super sick..


dank

[PrinceE30]

Uhh...I'm sorry but if you are taking the E46 M3 over an E39 M5, you are crazy. You do all know the 0-60 times are within a few tenths of a second of each other, right? It's 4 door sedan that can take 90% of sports cars easy (holy shit factor). Being that this may be his last car, it also makes sense to have the 4-door sedan if he decides to travel or something. And depending on how big he is, it's a car that most anyone can fit into (unless you are very very tall or very very large).

BMW displays the M5 more often than any other car as their Ultimate Driving Machine. And having ridden one (as well as an M3) I'd have to do with the M5. It's a beast. Investing in the E39 M5 will not be a dissappointment for any reason!

-Prince

for him? M5

for most members of this board? M3

[CruizinKO]

I had to make this choice... and I decided on the M3. After test driving both... the M3 impressed me a lot more. Yes the M5 has tons of torque, but driving it didn't make me go WOW like it did with the M3. M5 redlines at around 6000 I think, and the M3 8000. M3 feels much more like a race car, M5 like a cruiser. Given what you said about how your dad felt in the GTI, I would say to go for the M5. Both are great cars no doubt, and you can't go wrong with either one

[Stealth]

when did they bring back avus??? its not on the website

[Nick]

Originally posted by Stealth


when did they bring back avus??? its not on the website

For the M5? It was for the 2000 model year.

For the M3? I am talking about BMW Individual.

[Doc]

i wish i had those problems in life deciding between
the m3 or m5. i would go with the m5 personally,
only because I have an M3 already (granted it is an
e36, but thats ok).

not that i would object to an m3 either