What would you choose: M3 or M5?

Let's say you were to be given one (so price is not a factor) and you cannot sell it and buy something else (no selling an M5 and buying an M3 and have cash left for mods)

Which would you see you driving? I'd actually take the M3 over the M5 - I just prefer a lighter car.

You?

Yeah, assuming that Mods could come later I take the M3. I prefer the looks anyways. Are we talking about an E46 M3?

This really is a tough call, though.

Yeah, I'm talkin the new 343hp M3 :)

Best of all worlds for me would be buying an E36 M3 and swapping in the new motor, I just love the E36

I own both a 740i and 540i BMW. The new M5 is the ultimate machine...al the power,ride, handling that makes for a car in this price range.

I suggest you drive both. The M3 is more nimble, but the M5 has gobs of power that can't be resisted.

M5, although they are both nice.

I would take the M5 without thinking twice! the fastest 4 door car in the world, i wouldn't mind pullin up to sportscars and beating them with a 4 door sedan!

For racing purposes I'd take the M3, to pimp around the M5 is better (more place for girls in the back:D)
Desireable constelation would be E36 M3 with the M5 engine:D

i couldnt decide here.. both are badass machines.. i think id go with the m3 though...the m5 would probably do a lot better from the " impressing your friends" aspect, but the m3 would do a lot better in the " fun to drive" aspect i think..

I would go for the M5. It is a blast to drive (much oversteer) and has supreme power.

http://www.necollectibles.com/xtreemcars/m5_full_image.jpg (http://www.necollectibles.com/xtreemcars/m5.htm)

Click on picture for more info about the car.

The M5 is a true sportscar, it is only available in manual transmission, only stick shift, no automatic garbage allowed

I would call the M5 a true sporty car but for a sportscar it's just too havey. Anyway I made my choice the E36 shape (especially the front) is a perfect BMW.

i dunno IMO the M5 is the best, I love the shape and everything
It isn't a true sportscar, but it's one HELL of a sporty sedan

I can juss imagine myself pullin up to like a porsche carrera, a true sportscar and beating it with a 4 door sedan, that would be funny and fun :D

No question on a freeway but in the Swiss mountains you'll encounter some problems while cornering.

I take both.

It's a tough call. Both are nice, but I think I would go with the M5 if I had the money. I also like the idea of having all that power in a sedan platform.

Gimme an E36 M3 Coupe 5-speed. It's plenty fast enough, and doesn't have all the boy racer fender flares of the new one. Much more classy lines...I think it will probly age a lot better than the E46. I also like a coupe much much more than a sedan, so I'd take it over the M5 (although I also like the idea of a Porsche whooping sedan :D).

HARTGE H50
has the m5 motor in an m3. badass.
394 hp or so...
only rerouting they did was getting the steering thru the header, and moving an oil line
they dint move the firewall back
i think it runs a 4.95 0-60
and a 12 1/4
not sure...

its the new car and driver w/ the gt2 on the cover

M3 , because it's affordable and much more beatiful!!:D

flylwsi... that means that the M3 with an M5 engine runs 0-60 in about the same time as stock......... i doubt that

Yeah, well can the M5 help you crush your enemies?

Yes?

Then I'll take one. M3, schmem three.

Personally, I would take the M3 if it were my only car.
The M5 is very nice, but I like smaller cars, and I do not have the need for the space. I also like going to the track, and the M5 is just too heavy for it.
However, if I did not take the car to the track, I would have to go with the M5. It has more torque for around town, a great six-speed, and more room for my friends. I can get used to the size. Also, I like the discretness of the M5: no idiot in a honda is going to bug you. BUT if the E46 M3 lost 400 lbs, then I would find it irresistable for daily driving even.

I like the M5 because of the 4 doors, so i can load up my friends in there, i don't like squeezing through the back of a seat with coupes, do you?

gang$tarr.. i was simply goin by the numbers on the mag...
i cant tell you for sure...
but consider that the m3 would have minimal traction w/sucha torquey v8 up in there...
so the time could be close to stock... wheelspin is a huge factor...
if you cant get it hooked up, it doesnt matter how much you got...
i have a friend with a mustang that is useless in first and second if he has it on street tires...
so if that were the case, which im sure it is, then that number makes sense...

The m5 is to much cash but can be taken further as far as performance. I have read about one m5 that was tuned to a top speed of 205. I prefer the m3 as I think it is sportier and less expensive. However , if one wants a pure sports car, the best bang for the buck is the Corvette. My opinon as well as the same opinon of the test drivers that evaluated the Ms as well as the Corvette.

you say the m5 can be taken further?
what about the fact that the m3 is lighter, has a motor almost as strong, and is easily modded?
dontcha think that an m3 could easily be modded to go 205? its easier when you start w/ a lighter car, toss on a ton o motor mods, and oh yeah, some turbos... 200 would be nothin, just adjust the aerodynamics accordingly....

also.. the handling of an m3 would be better, tighter...

i like both cars, but the sports car is the m3...
that is for me... and with the "extra cash" from not buying an m5, you can build that badass 205 mph machine... and even have it be reliable...

or you could get the zo6...

I don't exactly know what I was thinking in my original choice, but in revisiting this thread I take the M3. more nimble, got a great I6 (my favorite form for 6's) and mod potential is through the roof.

Have to be the M3 for me...it just looks like pure class :D

Like the M5, but I'll take an M3.

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL
Like the M5, but I'll take an M3.

you would take ANYTHING !!!!! :finger: :finger:

I just saw a special on the M3.... ohhh my, this is such a tough choice now.... i can't decide

M3 or M5.... ARGH!

for how old i am now, i think i'd take the M3 but when i'm older like 25+, then i think i'll take the M5

There is a real nice M3 in town at the moment .

Running on 19's,lowered,unreal looking bodykit,deep red,black tints.....my mind is made up !!!!

By all means I would have to go with the M3.........That damm car is off the meters!!!!

I'll take an M3 with the M5 engine :hehehe:

That would fly .

it does matt. hartge tuning made one. for the owner. it was in car and driver. its been talked about in the thread... check it out...

he is right, they talked about it in motor trend also, its so nice. as for myself i would get the M5, its more of a sleeper and its sexier. my friends dad has a 98 M3 automatic and the auto does it no justice but i still had a hard time trying to keep my head forward (almost impossible).:D

The M5 in my opinion is just too damn big. It's great if you want luxury boat feel with the heart of a speed boat but I don't want the little men with the flags leading me into a parking spot. (Yes I know it's not THAT big)
I would definitely go for the M3.

I saw a Laguna Seca Blue M3 at my Local Bimmer Dealer a month ago and I've decided the only possible answer to this question is both, the have almost equal ablilities (For the most part on the street anyways) and the only difference is two doors.

the hartge tuned car with the M5 engine was just a 3 series body, not an M3 body.

you dont stop picking on me do you?
either way... the point is across... an m3 w/an m5 motor... hells yeah... or a 3 series with the m5 motor... with stock wheels etc... that would be a hell of a sleeper there...

haha....sorry fly. i did side with you on the M3 comparison against gangstarr. i just dont want people to be misinformed

I'd take an M5, but it would definitely be a hard choice. It would be nice to have enough money to choose though... :D I'd have to say though that both are spectacular cars. I'd take an M5 because it has so much power and I'm used to driving largER cars.

Note: Isn't it great how their are six gears and how reverse is to the upper left and not in a place that an idiot could shift into by accident.

Oh, like Britney Spears?

in a word: yes
in multiple words: What a dumb idiot! you decide to drive a ferrari and you don't even know how to drive a manual! LOL!!!
I still can't believe some one would do that to a work of art! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

i didn't hear any news about that ferrari britney spears wrecked here, just in that one article from england.... I think it's fake


I'd get an M5 as soon as i got a family

Whether it is or isn't, I think it's funny as heck... I wouldn't put it past her, though...

m5 all the way-it is more luxurious and has one of the most refined engines in the world-61 hp greater than the m3's-and is also the engine found in the z8 of course, the m3 is very good as well

Originally posted by Twist
Whether it is or isn't, I think it's funny as heck... I wouldn't put it past her, though...

it is true afterall :)
Jay Leno was talkin about it last week

Originally posted by kevnaka
m5 all the way-it is more luxurious and has one of the most refined engines in the world-61 hp greater than the m3's-and is also the engine found in the z8 of course, the m3 is very good as well

What does 61 more hp against M3 have to do with anything? M3 is a 3.2L and M5 is 4.9L does that ring a bell?

and the M5 weighs considerably more. around 1000 pounds more.

you need to look at the numbers:
M3
3415 lbs
333 hp
262 lb/ft torque
4.8 0-60
155 mph top speed

M5
4024 lbs
394 hp
368 lb/ft torque
4.8 0-60
155 top speed

the m5 is not a ton over the m3
the m5 has a more substancial amount of torque than the m3
both cars have pretty much the same speed stats

hennessey tried to improve the m5 engine-he made it slower (m5 engine is very advanced-used in z8)
m3 has i-6 compared to v-8

m5 is more spacious and more expensive-if you got it for free you got a better deal
m5 is motor trends favorite sedan

I know the stats for it very well. What I am saying is what does having 61 more hp have to do with which is a better car. It's pretty lame to pick a car over another because of hp rating. If you said practicbility then I would have agree with you. E46 M3 has been honor as the best car ever produce by multiple magazine. So it doesn't take back seat against m5 being motor trend's best sedan honor.

By the way you won't find a 3.2L 6 cylinder out on market that's not forced inducted capable of producing 343hp (Euro Spec). The M3 engine is detuned as well. With a simple chip modification the car goes to 363hp.

let's just put it this way if i'm over 25 or 30 then i'll take the M5.... if i'm younger i'll take the M3

363Bhp? Is it possible to improve upon perfection?

hartge has a 460 hp engine for e46 body that should settle this thread
go to this site for more info

http://www.hartge.de/Uk/3series/E46_M3/e46_m3.html

BMW also have a lightweight 370 hp and 2900 lbs concept M3 race car. I think it was called M3 CSL.

When comparing looks, there is no comparison. The M3 is the better looking car and the one I'd choose. I absolutely love the styling--it's so agressive and slick. It has enough torque/power for me.

i really wanna try out the SMG now.... I know i'd rather get manual, but I still wanna see what all the hype is about