M3 or M5?

[ZGM3]

Do you plan on tracking the car?

You live in the Bay Area, not too far from Thunderhill (my favorite track), Laguna Seca, and Sonoma Raceway......

If it was me I would wait for the M3 and track the car at these great tracks every chance I get, but that's just me and you might not like to track.....

[bmwluvr24]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

I think this is an interesting question

because if it is only the steering calibration, that can be modded (maybe not yet, but eventually) via coding much like the e9x m3 for example. aftermarket steering tunes on the m3 are impressive, and id imagine they can do that on the m5 also

if its mechanical changes, then clearly that isn't a valid option...

some food for thought.

I know that the M6 Gran Coupe had a better steering set up developed that was, in turn, added to the M5 with the Comp Pack to eliminate the shudder that was being experienced. To me, that seems like a mechanical modification. A software update would not likely eliminate shudder, just reduce it.

[paddy335]

Seems like a slightly odd cross-shop to me.

You've been on the waiting list for an M3 for a year so clearly you are deeply in lust with a more agile, lighter sporting sedan that you can spec exactly how you want, but now considering a used porky luxo super-saloon (a beautiful one no doubt).

Just be patient, you've only got a few months to wait. Must be Gen Y eh?

[mpower3330]

Thanks all. Going to wait for the M3. Don't want to write a borish post, to keep it short. The car is powerful for sure but just too large for my liking. I live in SF and it'll be a large car to wield around.

[RealStig]

Originally Posted by mpower3330

Can you expand on the changes that have been made to the steering from the 2013 to 2014? I know they changed the suspension, etc. for the competition package but none of those 2014 M5 Competition Package cars are in the same price range of this 2013 M5.

What I do know is competition package receives an entirely new steering rack, brand new hydraulic and software mapping. So its a lot more than software. What many are saying is during the process, BMW made major enhancements to the standard M5 as well. I have read in the M5 forums a lot of people saying that they could easily tell between 2013 and 2014 models.

I think post LCI with the competition package is what M5 should have been like when it was first released (a lot of reviews I have seen say the same thing interestingly). This is also why the residual of the car went from 48% to 58%, a whopping 10% increase in a year.

That should tell you something. 79k you say is not bad, but it is not amazing either.

[gee-m-w]

The M5 has a much, much nicer interior. That's a really good deal for one.

[yemenmocha]

I'm considering a similar situation in about a year or so. I'm probably going to wait for the M3 until at least the 2nd production year. As others said, the weight issue is a major one, even if the M5 will still smoke the M3 on the highway.

[mpower3330]

Originally Posted by gee-m-w

The M5 has a much, much nicer interior. That's a really good deal for one.

It was definitely a much nicer interior but I just don't think I enjoyed the driving experience enough. I think having a more nimble and sporty car is more of a priority for me. Especially after I drove the M5 and it was very heavy.

[bm323]

I wouldn't get the M5 if the extra space is not required. Neither would I consider/get the M3 if 5 seats are unnecessary.

[Money2536]

Alright all... I thought I had this all figured out. I got rid of my E92 M3 in favor of the a 991 C2S late last year. I just got the 911 last month and man it is epic!

The plan to get back to an M3 was simple. Replace my pig of a car S4 (I dislike very much) with an F80 M3 when the lease is up. I planned to order an F80 in Decemberish for a Februaryish delivery to have the dream of an M3 daily driver and 911 weekend awesome car.

I completely underestimated the timing of the new M3 release. If the first deliveries are going to be in July/August, then I'm going to have a hard-time getting an allocation. I'm certainly going to have to pay MSRP. I assumed BMW would have a short MY2015, and I'd be ordering a MY2016. Assuming I can even get an allocation, it appears it's going to be the first model year. I don't want to own a first or even second year, so I'd lease it. So I'm going to be paying MSRP with unfavorable lease terms on a first run car. This isn't the world's worst thing, but it's certainly not my first choice.

I was messing around on M5post last night, and I stumbled upon a thread talking about the extremely favorable lease details on the F10 M5. We are talking invoice pricing, $1,500 rebate, and pretty incredible residual. Now, I've never been an M5 kind of guy. Even being 6'2" 220lb, I have always preferred smaller cars. Other than a 911, the M3 is my boyhood dream car. I've started justifying the M5 in my mind:

1.) I have a three-year-old son and a baby girl coming in August, so the extra room in the M5 would be nice.
2.) I can lease a $100,000+ car for around $1,000/month!
3.) 575 stock HP!
4.) I'll have it for 3 years, so the F80 will be less expensive and improved making it ready for me to just buy it.
5.) I think I can get out of my S4 without a loss and into an M5 now.

I'm going to test drive a Valencia Orange (not my style) M5 on Friday. Please, help me think through this.

[Tonymiabmw]

Wait where is this Valencia Orange M5 for sale at in Florida?

[Tonymiabmw]

I don't miss my old M5, never did it for me. It never felt like a sports car more like a big luxury car with a big motor and suspension. I would rather have a M3 they are always a more spirited and fun drive.

[Money2536]

Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw

Wait where is this Valencia Orange M5 for sale at in Florida?

The sales guy was wrong. I just searched their inventory. Sakhir.

Ocala

http://www.bmwinocala.com/new/BMW/20...5d7a781743.htm

[dhoggm3]

Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw

I don't miss my old M5, never did it for me. It never felt like a sports car more like a big luxury car with a big motor and suspension. I would rather have a M3 they are always a more spirited and fun drive.

Thank you. I actually searched and found a few 2013 CPO M5's for less than $80K. That's whack!

But tonymiabmw is right. There are good reasons that it's better to wait.

[hellrotm]

Get the M5. A great compliment to your current 911.

V8TT power, luxury, comfort and room for your family. You will definitely no regret getting the extra room for your kids. Plus the M5 is just a higher quality car.

[ridin135]

Go with the M5 the current residuals are shit on the m3. You will always be able to get into an M3 in the future as the residuals will get better while the M5 residuals are most likely at their peak. Only reason I would go with the M3 is if you go on a lot of mountain drives or plain to track the car.

[moorfan]

This is something I have run through in my head a million times...I've had two F10 550i vehicles AND the F30 3 series. Have an M3 on order but unsure if I should take advantage of these lease rates on the M5.

[filip75]

I also considered the M5 for a brief second. My points against the M5 are:

1. More luxury than sport
2. Fuel consumption is still crappy (gas price will drive the ownership cost higher, making up for the lower lease rate). And if not for the fuel cost, just think how much more often you will need to fuel-up - simple inconvenience factor.
3. Not sure how much you drive, but every time I had a lease, I went too far over the allowed miles.

[Black Gold]

I don't get why you must lease if you don't want the car long term.

The residuals are trash, which means that if you wanna keep the car for 3 years, its best to just buy and resell.

Does anyone actually think that a 70k M3 with 36k miles on it that is 3 years old is only going to sell for 38.5k (based on 12k/yr and 55% residual)? There are 2009 M3's selling for that right now and those are 6 years old and many have more miles.

If you buy it and sell it yourself after 3 years it will definitely be cheaper than leasing an m3 or an m5 imo.

[signes]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

I don't get why you must lease if you don't want the car long term.

The residuals are trash, which means that if you wanna keep the car for 3 years, its best to just buy and resell.

Does anyone actually think that a 70k M3 with 36k miles on it that is 3 years old is only going to sell for 38.5k (based on 12k/yr and 55% residual)? There are 2009 M3's selling for that right now and those are 6 years old and many have more miles.

If you buy it and sell it yourself after 3 years it will definitely be cheaper than leasing an m3 or an m5 imo.

+1. Don't forget though the only thing holding many back is the need to get the same *monthly* cost (so many are focused on that). That would mean needing to come up with $20-30k to put down.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by signes

+1. Don't forget though the only thing holding many back is the need to get the same *monthly* cost (so many are focused on that). That would mean needing to come up with $20-30k to put down.

fair point. still, id estimate the value of a 70k m3 to be 45k when resold in 3 years.

that's a 25k cost over 3 years. vs an m5 that at best is 1k a month, so costs 36k over 3 years.

not exactly close in my eyes.

[nmehta211]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

fair point. still, id estimate the value of a 70k m3 to be 45k when resold in 3 years.

that's a 25k cost over 3 years. vs an m5 that at best is 1k a month, so costs 36k over 3 years.

not exactly close in my eyes.

I normally agree, but my accountant stated that by depreciating my M3 purchase, I am not able to write off as much money as I would on a lease.

I am in the same boat--whether to buy/lease a M3 or lease the M5. A purchase of the M5 would be dumb IMHO unless you plan to keep it for ten years.