Thinking of selling the M3 for a X5 35D

[Florida18F80]

SO I have had my M3 now for 2 years, installed DPs, Charge Pipes, Injen CAI and a OTS Stage 2 tune form Tuning freaks.....car is bad ass.

Test drove a X3 M Competition a few months back..not bad

I prefer the size of the X5 and as much as a 4.4 Twin Turbo makes my heart race....I am thinking hard about the X5 35D, would rather have a X5 50D but not available in the states.

I need the room of the X5 for hauling clients around and with some decent mods the 35D seems a capable engine.

Right now dealers are offering more than what I paid for my F80 2 years ago.

Just wanted to get some thoughts.

[ntg44]

I've heard this one before. No clients are getting in the 3rd row of the X5.

Put stock downpipes and intake back on so it's not embarrassing to drive clients around anymore. M3 is a perfectly suitable car.

[sabrina]

that new car fever can be intoxicating... just beware of the aftermath when the fever is gone and you're left with that empty pit in your stomach where the M3 used to be. It's tough to replace the F8X with something that's not an F8X or comparable. It's really a special car.

Good luck with your decision tho!

[Florida18F80]

Appreciate the input......I have been on the fence. Think I will keep the F80...maybe pick up a used 2014 35D to play with they are cheap enough..lol

[fiveohwblow]

I have both currently. They are very much in different categories. As for the 35d, it is as good as you’ve heard, but I would NEVER ditch the f82 first….

[unfoundnemo]

Depends on the options on the X5. I went from an X6 40i, to the X5 35d and HATED it. I actually paid a good $7k (it would have been more of a hit if the X5 wasn't a demo with a 20% discount to begin with) to get out of it and into my X7 after only owning it for 2 years.

If the X5 had the multi-contour seats and DHP, I would have kept it. It was mainly the seat, seating position, and handling that I didn't like coming from the X6. The low-end torque in the 35d was fun, it would have beat my F80 0-30 from a dig now with no sweat, the upper end was lacking even compared to a 40i, but that's to be expected and could be helped with some mods as you mention.

EDIT: I missed the whole giving up the F80 to get into the F15 35d part of this. That's a tough call and really depends on how often you will have your clients in it, along with what sort of clients they are.

If you're in real estate or something like that with a diverse group of clients you work with around your car often, an M3 with those mods could be a bit embarrassing as @ntg44 mentions. A stock M3 could certainly be respectable, but not the most comfortable thing to be hauling around clients in, and if you're on the highway at all, the road noise and drone could be a bit much. The F15 X5 would certain help that, but I don't think you'll ever be happy from a performance end unless you're just trying to be a stop-light hero.

If I only could have one car and had others in/around it often, I'm sure I'd be in an M5, perhaps an X5 M50i if I prioritized comfort and clients over performance and myself a little more. If I had moderate budget considerations, maybe a pre-LCI M550i.

[Ravage]

I've got both too. The X5 is better suited for my daily needs but obviously isn't as fun as the f80. My X is deleted and a great daily. If I had to keep one it would be the X5.

[Florida18F80]

Thanks....WIfe and I talked....I am keeping the M3 and just buying a gently used 2012 X5 35D to do my daily duties.

[melanthius]

I'll be "that guy" and say if driving clients around, I'd probably go with a Model X perf over X5.

One, clients are sometimes sensitive to environmental concerns. Two, hauls ass.