Those of you that went M3 to M5

[jet888]

Hey guys

Im looking to make this very jump but I really do love my M3.
With a remap, mpe exhaust and minor cosmetic stuff, she looks, goes and sounds exactly as I want her too.
Problem is with two young babies, it is an absolute faff getting them in and out and hard work getting the double buggy in the boot. Bottom line is that I need a more practical daily driver that doubles as a toy.

Those of you that made this switch, can you tell me what if anything you miss about the M3 and now couldnt live without on the M5?

cheers

[nugent]

nothing. go for it.

[mstmng]

NA sound, but my Rpi is coming, so let see

m3 weight

otherwise couldnt imagine better DD

[Neil McRae]

I have both.

going up and down the gears on the M3 is probably more fun. You will miss some of the bleeding edge rawness of the M3 but the beauty of the M5 and the incredible torque will fill the gap.

Neil.

[akh23456]

Originally Posted by nugent

nothing. go for it.

Originally Posted by mstmng

NA sound, but my Rpi is coming, so let see

m3 weight

otherwise couldnt imagine better DD

Hit the nail on the head.... Oh and the TQ is awesome

[MichaelJohn]

I agonized over letting my M3 go. Once I started driving the M5 the M3 faded into a distant pleasant memory. Now that my M5 is broken in, the acceleration rush when you floor it is other-worldly. I was really worried about the size and weight of the M5 but that has turned into a non-issue, at least for me. Maybe the people who track their cars would feel differently, but mine will never see a track. The cabin is much nicer than the M3's and the bells and whistles that come with the Executive Package and Driver's Assist are way cool. I love opening the trunk with a wave of my foot and closing it with the push of a button. No more slamming the trunk lid. Same with the soft-close doors - love 'em. The HUD is fantastic. All of the cameras and parking sensors are great. It just offers so much more than the M3, as well it should. Many have complained about the lack of exhaust sound but I find the stock sound just right. I floored it the other day under an overpass with all of the windows down and was surprised at the decibel level and the deepness of the roar. To me it sounded BETTER than my M3 - meaner and more powerful. I for one have not had one single regret about switching from an M3 to an M5.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by MichaelJohn

I agonized over letting my M3 go. Once I started driving the M5 the M3 faded into a distant pleasant memory. Now that my M5 is broken in, the acceleration rush when you floor it is other-worldly. I was really worried about the size and weight of the M5 but that has turned into a non-issue, at least for me. Maybe the people who track their cars would feel differently, but mine will never see a track. The cabin is much nicer than the M3's and the bells and whistles that come with the Executive Package and Driver's Assist are way cool. I love opening the trunk with a wave of my foot and closing it with the push of a button. No more slamming the trunk lid. Same with the soft-close doors - love 'em. The HUD is fantastic. All of the cameras and parking sensors are great. It just offers so much more than the M3, as well it should. Many have complained about the lack of exhaust sound but I find the stock sound just right. I floored it the other day under an overpass with all of the windows down and was surprised at the decibel level and the deepness of the roar. To me it sounded BETTER than my M3 - meaner and more powerful. I for one have not had one single regret about switching from an M3 to an M5.

Amen to that. The only time one would miss an M3 is at the track, feeling the nimbleness, 600lbs difference from the F10 M5, and of course the glorious induction sound from the S65 revving up to 8,300rpm, but that's about it.

[boots]

Originally Posted by mstmng

NA sound, but my Rpi is coming, so let see

m3 weight

otherwise couldnt imagine better DD

[ONEOF40 FS M3]

Agree with all the above comments from others...

I own both and to be honest the only time I miss the E92 M3 is when I get behind the wheel of the it. So as long as you do not drive one again, you will be just fine, otherwise you will miss the NA engine, the induction and exhaust sound, balance and the raw driving experience.

They are really two different cars.

The F10 M5 is a car that has everything you ever want in a car. The one thing I recommend is to get a 6MT, the F10 M5 is little too numb so with a manual gearbox you will enjoy the car much more, you are more connected, it is more of a driving experience. I would not get it another way, the car is a blast with the manual, so if you like driving get a 6MT otherwise you will be doing a lot of just riding along....

So if I could only have one car, I would take the F10 M5 or the M6 Gran Coupe...

[URBAN LEGEND]

E92 M3 is old news. Dump it at the earliest convenience. Get the 14 M5, and for hooligan days get the 14 GT3. Easy!

And yes, I had an 09 M3...

[ONEOF40 FS M3]

Originally Posted by Ftc120

+ 1. I test drove both the Dct and the six speed manual. The Dct was ok, but the six speed manual sealed the deal for me. If you just want to drive around buy the Dct. If you want to really drive the car and have fun doing it and feel what it has, six speed manual all day long !

+100% All day, all night,...

The F10 M5 is the true successor of the E39 M5 which is the car that has put the M5 name where it is today. The E39 M5 was only offered manual and it was a true driver's car. The F10 M5 is a much better car overall but numb in comparison, and the best driving experience comes with a manual transmission. BTW the manual transmission in the F10 M5 works great, and it does not need a short shifter at all.

[kylek13]

I think it absolutely needs a SS, installing a UUC tomorrow, if anyone wants the Rogue to try, ill sell you mine for cheap. it worked good but wanted to try something new.

[DMC126]

Originally Posted by ONEOF40 FS M3

+100% All day, all night,...

The F10 M5 is the true successor of the E39 M5 which is the car that has put the M5 name where it is today. The E39 M5 was only offered manual and it was a true driver's car. The F10 M5 is a much better car overall but numb in comparison, and the best driving experience comes with a manual transmission. BTW the manual transmission in the F10 M5 works great, and it does not need a short shifter at all.

I took my E39 M5 out for a drive this afternoon for the first time since early June. I remain very impressed with its performance but it is not close to the F10 M5, with the passage of time since the E39 M5's design that is not a knock. The F10 M5 is an extraordinary machine!

I do not find the F10 M5 numb. The mountains of torque available on demand make it very involving and intoxicating. No complaints regarding steering or road feel. I do find the ride quite a bit stiffer than the E39 M5 which feels soft in comparison. The F10 M5's exhaust note is much deeper and throatier than the E39 M5. The sound proofing and deadening of the F10 M5 very much mutes the exhaust note inside the car but outside it definitely grabs one's attention.

Agree with your F10 M5 short shifter observation.....I do not need one.

[ONEOF40 FS M3]

Originally Posted by DMC126

I took my E39 M5 out for a drive this afternoon for the first time since early June. I remain very impressed with its performance but it is not close to the F10 M5, with the passage of time since the E39 M5's design that is not a knock. The F10 M5 is an extraordinary machine!

I do not find the F10 M5 numb. The mountains of torque available on demand make it very involving and intoxicating. No complaints regarding steering or road feel. I do find the ride quite a bit stiffer than the E39 M5 which feels soft in comparison. The F10 M5's exhaust note is much deeper and throatier than the E39 M5. The sound proofing and deadening of the F10 M5 very much mutes the exhaust note inside the car but outside it definitely grabs one's attention.

Agree with your F10 M5 short shifter observation.....I do not need one.

+100% ...

Funny you said that, I just took my previous E39 M5 for a drive a few weeks back. I sold it to a close friend and I am still showing him how to drive it hard, his first M car. Once I got back in my F10 M5, it makes the E39 M5 feel slow but the driving experience in the E39 M5 is more raw, just the nature of the car, no better or worse.

It is amazing how capable the F10 M5 is when pushed hard, and with the 6MT the driving experience is elevated. I agree with you that you with the stiffness of car, the F10 M5 feels well planned at any speed, when cornering or high speed maneuvering. The E39 M5 always felt a little soft when doing high speed maneuvers.

When I say numb I mean that the car feels too comfortable if you do not push it which it is a very nice compromise and what an M5 should be. That's why I believe it is the best M5 to date and maybe the best overall car in the world today along with the M6 GC. I also say numb because the car is so well insulated and the cabin noise is reduced significantly when compared with my E92 M3 for example.

The stock exhaust matches the nature of the car perfectly, and I agree that from the outside it calls the wanted attention and not the unwanted. The new sport exhaust from the Competition Package is probably a good option as well.

no need for a short shifter! ... the E39 M5 did need one, I put a Dinan back in the days...

[Salespunk]

For those of you recommending the 6 MT, the OP is in the UK where I don't believe it is an option.

[uhn2000]

Originally Posted by Salespunk

For those of you recommending the 6 MT, the OP is in the UK where I don't believe it is an option.

Crappy, anyhow you will love M5 either way. A great combo of luxury, power, torque, etc.

[DietCokeOfEvil]

M3 is for kids. You're all grown up now.

[DMC126]

Originally Posted by ONEOF40 FS M3

When I say numb I mean that the car feels too comfortable if you do not push it which it is a very nice compromise and what an M5 should be. That's why I believe it is the best M5 to date and maybe the best overall car in the world today along with the M6 GC. I also say numb because the car is so well insulated and the cabin noise is reduced significantly when compared with my E92 M3 for example.

The stock exhaust matches the nature of the car perfectly, and I agree that from the outside it calls the wanted attention and not the unwanted.

I understand your definition of "numb" and I do not disagree with your descriptions. I value the comfort of the car as opposed to the rather spartan feel of M3s, in general. Again, not a knock, different tools for different applications.

[jet888]

Originally Posted by DietCokeOfEvil

M3 is for kids. You're all grown up now.

Ha! That is for sure my problem.

Thanks for the comments all. Really wish I could have both as some of you do but the wife would crucify me!

Yup we only get DCT over here in the UK and I believe its a stronger version than the one in my car; so no great shakes especially in stop start central London.

Will let you know how I get on!

[skypx]

jet888, you didn't mention what you have (coupe/sedan), but from what you've described I can only infer you have a coupe.

I'm in the same situation. Our son was almost a year old when we got the M3 coupe. It was a pain to get him out of the back seat but I could manage.

A year and 35lbs later it's a real challenge. So much so that most of the time we leave the ///M at home and I'm stuck in the SAV bored to tears.

If we had a M3 sedan I would wait a bit longer but then there is the tech in the M5. That plus the mountain of torque I keep hearing about, and I realize the M3s don't have back-up cameras because it would off-set the balance of the car.

It's a fun car but as DietCokeOfEvil said, it's time for me to grow up.

[cpiguy]

I also own both and agree with most of what's been said. I'll just add that my M3 is highly modified (never lost a race to a non super charged M3) and the M5 totally stock crushes it in acceleration.

Love both cars, but if I could only afford one, I'd definitely choose the M5.

[kiwistu]

If you buy the same colour (AW) you'll get away with it for two days, until your kids bust you...I did...tehe.

(my wife, who I love dearly just rolled her eyes!)

I changed using the same excuse. Is handy having 5 seats too! Do I miss the M3 absolutely, am I going to get another? absolutely. Ditching the m5 absolutely not!

Cheers
stu