Will I miss my M3?

[ONEOF40 FS M3]

Short answer YES...that's why I kept both...

The F10 is probably the best all-around car in the world and one of best I cars I have ever driven but it is numb compared to the e92 M3 driving experience, handling and balance. The sound is the one thing that for sure you will miss, it will never sound like the S65 V8 or the S85 V10; you can make it louder but the sound is just not there because of the nature of TTV8 engine and the e92 sounds are as addictive as any, intake-induction and exhaust sound.

The E92 M3 is a jewel "Pure Driving Pleasure", every time I drive it I am glad I kept it…

The F10 M5 is an amazing machine, a "High Speed Jetliner" and in a long haul race, it will beat any car and glad the tank is larger….

As others said, it all depends what you are looking for…

[itsme123]

I would try the darnest to keep both. I always regret getting rid of my past M cars. That being said, I would keep the M5 if you have to pick one. My analogy is this: The M3 is a super go kart while the M5 is a full on open wheel race car. Plus the M5 offers more tuning opportunities vs the M3.

[Robert B]

I went from an E90 M3 to an F10 M5 and they are very different cars. It is truly an apples to orange comparison. The M3 is very nimble, tossable and a blast to drive on the back roads. The M5 is a beast. It is crazy fast, but is big, heavy and not as nimble. It is more at home blasting down the freeway than carving up a canyon. So, while I enjoy my M5, I certainly have not forgotten my M3.

[MichaelJohn]

Well, the more I drive the M5 the less I miss the M3. In fact I've put the M3 up for sale. The M5 is revealing itself to be a spectacular machine as I get a better feel for it. Since I am only an occasional canyon carver I don't miss the nimbleness of the M3 very much, if at all. The size doesn't bother me either. For me the suppleness of the ride of the M5 is more than a fair trade. Plus the cabin is so well appointed and comfy - I guess I was ready for a more luxurious car. And it is completely family friendly as I am often picking up or dropping off my 15 year old and his friends. That was more difficult in my M3 coupe. Since I am in break-in mode, I have not sampled the power very much yet. However even with slight jabs at the throttle I can feel that this thing is just waiting to pin me to the seat. I am really loving the adjustability settings. They do make a difference. I was worried about throttle response compared to my M3 but when you put the throttle setting into SportPlus it is quite responsive. I just got the car back from having a full front and rocker panels clear bra done, so now I will be driving it as much as I can to get to that magic 1200 mile number - no more avoiding the freeway. I can't wait to get home tonight to come up with some flimsy excuse (which my wife will see through) to take a drive. I am starting to see why Richard Hammond said "As an all-rounder this is the best car in the world right now".

[AlphaAlpineM6]

Ive gone from a M3 to an M6. M3 is more direct in its handling but that's if youre really really pushing it. dont worry too much you're in good hands with the M3

[24601]

Originally Posted by clar

I have both and whenever I drive the M5 too much over a period of 2 weeks without touching the M3, i will miss it badly and have to climb back behind the M3 for some S65 music and sharper handling. If u love the S65, u will miss the M3.

+1

[mstmng]

Originally Posted by nv6425

Love my M5, but my E92 with the S65 and exhaust will always have a special place in my heart. If I could justify having both, I would pick up a 2013 E92 and keep it forever!

100000% agree with you! i miss my e90 BIIIG time and its incredible sound even more... M5 is an awesome car, i always wanted it since it came out, its amazing for long trips and very confy for city driving, much better than m3, but m3 is just different for me! i put 20k miles in just 1 year driving it, never had a single problem with it and you wont understand how much you can miss it, until you get rid of it. so better keep it!


i am even thinking to find one in mint condition and keep it, as i still have exhaust sitting in my garage

[ChiTownM]

After driving the M5 during the performance school I knew that I am not ready for it and stayed with the M3. I agree with the fellow posters advising to keep both if you can, as I have also regretted selling my M cars in the past. This M3 is a keeper....good problem to have, seems you made up your mind though......

[MichaelJohn]

I appreciate all of the suggestions to keep both but that is a bit too self-indulgent for me. I have had other M cars in the past and have always found that the newer model has made me forget the older one. My main concern here was that the M5 would feel too big and unwieldy but that has not been the case. The only little things that I miss are the compass in the rear view mirror and the cool way that the M3 tach has a moving color bar to show you the suggested rpm limit as the car warms up. However the M5 has a bunch of cool features that the M3 doesn't - the HUD alone is making me smile every time I drive the car. The nav instructions on the HUD are fantastic. I also love cruising on the freeway at 75-80 and watching the revs stay below 2000. The M3 would be over 3000 at that speed and that always seemed unnecessarily high to me. I am also getting very good mileage, well over 20 on the freeway. In fact, I zeroed out the mpg gauge going southbound on 680 (a Bay Area inland freeway) and on a very slight uphill run I was seeing mid to high twenties. I turned around and did the same thing in the northbound direction and saw low thirties! I was flabbergasted! Admittedly I was feathering the gas between 65 and 75 mph just to see what it would do and I expect that after break-in I wll be heavier-footed, but the car is capable of outstanding highway mileage considering what it is. I couldn't be happier with it - an absolute keeper (and I haven't even floored it yet!).

[M54ccibo]

Originally Posted by MichaelJohn

I appreciate all of the suggestions to keep both but that is a bit too self-indulgent for me. I have had other M cars in the past and have always found that the newer model has made me forget the older one. My main concern here was that the M5 would feel too big and unwieldy but that has not been the case. The only little things that I miss are the compass in the rear view mirror and the cool way that the M3 tach has a moving color bar to show you the suggested rpm limit as the car warms up. However the M5 has a bunch of cool features that the M3 doesn't - the HUD alone is making me smile every time I drive the car. The nav instructions on the HUD are fantastic. I also love cruising on the freeway at 75-80 and watching the revs stay below 2000. The M3 would be over 3000 at that speed and that always seemed unnecessarily high to me. I am also getting very good mileage, well over 20 on the freeway. In fact, I zeroed out the mpg gauge going southbound on 680 (a Bay Area inland freeway) and on a very slight uphill run I was seeing mid to high twenties. I turned around and did the same thing in the northbound direction and saw low thirties! I was flabbergasted! Admittedly I was feathering the gas between 65 and 75 mph just to see what it would do and I expect that after break-in I wll be heavier-footed, but the car is capable of outstanding highway mileage considering what it is. I couldn't be happier with it - an absolute keeper (and I haven't even floored it yet!).

Wait until you floor it