[JLGM4]

Those are my three options I'm thinking of moving into. Anyone own those cars and have experience to provide? I've drive an e90 m3 many times and love it but have never driven an x5m or an m5 to the limit. What would you choose?

[sirdaft1]

What's the purpose of said replacement?

Daily/occasional weekend track car? M3
Full-time daily, family hauler/tow rig? X5M
In the shop all the time? E60 M5

[JLGM4]

Originally Posted by sirdaft1

What's the purpose of said replacement?

Daily/occasional weekend track car? M3
Full-time daily, family hauler/tow rig? X5M
In the shop all the time? E60 M5

It'll be my daily. Finding fitting guitars and bags and what not in my 335i is difficult and not practical so four doors for me. I love the e90 m3 for the engine and how it handles. Such a great all around car. X5M came on my list as it looks neat, has good power, and will maybe deaden my urge to hit 130 every time I get on the highway. E60 M5, well v10.

[srmast1]

I have an e90 m3 and it is alot of fun. I came from a modified subaru sti, which may have been a bit quicker than the m3 with mods. I considered an e60 m5, but that car just looks so old. Also the combined 9 to 11 mpg sucks ass, but then, it's a 5L v10. The e60 m5 is also crazy expensive for repairs and maintenance, almost twice as much as my e90 m3. They don't break as much as rumored, but when they do its not cheap. Also, beware that smg pump!! There is a reason that almost NOBODY daily drives an e60 m5. The X5M is an awesome suv, but it uses the 4.4L v8 biturbo, which is a newer gen engine and still rather pricey. If you have a big familly and are willing to pay a premium, go for the x5M, but if you don't need so much space, I would go with the e90 m3. I have it as a 6mt and it's so much fun..it's crazy. I make excuses and find reasons just to drive it. It is NOT my daily driver by the way.

Also, it's a good thing you have driven an e9x m3 because it does not feel like a 335i at all. The high revving NA v8 takes getting used to, especially as 6mt. Sometimes, you have really got to work to keep it in the power band, but it's so rewarding!! I say go e90 m3!! Try to get the technology package included. M mode is fun!!

[sirdaft1]

OP- why not an X5 50i or 35i? Both can be decently quick and if you hop over to the x5 side of the forums, lots of former 335 guys now own different the different variations of x5's. Inside feels just like my 335 but larger, much more room, can tow a track vehicle/boat, and overall great driving experience. Win/win in my book (which is why I bought one)

[JLGM4]

Both great answers. I'm currently in college so it'd be more to have the space to lug around tennis rackets and instruments with a little more ease. No kids or anything. X5M sounds nice as it's a completely different beast. M3 would just be dying to get modified. I love the dct also. It's a tough call. Right now I'm leaning towards X5M but you may very well be seeing me in an e90 m3

[sea6speed]

If I could easily afford an E90 M3, I'd have done it.

[srmast1]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

Both great answers. I'm currently in college so it'd be more to have the space to lug around tennis rackets and instruments with a little more ease. No kids or anything. X5M sounds nice as it's a completely different beast. M3 would just be dying to get modified. I love the dct also. It's a tough call. Right now I'm leaning towards X5M but you may very well be seeing me in an e90 m3

College eh? Unless you are independently wealthy or very mechanically inclined, I would NOT do this. One damn oil change at the dealer on my e90 m3 is $220. Indy isn't too much less. I have an aftermarket warranty on mine. Now, maybe you are the rare, super responsible college student who also has enough financial backing to be able to afford a decently low mile ~$30k+ , newer year e9x m3, as well as foot the bill for potentially expensive as hell maintainence for an m3. If so, go for it but I would not advise anybody in college to attempt to do this. Ever. I think focusing on your studies would be the way to go. For reference, i drove a 5spd hyundai throughout college and professional school.

On the other hand, if you have generous parents who are willing to foot the bill, ask them which car they think suits you best. And in the name of all that is holy! Don't try to buy a 2008 or 2009 m3 with 80k+ miles on it.. Maintainence!!!

[JLGM4]

Originally Posted by srmast1

College eh? Unless you are independently wealthy or very mechanically inclined, I would NOT do this. One damn oil change at the dealer on my e90 m3 is $220. Indy isn't too much less. I have an aftermarket warranty on mine. Now, maybe you are the rare, super responsible college student who also has enough financial backing to be able to afford a decently low mile ~$30k+ , newer year e9x m3, as well as foot the bill for potentially expensive as hell maintainence for an m3. If so, go for it but I would not advise anybody in college to attempt to do this. Ever. I think focusing on your studies would be the way to go. For reference, i drove a 5spd hyundai throughout college and professional school.

On the other hand, if you have generous parents who are willing to foot the bill, ask them which car they think suits you best. And in the name of all that is holy! Don't try to buy a 2008 or 2009 m3 with 80k+ miles on it.. Maintainence!!!

Whatever I buy will be under 50k miles and 2011 or newer. Luckily, this will be the last car purchase my parents help me make as I'll be turning 21 so either a 2011-2012 E90 M3 with under 50k or 2012 or newer X5M with under 50k miles. I've seen plenty of m5s with under 50k miles

[lordbmw]

I'd replace me car with an E92 M3 if I could find one in decent condition for a good price.

Last time I was looking, the only E92 M3s I could find under $30K were in really bad condition and had over 100K miles on them.

[AlpineBoost]

^ sounds terrible.

I would not replace it with any of those. Curious, what's your budget?

[racermp]

X5 35i or better yet, x3 35i

[Eddien123]

e60 m5 is a beast if you wanna pay for it. My heart says M5 but wallet says M3.

[Unknown_Car]

Only for the x5m I would non others.

[NFiftyWon]

M3

[JLGM4]

Originally Posted by the storm breaks

^ sounds terrible.

I would not replace it with any of those. Curious, what's your budget?

Budget is around 40k

[drunkenup]

I'd love an E92 M3 and a E71 50i to tow it to the track. M5 doesn't do it for me- jack of all trades, master of none

[srmast1]

Are you going to have to take over the payments once you graduate? Monthly payment for a decent m3 will be somewhere between 5 and 600 a month and that's with 5 to 7k down and a decent interest rate. The x5M will probably be more and the e60 m5 will be less, but in the same vicinity. Insurance is gonna hit you hard for these vehicles at your age. So, if you are going to graduate with a job that pays you really well, then you could do this with some level of confidence. If your parents are gonna just pay for it in cash, you have no worries. If you yourself are going to have to take over the payments, budgeting 7 to 900 a month for payment and insurance costs would be prudent. You gotta pay to play, the trick is to keep paying so you can keep playing without going into financial problems or making yourself car poor. If you come out of college with a job that will be paying more than 80k a year, you should be ok. Less than that and your car choices become rather questionable, especially for someone who has not graduated college yet and has no career per se. Just my 2 cents. But good luck with whatever you decide and remember don't make yourself a slave to an expensive car, it's just not worth that.

[tlow98]

The X5m will have way more room to throw equipment into. The e90 is great but it's not much larger than an e92, it's just easier to access the space.

For some reason the x5m appeals to me. What a beast.

[Bamaben]

No way. Those engines are not reliable in the M3 and M5

[JLGM4]

Originally Posted by srmast1

Are you going to have to take over the payments once you graduate? Monthly payment for a decent m3 will be somewhere between 5 and 600 a month and that's with 5 to 7k down and a decent interest rate. The x5M will probably be more and the e60 m5 will be less, but in the same vicinity. Insurance is gonna hit you hard for these vehicles at your age. So, if you are going to graduate with a job that pays you really well, then you could do this with some level of confidence. If your parents are gonna just pay for it in cash, you have no worries. If you yourself are going to have to take over the payments, budgeting 7 to 900 a month for payment and insurance costs would be prudent. You gotta pay to play, the trick is to keep paying so you can keep playing without going into financial problems or making yourself car poor. If you come out of college with a job that will be paying more than 80k a year, you should be ok. Less than that and your car choices become rather questionable, especially for someone who has not graduated college yet and has no career per se. Just my 2 cents. But good luck with whatever you decide and remember don't make yourself a slave to an expensive car, it's just not worth that.

We're buying it cash whatever it is.

[arhoads335i]

Must be nice having that cash just sitting around, I just graduated college and I was happy to pick up a 335i recently! But yeah get the m3 and just do the rod bearings right away. But you should probably just get a brand new car if your parents are buying it so you never have to worry about problems for atleast 6 years