M3 , M5

J

jes330

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Ok, sure as heck don't wanna start any mad 'mines better than yours', but I really would be interested in genuine feedback from M3 and M5 owners. I'm sure they both are simply wonderful cars to drive.

In my part of the world, M3's seem to hold value annoyingly well. In fact here a New M3 is around $145k...even now I would have to pay $120k for a 2001 model (to much for me).

On the other hand, an M5 (nearly $200k new) has hit the market (2000 model) for $116k. And I heard of one being bought for $100k (with high k's). Whats wrong with the m5?

Numbers wise, I understand the difference (power, weight etc)...love to hear from any lucky souls that have owned both??

Cheers,
 
Akakubi

Akakubi

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My friend owned both (still has the 2003 M5), the SMG model. He tracked both and I got a chance to give both cars a workout. Both cars drift really well....and as long as you wish to hold the slide. [:D]

Great cars. M3 is more of a boy-racer. M5 is very luxurious, seems much better put together than the M3. The ride is more comfortable on the M5. It has gobs more torque and pulls very strongly in all gears. M3 needs downshifts to pull as hard. Very thirsty though, about 11MPG in town, 22MPG on the HWY.

The reason why the M5's are getting cheaper is that the model is discontinued. The engine proved to be very reliable. It's not as "stressed" as the M3.

Bottom line: M3 is is more fun to drive, but it's a 3-series (not that it's a bad thing [:D] ). M5 is in a different league, but more of a cruiser than a track beast - way too heavy.

That said, wow how expensive these cars are in AU! [:(] How about an R34 GT-R VSPEC II? [;)]
 
J

jes330

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mmmmmm..yes I agree, if you're talkin track weapon go no further that GTR's. Problem is in Aust. R34's are available only as 2nd hand private imports out of japan. Most are 99's and many have been used a drift cars. Not to mention that punters still want $100k for them.

We have some very hot R32's getting around, many now fully race prepped..buyable very reasonably. Even though they are 10-14 yrs old..still very nice.

This year though, im racing two wheels,,(check the GSXR 600 hitting the track this weekend)

Still, its the next move in the road car i'm considering ..won't be for a year or two...the logical answer is just go and drive both of them...I just don't wanna spoil the current ride..untill i'm ready to change that is.
 

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Akakubi

Akakubi

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jes330 said:
mmmmmm..yes I agree, if you're talkin track weapon go no further that GTR's. Problem is in Aust. R34's are available only as 2nd hand private imports out of japan. Most are 99's and many have been used a drift cars. Not to mention that punters still want $100k for them.

We have some very hot R32's getting around, many now fully race prepped..buyable very reasonably. Even though they are 10-14 yrs old..still very nice.

This year though, im racing two wheels,,(check the GSXR 600 hitting the track this weekend)

Still, its the next move in the road car i'm considering ..won't be for a year or two...the logical answer is just go and drive both of them...I just don't wanna spoil the current ride..untill i'm ready to change that is.
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Great bike! My buddy is buying one soon too, just like yours. [:D] He found one used. 600cc is where it's at these days.


Wow, R34's are pretty expensive also. My personal favorite is R33, just like the body style better. In the US we have very tight restrictions on making the car street legal, so the cost of registering it are higher than the car itself.

I found a few for sale in Japan for roughly $13-20K tops for about 30K km-70K km. I was specifically looking for non-modded, but VSPEC. But the legalizing costs made the deal not worth it to me. And buying one just for "Racing" purposes was also not feasible at the time....[:(]

So I'm AutoX-ing a prepped Miata and track the Bimmer.
 
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jes330

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Thats interesting. We might have you on older GTR's. A lot of people here are buying nicely modified R32's and R33's from Japan for about $12k-$16k (AUS), then once they are landed and have gone through the Australian Compliance process , they seem to be buyable for anywhere from $22-30k (Aus) . The trick is when they get complied they must be in virtual std trim. Companies have made quite a business out of having std parts on hand, taking go fast bits off GTR's. complying them to Australian Std's , then re-installing the go fast bits for the consumer.

The real good bit is that if you just want a track car and don't intend registering it, it doesn't have to comply with Australian std's in the same way. So in theory you could buy a very hot R33 , R32 (or even R34 if you had the cash) straight from Japan, land it in Aus, and attend the next Street Cars race meat with an absolute weapon..all for a landed cost of maybe $16k (about $12k US).

How's we get so far from M5's and M5's.....??
 
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jes330

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BTW, i'd really like to get some 18"s for the Ci...I noticed on eBay guy's selling 18" M3 rims for $595 US. Thats really cheap!!!!!!! Do you know if this pricing is too good to be true? Are the rims rubbish at that price? I am sure the are non original, but that does not so much bother me ...any thougts?
 
Akakubi

Akakubi

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jes330 said:
BTW, i'd really like to get some 18"s for the Ci...I noticed on eBay guy's selling 18" M3 rims for $595 US. Thats really cheap!!!!!!! Do you know if this pricing is too good to be true? Are the rims rubbish at that price? I am sure the are non original, but that does not so much bother me ...any thougts?
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Good info on the GTR's! Thanks.

LOL true, back to the Bimmers.

M3 wheels are cheap because they only fit M3's. [fake] The rear offset are very different from the regular 3-series (remember M3's are wide-body). So unless you want to stretch the rear fenders, they won't clear. Since there is no market for the rims, they are cheap. Otherwise, they are OK, if real.
 
Section_8

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Akakubi said:
Good info on the GTR's! Thanks.

LOL true, back to the Bimmers.

M3 wheels are cheap because they only fit M3's. [fake] The rear offset are very different from the regular 3-series (remember M3's are wide-body). So unless you want to stretch the rear fenders, they won't clear. Since there is no market for the rims, they are cheap. Otherwise, they are OK, if real.
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Just find someone selling just the front 18" x 8.5 wheels, and pass on the staggered rear ones.. I got 4 front M3 rims all around, no fender rolling required. [:D]
 
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