capri280

iTrader: (1)

Thinking of buying 1999 to 2002 m3(E36) or m5(E39) bmw

Whats your experience or advice

thanks

Maxfield

Advice:

I'm guessing 99-02 it would be E46? The make sure they've had the recall for the Big end shells? (I think it was Big end?). Other than that they're very reliable! And a great car all round speed (depending what you're comparing it too?)/ handling/comfort/reliability etc.

E39 M5 heard they're a few problems (I think crank sensor is one?) but they're another great all round car.

Personally I would go E46.

foreverwhite

max, any pics of the car in your sig...looks uber cool

B16JUS

i used to have a e36 m3 years ago was ok but a bit dated now and lots more modern cars just as quick.

i have never owned a e39 m5 but deiven a few and tbh again dated but lovely lovely drive well worth the money in fact i have driven the new e92 m3 a few times now and it so reminds me of the e39 m5 and for that reason so not worth 60k when you can have a mint e39 m5 for mid teens.

J

Steven_RW

I had the same dilema and went with the e46. Its newer so easier to find a better condition example. It has better cruise mpg (if that matters to you) and its probably a bit lighter which makes it a little easier for track use.

Both lovely cars tho.

Cheers

RW

Maxfield

gingeRS

JjCoDeX75

My mate has an M3 E36, and I have an M5 E39.

On the whole I would have to say that the E39 has the M3 licked in pretty much every department. I am of course biassed.

My buyers guide is on a nother link. I will attach

JjCoDeX75

Link as promised


https://passionford.com/forum/viewto...light=#4247238

JJ

JjCoDeX75

Edit to say that the 1999-2002 isnt that the E46?

JJ

xr2i-carl

the e46 was not out untill late 2001, so it wasnt a 99-2002 car

it was a 2001-2006 car

the e36 did continue into 1999!!

i looked at two e36 m3 a few years back when there were fetching nearly 10k and they were both shockingly SHITE

now there 3k up god knows what there like

the e39 m5 i have not driven but know there a decent car and swallow up mileages easily so even if you buy one with 120k + it should be good, and is less likely to have been abused compared to an m3


carl

JjCoDeX75

And contrary to popular belief, they can still hand a 335i their arse (be it petrol or diesel!!!)

JJ

DAN P

iTrader: (1)

i have just bought a e36 m3 fooking love it may be not the fastest car on the road but goes ok lol

xr2i-carl

e36 m3, my arse mate.. everyone gets wrapped up in how good OLD cars are, yes they were once fantastic new, evolution happens.. a modern day 335i/335d will out handle a fookin old m3/m5, a american car magazine had a 335i go round a track quicker than an RS4

aduz

Maxfield..thats looks shit hot way better than any new rubbish

Maxfield

Still not finished. Got 2 other E30 projects in the line up

Cheers.

silverfox999

I think the E36 has the E39 licked, but i too am biased....

JjCoDeX75

Xr2i Carl - I was talking about the E39 M5, not the E36 M3, and I would bet my 400horses against your couple any day mate! Should point out that I have had the luxury of racing my cousins 335i, and I won!

Silver - biased and wrong

JjCoDeX75

Also to add - Carl - an american magazine rated the 335i above the RS4 you say.

I would suggest to you that the clue to the weakness in that statement is in the statement. I have hilighted certain areas in case you arent sure!

JJ

EIL132

Funnily enough I shat on a 335d that got cheeky the other day, but maybe it was just some kid driving his daddies car

silverfox999

JJ, are you trying to intimate that the good ole boys from across the pond might have got something wrong?

***

I note that no other journalists/car sites are reporting the same incredible news. These new BM oil burners must be simply amazing.

silverfox999

funnily enough when i finally pulled my finger out last weekend at the ring I gradually eeked a slight lead out on a 335 (traffic was a factor as well).

Not doubting the 335 is simply a stunning motor/engine, its not quite in the RS4 league no matter how many chips you chuck at it.

I still reeeally want one, maybe in a couple of years time.

EIL132

It's not what you drive, it's how you drive

simonc

I've had loads of Cossies & BMW's, currently got a M3 Evo 98 estoril blue & its a great car not so much worry as the Cossie.

Simon.

Doh

the only thing i found with the E36 is the awful amount of steering lock you have to put on to go round a bend, i'm sure you get used to it but it just felt wrong!

COMEDY DAN

I have an E39 M5 and am happy to say it has been the best purchase I have made in a long time.

Highly recomended

As JJcodex the M5 will take the E46 M3 out, be it by a thin margin, but it will.

So much low down torque, with the car making power from 2000 revs.

Good luck.

gingeRS

mmmmmm BMW's

roll on 2008

xr2i-carl

thats funny as fuck mate, i beat about 6 different e36 m3s at my various trips to santa pod the 335d you raced must have been shite!!!


when i drove e36 m3's they felt ''considerably slower'' than the 335d,

i actually beat a heavily modifed 3.0 one also at the pod!! way to go eh .

xr2i-carl

not driven an e39 m5, but having raced one there wernt much in it from a rolling start to a ton, from there im sure he would have pulled!!

driven an e36 and that is slower than the 335d, so i would have thought you would beat an e36 quite easily, dont know why us passionford bmw guys not meet up sometime

JjCoDeX75

I would suggest that feel is not everything.

I have driven both and the family business has both cars - the 335 diesel whilst almightly good, is still not as quick point to point as either the M3 evo or the M5 in my experience.

There are a lot of tatty M3s out there with defective vanos - are you positive that you have had a fair race? I would guess not.

When I had issues with my M5 not working correctly, my cousing used his 335i petrol to follow to observe. He did very very well - but he couldnt keep up eventually - and this was against a poorly M5. (Straight road)

Seriously matey - we have been here before - the 335i in both petrol and diesel forms are very very good, but your sweeping statements of supremacy are not particularly helpful for your cause!

As far as twisty roads are concerned the 335is both lack a major component in the differential. No LSD represents a serious disadvantage when in the hands of a competent driver.

Not knocking the cars - with the right money spent in the righ t places, it could easily be better than an E36 M3, but it dont start that way in my direct experience

JJ

xr2i-carl

as fair as a santa pod race can be mate, with 6 different e36 m3, had every single one licked. but then again they COULD ALL BE SHIT DRIVERS


on the road, e46 m3 are pretty easy, standing start there quicker.. for sure.

liek i said the m5 i tried it on with, was 4 times from a rollign start, and never above 105 ish!! was close, i could not pull andhe could not pull away.. im sure he would pull away from there tho

also just to add something else, i know of a few chaps who went to the ring one guy had e46 m3 the other had a 335d, the m3 could not pull away from a rolling 70mph start untill they hit 140mph, and thats to mates... so therefore they were together gunning it!

we should get together for a tear up or somethign

rent brunters out

JjCoDeX75

Fair enough, but it does rather blow in the face of my experience.

I have not had an issue with my M5 to date, though admitedly I wouldnt stop at 105 - I would wait till the job was done

JJ

xr2i-carl

circumstances permitted we had to stop then unfortunately

xr2i-carl

im sure he felt he wished he could have carried on till the job was done lol

JjCoDeX75

The faster you go, the more important the power becomes, and the less important the weight

JJ

fordsportjay

iTrader: (6)

ive just bought an e39 m5.........

buy one-you will not regret it

Jim Green

BM Diesels seem way ahead of the other Diesel Cars at the moment. I drove a 1 Series 2.0d Sport, and can say it's one of the most horrible cars to look at, but once inside and driving it, I was impressed. Not my type of car, but I had to give it credit. It pulled like a train. BM seems to have the competition licked when it comes to diesels.

In the mean time though, I'll stick with the M5.......for a long time yet. Value for money (Paid 17k for mine 8 months ago, which seems abit over the top for a 2000 model, but it does only have 35,000 miles from new).

Very Happy, and really can't think what I could have bought instead that would have given the same enjoyment, luxory, and reliability. It's not the fastest saloon car in the world, it's not the most luxurious, and it don't have the same following as an RS. But when you put all three together, it's one hell of an enthusiasts car, and there's not many four door cars that will worry it.

Rick

xr2i-carl

You are comparing a car which has over 100hp less than the M5 - there really is no competition...

arch

I think I must be missing something here, we've just had a 530d as a new works car. Biggest pile of shite I've had the misfortune to drive.

To think, we traded an ST220 for it, god forbid!