6speed question... 2011 m3 or 2011 550i

[JK479]

Did some test driving at a local dealer yesterday? Came away with more questions in my head than answers.

I had ruled out the M3 at the end of last year. On a whim, I test drove a 6 speed e90, 2011. I loved the drive. Missed that nice fat M steering wheel.

Things though that have always baffled me... why can't they make it more efficient so there is no gas guzzler tax? Why isn't the 2011 given angel eyes like the coupe received?

I know its two separate classes, but who went with a M3 stick over a 550i stick. Will the gas mileage be close. 14/20 vr 15/23?

I love the look of the e90, but i think, for about the same price, i can have the newer platform of the f10. But then the steering is electronic, its a turbo verses non turbo m3.

Then there is the 150 tq difference. I know it’s significant... but is it a reason to side with the 550i? Which is bigger anyway?

BMW made two brilliant cars. A scalpel with the m3, and a nice carving knife with the 550i.

And best part, the price out almost identically around 70,000.

Any thoughts?

[Prince_of_Persia]

Two different cars,

discussed pretty much here : http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=550ix

[SunnyD]

I assume you're talking about the F10 550i, and I can honestly say it would be a much easier car to drive in the city on a daily basis. Making 450 tq @ 1700 rpm is absolutely amazing. As much as I enjoy revving my car up to 8200rpm, I just don't find myself doing that from stoplight to stoplight 100% of the time.

The question for you is whether you just plan on using the car as a daily driver or if you actually plan on tracking the car. I'd go with the 550i as a non-track car and the m3 if you plan on occasionally taking it to the track.

[Radiation Joe]

I went in to the dealer to order a loaded 550i sport, 6sp and couldn't bring myself to be without an M. You can really feel the weight of the 550. In the end, that's what stopped me.

[richardbb85]

TBH, the new 5 series looks pretty dam good whenever i see one on the road.

[Locksmythe]

you have to answer the question for yourself. A number of us have traded in a 550i to get an M3, so you aren't the only one to have that consideration. I bet if you look on the 5er boards you will find an equal number who went the other way.

I can say that there is a lot more to the experience than power and torque. There are design elements like the weight, balance, suspension, and limited slip differential make a noticable difference when driving. I still get out of my car grinning every day after nearly 2 years in the M.

I look at them like the difference of a show horse and a race horse. The show horse is stong, beautiful and completely capable of rounding a race track, while the race horse still looks pretty good, but is jumpy and skittish, yet it totally excels at it's job of rounding the corners and surging for the win. I had a fully loaded show horse and traded it for the twitchy race horse.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Locksmythe

I look at them like the difference of a show horse and a race horse. The show horse is stong, beautiful and completely capable of rounding a race track, while the race horse still looks pretty good, but is jumpy and skittish, yet it totally excels at it's job of rounding the corners and surging for the win. I had a fully loaded show horse and traded it for the twitchy race horse.

well put +100

that is exactly how I felt in my former e46 (prior to that I drove a e28).

[Bosna]

I didn't think the F10 550i came in manual. I tried speccing it out out BMW's website, and it doesn't offer 6MT as an option.

[TX]

Originally Posted by jk3355

Did some test driving at a local dealer yesterday? Came away with more questions in my head than answers.

I had ruled out the M3 at the end of last year. On a whim, I test drove a 6 speed e90, 2011. I loved the drive. Missed that nice fat M steering wheel.

Things though that have always baffled me... why can't they make it more efficient so there is no gas guzzler tax? Why isn't the 2011 given angel eyes like the coupe received?

I know its two separate classes, but who went with a M3 stick over a 550i stick. Will the gas mileage be close. 14/20 vr 15/23?

I love the look of the e90, but i think, for about the same price, i can have the newer platform of the f10. But then the steering is electronic, its a turbo verses non turbo m3.

Then there is the 150 tq difference. I know it’s significant... but is it a reason to side with the 550i? Which is bigger anyway?

BMW made two brilliant cars. A scalpel with the m3, and a nice carving knife with the 550i.

And best part, the price out almost identically around 70,000.

Any thoughts?

WOW! Are you really comparing a 550i to an m3? Seriously? They are in totally different classes. Let me say the word "Seriously?" again..
Cheers!.

[TX]

Originally Posted by Locksmythe

you have to answer the question for yourself. A number of us have traded in a 550i to get an M3, so you aren't the only one to have that consideration. I bet if you look on the 5er boards you will find an equal number who went the other way.

I can say that there is a lot more to the experience than power and torque. There are design elements like the weight, balance, suspension, and limited slip differential make a noticable difference when driving. I still get out of my car grinning every day after nearly 2 years in the M.

I look at them like the difference of a show horse and a race horse. The show horse is stong, beautiful and completely capable of rounding a race track, while the race horse still looks pretty good, but is jumpy and skittish, yet it totally excels at it's job of rounding the corners and surging for the win. I had a fully loaded show horse and traded it for the twitchy race horse.

I'm glad to know you get out of your car after 2 years and are still grinning. I get out of my m3 after 2 months and I have wet dreams about it. It's a love thing ya know? I hope 2 years from now I still can get out of the car and have the shakes from the adrenaline rush this car gives me. Now if they can just fix my 6mt crunchy gears I'll be set.

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by Bosna

I didn't think the F10 550i came in manual. I tried speccing it out out BMW's website, and it doesn't offer 6MT as an option.

I suggest you look again. If it didn't come with a manual, why would an automatic be a no-cost option?

[Bosna]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

I suggest you look again. If it didn't come with a manual, why would an automatic be a no-cost option?

Good call. When I looked at the interior shots, it always shows auto selector lever instead of the 6MT gear lever, which I assumed was accurate.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I assume you're talking about the F10 550i, and I can honestly say it would be a much easier car to drive in the city on a daily basis. Making 450 tq @ 1700 rpm is absolutely amazing. As much as I enjoy revving my car up to 8200rpm, I just don't find myself doing that from stoplight to stoplight 100% of the time.

The question for you is whether you just plan on using the car as a daily driver or if you actually plan on tracking the car. I'd go with the 550i as a non-track car and the m3 if you plan on occasionally taking it to the track.

A friend today mentioned to me on email how the M3 is all about track days, having a car that can be a daily excursion and a track car. I answered honestly that i do not track my cars, infact i have never raced a car on a track ever. Might be something I look into in the future. The torque on the 550i is astounding. And it achieves slightly better efficiency than the M3. Its gotta be the redline being in the 6000 range verses the 8300 of the M3. But then again, I have so much respect for the M and its 4.0 engine.

But to answer your question, no track, just quick blasts on the highway and to beaches and mountains. East coast is full of beautiful outskirts.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

Two different cars,

discussed pretty much here : http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=550ix

thanks, reading it now... didnt search correctly, because this is a topic talked about. But a little different spin too...

[JK479]

Originally Posted by Bosna

I didn't think the F10 550i came in manual. I tried speccing it out out BMW's website, and it doesn't offer 6MT as an option.

Yes, the 6 speed is avaliable as a no cost option. When the dealer orders it, they do not click the 8 speed auto and a 6 speed is built. 535i is a little different, as its stardard equipment on the build page.

Thats the thing, if the 550i was auto only, the M3 would be the only v8 6 speed manual choice. BMW was clever and gave us real options.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by TX

WOW! Are you really comparing a 550i to an m3? Seriously? They are in totally different classes. Let me say the word "Seriously?" again..
Cheers!.

i am TX. think about it... 400 plus HP on both... 6 speed manual. RWD...

70,000 msrp. Why wouldn't it warrant a little cross shopping? I find that you get a BMW with attitude in both cars.

And driven both sticks, its close, both are smooth engagements. The m3 clutch is a little stiffer than the 550i.

Weight is less on the m3 and wheelbase is less too, so it handles better. But since the m5 might be auto only, 550i represents a car that matches old m5 of yore... and more torque than the outgoing m5.

And the debate rages on... can the m3 feel as fast in dily excursions like a 550? I think it feels fast. Maybe thats the only way to debate it... on feeling, and not on stats.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I assume you're talking about the F10 550i, and I can honestly say it would be a much easier car to drive in the city on a daily basis. Making 450 tq @ 1700 rpm is absolutely amazing. As much as I enjoy revving my car up to 8200rpm, I just don't find myself doing that from stoplight to stoplight 100% of the time.

The question for you is whether you just plan on using the car as a daily driver or if you actually plan on tracking the car. I'd go with the 550i as a non-track car and the m3 if you plan on occasionally taking it to the track.

Perfect advice. Noticed you have an m5 tooo. So that speaks very strongly to me.

[jeffnnj]

Originally Posted by Locksmythe

you have to answer the question for yourself. A number of us have traded in a 550i to get an M3, so you aren't the only one to have that consideration. I bet if you look on the 5er boards you will find an equal number who went the other way.

I can say that there is a lot more to the experience than power and torque. There are design elements like the weight, balance, suspension, and limited slip differential make a noticable difference when driving. I still get out of my car grinning every day after nearly 2 years in the M.

I look at them like the difference of a show horse and a race horse. The show horse is stong, beautiful and completely capable of rounding a race track, while the race horse still looks pretty good, but is jumpy and skittish, yet it totally excels at it's job of rounding the corners and surging for the win. I had a fully loaded show horse and traded it for the twitchy race horse.

I went from a 2002 M3 conv into two 550is, a 2006 and a 2008. Loved all three of them but in the end I decided to go back to the M3 because I can put the top down. If BMW decides to bring out a 500i convertible, I'm in.

[slash32487]

m3 is more of a sports car
550 more of an everyday car

[Chowster]

Originally Posted by jeffnnj

I went from a 2002 M3 conv into two 550is, a 2006 and a 2008. Loved all three of them but in the end I decided to go back to the M3 because I can put the top down. If BMW decides to bring out a 500i convertible, I'm in.

LOL.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by jk3355

i am TX. think about it... 400 plus HP on both... 6 speed manual. RWD...

70,000 msrp. Why wouldn't it warrant a little cross shopping? I find that you get a BMW with attitude in both cars.

And driven both sticks, its close, both are smooth engagements. The m3 clutch is a little stiffer than the 550i.

Weight is less on the m3 and wheelbase is less too, so it handles better. But since the m5 might be auto only, 550i represents a car that matches old m5 of yore... and more torque than the outgoing m5.

And the debate rages on... can the m3 feel as fast in dily excursions like a 550? I think it feels fast. Maybe thats the only way to debate it... on feeling, and not on stats.

Nothing wrong w/ a little cross shopping, but... re: 400 plus HP, you gotta compare that to each car's weight.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by jeffnnj

I went from a 2002 M3 conv into two 550is, a 2006 and a 2008. Loved all three of them but in the end I decided to go back to the M3 because I can put the top down. If BMW decides to bring out a 500i convertible, I'm in.

Closet thing to that is a 650i or M6 convertible