550xi vs M3

[PawnStar]

All good points, and duly noted. But any takers for a day at Watkins Glen (might be still paving tho) or NJ Motorsports or Pocono Raceway? We split the expense among the participants and have a blast at the track no matter what. I'll bring the 'fast couch' and a cooler with refreshments.

[fiberwave]

I just said goodbye to my 2012 550xi (Dinan Stage 2) and am waiting for delivery of my 2016 M3. It was supposed to be a 2015 but the vehicle was destroyed in a ship fire off the coast of England on June 2nd.

The 550xi was a fast ocean liner. To be fair, I went into the 550 from a Carrera S and it was just too large for my personal driving preferences. It was very quick before the Dinan upgrade done A few weeks after I took delivery. The Dinan tune made for a perfect engine and as long as I was driving straight it made me smile.

Cornering quickly was another story - it's a big car. I drove most of them time in Sport + but it is not an M3 or a Porsche. You can drive it all day, have fun from light to light and with the Dinan Stage 2, watch your opponents in your rear view mirror and still have your kidneys in tact. It's superb at high speed on the highway and great around town.

[Ghetto2315]

I had a 12' 550Xi M Sport paired with my 12' E92 M3 and that was replaced recently with a 15' 550Xi M Sport that my ass shares seat time with my current 15' F82 M4.

I love every thing about the F10 when I want to take a break from a firm ride and want automatic trans. My M4 (and my previous E92 M3) is a 6MT and both had adaptive suspension. Even in comfort mode, it's still noticeable firmer than my 550's with the 19" wheels. Driving the F10 for a week straight and then switching back to the M4 makes you feel like you're now driving a go-cart around. Or put it this way. Driving the M4 for a week and then hopping in to the F10, it feels like a boat. There is no denying the hefty mass of the F10 compared to my M4 and you feel it on every turn. Sure the dynamics aren't the same since the F10 is XDrive while my M4 is RWD but strictly just daily driving, the M4 is infinitely better and more engaging. Especially with a 6MT.

Honestly, the luxury amenities in my M4 is on par with the 550. My 550 is a sledgehammer. The M4, a scalpel. I guess an M3 with it's rear doors would be a pairing knife. Precision cutting still but a tad bit more usability.

If you do not need the extra space of the F10, I do not see how you would regret getting the M3.

[Bahn360Photo]

i had few runs with newish 650xi and there is no comparison, m3 is a freight train and pulls ahead very easily

[TahoeM3]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

All good points, and duly noted. But any takers for a day at Watkins Glen (might be still paving tho) or NJ Motorsports or Pocono Raceway? We split the expense among the participants and have a blast at the track no matter what. I'll bring the 'fast couch' and a cooler with refreshments.

I'm sure you will find some takers who are local to you...but if not just go to the track and I'm sure you'll see an M3 or M4 that you can run with for comparison.

[NickRac]

Originally Posted by iPhone vs Android

5 series is a living room on wheels. I'd hardly call it a sedan if I could, it's more like a lowered lincoln navigator. I drove a 550 and an M5, and I wouldn't buy either if they cost less than an M3, just my personal opinion.

I got rid of an M5 after 6 months in favor of an M4 (with one little Italian 2-door pit stop in between).

The 5-Series is enormous. Do not like.

[rick berry]

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by rick berry

Hey Rick, when you have something meaningful to add to a topic, do contribute. The only trolling here is your post.

Taking the 'couch' to AutoX at Bimmerfest East 2015 in NJ on Aug 15. We'll see how it does.

[M5Rlz]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Hey Rick, when you have something meaningful to add to a topic, do contribute. The only trolling here is your post.

Taking the 'couch' to AutoX at Bimmerfest East 2015 in NJ on Aug 15. We'll see how it does.

Its a fun car and thats a great engine [I had the f10 m5 with JB4 +6lbs of boost], but you really cannot come near the M performance offered on either the M3/M4/M5... Their transmissions alone are second to none and that standard bmw AT is severely lacking vs. the M, and thats without getting into suspension... Below is a mildly tuned Jb4 map2/intake 335i easily keeping up with a 550i to 100 with the 550i barely being able to eek out a win at 110-120+mph

I'll also direct you to an m4 vs. an equally mildly tuned 335i, and while the m4 will lose to a well tuned/e85/meth 335i... It'll STOMP on the 335i that the 550i was barely able to beat.

These are apples to oranges comparisons, but in performance even if you went dinan stage 4, or whatever the car at best is a bad 1/4 m4 time... The most well known 550xi I know with a 2013 550ix with BMS Stage 2, AR Down Pipes, 3" Custom Exhaust, M5 mufflers and diffuser. Ran a world record of 11.895 @118.69 The m3/m4 can trap 118+ ALLL DAY.

So while I'd say your car is far more luxurious, and detached and a better overall daily driver. Performance wise its bested easily.