[salraf]

My F80 lease will be ending early next year and I have been giving the F90 some serious thought. Also tossing around E63s.

Just wondering how the drive experience will be compared to the F80. I enjoyed my F80 (even though it was without comp) but there was some disconnect when driving.

[trackday96]

Having come from an F80 ZCP, the ride is very different. Here are a couple of quick thoughts:

Normal Road Driving
- The F90 sits up much higher, but is significantly more comfortable. My wife and kids have no complaints about long drives in the F90; the F80 was a different story
- The speed can be deceptive with the F90; you can end up at 120 MPH without really feeling it. In the F80, you knew you were hauling
- F80 feels more planted (likely due to the ride height)
- I enjoyed the DCT feeling a bit more than the slushbox of the F90, but the power is so instant with the F90 that this fades away quickly

Track
- Around the track (especially in the corners), you will feel the 2 tons (feels a bit like you're fighting the car, especially with the more comfort-focused seats of the F90)
- Down the straights, the F90 gets to speed much more quickly than the F80 did
- The F90 HUD is easier to see when you're nearing redline on the track (which is good for colorblind folks like me that couldn't really see it in the F80)

General stuff
- The wheels use a 5x112 bolt pattern, so don't count on moving any of your F80 wheels (or brakes kits) over to the F90

Overall
- I love both cars; I do not regret my F90 purchase in any way but the F80 and F90 are very different animals. If you're looking for more comfort, straight-line speed, all wheel drive, and just a gorgeous car, you really cannot go wrong with the F90.

[Alberta]

I never drove the M3 , but I drove the E63s AMG juste before buying the M5.

The power and sound of the E63 is insane.
But the drive is harsh , really felt uncomfortable.
The gear box is far away from the ZF8 that is in the M5. It's quick , but again not comfortable in while driving in traffic.
You can feel that the front is heavy , and the 4matic transmission is odd.

That's the only help I can provide , and this is only based on MY options

[mpizutti]

Well i was an F80 owner I have a C63s now..looked at the e63s..did not really like it that much..but yes the sound is great..I have an M3cs on order but may do the M5 comp pack..the upside with the M5 is that i can do euro delivery on it..the M3cs is a no go..but i can do the Performance Center in SC.

[elitex]

Originally Posted by rjwtkd

Having come from an F80 ZCP, the ride is very different. Here are a couple of quick thoughts:

Normal Road Driving
- The F90 sits up much higher, but is significantly more comfortable. My wife and kids have no complaints about long drives in the F90; the F80 was a different story
- The speed can be deceptive with the F90; you can end up at 120 MPH without really feeling it. In the F80, you knew you were hauling
- F80 feels more planted (likely due to the ride height)
- I enjoyed the DCT feeling a bit more than the slushbox of the F90, but the power is so instant with the F90 that this fades away quickly

Track
- Around the track (especially in the corners), you will feel the 2 tons (feels a bit like you're fighting the car, especially with the more comfort-focused seats of the F90)
- Down the straights, the F90 gets to speed much more quickly than the F80 did
- The F90 HUD is easier to see when you're nearing redline on the track (which is good for colorblind folks like me that couldn't really see it in the F80)

General stuff
- The wheels use a 5x112 bolt pattern, so don't count on moving any of your F80 wheels (or brakes kits) over to the F90

Overall
- I love both cars; I do not regret my F90 purchase in any way but the F80 and F90 are very different animals. If you're looking for more comfort, straight-line speed, all wheel drive, and just a gorgeous car, you really cannot go wrong with the F90.

I concur. I had both F80 and F82. F90 wont have the same sporty feeling, it's a much larger car.

[stbm5]

I've both. The f90 is nothing like f82. It's bigger, heavier and more luxurious. I think it's a better car in every way but I don't think I'd say it's more "connected" than the f80s.

[Spara]

Originally Posted by salraf

My F80 lease will be ending early next year and I have been giving the F90 some serious thought. Also tossing around E63s.

Just wondering how the drive experience will be compared to the F80. I enjoyed my F80 (even though it was without comp) but there was some disconnect when driving.

I took an extended Road trip up to my favorite off track proving grounds: Skaggs Rd in the North Bay(San Fran area) today in the M5. I had done this many times before in my F80 comp as well. The M5 felt much more confident and composed on a road the can be best described as a goat trail cut into the mountain. The road itself is one lane- about 1.5 car widths, and the five felt much smaller, more planted, and more predictable then my M3. I felt the added weight in the longer turns where I kind of could approach the limit, but otherwise the car performed much better in every regard. This is an unbelievably good chassis.

If you are a sports car purist, the F90 is missing two things - the M3 comp seats- which I think are the best in any BMW in production now and a stiffer suspension. The latter is going to be addressed via performance parts, I think.

[salraf]

Both cars are understandably different and the reviews of the F90 are quite positive. I guess it is a tough question to answer whether the additional 30-40K is worth it.
Since I like changing cars, I wont buy out my F80 but wondering what I should venture in to.