the e39 m5 is bmw’s 4 door ultimate sleeper. there are subtle exterior differences between the regular bmw 5 series and the m5. the e46 m3 by comparison is flashier than the standard 3 series with the addition of front fender grilles.
both of these cars easily run mid to low 13 second quarter miles so bring a helmet if you plan to take it to the drag strip.
bmw e39 m5 specs
| 1998-2003 e39 bmw m5 specifications (stock) | |
|---|---|
| e39 m5 engine | 4.941 liter / 301.5 cu in 90ยบ V8 |
| e39 m5 horsepower | 400 bhp @ 6600 rpm |
| e39 m5 torque | 369 ft lbs @ 3800 rpm |
| e39 m5 engine bore / stroke | 94.0 mm (3.7 in) / 89.0 mm (3.5 in) |
| e39 m5 transmission | 6 speed manual |
| e39 m5 suspension (front and reat) | McPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| e39 m5 steering | recirculating ball, power assisted |
| e39 m5 valvetrain | 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC |
| e39 m5 curb weight | 1720 kilo / 3792 lbs |
| e39 m5 length | 4784 mm (188.3 in) |
| e39 m5 width | 1800 mm (70.9 in) |
| e39 m5 height | 1432 mm (56.4 in) |
| e39 m5 wheelbase | 2830 mm (111.4 in) |
| e39 m5 front track width | 1515 mm (59.6 in) |
| e39 m5 rear track width | 1527 mm (60.1 in) |
| e39 m5 top speed | 250 km/h / 155 mph (electronically governed) |
bmw e46 m3 specs
| 2000-2006 e46 bmw m3 specifications (stock) | |
|---|---|
| e46 m3 engine | 3.245 liter / 198 cu in inline 6 |
| e46 m3 engine compression ratio | 11.3:1 |
| e46 m3 horse power | 333 bhp @ 7900 rpm |
| e46 m3 torque | 262 ft lbs @ 4900 rpm |
| e46 m3 engine bore / stroke | 87.0 mm (3.4 in) / 91.0 mm (3.6 in)) |
| e46 m3 transmission | 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto Drivelogic/SMG II |
| e46 m3 suspension (front and reat) | McPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
| e46 m3 steering | rack-and-pinion, power assisted |
| e46 m3 valvetrain | 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC |
| e46 m3 curb weight | 1542 kilo / 3399.5 lbs |
| e46 m3 length | 4490 mm (176.8 in) |
| e46 m3 width | 1780 mm (70.1 in) |
| e46 m3 height | 1370 mm (53.9 in) |
| e46 m3 wheelbase | 2725 mm (107.3 in) |
| e46 m3 front track width | 1480 mm (58.3 in) |
| e46 m3 rear track width | 1490 mm (58.7 in) |
| e46 m3 top speed | 250 km/h / 155 mph (electronically limited) |
these two supercars also carried super price tags when sold brand new however the used car market allows many people to enjoy these german musclecars at a fraction of their new price. there are several factors to weigh when considering the purchase of either the m3 or m5.
- car maintenance: german car maintenance is more expensive than japanese car maintenance. this is generally true and these two bimmers are no exception. replacement parts for the bwm m5 will be more expensive than the bmw m3. for example brake rotors: powerslot front brake rotors for a 2003 m3 are only about $112 bucks each from tirerack.com ($103 for rear rotors) and the same powerslot front rotors for a 2002 bmw m5 cost about $130 dollars each (only $65 each for rear rotors) from brakeperformance.com.
- used car warranty: a used car warranty can be sold by dealers and independent car brokers. a good warranty can be invaluable in the event of a major breakdown. an aftermarket warranty can cost anywhere from 1000 to over 4000 dollars depending on the type of coverage (power train: engine, transmission and drive train only) or bumper to bumper (full coverage) and the length of coverage (from months to years).
- premium gas: these luxury sport high performance vehicles need premium gasoline. constant use of low quality gas can lead to pinging (potential engine damage) and lost performance.
- resale value: most german cars don’t hold value as well as japanese cars. the bmw m series is a great value as a used car right now and it will probably hold it’s value better than non m bmws.
- car insurance: last but certainly not least check how much it will cost to insure one of these monsters. liberty mutual auto insurance rates for a 2003 m3 was $497 per year. the liberty mutual car insurance quote for a 2001 bmw m5 was $478 per year.*
*car insurance rates based on a 33 year old driver with a clean driving history and the vehicle garaged in san jose, california. annual reported miles driven was 7500 (pleasure). liability insurance coverage was low: $50000/$100000 bodily injury, $50000 property damage, $15000/$30000 uninsured motorist insurance. comprehensive insurance carried a deductible of $1000. collision insurance was not included. 20% multi car discount was also included in this car insurance quote.
