In the market for a new car...S5 or e92 M3

[dangolf18]

I'm in the market for a used car. I've sort of narrowed it down to a 2012 S5 V6 Cab with 50k miles (Prestige and Comfort Packages) and a 2011 BMW M3 DCT Coupe with 40k miles. Same price ~$35,000. I've only test driven a 2011 BMW M3 convertible and have to say it handled great but power delivery sucked (it was a test drive so only got up to 5,200 rpm). I test drove the 2012 S5 yesterday and really loved the car. Pretty quick for such a heavy car. Anyhow, I'm ready to buy the S5, but everyone is telling me I'll regret it. Many say the M3 even whips the RS5 and tell me I should compare the S5 with a 335xi. Anyhow, what do y'all think? I really like the S5, but the BMW is faster and more raw.

[yjypm]

Get the M3. Getting a dsg s5 with 50k miles is gonna cost you A LOT in the future. The soundtrack of the m3 is WAYYYYYY much better than the s5. Not to mention you will have a lot of fun in the m3.

[Sauci]

As much as i love my A5 and would love to have an S5, if I were in your shoes, I would take the M3 without even thinking about it. Both fully upgraded the M will run circles around the S. =(

[pr1malr8ge]

Kindof asking for a horrid comparison. Coupe or Cab..

If you want a more drivers type car then I'd say the m3 due to it being RWD and a coupe..

If you don't plan on tracking or worried about a "direct" feel with the car then go the s5.
if the convert is a big selling point well then obviously the s5.

Make your choice on what YOU want not what others tell you.. Unless they are footing the note payments.

[Vanimal]

What you are experiencing is the M3 likes to play in the 5k rpm+++ range, its a HIGH reving 8,000rpm motor. I have a 2010 S5 that redlines at 7000rpm and its also likes to play in the upper RPM's so to speak. What you are feeling is the torque down low which the supercharger makes for spirited red light to red light driving around town. If you are looking for a nice cruiser IMO the S5 would be nice Lots of variables however you won't have the nice v8 sound, but on the flip side the S5 has a MUCH better interior etc. So many variables. What are you using the car for is the important thing?

You want to drive fast between lights or get on the highway and roar at 7000rpm plus?

[superswiss]

Yes, the S5 compares to the 335 and the e92 M3 to the RS5, but you'll have to be a very very good driver to whip an RS5 and then only on bone dry roads. The RS5 has faster track times than the e92 M3. The new M3/4 is faster than the RS5, though.

Here's a head to head, but this is the pre-FL RS5. The FL has a reworked suspension and better gearbox, so it would probably have edged out the M3 even more.

[Vanimal]

I looked at a 2010 M3 not long ago in the sedan flavor which i like OVER the coupe oddly the e90? Few let downs were the interior compared to my 2010 S5, which i DID not like. It still had the damn red pixel like my 2001 B5 S4 had. But that is BMW's thing they go basic on interiors and make up for it elsewhere. Also 335i's around me are a dime a dozen. So for non care people sometimes a M3 will blend it like a nicely upgraded 335i. I get TONS of compliments on my S5 all the time at least around me. But i do have a love hate relationship with the m3.

My friend has a 2013 335 "IS" the m package exterior version so pretty close to a m3 look wise. And i must say sitting next to my S5 i think the S5 looks better and more aggressive IMO. A little more mature too if that makes sense. Everyone has different taste though. But interior is no competition if that matters to you.

[dangolf18]

Thanks for the replies guys. I might hold off on the S5 and try to test drive the M3 Coupe. Hopefully it'll feel a bit fast than the M3 convert.

[Vanimal]

Thanks for the replies guys. I might hold off on the S5 and try to test drive the M3 Coupe. Hopefully it'll feel a bit fast than the M3 convert.

Any reason you aren't looking at a S5 coupe if you are looking at a M3 coupe?

I don't know what it is with me but I think the 4 door sedan M3 looks badass. I guess it's the e90 as a sedan? There was one near me in interlagos blue. Totally badass 4 door, maybe it's because I see so many damn 335i's near me. 4 door M3 is practical as well should I say? Haha


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[dangolf18]

Eh, if I was looking for performance, I'd be going with the M3. The convert is a nice bonus living in Cali.

[Atmmac]

Get the M3. Getting a dsg s5 with 50k miles is gonna cost you A LOT in the future. The soundtrack of the m3 is WAYYYYYY much better than the s5. Not to mention you will have a lot of fun in the m3.

This.... The DSG is a disaster in the B8 and should be avoided outside of warranty at all costs.

[dangolf18]

Then why own an Audi outside warranty? What kind of costs are we talking about?

[Chanman94]

This.... The DSG is a disaster in the B8 and should be avoided outside of warranty at all costs.

Im curious where you're getting this information. Other than the earlier 2010 models with DSGs and the mechatronics issue, they're perfectly fine and reliable. And honestly maintenance is going to be just as bad on the M3 if not worse than the S5.

[Atmmac]

Im curious where you're getting this information. Other than the earlier 2010 models with DSGs and the mechatronics issue, they're perfectly fine and reliable. And honestly maintenance is going to be just as bad on the M3 if not worse than the S5.

It's all over the site. Look it up. We are talking 12 grand for a new transmission. The least would be a mechatronics unit which is 4 k or so. This happened on my 2010 but it happens on later models as well. Just trying to save you the hassle. I think the m3 is more reliable with the smg.

[dangolf18]

You mean DCT, right? The e46 SMG is horrible.

[Vanimal]

You mean DCT, right? The e46 SMG is horrible.

Correct i also looked into this as well. The SMG in the M3 is HORRIBLE and also prone to breaking. The newer M DCT is supposed to be a lot better in the 2008+

[GSS5]

get an m4

[superswiss]

It's all over the site. Look it up. We are talking 12 grand for a new transmission. The least would be a mechatronics unit which is 4 k or so. This happened on my 2010 but it happens on later models as well. Just trying to save you the hassle. I think the m3 is more reliable with the smg.

Those are all old post. The fix for the DSG issue is a $300 repair kit now.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_RS...ion/ES2697203/

[TTRStud]

M3 any day of the week and twice on Sunday! I've owned two e90 M3's (4-door version of the e92) and they were phenomenal. Not only that, but you can literally drive from where you buy to the track and not need to do a thing to the car - it will perform sharply and flawlessly, like a finely tuned precision instrument. I miss my M3's :)

Also, go 6-speed manual. Anything DCT is nothing more than a very expensive Playstation.

[Atmmac]

Correct i also looked into this as well. The SMG in the M3 is HORRIBLE and also prone to breaking. The newer M DCT is supposed to be a lot better in the 2008+

You are absolutely correct. Did not realize they changed the name for the e92.

- - - Updated - - -

Those are all old post. The fix for the DSG issue is a $300 repair kit now.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_RS...ion/ES2697203/

300 dollar repair kits don't fix metal shavings in the transmission.

[superswiss]

300 dollar repair kits don't fix metal shavings in the transmission.

No it doesn't, but how many have metal shavings in the transmission? I've been on these forums for a while and the widespread DSG issues are the mechatronic going bonkers. The metal shavings are possibly a consequence of the mechatronic gone mad and not fixed early enough.


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[MaGomes92]

As much as i love M3's they are maintenance whores not to mention those scary rod bearings can come to haunt you if the previous owner beat on the car. S5's are much stronger cars and are cheaper to fix. a lot of people have great luck with e90/e92 m3's its the ones that i personally know that haven't which scares me about them. Roll the dice

[TTRStud]

As much as i love M3's they are maintenance whores not to mention those scary rod bearings can come to haunt you if the previous owner beat on the car. S5's are much stronger cars and are cheaper to fix. a lot of people have great luck with e90/e92 m3's its the ones that i personally know that haven't which scares me about them. Roll the dice

Rod bearings were revised in 2010. Even then, the rod bearing issues of prior years are no different than the carbon build up issues or the RS5 engines that go kaboom. We hear about the 10 people that have problems, but the 20,000 that don't have any issues don't bother to post "hey, my car is fine!."

The e9x 4.0 s65 is piece of engineering art, happily and effortlessly revving to 8400rpm in a fashion that keeps the driver grinning at all times. If proper maintenance is followed, M3 ownership is not a problem.

[The Punisher]

I'd go with an M3 over the S5.

I ALMOST purchased my third E93 M3 but really wanted to try the RS5. The M3 is THAT good. The only reason I sold my previous M3 was to get a GT-R. The M3's interior might not be as nice but it holds its own in the exterior looks department. Lowered and some ZCP parts and the car looks awesome IMO. The M3 is also very easy to boost. For about $6-7,000 you'll be pushing 600hp!

[Vanimal]

I'd go with an M3 over the S5.

I ALMOST purchased my third E93 M3 but really wanted to try the RS5. The M3 is THAT good. The only reason I sold my previous M3 was to get a GT-R. The M3's interior might not be as nice but it holds its own in the exterior looks department. Lowered and some ZCP parts and the car looks awesome IMO. The M3 is also very easy to boost. For about $6-7,000 you'll be pushing 600hp!

I have noticed that, VF engineering offers levels as cheap as like 6k for the M3. No love for the B8 only the B6/B7. Common man!


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[Loe]

i came from an E90 M3, I still love the car. I travel way too much and the S5 3.0t was the best fun-to-mod-to-performance-to-mpg rating for me. I hate having to fill my M3 every 3-4 days, that was really the only downside.

[AirmattRS5]

I'd get a new A5 and beat the living sh1t out of it.

I mean, kind of an odd comparison between coupe vs cab, performance vs sporty GT...not to mention teetering on the brink of that out-of-warranty zone.

[TTRStud]

My last M3 during a local photoshoot here in town...this may push you over to the M3 side :P

[Vanimal]

Since we are on the subject of NA V8's & sporty sedans. There is a 2009 Mars Red C63 a few minutes near my house 0_O!

67k miles & they are asking $27,900. I could use a 4-door 6.3L sedan for some grocery hauling . But man the interior on these things look so dated compared to my 2010 S5. C63 has a MUCH higher MSRP, but really only has a slightly upgraded C-300 base interior which is blehhh. But that 6.3L 450hp motor under the hood tho .

I need to go look at it, or not before I end up doing something stupid. I've always been a sucker for the V8 sports sedans like the e90 M3 & the C63.

I stopped myself a few weeks ago from looking a 2010 e90 M3 sedan in interlagos blue. I feared I would give up the S5 adding a un needed car payment.

I still give the edge to the e90 M3 exterior wise to the c63, both aggressive looking sedans.





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[Sharinganuser]

I am super impressed at how unbiased this forum is. It's amazing, you'd swear we were in a BMW forum lol. Clarkson prefers the M3 over rs5 even. https://youtu.be/WJQNUowxFTs

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[The Punisher]

+1000 I had a VF620 E93 M3 it was a blast to drive. Probably regret selling that car the most out of the many cars I've had.

I have noticed that, VF engineering offers levels as cheap as like 6k for the M3. No love for the B8 only the B6/B7. Common man!


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[Canadianwraith]

There are WAY to many doors on your 2 choices there Vanimal

[Vanimal]

There are WAY to many doors on your 2 choices there Vanimal

Am I getting old? I'm only 31 . I don't know what it is that makes me like the "sports" sedan. M3,S4, c63. Once they are tastefully lowered & perhaps a wheel upgrade they look cool I think.

That 6.3L V8 doesn't hurt in that C63 either .

They do make a coupe c63, but it looks "off" for some reason to me. At least in the w204 non face lift one.

I seen a supercharged V8 CTS-V next to me at the bank today in the while in the S5 . I think they look cool too, calipers were huge on it . They are pretty nasty once tuned




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[AirmattRS5]

Sport sedans will never be as cool as the coupes, the same way I feel about sport wagons/suvs.

[TTRStud]

Sport sedans will never be as cool as the coupes, the same way I feel about sport wagons/suvs.

Subjective opinion with 0 validity.

[doug97gxe]

It's all over the site. Look it up. We are talking 12 grand for a new transmission. The least would be a mechatronics unit which is 4 k or so. This happened on my 2010 but it happens on later models as well. Just trying to save you the hassle. I think the m3 is more reliable with the smg.

I'm pretty active in the S4 forum.. i havn't heard of any facelift cars having DSG issues .. and personally i hate automatics.. they also seem to be holding power well over 400 hp with dual pulley's which the manual sad to say needs a clutch upgrade

[TTRStud]

Not sure if this has been pointed out before, but there is NO smg on the e9x M3, it's a DCT. The smg was available on the e46 M3 (prior generation). That aside, I've always said that buying an automatic sports car is like buying a condom with a hole on it. Get a 6-speed manual transmission car and enjoy the purest form of driving.

[Atmmac]

I'm pretty active in the S4 forum.. i havn't heard of any facelift cars having DSG issues .. and personally i hate automatics.. they also seem to be holding power well over 400 hp with dual pulley's which the manual sad to say needs a clutch upgrade

He's looking at a 2012 which is a pre fl car.


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[bmoreS4]

It's all over the site. Look it up. We are talking 12 grand for a new transmission. The least would be a mechatronics unit which is 4 k or so. This happened on my 2010 but it happens on later models as well. Just trying to save you the hassle. I think the m3 is more reliable with the smg.

So much misinformation, hopefully people don't read this and take it as truth. Wow.

[Atmmac]

So much misinformation, hopefully people don't read this and take it as truth. Wow.

What's misinformation? All I did for three straight months building a case against Audi with my attorney was research. Calling local dealers for quotes and researching anything I could online. Maybe you are just delusional and want to ignore the fact these transmissions have serious problems. You won't think it's misinformation when yours goes and you get the bill.


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