M3 to E39 540i, should i? opinions please..

[nightkrawler]

i really love the E39 and i am pretty sure i have found a 97 540 6spd, silver with gray or black gut, ~80k on her. akaik the condition is good, aside from that i dont know many more specific about the car because it did not come into the dealer yet. should be in by thursday, then i'll know more about options etc. price is going to be around 11k, about the same i paid for my ///M last year. so, what do you guys think? im doing some research on them but as of yet i dont know much about the E39. so opinions would be much appreciated, such as problem areas, strengths and weaknesses v.s. the M3 etc. thanks guys.

[SleepRM3]

Yes, I think you should have BOTH--but don't trade your M3 for it...

[nightkrawler]

wish i could but its one or the other, cant afford both unfortunatly. one of my probs is that i always like to be working on, improving, modifying etc my car. i've pretty much hit the point where besides going fi, there isnt much more i can do, nor really want to dump a lot more cash into her cause i know im never going to even see the money i have into her back out. i can except this cause it is the way these things work. i know the e39 dosent handle as well etc but i dont track or auto-x so i dont really care about that. so, more opinions please guys, thanks.

[EaglEye]

The M3 is slightly peppier due to it's shorter gearing and lower weight, but the 540 is faster, and quite a bit quicker on the highway. The V8 has torque in places and quantities that a NA S52 could never dream of, and it's a very satisfying powerplant when mated to a six-speed gearbox.

I have 245-width rubber all around mounted on 18" rims on my 540, and I'd say the cornering limits between the two cars are remarkably similar. The M3 weighs a good bit less, and as a result will feel more nimble. The rack-and-pinion steering on the M3 is much quicker than the recirculating ball on the 540, especially at low speeds. Overall, the M3 just feels more willing and natural to be thrown around, but the 540 is remarkably good for such a big car. I'd venture to say that since you're not going to be tracking the car, you won't notice much difference in handling on the street. I know that I went from an E36 M3 to an E39 540i(and luckily was able to keep both), and am quite satisfied with the handling of the big fiver, especially with the larger wheels and M5 rear swaybar.

As driveability goes, the E39 has it all over the E36. There's really not much to say other than the 540 is designed to be much more comfortable than the M3, and it certainly succeeds in every way.

Going from an M3 to a 540, you give up some sportiness in handling, and gain speed and a whole lot of comfort.



EDIT: the next post, by mikeo, pretty much sums it up IMO

[mikeo]

I had a '97 540i before the M3. The 540i is heavier, a little less tossable, less turn-in; but much better interstate/autobahn burner. You can run all day at speeds that are quiet and relaxed in the 540i that would be very busy/intense in the M3. The M3 is ultimately a better handling car and more involving to drive but not as comfortable.

[nightkrawler]

good points and quite true, i've driven e39's but only for short distances. afaik, the 6cyl models handle better due to the rack and pinion system and though both are supposed to be 50/50 f/r weight dist, supposedly the 540 is a bit front heavy due to the v8....

[Def]

The V8 isn't that heavy actually, just a hair lighter than an S52/M52.

They're nice cars, but like everybody said you trade nimbleness and sportiness for more comfort.

I've driven both, and I still like my M3 more at this point in my life. If I had kids or regularly hauled around more than one other person I might like the E39 more.

[eurotunerwerks]

I just traded my M3 for a 540/6. i love the car but i miss my E36 so much. i had to have this car because of my job. something that you need to understand, there WILL be some maintance that you will have to do to the car. i have found that out. You will HAVE to do the O2's very soon and there are little things here and there. I will have another M3 later on. the 540 is very relaxed and comfortable and it does have the speed. but i felt like i was more attached to the road in the M3 which i loved. it is really what you are wanting in a car really.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d130/bmwboyee/5401.jpg

[nightkrawler]

hmmmm, not many votes for losing the ///M.....

[SleepRM3]

Nope. Everyone loves their E36 M3. It's that M3 "mystique". Just save up, and buy a 540i later. The prices are dropping like boulders down a rockslide.

Here's a lovely titanium silver 2002 540i 6 with 25K miles still unsold. I've watched the price drop from $39.9K to $33.9K in 4 months (IL area)

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=180653581&dealer_id=1166038&car_year=2002&search_type=both&make=BMW&transmission=Manual&distance=300&model=540I&address=46217&make2=sel_one&only_price=1&certified=&advanced=y&max_mileage=&max_price=&bkms=1136257999266&min_price=&end_year=2002&color=&start_year=2002&drive=&isp=y&engine=&body_style=SEDAN&doors=&fuel=&lang=en&cardist=203

Here's another low-mileage example just under $30K.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=194087843&dealer_id=1884839&car_year=2002&search_type=both&make=BMW&transmission=Manual&distance=300&model=540I&address=46217&make2=sel_one&only_price=1&certified=&advanced=y&max_mileage=&max_price=&bkms=1136257999266&min_price=&end_year=2002&color=&start_year=2002&drive=&isp=y&engine=&body_style=SEDAN&doors=&fuel=&lang=en&cardist=166

The market is soft on these cars, especially with the release of the 2006 550i.

I personally fit better in the old E39. There's not as much knee-room in the new E60 for me--so the choice is a no-brainer.

Be patient. You'll have both an M3 and 540i sooner than you think. That's my plan anyway LOL :)

Happy New Year!

[ArticM3]

Hear hear... trying to talk the wife into a 540 as we speak :P (Keeping the //M of course).

[SleepRM3]

Hear hear... trying to talk the wife into a 540 as we speak :P (Keeping the //M of course).This should be an easy sell for the Mrs. As long as you have the green to buy, maintain, and insure the vehicle, all's well with the "better half". Excellent decision to keep the M car.

[nightkrawler]

gf, but no "mrs" here to deal with, lol.

[nightkrawler]

thanks for all the opinions guys. at work today i got a vhr and an asap on the car/options. here is my post from the e39 forum,


ok, its gonna take me a while cause i type slow but im going to list all the options the car has, here we go...

on the vhr under vehicle options, we have:
premium hi-fi system
heated front seats
comfort seats
100% options
5 series mats

on the asap page, under "order options" we have:
glas roof, electric
comfort seats, electric, adjustable
seat heating f driver/front passenger
on-board computer
car telephone preperation
hifi system professional
preperation for cd changer
m sport suspension
main battery switch
shipping protection package

"series options"
side airbag driver /front passenger
alarm system
green stripe windscreen
window lifts, electric
velour floor mats
interior rr vw mirror w aut anti-dazzle
wood trim
smokers package
armrest front
foglights
automatic air conditioning
cruise cntrl
radio control us
add fuel tank filling for export
language version english
radio frequency 315 mhz
special engine
number plate attachment managment

last, under "information" we have:
seat adjustm, electr, w memory f driver
lumbar support driver/front passenger

well, thats all the options she has. if anyone can explain any of these a bit better, it would be appreciated. especially m sport susp/premium hifi system. thanks.

[Skorpios3]

The 5 series is a bus compared to the M3...You'll be sooorrryyy!

[nightkrawler]

i doubt i'll be dissapointed.

[Casebrius]

$11K -- dayumm! I'm going to have to start looking at them. What's the Hp/tq numbers and how much do they weigh? Is this a 540is?

[nightkrawler]

540 w 6spd, m sport suspension.

[m3/4]

Gasoline is evidently stiill at 0.389 where you live?

A V8? Say bye-bye to 30+ MPG you can get in an M3.

4.4L isn't going to sip like 3.2L.


Sounds like you've really already decided. Why ask the forum? It's your money. Drive what you want.

I've owned several 5ers. They are indeed nice cars. M cars are much different from their standard bretheren. A 540i is not an M5. Heck, it's not an M3 either. It's apples & oranges.


:eyecrazy

[s_ribs]

Sounds like you've really already decided. Why ask the forum? It's your money. Drive what you want.

Heck, it's not an M3 either. It's apples & oranges.

1) Indeed.

2) Indeed again. Asking opinions on this is worthless unless you are asking specifically about each car. My friend has a '03 M5 and it is not even comparable. Anyone that calls it a "sports" car is kidding themselves. Sure, it is quicker in straight line acceleration than the E36 M3, but doesn't compare in the corners. It may handle/brake phenomenally well, but its still a autobahn touring car (and an awesome on at that!).

To OP- What do you want from your car??? Ask yourself that question first. Make a list of attributes of each car if you must. The E39 is a very sexy car and I would love one. For me, I couldn't possibly choose one in place of my M3; but then, I like true sports cars best of all (I sometimes think the M3 is a bit too cooshy for my taste). There is no way the E39 will be as fun and nimble in the corners as your E36. At the same time, there is no way your E36 will be as good at freeway bombing.

[M3 Pete]

hmmmm, not many votes for losing the ///M.....
what did you expect on the M3 forum?

I'd post this question on the E39 forum, where more guys living with those cars every day can provide their input.

[rmani]

The e39 540 6spd is a great car, but I wouldn't give up my M3 for it unless I really needed the extra space. Ideally I would own both cars. I've long contemplated picking one up once the M3 is paid off and I can start looking for a 2nd car.

[99M3Vert]

What years were the cylinder walls deteriorating because of our high sulfur gas? Wasn't there a recall on this? Sorry can't remember exactly.

[GasNSteering]

What about the repair costs for the 5er vs the M3? Are you trading your M into the dealer?

[rwindleyme02]

What years were the cylinder walls deteriorating because of our high sulfur gas? Wasn't there a recall on this? Sorry can't remember exactly.
That was the e34 V8s, not the e39s

[Casebrius]

Say bye-bye to 30+ MPG you can get in an M3.


you get 30 MPG... do tell..

[M52 POWER!]

My dad has a 99 540i 6 spd with mtech susp/styling. My opinion is the E39 540i is a great looking car but too much luxury especially if you're coming from a e36 M3. The feeling is you're disconnected from the road, almost as if you're floating along. Handling sucks, much less feeling of what is going on. Very hard to work on these cars, almost as if it was designed to be a pain so you have to take it to the stlearship. Many of the fasteners must be broken to gain access to other parts. On our e36's you can take half the car apart with a 10 and 12 mm socket!

You said you like to do a lot of the work yourself, you'll be very disappointed when you try and throw a wrench at the E39. The design and layout of things is a mess, plastic everywhere, stuff buried under other stuff. It's a more computerized, luxury car, the e36 is so much easier to work on in comparison...

[SleepRM3]

The feeling is you're disconnected from the road, almost as if you're floating along. Handling sucks, much less feeling of what is going on. E39 V8 cars have recirculating ball steering setups.
Very hard to work on these cars, almost as if it was designed to be a pain so you have to take it to the stlearship. Many of the fasteners must be broken to gain access to other parts. On our e36's you can take half the car apart with a 10 and 12 mm socket!Not much workspace in the engine room, that's for sure.

OP has posted in the E39 forum, and I think they like the M3 better too LOL :)

[GG///M3]

you get 30 MPG... do tell..

i would get about 27-8 in my 95. btw 540 is a great car, but not what i'd want right now with gas at this price. v8 kills it.;)

[nightkrawler]

lol, i have posted the same question in the e39 forum and i think they do like the m3 better! hahha. as to getting 30mpg, please tell me how cause i dont get anywhere near that and my car is in perfect working order, meaning all rout maint has been performed.

[M52 POWER!]

On my 328 I can pull off 30 mpg if I drive it super granny style, highway 32 mpg. Overall I average 24 mpg with some spirited driving. The 540i gets high 17/low 18mpg driven "civil".

[EaglEye]

Gas mileage is definately an issue with the 540. I can get 24-25mpg around town in my M3 driven somewhat spiritedly, but I'd probably get 15-16mpg driving the 540 the same way. As it is, I can barely maintain 18mpg city from tankful to tankful. Average over my entire ownership is something a little over 19mpg, and that's only thanks to a bit of highway driving. That V8 sure does suck it down :devillook

I do a lot of my own work on the E36, and I feel very comfortable wrenching on it. The E39, OTOH, is one step below impossible to DIY. I laugh when people ask if I do as much work on the 540 as I do on the M3. Some basic items are possible to wrench, but for the most part the car is far too heavily computerized, and the parts designed almost as to discourage DIY repairs.

You typically don't hear former E36 M3 owners talking about how they are so glad to be rid of that old POS. Normally, they lament about how they "really wish they would have kept that car". You can't go wrong with an M3, and as much as I love the E39, I really don't know that I could part with my M. Like most owners, I think it's just a great car, and does everything well. Overall, I suppose it's just more well-rounded for a sport oriented driver than the five series. The M combines good performance with acceptable comfort and luxury features, in a relatively reliable and well-engineered package. The 540i has the M3 beat in some areas, but gives up some of it's sporty edge as well as reliability and ease of ownership.

If the car were going to be a commuter or otherwise heavily highway-driven, then I would suggest going with the 540 by all means; it's a far better highway cruiser than the M3 could ever hope to be. As a general DD, though, the M3 is probably better if you don't need or want the added luxury of the 5.

[apollo322]

lol, i have posted the same question in the e39 forum and i think they do like the m3 better! hahha. as to getting 30mpg, please tell me how cause i dont get anywhere near that and my car is in perfect working order, meaning all rout maint has been performed.


You're right they are dreaming, no one's getting 30mpg in a car geared like the m3.

[SleepRM3]

Best post yet on why NOT to give up your M3--a car that you lovingly modified, maintain, and enjoy...
Gas mileage is definately an issue with the 540. I can get 24-25mpg around town in my M3 driven somewhat spiritedly, but I'd probably get 15-16mpg driving the 540 the same way. As it is, I can barely maintain 18mpg city from tankful to tankful. Average over my entire ownership is something a little over 19mpg, and that's only thanks to a bit of highway driving. That V8 sure does suck it down :devillook

I do a lot of my own work on the E36, and I feel very comfortable wrenching on it. The E39, OTOH, is one step below impossible to DIY. I laugh when people ask if I do as much work on the 540 as I do on the M3. Some basic items are possible to wrench, but for the most part the car is far too heavily computerized, and the parts designed almost as to discourage DIY repairs.

You typically don't hear former E36 M3 owners talking about how they are so glad to be rid of that old POS. Normally, they lament about how they "really wish they would have kept that car". You can't go wrong with an M3, and as much as I love the E39, I really don't know that I could part with my M. Like most owners, I think it's just a great car, and does everything well. Overall, I suppose it's just more well-rounded for a sport oriented driver than the five series. The M combines good performance with acceptable comfort and luxury features, in a relatively reliable and well-engineered package. The 540i has the M3 beat in some areas, but gives up some of it's sporty edge as well as reliability and ease of ownership.

If the car were going to be a commuter or otherwise heavily highway-driven, then I would suggest going with the 540 by all means; it's a far better highway cruiser than the M3 could ever hope to be. As a general DD, though, the M3 is probably better if you don't need or want the added luxury of the 5.

[M52 POWER!]

Best post yet on why NOT to give up your M3--a car that you lovingly modified, maintain, and enjoy...

Yep those were the points I was trying to make, he just said it a lot better lol :redspot

[s_ribs]

You're right they are dreaming, no one's getting 30mpg in a car geared like the m3.

You sure about that? City- no way in hell. Freeway- that's a different story. I get 29 mpg if I'm doing freeway only driving.

[M52 POWER!]

I have M3 tranny and final drive (lsd diff) and can pull off 30 mpg city.

[nightkrawler]

one major point that sways me twoards the 540 is mileage. i have a 95 with 132k on her, the 540 is a 97 with 80k, damn close to half the miles on my car. i know there are a lot of guy out there with more miles on their ///m than mine, but one thing that worries me is how many more miles does she have in her? i'd like to believe that i could get another 100k plus out of her cause the engine is so immaculately clean, but... i dont know... i have some pics from doing the vanos repair. i have to transfer them to the comp and i'll post a few.

[SleepRM3]

Yup, plus EaglEye added a few more points :)
Yep those were the points I was trying to make, he just said it a lot better lol :redspot

[nightkrawler]

heres a pic from when we did the vanos unit. its from my phone so the resolution isnt the best and dosent do justice to show how clean the top end of the engine is, but here it is. its rather encouraging cause my tech buddy who did the repair said iho the engine has been well taken care of and i should last a long time.... "should"....

[SleepRM3]

Is that an M50 intake manifold I see? I'm thinking of doing that mod on my '97 M car :)
heres a pic from when we did the vanos unit. its from my phone so the resolution isnt the best and dosent do justice to show how clean the top end of the engine is, but here it is. its rather encouraging cause my tech buddy who did the repair said iho the engine has been well taken care of and i should last a long time.... "should"....

[nightkrawler]

yep, m50 manifold, one of the main selling points that made me buy the car.;)

[SleepRM3]

Yup, debating on whether to get a new or used 325i intake manifold with the Eurosport M50 manifold kit. Price difference is $549 for standard kit (used manifold), or +$415 for brand new manifold, $964 total kit price? Plastic doesn't heat cycle well, and am afraid of installing a used piece only to replace it when it cracks?
yep, m50 manifold, one of the main selling points that made me buy the car.;)

[s_ribs]

I have M3 tranny and final drive (lsd diff) and can pull off 30 mpg city.

:lol Dude, you don't have an M3. 325/8's get better gas milage. :rolleyes

[PrestoMB]

^If you look in M52 Power sig you will see that he has 3.15 LSD and 328's have the same tranny as M3's. unless your talking about his car isnt as "high strung" as an M3

[nightkrawler]

btw, if i do go through with this i may have a few desireable e36 m3 parts for sale. i have the cf gruppe m intake on her which is not going with the car because from what i've seen of the e39 engine bay i think i can make it fit. if for some reason i cant, it will be up for sale. also i can remove the tms chip(non ews) for the 3.5in hfm, the 3.5in hfm(i have 2 actually), mech fan/clutch, and a stock headunit and 6 disk changer(mbus), the head u/chnr is for sale now. my have a few other odds and ends also.

[s_ribs]

^If you look in M52 Power sig you will see that he has 3.15 LSD and 328's have the same tranny as M3's. unless your talking about his car isnt as "high strung" as an M3

That's great, but the motor isn't tuned the same way so mpg is better.

[M52 POWER!]

You're right they are dreaming, no one's getting 30mpg in a car geared like the m3.

I was responding to this. He said geared like an M3, if he meant only M3's he'd have only said that because all M3's are geared the same :D

[mikeo]

All M3s are not geared the same.

1995 Final Drive: 3.15
1996+ Final Drive: 3.23

That's for the manual transmission cars, the automatics are different also.

[///Mr. Three]

I have been thinking about making this switch as well. I need a four door for work and it is either an E39 or an E36 four door M3. I am on my second E36 m3 and dont know if I can stand a third one. However, i do know how to do just about all of the maintainence and repair so that is a great advantage to the E36. I go back and forth between the two but I am going to have to make a decision by the spring.

I just cant shake the E39 M5 though, such a tough car!

[nightkrawler]

All M3s are not geared the same.

1995 Final Drive: 3.15
1996+ Final Drive: 3.23

That's for the manual transmission cars, the automatics are different also.

correct me if im wrong but wouldnt the 3.15 rear give more top end? afaik, the higher the #, ie 4.10, the lower the gearing.. correct??

same here, after 2 m3's and the recent vanos repair, i can do just about anything on the car and am very comfortable with it. going to an e39 is scary cause i know nothing about them, wouldnt even know how to get the covers off to change the plugs, so it is a downside to going to one. but i guess with time you can learn just as much about them as you have about the e36....

[Phat Ham]

I get the exact same gas mileage in the m3 and the 540. Strange innit? I get 20 mpg driving around town and 27 highway. The m3 has a cam kit on it though. I've seen 30 mpg in the 540, but that was really babying it.

[nightkrawler]

new question, would my full set of rear m contours fit the e39?

[mikeo]

new question, would my full set of rear m contours fit the e39?
No, The e39 uses considerably different wheel offsets.

[nightkrawler]

more ???'s, does anyone know when and the difference in hp for the switch from the m62 to the m62tu? also, and im not sure on the exact abbreviations but when did they switch the traction control from atc to dtc? i know they are two totally different traction control systems. and last, what does the "m sport suspension" consist of on the 97 e39 540/6? thanks guys.

[EaglEye]

more ???'s, does anyone know when and the difference in hp for the switch from the m62 to the m62tu? also, and im not sure on the exact abbreviations but when did they switch the traction control from atc to dtc? i know they are two totally different traction control systems. and last, what does the "m sport suspension" consist of on the 97 e39 540/6? thanks guys.
I'm by no means an expert, but I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge:

M62 -->M62TU happened for the 1999 model year
I think the rated HP either stayed the same while torque increased, or torque increased and HP went up from 282 to 290. Either way, most people will tell you the pre-Vanos M62's are stronger than the later M62TU's.

In 1997 ASC was the only system available, AFAIK. In 1998 the auto 540i's got DSC as at least an option, and possibly standard, I don't remember; 6-speeds, for some reason, only had ASC in '98, with no option for DSC. In 1999 DSC was standard on all 540's.

I assume "M sport suspension" just mean sport suspension, which all 6-speed cars got standard.

[nightkrawler]

thanks for the info bro. afaik the 540 im gonna check out has 17in wheels, so i was assuming that the m sport suspension was some sort of sport package before the 540 sports were released. so the m62 is a non vanos motor? god i hope so cause though the vanos system does its job quite well on the m3, the problems with it, noise in particular has driven me nuts. i really dont want to deal with a vanos motor again in any shape or form.

[psychocandy]

I get the exact same gas mileage in the m3 and the 540. Strange innit? I get 20 mpg driving around town and 27 highway. The m3 has a cam kit on it though. I've seen 30 mpg in the 540, but that was really babying it.

Ditto for me as well. I bought a 2000 540i/6 last Aug. and I do not notice any difference in the mileage, driving habits being the same. Insurance is cheaper on the 540 and you can use lower grade gasoline as well which should easily offset any potential declines in mpg.

Here is my experience in switching to the 540i:

At first I missed the M3 greatly and thought I had made a big mistake. As has been mentioned the 540 is far less "tossable" and after you drive the M3 for some time you almost become one with the car and road. The 50/50 weight distribution is something you take for granted over time. You know every gauge, control, blind spot, tendency and when you transition to the E39 all of that is lost, as with any such change.

But over the last 6 months I have grown to appreciate the 540i. It is a far better daily driver and far more comfortable highway cruiser. It effortlessly glides through traffic as opposed to the M3 which could really use a 6th gear of it's own. You soon forget what a rev limiter is. The roads in Detroit suck and this was a tangible difference for me. If you live in the South it may not factor in to the same degree. I have also grown reliant on the steering wheel controls and other amenities the 540 provides such as rain sensing wipers, heated seats, electronic display on the instrument gauges, etc. It is also much easier to entertain business clientel in a 540 with the plush and luxurious interior.

Another factor to consider that was previoulsy mentioned is that the 540i is more difficult to work on and jobs that you could previously tackle yourself now need to be handled at the dealer. Of course this is contingent on your technical aptitude and abilities. But as a general rule, this is true as the M3 is not as complex as the 540.

In summary, opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one. Everyone's perspective is molded, shaped, skewed by their personal experiences. So trying to decide which car is better is really the wrong question. Each car has been engineered to meet different criteria and accomplish different objectives. To me, the M3 is the perfect weekend fun car, but the 540 is a perfect daily driver/highway cruiser.

[nightkrawler]

very good reply. i think if i do it i will definately miss the razor sharp handeling and tossability of the m3. its true that after driving the car for so long that it actually becomes part of you, like an extension of yourself, you truly become one with the car and know its capabilities and limits.
as a daily driver here in scranton aka pothole capital of the world, i think i would appreciate the e39, the roads here suck soooo bad. i dont do much highway driving and my commute to work is through the city, but i could easily take the highway instead and take full advantage of the e39's highway aptitude. one thing that i've found out and correct me if im wrong is that i think the e39 will actually save me money by preventing me from thinking of going mod crazy.
again cmiiw but there dosent seem to be very many bolt on/mods in general for the e39 as there are for the e36. i havent found a software upgrade for the engine yet(sure there is somewhere), my intake will be switched over, pretty sure i can make it fit. if i do get it i already have planned the first few simple mods, cdv delete and install my stock m3 shift lever to shorten the throw. as for maintence, im not really worried. i work for a bmw dealership so i get parts at 10% over cost, plus i have all my techs to help me/ do side work on the car.
as for my skills, i guess you could say im rather knowledgable when it comes to wrenching on a bimmer. after seeing/assisting with the vanos repair on my m3, im confident that i could do it myself the next time if i had to. i dont know where that puts me as a backyard tech but im certain i could do all the routine maintence needed to the e39 once i get to know the car as well as i know my m3.

[mx21]

Enjoy your 5er. It's obvious your making plans for it......

So where is your E36 going. I need a 95 yellow track car!

[nightkrawler]

yeah, i think its time for a change, ive had 5 e36's, 2 of them being m3's. im in love with the sexy lines of the e39. but, i have to thoroughly inspect the 5, drive it, and fall in love with it or i'll be keepin the ///M. fyi, shes going to be trade in on the 5 if i do it. if anyone is intrested in it, i'll post where she has gone as soon as i do the deal. the ///M is in absolute perfect working order and has had every possible maintence item done to it. all it would need is some gas and a bmw lover, i really would like to see the car go to an enthusiast, not some 16yr old who's daddy's gonna buy it for him so he can wrap her around a pole within a week.:(

[nixtfy]

I do a lot of mixed driving and cannot justify going to the v8 on a 540i. I have always liked the best of both with the m3. The m3 can be a little stiff for road trips and does have a much more dated interior than the 540i.

[nightkrawler]

its true that im leaning twoard the e39 but this deal is not set in stone yet, lotta things have to go right for this to come to fruition....