I'm currently driving an E46 M3 as my daily for the past 3 years. It's been reliable, but unlike normal new household cars, the M3 visits the garage more frequently and some time parts take a while to get here as no garages in Thailand stock M parts. My wife is getting annoyed with me borrowing her car when the M3 goes to the garage and suggests I get a second car for myself if I insist on keeping the M3, which of course I will!
So being the sensible husband that I am, I'm down to two choices and am in a dilemma between the E63 645Ci and the E60 M5. These two cars costs the same here in Thailand (the M6 is out of my budget), but I'm not familiar with the maintenance on both. Pretty sure that M5 will cost more to maintain, but is it significantly higher?
If you guys can help me make a decision here it will be much appreciated. Which one would you choose and why?
Thanks in advance!
I think they will both be expensive to maintain. The E60 M5 is the much more special car. I would choose it and hope there will not be too many times when both the E46 M3 and E60 M5 are broken at the same time.
I wouldn't get either of those two, unless you found a perfect example. And perhaps not even then. When one car is costly and problematic, it makes sense to get another car that is MUCH more reliable, yet still fun. A sporty Lexus comes to mind.
The good part about an E60 M5 or E63 645i as a secondary car is they can keep your E46 M3 company while in the shop together. Maybe you can get lucky and time it right, so every time you take the M5 to the shop, you pick up the M3 and vice versa. This way your wife never has to take you to the shop to pick up or drop off a car.
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They are both cars a collector and enthusiast would enjoy. The 645 or Lexus is boring and uninspiring in contrast. The OP did not suggest he was looking for a practical, reliable second car.
If you are happy with the size of an E46 M3, look for an M2. Great car, roughly the same size as the E46 M3, but more reliable.
Or, along the same line, a 2 Series (non M) will be much cheaper than an M2.
Last edited by RBNetEngr; 12-13-2022 at 11:30 PM.
If you're looking for reliabilty then avoid anything E6x
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