I am very happy with mry re-mapped 530D SE and am even going on my first track day in 3 weeks. However, I keep having urges to swap (expensively - on a 4 year lease) for a 2 year old M3. Space not a big deal although I have a 7 & 10 year old. Why do I want an M3????

I have 20% more torque than an M5 (500 V 590Nm) and am faster than an M3 50 - 70? albeit 1 second slower to 60 (but who ever does that)

Maybe it is the track day that is causing this. I should really just go in my mates Caterham and leave my precious E60 in the car park.

When will the M5 be less than 30K?? that could be the answer :think:

That's a good question. Can't help you mate, can help myself in a similar matter... :whistle:
May i suggest buy new 2007 X5 fully loaded, and a bare skin Z4 M coupe. That's my dream anyway :D and it will remain a dream.

well yes track what you to get a fast light car :devil:
but I will not get the M3, just use you mates Caterham on the trake italot more fun, is it lotus Caterham?
Did you help him build it?
when I go back to the UK I will get a Super light Caterham 7:devil:
any way you can just go and hire a M3 for the track days.
for a every day car 5er is the best :thumbsup:

I would swap mate, the M3 E46 is a piece of automotive history, you can't compare the E60 to it in anyway, a few of the guys who bought the new M5 have gone back to the M3 again. It is almost perfect. If you can get an M3 CS even better. My remapped 535d was a fairly quick car, but the M3 is something else.

Do it now before it is too late. :thumbsup:

Agree with gIzzE and that is what Steve did, but DO NOT take your 10 yrs old with your E46 M Drei! Man keep it for tracks!!!

Many of my friends died in M3 so it is nice to play with but NOT a family car, its a racer a real bad a$$ German Masterpiece :thumbsup:

M5 has 510Nm .. no?

The 50-70 time (usually quoted with the car running in top gear) can be misleading as it's nearly impossible to get an apples to apples comparison between the steptronic and a manual/SMG car. Nailing the throttle at 50 mph in the steptronic will invoke kickdown, and thus aid acceleration, irrespective of whether you're in D/DS or manual mode. The manual on the other hand will stay in gear. Were the M3 driver to drop a gear or two as we do with the steptronic on a 50-70 test it might be a different outcome.

520NM but the figure is not so important--->
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=88149

Just about to buy an 18 month 6K miles M3 E46.

Silver or Black - here we go again :think:

Personally I wouldn't do it. The std E46 M3 is really too soft & heavy for regular trackwork. You'll suffer enough depreciation in 1yr to have instead bought yourself a dedicated track car. I'm racing at Croft later in the year (14/15 july) come and see how much fun an old E30 can be on track that you can pick up for ?4-5k fully race prepped - one of those can be quicker round Rockingham than an E60 M5 !