gujupimpster89@

i was just thinking if i got a new car before i go to college it would be between these two and maybe a 2 door g35 coupe....what do u guys think?

OldNate

Well, honestly I would take the E55 because it's classy, plus it is super fast. The bmw is much smaller, not as safe, and isn't as fast, however it handles better. But I do not race anyway, so handling doesn't really matter. The G35 coupes are nice, but too many people have them and they are small as well.

MB>BMW

Nice selection, except for the G35....this car is sooo cheap. Have u seen one in a minor fender bender???? They arent made to well, and they lose most of their quailty after 50,000 miles

as for the e55 and the m3....i thnk the w210 E55 is such a perfect car.. its fast and luxurious...what more can u want


the e46 m3 IMO, is the only BMW worth buying. Its a sexy car and you get alot of car for your money....but at the end of the day the Benz takes the cake.

Also, if your use to a Mercedes already...stay with it. BMW is extremely tight and nothing in comparison to Mercedes steering, etc.

Honestly....I WANT BOTH

Good luck with your decision

lxl_Jeffro_lxl

I would perfer getting the Mercedes E55 rather then the e46 m3. I've been in multiple BMW's such as the 645CI, 750I, 328IS, 320's, M3, M6, but I have a thing for Mercedes.....they feel so agile yet it is as safe as a tank IMO. I don't like Infinity G35's at all....although they do have a sporty look the performance in crashes and on the street aren't that impressive. My friend had a G35, it was nice, until it got totaled from being hit in the rear at 45mph. Tell us what you decide when you do

Eurosport

e39 M5 is better comparison

elchuang

Totally different beasts. If you can't even decide on how many doors you want, you shouldn't be buying a new car. IMHO

lxl_Jeffro_lxl

Yeah I agree....dump out the G35 idea. Compare the e46 m3 and the E55 I don't think anyone here likes that Infinity for many reasons. You guys smell steamed rice?

Musikmann

I kind of like the M3 (and higher ones M5 and M6) but only as an additional car, I wouldn't trade my Benz for any of those. I like the E55 and would advise that you buy that. If you can believe anything Consumer's Reports writes about cars I think they really like that G35, but CR auto reviews have been beaten to death on here so I won't whip that dead horse any more

gujupimpster89@

wait the w210 e55 is faster than the m3? i thought that the 0-60 time for the m3 was high 4's and the e55 was 5.0...

King320

....












e46 M3-manual or SMG gearbox
210 e55-slushbox

e46 M3-0-60 times recorded as low as 4.6, stock 1/4 miles recorded as low as 13.0 (avg around 13.4)
210 e55-0-60 looks like 5, stock 1/4 13.6

For me, smaller is better (hint: it has something to do with the better handling you mentioned)

Safety: the MB has a size advantage, but the M is a very safe car. Front, side, and curtain airbags. Plus it will stop miles before an e55 (smaller and better brakes) and handling figures in well with accident avoidance.
Here's an illustration: The other day there was a huge box in the center of the road, and i was behind a big jeep. the driver of the jeep slammed on his brakes at 65 mph, i was about 4 cars back and had to hit the brakes and swerve around both the box and the stopped jeep. The jeep ran off the road, and a big pickup truck tried to swerve around him but hit the box square.

If you want a car you can use every day with great power on tap, or take to the track and have a blast. Get the M3

If you want a more relaxed highway cruiser, get an E39 M5

OldNate

Iv'e been in an E55 while racing an M3 and the E55 won. Plus...

M3
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/bmw/...029/specs.html

E55
http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes_benz...-reviews_user/


and we shouldn't even be comparing an m3 and and an e55. They are a completely different size comparison. We should compare the m5 to the e55.. in which the m5 is faster+handles better.

King320

I didnt say the guy you were racing could get the most out of the engine, I said that if both cars are driven to their limit the M will win every time.

Thats something Mercedes drivers tend to forget is that there's more to driving most cars than just putting your right foot down. You have to do something called "launching" and then do something else called "changing gears" at the right "RPM" to max out your "rev range."Come for a ride and ill show you

Edit: and that link was for a w211 e55. Now THAT is a completely different animal. Maybe we're talking about two differen things. Here's some clarification

W210 E55


W211 E55


e39 M5


e60 M5


e46 M3 - See sig

As far as speed goes

e60M5>w211 E55>E39 M5>E46 M3>w210 E55

doggmbz

Well, after having both cars now, I wish I had the opportunity (back then) before going to school to choose between these two cars. But I'm glad I didn't have the chance. For me, college was about studying - not cruising around in any high end marquee vehicle. Besides, as enthusiasts (as we all are), I for one, would be too worried for parking on campus, door dings, expensive maintenence, etc. Why worry about all this while trying to earn a degree?

However, to answer your OP, I would probably lean towards the E55. Simply because the 2 extra doors with more room in the trunk for books, materials, maybe even moving between dorms, apts., etc (like me). The downside is that you would be the one to drive your friends to all the parties because of the very functional back seat (much more of use than an M3 - believe me).

As for the performance differences between the two, well I believe everybody else has already stated the obvious, so I won't repeat.

I do agree that these are two great but, very different cars, different enough to satisfy enough levels of enthusiam that we all share. GL.

Hirnbeiss

Buy a used Golf III now. It'll save you money and headaches while you focus on school, but will still give you the opportunity to wrench on some German aluminum from time to time.

Invest your savings and reward yourself in 2011 with an E63 AMG.

You'll love it when a plan comes together

mv420xx

thats a good idea. i agree...
but whatever u do, dont get a bimmer...

Quadcammer

the cars are so different, there is no way to compare them.

doggmbz

I agree on the Golf for a such a car.

Curious as to your comment regarding a bimmer...care to substantiate your comments?