Just curious how many BMW converts we have here. I grew up an ///M fan my whole life but in the past couple of years have started liking AMGs more and more and am now a fully converted to the darkside. I've now decided that my car purchase in the next couple of months will be an AMG over an M. I think the quality of these cars is getting back on track and they are a better "all around" choice. Feel free to vote even if you don't own an AMG yet.....I just want to see some numbers since the AMG line seems to be gathering a larger following.



Dave

 

I used to have an E36 M3 awhile back, but that was the last BMW i ever owned. Since then i've only owned AMG cars.

 

I came from a 2003 M3 to a 2004 E55.

I was simply tired of the high strung, little torque, sound of a buzz saw motor.

i do miss the steering of the BMW though. MB is too boosted.

 

I had an E36 sedan with a supercharged 3.2l M3 engine swapped in. Vadim did the swap.

 

I owned every single model in the BMW M line-up and I now have been driving the E63 for 8 months (that is twice as long as any of the BMWs I have had). I think the MB is definitely better city car, comfortable, lot's of low end torque, and much more fuel efficient (even though the engine is 1.2 liters bigger!). However, on the week-end highway drive the M5/M6 is more fun to drive, handles better, and the interior & navigation system are much higher quality (this will hopeully change with the new E class body). I could not say that I am definitely going with another MB next time, the 4 year maintenance and warranty surely is a big selling point on the BMW side. On the other hand, a high reving engine like the M5 V10 is just not practical in densly populated areas. Who wants to be driving at 7k RPM all the time?

 

I currently have a E39 M5, E46 M3 and E36 M3.

I have owned 3 E36 M3s, a E46 330i and a E36 325is in my life!

My Dad currently has 4 BMWs as well.

 

I had a C32, went to an E55, now going into a CL65...Love AMG's for Life. I like the BMW's but have driven a few here and there not torquey enough...

 

Yea, I still love the feel of driving the M cars.....but as they years have gone by I've become more addicted to torque. Also, I currently own a Lexus and I love having more of a luxurious experience but I also like having power which the Lexus is lacking.



Dave

 

This is a very interesting question.

Dynamically the M's are fabulous... closer to Porsche than they are to MB in my opinion. MB's more luxurious ... and dont think they mind not being as sharp as the M offerings.

I moved from BMW to MB when MB came out with the 55K motor - yes that alone was a massive drawing card and at the same time BMW came out with their new flame styling ... which I did not like ... especially the interiors. Everything was just so unfamiliar and I was not sure how the shape would date... would it become a lemon?

The M's are younger , MB's more mature ... but 5.4L with a S/C is just brutal ... and massive fun. More fun than spinning a N/A v10 to 8500rpm I reckon and effortless.

Dont get me wrong I appreciate both cars ... but I doubt I will ever have a N/A car again. 997TT looks like the next target, or mbe a 996TT moddded.

EDIT - previous bimmers were 323, 325cab, 525 ... also been in Aplina 333, old M5 (which I really liked allot), Alpina B5 - (not so gr8 btw). So have not owned any M's but I loved these cars and the X5 I test drove recently nearly got me interested to test a new M!!!!

 

I agree with everything you said except the part about the interior. I've been in a few E60 5 series & was just in an E60 M5 the other day & i found the interior to be extremely plain. But that's just my opinion.

 

I came to my E55 wagon from an 03 540 wagon that was supercharged. Totally different character, but both amazing cars.

I sold my E46 M3 for a 335 convertible in June and absolutely hated it. Dumped it in a month.

But have my 08 Corvette convertible when I want the top down.

I'll wait until February or so and buy another 03-05 M3 convertible. They're not competition to the E, their complementary.

 

I've been considering and E wagon. I don't no what it is but I just love wagons for some reason. Plus the AMG wagons seem to be very rare. To me having an AMG for daily driving and maybe a Pcar or something for the spirited connected driving would just about perfect. I agree with what was said about the interiors....to me BMW seems to be very plain while Merc and Audi seem to be much better. By the way I've been trolling around here forever and have to say that I absolutely love this board. You guys seem like a great group and have been very informative in my decision making.

 

I was a long time BMW M driver before the E55. Basically pretty much the full range from the E30 M3 through the 850CSi over an 18 year period. I was thinking E60 M5, but the absolutely dreadful BMW styling forced me into the AMG camp, and now I'm wondering why I waited so long. VIVA LA KOMPRESSOR V8.

 

There is a big difference between the two, but each is fun in its own way. Can't beat that M V10 sound though

 

I have owned the E46 M3 and E60 550 Sport both awesome cars and I still prefer the drive of the M5 over the E63 I own. I dont think I would buy another E AMG car if I do it may be the C63 for fun or an S or CL for luxury and image. My favorite AMG I have owned were the 1999 E55, 2001 CLK 55 Coupe and the 1995 C36

I think i may get the M5 for my daily driver real soon, it just appeals to me more, the AMG is superb is so many ways but on twisty roads it needs help in a few areas especially build quality . In my E63 I see myself driving half as fast and getting smoked in turns by guys in 335 BMW because my airmatic cant keep the car planted.

To me flying in a straight line doesnt do anything for me. So I am partial to both M and AMG I think the new C63 will be a sure winner and I may get one.

 

you forgot to put a BMW hater option!!!!!!!

 

I have had:

E39 M5, E46 M3, and currently an E63 M6

also

W210E55, W211 E55, and currently a W215 CL65.


I have enjoyed all of these cars for different reasons as mentioned by previous posters. I started with the 210 and then bought two M's and then back to AMG for the 211 and the 65. Maybe thats why I love the high reving, F1 sounding V10 so much right now!! I will buy AMG again and M again- it just depends on how I feel.

 

My Range Rover has a BMW engine. Does that (technically) make me a BMW driver?

 

This is my first AMG after owning and selling the BMW's below. I've owned my 05 for three months now and I'm beginning to miss my BMW's. Why, 1) better ride and handling, 2) better warranty, 3) better transmission, 4) better sound system, 5) better NAV, 6) better instrumentation, 7) better ergonomics and computer interface, 8) better resale value, and 9) better cars overall. Now before I get flamed my 05 is 1) a lot faster straight line 0-60 and 0-100, 2) better looking, 3) a head turner and not just another MB, 4) more comfortable, and 5) a better family car.

 

I got sick of the whining on the M5 board, so I defected.

 

i use to rock the bmw but now only mercedes and will allways only be mercedes.....

 

 

I had a 1998 E39 540i that I replaced with a 2001 E39 540i Sport. I loved them, especially the 2001. When my lease was running out in August, 2004, I had no idea what to get. I was going to hold out for the new M5, but I still did not like the style of the new 5 series (*** Bangle), am not a fan of buying a car in its first year of release (teething problems), and did not believe that the car would get here anytime soon.

I had always loved the E55 ever since I read that it ran the quarter as quickly as my C5Z06. So I combined the speed of the Z06 with the practicality and fun of a 4 door sports sedan that seats 5. Traded in the Z06 and bought the E55 in August, 2004.

I love the thrill I get when I stomp the loud pedal in my E55, but I confess that I enjoyed the overall driving experience of my 540i Sport a bit more. Still miss it. Having been on both sides, I can appreciate what each car has over the other.

 

i love MBZ AMG for its power and luxury mix. i like BMW M for its sporty, stiffer, more fun feel.

I have to say the M5 and M6 are pretty tempting because of the high revving V10's, and the updated electronics (real downer on the AMG side is the old electronics)

 

I had two M Roadsters, an M3, and a 7 series. All 3 were gigantic pieces of crap, compared to Mercedes' build quality.

The first M Roadster I had was a 1999 and if I had to pick one word to describe it, that would be "plasticky". Things would randomly break, like cracking rubber seals in the top, the fuel-tank sending unit, and these horribly-designed little guide pieces that would hold the seatbelts on the sides of the seats (went through multiple sets of those). Also, it was kinda quick, but not what I considered fast enough for an M.

The second M Roadster was a 2001, and holy $#it, that thing was absolutely sickening. For 2001 & 2002 it had the bigger engine from the new M3. Doesn't seem impressive, until you realize the car is the size of a roller-skate and weighs next to nothing. I would regularly outrun anything that raced me, and timed the 0-60 run at about 4.5sec (though I didn't have a digital datalogger). Car and driver and the other auto mags tested it around 4 1/2 also, though it is very hard to launch. It would light up the tires through the first 3 gears and sometimes chirping in 4th. I went through rear tires on that thing about as fast as I changed the kitchen trash bags. Having driven both, that car would probably run with most healthy E55's, though it's kinda hard to believe me when I say that if you haven't driven one.

Both M Roadsters were annoying to drive. Because of its tiny size and nonexistent curb weight, driving on the highway at anything over 100 was downright frightening. The car would skip around, buffet in the wind, and just act up. The later model would also fishtail violently at anything over half throttle with TC off, to the point where you couldn't even keep it on the road. Compounding the problem is that TC in that car was an "all or nothing" affair. Basically, you were either skidding off the road or you were sitting still for 5 seconds watching a flashing yellow triangle while whatever you were racing gained 500 yards on you.

Then I had a 2002 M3 with SMG that I leased used. I absolutely hated that car. Like the M-Roadsters, it was very plasticky inside. The ride was horrendous, the stereo sucked elephant ***** despite being the "upgraded HK" (would hate to see the non-'upgraded' one), and that SMG tranny is so rough even on its mildest setting that it virtually precludes using the car as a daily driver. Thankfully, I got an attractive lease special and was able to move it along pretty swiftly on swapalease.com. I only had it around 4 months.

Along the way, I had also paid cash for a used 740i, mainly because I was always obsessed with that car when I was younger. I remember watching Michael Douglas in "The Game" and ogling that car. I even got the 1980s looking cell phone activated. Lol. Eventually the warranty ran out and it just made no sense to keep it. This was the best quality BMW I owned.

Now it's on to an E55. I think I have one narrowed down in Fort Myers. Been talking with the guy about it. It's an '03, but only has 13,800 miles. We are still dickering.