Any F-430 Owners here who drive BMW's everyday?

I bought one of those new M3's as a daily driver and I agree with you. I had a 2002 M3 and loved the car but this one is a little boring. It's also a little too boy racer as well.

 

anyone else have the e60 with 6 spd and hate the notchiness of the shift gate and less then rewarding clutch throw?

 

the E46 is the pinnacle of the M3.. while the new one is more powerful it just lacks the character and feel of the E46.. the engine was much more fun to drive in the E46 also..

basically.. the new one isn't THAT much faster (about .4 of a second) or THAT much better (on the track)..

E46 still looks far more masculine and sexy also..

E46 is the way to go..

 

The E-60 V10 motor is designed to work with the SMG. The gearing of the 6 spd does not work well with it

 

I've got an E60 M5 now and agree that the car is wasted without SMG. My car runs 12.5s all day long and the way the engine revs (to 8500 rpm, ahhhh) the SMG is the way to go.

I am looking eagerly towards the prospect of a 360 in the next year or so if my new job works out as I hope it will... the question is whether I will keep the BMW.

Since 2004 I have had:
1998 528i Sport - amazing car had it until 145k miles practically no issues whatsoever
2001 M5
1998 M3
2001 M5 (different color) - traded in at 105k miles for $17k!!
2006 M5

I've sort of got a BMW thing, I guess........

 

alaris, for what its worth, the 360 is not a straight-line 1/4 mile car...and your e60 will most likely run quicker light to light.

however, you will not drive anything else, short of a murci, which makes you grin ear to ear with a mid-engine symphony behind you.

it is nice to press that 'm' button on the steering wheel. my advice, if you have the means, step down your bmw stable, perhaps a 1-2 yr old 330ci turbo (fast, and a solid daily, easy to make fast like the m, plus they are sleeper cars...everyone wants to race the e60, including yokos with pickup trucks), and a clean 360 for weekends and those times when you need to romp the beltway around dc.

 

The E60 is so f'in fast that it is ludicrous. I don't need anything near that in all honesty (yet for some reason I keep modifying it for more power). My '73 911 with 154hp is a blast to drive and I never feel that it is too slow.

 

I do have to say that it is fun to put a solid smackdown on the average modified car when they're not expecting it. I surprised the hell out of an '03 cobra the other day on the highway.

And after my last 4 cars being M cars, I can never step back down to a "standard" bmw. I'd always feel that I was missing _something_.

 

I would put a catback on the E60, sounds like an italian car.

With the 360, go with a 6sp, F1 will leave you dissapointed coming from the SMG3. On a F430, would be a harder decisoin.

 

Thanks for the input on the F1. I was curious about exactly that. And an F430 is way out of reach so that's not an issue. Sounds like I'd want the 6sp.

My M5 has a Rogue Engineering exhaust. I actually think it sounds better than a 360. Very F1 especially at 8000-8500 rpm. This is the best video I could find but it does not do the sound justice at all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Haslsrr7TTs

 

Well there you go! I almost got a Rogue system I believe but went for a custom one for the M6. It is since sold, and I really miss it. 6sp 360 will be more "fun" to drive since you already have a vehicle with a sequential manual, you get the cool "snick snick" of each shift, and less maintenance costs, potentially.

 

My daily driver is amazingly quick and smooth. It could benefit from a lower rear axle ratio like the Dinan 3.90, but unless you are autocrossing or drag racing, it won't be missed. GREAT highway cruiser. Still, no GREAT exhaust note like a Ferrari.

The M5 with SMG is without question the BEST all-around (this will, no doubt, start some comment) high performance automobile I have ever driven. I spent two days on BMW's Spartanburg SC track wailing the wee out of the M Roadster, the M6 and the M5. There is no doubt that the M5 is the best of the breed. The way it "turns in" and transitions with braking and throttle applications through corners make it an absolute delight.

My two cents

 

the 360 is faster to 60 than the e60 m5.. and about a hair faster in the 1/4 mile.. but they are close

360 0-60 (about 4.2)
e60 m5 0-60 (about 4.5)
360 QM (about 12.2-12.4)
e60 M5 (about 12.4-12.5)

but after 130 I would say the m5 will start pullling..

regardless the 360 is FAR more nimble on the track but the E60 is an incredible machine without question.

 

B7 Alpina
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I have a few BMW's the 01 M-5 is modified w/ DINAN just about all E-39 mods except the exhaust is B&B I like it because it's much more gutteral than the DINAN. Drove the new M-5 in both trannies and decided to keep mine ( more of a drivers car, not so computerized My Opinion!) also have an 08 335ic, 91 E-30 M3, 72 2002Tii I love them all but come the weekend or free time.... The 430 drives and sounds like a dream come true!!!

 

Fun : '07 F430 Spider F1

Daily : '07 650i

 

My DD: 08 M5 6-Speed
My WD: 07 X5 4.8is
Fun car: 08 Alfa 8C

 

How do you like you Alpha?

 

Quite frankly I have an 2008 Lexus ISF as a DD.. I had it before the 430 and loved driving it, using a 997S Cab with powerkit for the weekends.. Now, after the 430 nothing excites me about the ISF.

 

In past 10 years, I Have owned, a M Roadster, 545i, M3, M5, M6, Z4 (for a week), and 2, 7 series, (which my drives most of the time). Outside of an electrical issue (which was fixed) with one of the 7's, they have been great cars. In fact using a 7 today as my DD.

 

yup--'03 M3--carbon black--Mon-wed
F430 Thurs -Sun.

love'em both

 

For fun and excitement: Ferraris

For long cruises: BMW 750Li

For Home Depot trips: BMW X5

I love those Bimmers...