M3 -> x5(m)?

[askjeeves]

Has anyone made this move? I love my m3. But I am building a race car and will need to trailer it eventually. Would an x5m fill the gap? I took a test drive of a x6m (dealer didn't have a x5). However it was too short of a drive to get a good feel of it.

[rennis]

The M3 has weight on it's side but the SUV has torque on it's side, so it's kind of a wash for 90% of driving.

My wife has an E92 M3 and I have a 50i with some modifications. The M3 is definitely faster, but if I had to pick one to drive daily the X5 wins by a lot.

[mleun481]

This thread may be of some help...

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1079702

[bmwx5er]

Originally Posted by askjeeves

Has anyone made this move? I love my m3. But I am building a race car and will need to trailer it eventually. Would an x5m fill the gap? I took a test drive of a x6m (dealer didn't have a x5). However it was too short of a drive to get a good feel of it.

this should help you

[askjeeves]

Thanks for the link to that thread and the video. Seems like the consensus is they are very different but both fun. Having a boring to drive dd is my concern really.

[LastLong]

M3 (E92) is faster than the 50i X5 (E70)
but
X5M (E70) is faster than the M3 (E92)

[dPower]

I have both. Different beasts. The X5M is vicious once the turbos kick in. The torque spoils you. Sleeper SAV. The M3 is a carver and you have to rev it out to get the power.

[p66]

I was in the same boat as you back in Jan. I sold my 1M when I bought a race car and needed a tow vehicle. I bought a 2011 X5M. In my opinion it is almost the perfect vehicle. Ferocious in a straight line, and nimble enough to satisfy your canyon carving urge. With no 3rd row it has cavernous cargo space. A great double duty daily driver. I might not go back to a sports sedan. Oh, and it tows great. Hardly feel the 4000 pounds out back. And if your race car breaks you can always drive the X on track.

[p66]

Proof an X5M is no slouch. MSR Houston back in April 2015.

[askjeeves]

Originally Posted by p66

I was in the same boat as you back in Jan. I sold my 1M when I bought a race car and needed a tow vehicle. I bought a 2011 X5M. In my opinion it is almost the perfect vehicle. Ferocious in a straight line, and nimble enough to satisfy your canyon carving urge. With no 3rd row it has cavernous cargo space. A great double duty daily driver. I might not go back to a sports sedan. Oh, and it tows great. Hardly feel the 4000 pounds out back. And if your race car breaks you can always drive the X on track.

Thank you. Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for from someone in the same situation. Shame to have to let go of the 1m still.

[p66]

Originally Posted by askjeeves

Thank you. Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for from someone in the same situation. Shame to have to let go of the 1m still.

You bet. I've christened my X on three tracks. I'll be at COTA first weekend in Dec and plan to take it out for a run session. Be prepared to devour front tires and pads.

[Doc GTO]

Originally Posted by p66

You bet. I've christened my X on three tracks. I'll be at COTA first weekend in Dec and plan to take it out for a run session. Be prepared to devour front tires and pads.

Have you adjusted the front alignment for the track? You definitely want to take out that toe in and add some slight toe out which will help the turn in on initial steer input. .02 toe out each side should be fine. Try to keep as much negative camber in the front. Not much adjustment. The rear of the ruck has tons so I reduced it some to help rotate the truck at lower speeds. As for brake pads, a higher temp pad like the Hawk DTC70 would work wonders.

[Doc GTO]

To the original poster, I have an M3 track car and a X5 50i M sport package as a daily. I like the X for a daily. I always prefer larger vehicles for a daily myself. I don't tow with it but I have quite a few friends that do and the X does tow very well and is quite stable.

I have a dedicated tow vehicle with a 32ft gooseneck enclosed trailer. Hence the dedicated tow vehicle! Lol.

[p66]

Originally Posted by Doc GTO

Have you adjusted the front alignment for the track? You definitely want to take out that toe in and add some slight toe out which will help the turn in on initial steer input. .02 toe out each side should be fine. Try to keep as much negative camber in the front. Not much adjustment. The rear of the ruck has tons so I reduced it some to help rotate the truck at lower speeds. As for brake pads, a higher temp pad like the Hawk DTC70 would work wonders.

I haven't adjusted anything for the track. Bone stock except for SRF brake fluid. And I have no plans to. I put it on track just because. Anything else is really a futile exercise. Cost/benefit ratio tilts in the wrong direction.

[Doc GTO]

Originally Posted by p66

I haven't adjusted anything for the track. Bone stock except for SRF brake fluid. And I have no plans to. I put it on track just because. Anything else is really a futile exercise. Cost/benefit ratio tilts in the wrong direction.

The alignment changes also greatly increase the tire wear on the street. I'd do 0 toe in the front though and not the .02 out for the track.

True, the truck is too heavy to really have fun.

[p66]

Originally Posted by Doc GTO

The alignment changes also greatly increase the tire wear on the street. I'd do 0 toe in the front though and not the .02 out for the track.

True, the truck is too heavy to really have fun.

I had it aligned right after I got it with 0 toe front, max neg camber front, which turned out to be 0, 1/16 rear toe in, and the Least negative camber possible in the rear which was about -1.4. This setting maximizes tire wear and reduced some understeer.

Don't get me wrong the X5M is a lot of fun on track. And can hold its own. But it would cost quite a bit to make it any more competent on track. No track pad choices. Carbotech will make custom pads in any compound for a pretty penny. And my X doesn't have a spare so the crappy runflats will stay. Or get a set of track wheels and good tires. Wife drives it often. To get decent negative camber in front you have to slam it with KW3's. There are plenty of tune choices. $$$ not worth a few seconds.

[askjeeves]

Year and a half later, bought myself one of these finally. Road tripping back from San Antonio to Miami now. In NOLA now and it's been great so far!

[socale39]

Congrats on the purchase! I'd say welcome to San Antonio but sound like you've already come and gone

[jandref321]

Originally Posted by askjeeves

Year and a half later, bought myself one of these finally. Road tripping back from San Antonio to Miami now. In NOLA now and it's been great so far!

Congrats! Love the X5M...so practical while still being super sporty and fun to drive. Hope the road trips goes well. Enjoy!

[askjeeves]

Originally Posted by socale39

Congrats on the purchase! I'd say welcome to San Antonio but sound like you've already come and gone

Yup I left for Houston right away to meet up with some friends there and to make progress on the drive home.

Originally Posted by jandref321

Congrats! Love the X5M...so practical while still being super sporty and fun to drive. Hope the road trips goes well. Enjoy!

Thanks. Had a great trip back. The X made it easy. It should make trips to the track way nicer than driving the track car without a/c.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by askjeeves

Year and a half later, bought myself one of these finally. Road tripping back from San Antonio to Miami now. In NOLA now and it's been great so far!

Congrats!! i've got one in my stable, fantastic car

[e92BMW///M3]

Congrats on the purchase, just picked one up myself, tons of fun to drive