3 v 5 ?

[GetCarter]

My first post to this particular corner of Pistonheads.

I’ve owned half a dozen Beemers – 316 E36 to M3 E46 and my current everyday dogmobile drive - a 5 tourer (02).

I picked up a courtesy 3 series (04 with 6k on the clock) from Damon Hill BMW today as the 5 is in for a service and was amazed at how twitchy and *not planted* the 3 is compared to it’s big brother. I took it for a bit of a blat though some country lanes and the DSC was buzzing like a humming bird. The five would have cruised it’s way through the same bends. Is this received wisdom? Is the 5 generally regarded as the better chassis? Sure feels that way to me. It may be heavier, but is so chuckable compared to the 3.

Neither car has sports suspension btw (well I know mine hasn’t and if the 3 has then somebody’s ‘avin a larf)

I’ve read loads of reviews where the 5 kicks all the competition into touch, but never read any reviews that compare the 5 to the 3.

Any thoughts?

(Ready to duck)

Steve

[Úbermensch]

I owned an E46 328i (with sports suspension admittedly) for a while and it was a complete joke stability wise, hit 80/100mph and the car was all over the place, steering pulling & tugging over every minor bump and crevice the road presented & generally feeling quite nervous & dangerous by comparison to my current e39, in fairness it did handle pretty well with little body roll & reasonable balance & grip, but the 5-series feels so planted & stable by comparison its ridiculous, 120mph almost seems slow, the E39 masks it speed so well.. while ultimately not as agile thru tighter corners, I think the 5 is alittle more predictable on the limit too.. I mean, I almost took out an entire village with a swooping tailslide one day

[burriana500]

I knew there must be some reason it was voted best car in the world when it was launched

Compared to our 318Ci, my 5 uber-cruiser feels a hell of lot more stable in all conditions... and it's a diesel for God's sake!

[laingy]

Have to agree, I used to have a 330 conv and now run a 530 saloon (e39) (first baby arrived 3 months ago). Although the 330 is definitely better going round the bendy bits (the 530 looses traction quite quickly even with the sports suspension). On the motorway its an impressive cruiser, whereas the 330 used to be a bit jittery. The 530 is a great car, I wasnt expecting much from it but the more I drive it the more I am impressed.

[mondeoman]

The 5 (sports suspension)is very composed, very stable, and that makes it just a little bit bland for my taste - oh and it has a very annoying habit of lifting the inside rear at junctions - why cant they fit an LSD to these cars I just don't know.

My 3 (std suspension) was very chuckable and much more fun to drive, even if it didn't have the absolute limits that the 5 has got on fast A roads.

I'm having a real quandary at the moment about whether or not to swap back to a 3 from the 5 - and a lot depends, ultimately, on what I want to experience when I'm driving (which unfortunately seems to change on a daily basis!)

[liquidken]

Get a 540.

No stupid running costs with an M car, fast enough with great handling, and a cruiser too.

[Davel]

or an X5?

[Zod]

I used to have a 330Ci in Germany and it was stable up to 140 mph. Beyond that it didn't feel too comfortable. It was driven fast often. They are good cars and handle well for a luxury coupe.

CHanging to the M3 was a revelation. Right up to the limiter, it feels composed and the cornering grip is ina different league.

[dcb]

burriana500 said:

I knew there must be some reason it was voted best car in the world when it was launched Compared to our 318Ci, my 5 uber-cruiser feels a hell of lot more stable in all conditions... and it's a diesel for God's sake!

In Engineering, there is such a thing as hitting a sweet spot between two extremes.

Do that in a few ways or dimensions, and you are doing well.

5 series BMW: long enough to be stable at speed, short enough to be easy to park.

Big enough to take lots of luggage, small enough to have reasonable fuel bills.

Six cylinder engine - more power than a four-pot, but cheaper to run than a V8.

There is virtue in the middle ground.