[ksa]

So the reason I am putting this in the universal forums is because I am looking for some unbiased opinion from people vs biased opinion from the owners of either of these two vehicles.

Long story short, I swapped my C63 AMG for the M3 as listed in my signature about 2 months ago. At the time, I was after a good looking vehicle that I liked and which was preferably AWD as we get pretty bad winters in Alberta. I made an emotional decision and ended up picking the M3 because well I always wanted one and I found this extremely rare gem and couldn't resist. Also because at the time I didn't have many other options to compare it with at my local dealership.

Now however I see that they have tons of low mileage 650i coupe's with x-drive that aren't really that far off in terms of pricing and it got me thinking. I love the way they look so that is not an issue but I also love the way the E92 M3 looks, especially mine. I messaged my sales guy and he will obviously be more than happy to work out a deal but literally two months after changing vehicle I would have to be some seriously compelling reasons to justify another swap to my wife/family.

At this point even I am not sure if it's the right thing to do. I love the ///M label and I feel that carries some 'exclusivity' with it just AMG did, but that is being diluted in today's market as well. Anyway, just looking for some opinions as to what you guys would pick and why.

AWD is a definite advantage in the 650i but I have picked up winter tires for the M3 as well and intend to drive it sparingly in winter every now and then. I drove my C63 AMG in winter and it was okay for the most part but obviously not as good as an AWD vehicle. TO make it a little fun, I guess I will make it a poll. Let's here your guys' opinions.

[hz_diesel]

My vote goes to the 6 because I have always loved the way it looks. That being said it is a straight up boat if you were to compare everything else. I feel the M would stand out more than the 6 despite its looks.

[IEDEI]

i love the way the 6-series looks...agreed with you guys.

but for me the driving experience is of most importance---so i'd much rather be driving an E9X M3 than a 6-series.

M cars do great in the winter with the right tires. Drove my 1M through even the worst blizzards last year and it was fantastic with Nokian snow tires.

[swagon]

Be a man and put proper winters on the M. If you survided a winter with the C 63, then the M3 won't be a problem.

[fravel]

I never understood the appeal of a non-M 6-series.

[buddalun]

Originally Posted by swagon

Be a man and put proper winters on the M. If you survided a winter with the C 63, then the M3 won't be a problem.

This.

Originally Posted by fravel

I never understood the appeal of a non-M 6-series.

Agreed. Especially at the price-point when the cars were new.

[ShocknAwe]

The only 6 I would go for is the M6.

Otherwise, you're going to be missing that "it" factor in the 650.

Very, very different cars.

[ksa]

Thanks for the input so far guys. I am glad that my thinking is on-par with most of you here. Apart from it being AWD, I don't see an advantage for making the switch. Of course if it was a M6 then it would be a no-brainer. I've got a winter package already from the dealer and I am thinking it'll be better in winter than my C63 due to the lack of low end torque.

[Killramos]

Have you spent any time in and driving a 6 series? I have spent a bit of time with both the previous and current gen and there is nothing that wows me about them. And they were M's

Personally i would go for a 550 instead if that's where you are leaning. The 6 is a boat with pretty much no usable room in it. 5 is gorgeous, good prices on them as they are going away for a new gen soon. Nice interior, room in the back.

Your M3 is nice man, i would stick with it.

As for the winter package i would ask Tunerworks for a quick quote as i am pretty unimpressed with the tires BMW provided me for my 2 (TS830P), they are just ok which is pretty shit for the price i paid. Pretty much no ice grip at all.

Another option that I think is much better than a 6 is a CLS550 (should have bought sheltons haha)

[Irishsig]

Yeah non M 650 is too yacht like without all that pesky power.

[ksa]

Originally Posted by Killramos

Have you spent any time in and driving a 6 series? I have spent a bit of time with both the previous and current gen and there is nothing that wows me about them. And they were M's

Personally i would go for a 550 instead if that's where you are leaning. The 6 is a boat with pretty much no usable room in it. 5 is gorgeous, good prices on them as they are going away for a new gen soon. Nice interior, room in the back.

Your M3 is nice man, i would stick with it.

As for the winter package i would ask Tunerworks for a quick quote as i am pretty unimpressed with the tires BMW provided me for my 2 (TS830P), they are just ok which is pretty shit for the price i paid. Pretty much no ice grip at all.

Another option that I think is much better than a 6 is a CLS550 (should have bought sheltons haha)

Haha I am fairly sure I will be sticking with the M3 for the time being I think. I always though my next car would be a Gtr or a 911 or something down the line when I had the C63, but now that I got into BMW I am might be thinking M6 and what not. Either way, 2 months into it I think it would be pretty ridiculous thinking of swapping already. I think i'd have a mutiny on my hands as far as the wife and family is concerned! haha.

CLS feels like even a bigger boat! Honestly the AMG I would love but not the regular 550, especially when it doesn't come in coupe version. Who knows with the new C63 AMG coupe looking as sexy as it is, I have no idea what the future has in store! lol

[UPSROD]

Buy a POS to drive in the winter!

[ksa]

We have winters half the year, there is no way I am driving a POS for half the time in a year. I have other cars I can drive too which I do but the M3 isn't going to be parked in the garage.

[Killramos]

Originally Posted by ksa

Haha I am fairly sure I will be sticking with the M3 for the time being I think. I always though my next car would be a Gtr or a 911 or something down the line when I had the C63, but now that I got into BMW I am might be thinking M6 and what not. Either way, 2 months into it I think it would be pretty ridiculous thinking of swapping already. I think i'd have a mutiny on my hands as far as the wife and family is concerned! haha.

CLS feels like even a bigger boat! Honestly the AMG I would love but not the regular 550, especially when it doesn't come in coupe version. Who knows with the new C63 AMG coupe looking as sexy as it is, I have no idea what the future has in store! lol

CLS550 to CLS63 isn't as big of a gap as 650i to M6 imo. The cls550 is awesome.

for the 6 i honestly have no idea why they make a non m version.

[DaBean]

As long as there aren't too many hills, you'll be fine with winter tires on the M3. Stick with that!

[ksa]

Originally Posted by DaBean

As long as there aren't too many hills, you'll be fine with winter tires on the M3. Stick with that!

Interesting enough that's where I had most issue with my C63 last year. There is this one hill that comes on the way to my gf at the time (wife now) house and the traffic is usually bad. If the car had momentum and kept going it was fine, but once I almost had to stop cause of the traffic and damn that was a little scary getting it up. Luckily I didn't have to come to a complete stop or I would have been screwed for sure.

[Alan l.]

Keep the M3 if you care about handling and love the raw feel of it. RWD with proper snow tires will be nearly as good as AWD. I had a RWD 550 with snow tires on it and didn't have any issues during the winter.

Go with the 650 if you prefer to have a ultra plush luxury vehicle. The 650 is a rocket sled and it will walk your M3 easily in a straight line (i've done it before in my 550 with the same engine) but it won't handle anywhere as good as your M3. Also keep in mind how long you plan on owning the car. The N63 is a very problematic engine as mileage creeps up there.

Alan

[dsad1]

My vote would be 650, but I wouldn't touch a 2012. It would have to at least be a 2013.

[SunnyD]

If you care about handling at all, keep the M3. If you just want a cruiser, then get the 650i.

[ksa]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Keep the M3 if you care about handling and love the raw feel of it. RWD with proper snow tires will be nearly as good as AWD. I had a RWD 550 with snow tires on it and didn't have any issues during the winter.

Go with the 650 if you prefer to have a ultra plush luxury vehicle. The 650 is a rocket sled and it will walk your M3 easily in a straight line (i've done it before in my 550 with the same engine) but it won't handle anywhere as good as your M3. Also keep in mind how long you plan on owning the car. The N63 is a very problematic engine as mileage creeps up there.

Alan

I assume the 650i would be a little quicker up here considering our altitude as well. That being said, if I really cared about the straight line speed I should have stuck with my modded C63 AMG which was an absolute rocket in a straight line. I find myself enjoying the M3 more than that even when it lacks substantially in the torque department. That being said I am not sure if the 650 or 550 will 'walk' the M3 though, that might be a stretch.

Which one is the N63 engine? 650i? As for ownership, every time I get a new car I think I will keep it for 3-4 years but after about a year and half I get bored and start looking at other things. Never thought I would switch from the C63 in 2 years as it was a car I wanted bad for a while but yup. I don't think the M3 will be any different, although I am not single anymore so the wife may not let the change happen as often as I would like. Haha.

[Alan l.]

I believe the first model year 650 came with the N63 motor then they switched over to the updated N63TU. Not sure when but something you need to confirm because one is 400hp stock and the other is 445hp. The N63TU is just a "technical update" version of the N63 so they share the same basic layout and main parts.

I had a N63TU 550 and with just a mild JB stage 1 tune giving me at most 30hp and 50tq gain i was able to walk away from two different E92 M3 very easily on the highway. Walking is actually a understatement. More like running away from them. Hard to beat the twin turbo torque from that engine.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by ksa

Interesting enough that's where I had most issue with my C63 last year. There is this one hill that comes on the way to my gf at the time (wife now) house and the traffic is usually bad. If the car had momentum and kept going it was fine, but once I almost had to stop cause of the traffic and damn that was a little scary getting it up. Luckily I didn't have to come to a complete stop or I would have been screwed for sure.

Absolutely keep your M3. The depreciation will be huge on 6 vs. M3.

Also, don't forget to turn off traction if you get stuck and need more power. The 50/50 balance + LSD + snows should be fine as long as you are not driving through 20in of snow. I hope you got the right size snows because some folks here go wide and that is exactly the opposite of what you need.

My car is lowered and when I put on snows + lsd I was driving past SUVs and PU that were swerving all over. One guy got stuck in his CTS4 on a 5 deg hill due to crappy all season tires.

GL and keep that beast!