Lets play a game.

[MINIz guy]

What would you guys do in this situation? You have around $65k MSRP to spend on any BMW and want to spend every last cent without going to $66k MSRP. You live in an area that gets 6+ inches of snow in the winter on a couple occasions, and this BMW must be a daily driver. It also must be a new BMW, ordered from the dealership. So far, I've come up with 3 options; a X5, X6 and M3.

2011 X5 xDrive35i. Since this is coming in April '10, and that '10 models aren't available anymore, this will have to do. Since MSRP and options aren't available to the public yet, I will base it off 2010 prices. It will have:

• Premium package
• Cold Weather package
• Technology Package
• Rear Climate package
• Adaptive Drive
• Comfort Seats

Pros:

• Redesigned
• Single turbo I6 engine with performance of current 4.8i and decent efficiency
• New 8-speed transmission

Cons:

• Another X5 is getting boring

2011 X6 xDrive35i. Coming in May '10 and not being able to order '10 models anymore. Since MSRP and packages seem to be similar to the '10 models, I will use 2010 prices. It will have:

• Premium Package
• Cold Weather Package
• Technology Package
• Rear Climate Package
• Sport Activity Package

Pros:

• Different from the pack being a X6
• New 8-speed transmission

Cons:

• No Adaptive Drive
• No Comfort seats but rather Sport seats.
• Smaller than the X5

2011 M3 Sedan. An oddball out, but it does fit into the MSRP requirements quite nicely. 2010 and 2011 prices shouldn't change with the options I've included. It will have:

• Premium Package
• Electronic Damping Control
• M-DCT transmission
• Heated Front Seats
• Rear Side Window and rear window shades

Pros:

• It's a ///M car
• Much more performance oriented than the others
• M-DCT transmission means automatic and manual modes that are better than a Steptronic transmission

Cons:

• It's RWD which is a bigger pain for snow
• It's smaller than the X5 and X6, but has 5 seats which the X6 doesn't have
• Gas mileage

Please add your opinions or any suggestions of other vehicles.

[FSETH]

M3 hands down. Game over.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by FSETH

M3 hands down. Game over.

[LeMansX5]

You did not mention:
Driving style? spirited or not?
Utility requirements?
Seating requirements?

M3 will cost you more than MSRP as you have to factor in the cost of winter set of wheels and tires. So will X5 or X6 with low profile performance wheels.

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

You did not mention:
Driving style? spirited or not? Driving will be for people who enjoy the luxury of a BMW. In a few years, it will then be passed onto somebody that would want a car for spirited driving. That is why Adaptive Drive or a M car would be a bit more important here.

Utility requirements? No coupes. No convertibles. Size of a 3 series would do. There is an E53 X5 for the utility work.

Seating requirements? 5 seats would be optimal but 4 seats would be fine. There is an E53 X5 for seating requirements.

M3 will cost you more than MSRP as you have to factor in the cost of winter set of wheels and tires. So will X5 or X6 with low profile performance wheels. Yes, winter tires will cost over MSRP but lets not think about that just yet. The M3 would require it first, but maybe there could be some talking to to the dealership to get narrower rims on the X5 or X6 before delivery.

Answers in bold.

[wallyx5]

If you like the looks of the X6, I would say do it. But if you keeping your e53 and you have the option of buying something else, by all means get the M3.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by MINIz guy

Answers in bold.

You just answered that M3 fits the bill here. Cost of ownership is also more for M3 but that's not an issue here. Get the 2011 M3 with competition pack. End of discussion.

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

You just answered that M3 fits the bill here. Cost of ownership is also more for M3 but that's not an issue here. Get the 2011 M3 with competition pack. End of discussion.

What do you mean cost of ownership won't be an issue?

I'm still trying to justify a M3 over the others. While the size requirements of the M3 do work, the other 2 cars do a better job at it. And by this, I'm saying that I can stuff another kid onto the center console of the X6 and make it a temporary 5 seater. Then snow tires won't help the M3 when ground clearance comes to play, and the X5 and X6 excels there too.

Maybe I'm contradicting myself with all these thoughts. Better give a few more weeks of thoughts, and more opinions would help too!

[Wagner]

Begs the question now, why are you comparing a sports coupe to a SUV? X's don't excel at ground clearance, they just beat out other BMW's

M3 will be far more fun than any of the X's, hands down.

[MINIz guy]

Lets just say that there is up to $66k to be used at a BMW dealership. If you don't use up all of it, you won't get any of it back. I'm just trying to find BMW vehicles that fit the bill without going over, and a sports sedan and 2 SUV's just happened to fit.