[BimmerBoomer]

The E39 M5 was 188.2" long, 70.9" wide and 56.3" tall on a 111.4" wheelbase. My new 2025 M440i Gran Coupe is .3" longer, 2" wider and .5" taller on a 1" longer wheelbase. The curb weight of the M5 was 3976 pounds; the xDrive M440i is 4266 pounds. The M5 had 16.2 cu. ft. of trunk space, the Gran Coupe has 17 cu. ft..

The M5 had a 5 l V8 producing 400 bhp and 369 lb. ft. of torque. The new 48 volt hybrid 3 litre turbo inline 6 in the Gran Coupe makes 386 bhp and 398 lb. ft. of torque. The M5 did 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 13.3. The new Gran Coupe beats both times by at least a second.

The biggest difference is fuel economy where C&D observed 14 mpg with the M5 and the new M440i should handily beat the 23 mph
observed on the pre LCI M440i: I'm getting 28 mpg (US).

Ask me how I really feel about this car.

[radarguy]

I had an E39 for 7 years and fully agree. One big difference is that the E39 had a full-size spare tire. On the other hand, the M440 has real cup holders!

[BimmerBoomer]

Originally Posted by radarguy

I had an E39 for 7 years and fully agree. One big difference is that the E39 had a full-size spare tire. On the other hand, the M440 has real cup holders!

No spare. I ordered it in advance (MY 2001) sight unseen and it came as a bit of a shock back then. I've been a CAA member for a long time now.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by BimmerBoomer

No spare. I ordered it in advance (MY 2001) sight unseen and it came as a bit of a shock back then. I've been a CAA member for a long time now.

Yeah I think 2000-2003 E39 M5 came with a mobility kit.

I also had a 2001 E39 530i 5MT I6 N/A(bought new) for 12 years/100k miles.

When I test drove the 2021 G20 330i I immediately recognized what BMW did with G20, so I intercepted an inbound car that arrived the next day, and brought it home the day after.

I didn't pay much attention to the info tech and driver tech, and just went for the balance and handling and chassis stiffness even for a non-M. I truly enjoy driving the car, and would like to keep it for a while.

[hrf]

For me M340 is a perfect balance of size, performance, comfort and efficiency. I have an M suspension and it is perfect. I do not like large cars, and believe me I have e46 M3 as well, M340 is even more fun to drive.

[BimmerBoomer]

Originally Posted by hrf

For me M340 is a perfect balance of size, performance, comfort and efficiency. I have an M suspension and it is perfect. I do not like large cars, and believe me I have e46 M3 as well, M340 is even more fun to drive.

Certainly too rational to compare with an E39 M5 or E46 M3.

[aidanmurphy]

Originally Posted by hrf

For me M340 is a perfect balance of size, performance, comfort and efficiency. I have an M suspension and it is perfect. I do not like large cars, and believe me I have e46 M3 as well, M340 is even more fun to drive.

Oh wow, you have more fun in the M340i compared to the E446?

What would you say are the determining factors for this?

[hrf]

[QUOTE=aidanmurphy;31854949]Oh wow, you have more fun in the M340i compared to the E446?

What would you say are the determining factors for this?

I is fun in a different way. First of all e46 M3 is more raw and analog, it is fun to drive when your rev it past 5000 RPM and there is nothng going on up to 3000 rpm. It is smaller and feels like a glove. The M340 Xdrive is tighter, feels ride a rock and handles better on turns. A combination of sound ( I have MPE) handling a perfect engine and comfort makes it very fun car. Honestly I do not find electronic steering as an issue, it feels great to compare to e46 hydraulic feel.

I also had F10 535 Xdrive and I did not like it. It was much more luxurious, even to compare to 2025 M340, but it was too heavy, long and did not feel tight. It was not a sports sedan, but more of a luxury cruiser.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by hrf

I is fun in a different way. First of all e46 M3 is more raw and analog, it is fun to drive when your rev it past 5000 RPM and there is nothng going on up to 3000 rpm. It is smaller and feels like a glove. The M340 Xdrive is tighter, feels ride a rock and handles better on turns. A combination of sound ( I have MPE) handling a perfect engine and comfort makes it very fun car. Honestly I do not find electronic steering as an issue, it feels great to compare to e46 hydraulic feel.

I also had F10 535 Xdrive and I did not like it. It was much more luxurious, even to compare to 2025 M340, but it was too heavy, long and did not feel tight. It was not a sports sedan, but more of a luxury cruiser.

Yeah I think E46 M3 with the surging power band of S54 keeps pulling, it has visceral feeling than the B58 which has a flat power band spec'ed for the turbo.

The E46 M3 also has a curb weight of 3500-ish lb(similar to G20 330i) so it is more tossable than the M340i.

[hrf]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Yeah I think E46 M3 with the surging power band of S54 keeps pulling, it has visceral feeling than the B58 which has a flat power band spec'ed for the turbo.

The E46 M3 also has a curb weight of 3500-ish lb(similar to G20 330i) so it is more tossable than the M340i.

Interesting when e46 M3 came out everyone was complaining on its weight. Now we have new similar sized cars over 4000 and e46 seems lighter. BMW did a good job on hiding additional weight on new M cars.

[MM70]

Originally Posted by BimmerBoomer

The E39 M5 was 188.2" long, 70.9" wide and 56.3" tall on a 111.4" wheelbase. My new 2025 M440i Gran Coupe is .3" longer, 2" wider and .5" taller on a 1" longer wheelbase. The curb weight of the M5 was 3976 pounds; the xDrive M440i is 4266 pounds. The M5 had 16.2 cu. ft. of trunk space, the Gran Coupe has 17 cu. ft..

The M5 had a 5 l V8 producing 400 bhp and 369 lb. ft. of torque. The new 48 volt hybrid 3 litre turbo inline 6 in the Gran Coupe makes 386 bhp and 398 lb. ft. of torque. The M5 did 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 13.3. The new Gran Coupe beats both times by at least a second.

The biggest difference is fuel economy where C&D observed 14 mpg with the M5 and the new M440i should handily beat the 23 mph
observed on the pre LCI M440i: I'm getting 28 mpg (US).

Ask me how I really feel about this car.

Great observations and comparisons. I got my M440 GC in Nov 2024 and am also getting 28 MPG