Opinions Wanted on 3-Car Fleet: E46 M3 + Family SUV + ???

[BTB]

Haha yes even something perfect we would be looking for something different
You actually already have the perfect cars - the Cayenne and the M3
At this point might as well embrace the crazy. Not everything is for the long haul and thats OK
I would say whatever you get - look for something with a unique personality that still fits the use case

I like this— and yeah, that's the main thing is getting something interesting that still ticks all the boxes. IONIQ 5 has really got me thinking.

And I love both Cayenne and E46 for their purposes. E46, especially with fixed bucket seats, is pretty limited for family duties, but it's such an engaging drive. To me it's fun across the board, whether just putting around and doing the tiniest little rev matches, to flat out, playing with the cars balance. Cayenne is unbelievably poised and also pretty quick, it just about serves as a fast sports sedan stand-in. I imagine the right 3rd car would complement both

[BTB]

+1 on available time when you have a child and owning multiple « project cars ».
I started my chassis reinforcement right after I became a father for the first time. In the beginning it was easy with just one baby and my wife not working yet.
Finished the project 8 years later.

LOL— that is crazy, but I get it (or I'm sure I will shortly here). Yeah, there's something to be said about a 'carefree/low anxiety' car

[BTB]

Similar situation — my first child is 10 months old and my wife and I both work from home. We've got my wife's 21 CX-5 for the everyday beater and my E39 M5 as a secondary daily that also has a car seat. The E39 does the job well, but I've had it for seven years and have sorted it. It would be a lot less fun starting fresh in 2026, not sure I'd recommend it especially if the E46 is staying. I agree with the posters saying to avoid multiple old BMWs with an infant when your time is precious. This is one reason I sold my M3 and why it's been freeing.

Honest take is to sell the E92 and see what happens for the first year with the Cayenne and E46. If you're missing something, figure out what and buy it later. In my household we can easily get by with one baby car and do so all winter long while my M5 is parked.

I'm constantly shopping air cooled 911s and would probably sell the E39 if I buy one rather than go back to two maintenance heavy old cars

I can appreciate this take for sure— and it does sound like we're in a similar boat. I will probably take it easy and slowly prepare to list E92. Only thing is if I travel for work (wife/baby need Cayenne), the E92 is a bit more comfy for a highway cruise vs E46. But yeah, probably would make sense to get something less old and maintenance intense to replace E92

[George Hill]

Good questions-- I would plan to do basic maintenance stuff on an E39 for sure, fluids and filters, engine accessories, I don't think I would shy from overhauling cooling system. But suspension would definitely be outsourced, good thing there are some renowned BMW shops here My thinking was, get a nice-r E39 example for $10-15k and would be fine to put $3-5k into it fairly quick to refresh anything that needs it. Given your knowledge, do you think this is reasonable George?

If it hasn't had the coolant pipes under the intake replaced I'd be planning on closer to that $5k for most M54s. If it has then its likely been well maintained and the cost may be much closer to $0 (at least right off the bat). E39 sedan or tourings are great cars and really once the cooling system and engine maintenance is locked down they are very reliable. You will start to contend with parts availability that depending on how perfect you want it might be a bigger issue. The newest ones will be 23yrs old, but the car as a whole could last a long time. I think this is a good option if you are emotionally invested in the platform. Otherwise its probably going to be a headache you don't want.

One the E90, keep in mind the Cayenne will be our primary around town/baby car, but agreed overall that E9X/S65 as third car may not be good idea. Having all 3 cars as German performance luxury cars is pretty hardcore, I could use a break on the 3rd car, something reliable that can be beat on without requiring special treatment. The S65 scares me a little particularly as mileage creeps up

I just meant your 6 mile one way trip to daycare. If you are on 35/Mopac cruising 6 miles each way I wouldn't sweat the drive, but if you are on Lamar or Burnet for that trip, I'd say its gonna be hard on an S65.

12mi a day, 5 days a week for 50 weeks is only 3k miles. Even if you double that it'll be a while before those miles really rack up if you are starting with something around 100k

[SQ13]

IONIQ5
997 Carrera (I know it’s not a sedan, but it’s still a family car!!)
Taycan (if within budget)
W205 C43 AMG (I think mine is a great DD)
F80 M3

[dreamdrivedrift]

Thank you sir! And your description is spot on for what I'm looking for-- something that I can 'invest' in as a daily/beater fun car for us, planning to keep for quite a while. I guess the hard part with that is, I have to love it, and we know how hard that can be as car enthusiasts LOL.

I like your short list-- one buddy is adamant that the older Merc E-class AMGs are solid cars but like you say: am I really ready to be a Merc guy? 😂 If Chevy SS prices weren't so stubborn that could be a good one, they are just a bit rich for what the thing is

Money no object I would probably be looking at F90 M5, Panamera or Audi RS3 (hatchback if only they brought to the states). But yeah, way out of budget !! Still, always fun to dream

Haha yes even something perfect we would be looking for something different
You actually already have the perfect cars - the Cayenne and the M3
At this point might as well embrace the crazy. Not everything is for the long haul and thats OK
I would say whatever you get - look for something with a unique personality that still fits the use case

[Flow]

+1 on available time when you have a child and owning multiple « project cars ».
I started my chassis reinforcement right after I became a father for the first time. In the beginning it was easy with just one baby and my wife not working yet.
Finished the project 8 years later.

[repoman89]

Similar situation — my first child is 10 months old and my wife and I both work from home. We’ve got my wife’s 21 CX-5 for the everyday beater and my E39 M5 as a secondary daily that also has a car seat. The E39 does the job well, but I’ve had it for seven years and have sorted it. It would be a lot less fun starting fresh in 2026, not sure I’d recommend it especially if the E46 is staying. I agree with the posters saying to avoid multiple old BMWs with an infant when your time is precious. This is one reason I sold my M3 and why it’s been freeing.

Honest take is to sell the E92 and see what happens for the first year with the Cayenne and E46. If you’re missing something, figure out what and buy it later. In my household we can easily get by with one baby car and do so all winter long while my M5 is parked.

I’m constantly shopping air cooled 911s and would probably sell the E39 if I buy one rather than go back to two maintenance heavy old cars

[simon_c]

This is basically me right now cept with different cars. Following

[Slideways]

S65 uses fuel like nothing else and maintaining two old BMWs is not as fun as it sounds. Whatever free time you have to wrench on stuff I would allocate to the E46.

If you did not have the E46, I'd say manual MK7.5 GTI as a fun, do mostly everything, small family car.

[Keith_MN]

Hyundai Ioniq 5. Could spend a little more and get the N version for 600+ hp, but the standard version is pretty damn fun and functional. Good friend of mine has it and absolutely loves it, coming from a Tesla and is also a BMW owner.

High on my list as the replacement to my wife's wagon, but I think she wants a SUV.

[BTB]

Congrats on the baby! I have a Mk 7.5 DCT Golf R. Absolutely love it. Also bought it because kids probably coming soon. Need 4 doors, something less nice than my Macan, but still fun to drive. It is basically our s*** car, the daily, put miles on, don't care where I park it car.

It feels like a mini Porsche - well built, fairly luxurious inside, but smaller and punchier.
A bit worried how much a rear facing child seat might compromise front interior seating position because we like to do miles in it with people
The engine has good low and mid range and with DCT and its small size its really punchy and the thing moves. With AWD it hooks up. It does understeer a lot and is more of a 6-7/10ths cars so I don't really reach for the keys for a fun drive in it. As a sports car it's really meh but as a fun daily it's phenomenal and since it's relatively new still with a warranty I drive it like I give 0 Fs.
I have almost 70K on mine and the suspension is super blown though...and warranty doesn't want to cover it, not sure if my experience is an anomaly or the standard experience

Since we are all crazy car people I've thought about replacing the Golf R, perfect as it is for my use case.

You could go a couple directions with this:
1) Golf R / CTR / GR Corolla esque - new-ish, can rip on it, minimal maintenance, less emotional. Just the nature of turbo 4/turbo 3. Had the CTR - thought I could get over the FWD but I couldn't, and for many other reasons I disliked it - sold it for the Golf R. Appreciate that they are non-luxury brands with lower cost of maintenance.
2) E9X M3 - fun, much more emotional, but definitely going to be more unpredictable on maintenance side due to age
3) E60 M5 - same as #2, but V10!!! In many ways ideal, but would have to drive it with more sensitivity than I usually have for my dailies.
4) F8X M3, G8X M3 - sound doesn't do it for me but in many ways makes sense, different enough from the Porsche SUV and RWD. Probably doesn't fall in budget.
5) M235/M240 - interesting option, 2 door though
6) E39 M5 - too old
7) CTS 5V blackwing etc - too expensive
8) Tesla M3P - maybe
9) Mercedes E6x AMG - maybe maybe. Would be a bit worried about maintenance & cost. Are you ready to be a Mercedes person?
10) Porsche Panamera - interesting option, but same as #9 except more.

Thank you sir! And your description is spot on for what I'm looking for-- something that I can 'invest' in as a daily/beater fun car for us, planning to keep for quite a while. I guess the hard part with that is, I have to love it, and we know how hard that can be as car enthusiasts LOL.

I like your short list-- one buddy is adamant that the older Merc E-class AMGs are solid cars but like you say: am I really ready to be a Merc guy? 😂 If Chevy SS prices weren't so stubborn that could be a good one, they are just a bit rich for what the thing is

Money no object I would probably be looking at F90 M5, Panamera or Audi RS3 (hatchback if only they brought to the states). But yeah, way out of budget !! Still, always fun to dream

[01SG]

B7 Audi RS4

Not sure about reliability though.

[Cronenberged]

Honestly, for just getting around, an EV is going to be best—lower maintenance and cheaper to run. You can lease a Tesla Model 3 for $299 a month right now. I love my E46 M3, and so do my kids, but my drive to work is only 10–15 minutes. Everything around me is within 3–5 miles, which is barely enough time for my car to fully warm up. So logically, I’m looking at getting an electric car.

[BTB]

Totally different than your e9x M3, but I love my manual 2025 Corolla GR Core. You could get one used with low mileage in your price range (even a premium or premium plus with a little higher mileage).

FYI: I test drove the Golf R and Corolla GR back to back. The Golf R is more refined, quieter, faster, and has a better interior. Nonetheless, I liked the more analog feel of my manual GR Corolla better and it was $10k cheaper since I got the Core. The top trim level gets you a carbon fiber roof and some other small stuff.

Either will work.

I'm a firm believer in not living entirely in the BMW world. There are lots of cool experiences to be had on other platforms. I've got a 2021 Mach 1 HP, 2018 Mustang GT, M3 Vert, M3 coupe, GR Corolla and have owned a myriad of makes.

Now I'm the lookout for an AMG GT R or AMG GT C (DTC). My kids are gone and I don't want an e9x.

I will have to take a look at this for sure as I thought the GR was running a premium, like $40k+. And agreed on having fun outside BMW or even the German brands; at first I really had my sights on Fiesta (maybe Focus) ST, 500 Abarth (probably not reasonable for this use case), then started looking at the Hyundai N models which I hear are a riot to drive. GR Corolla could be a sweet spot!

You're a man after my own heart on the AMG GT R-- it's been one of my 'attainable' (ish) dream cars for a bit. Good luck on the search!