Big Guy M3 - M5?

I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy, 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most part the legroom and the dash space are adequate? I wanted to see here first before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all. Thanks for your time in advance!

Currently I drive a jeep wrangler so that should be a good measure of my current car.....

Moose!

>
>"Domenic Fontana" > wrote in message
news:X085g.1201>$g01.124@trnddc01...
>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
6'2 350lb's or so. >Can you give me some advice if for the most part the
legroom and the dash space are adequate? >I wanted to see here first
before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all.
>Thanks for your time in advance!
>
>Currently I drive a jeep wrangler so that should be a good measure of my
current car.....
>
>Moose!


Though I can't comment on which car would be better, I do find it
interesting that there is yet another Jeep owner buying a BMW... there seems
to be a lot of folks in here that either do or have owned jeeps... curious.
Good luck in you quest.

Matt

Domenic Fontana" > wrote
>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
> 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most part the
> legroom and the dash space are adequate? I wanted to see here first
> before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all.

The 5 series is significantly wider than the 3 - you would probably be
more comfortable in it. They also have a little more headroom. I have
one of the few 3's without a sunroof for that reason - and I'm only 6' even.
The main thing you might find most uncomfortable on both those cars
is the sport seats - the side bolsters might be too narrow for you.

FloydR

"Domenic Fontana" > wrote

Oh, yes, Domenic. Please don't post in html - newsgroups are text-only.

FloydR

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 15:48:06 -0700, "Floyd Rogers"
> wrote:

>"Domenic Fontana" > wrote
>
>Oh, yes, Domenic. Please don't post in html - newsgroups are text-only.

If he replies, I'll bet he top posts in HTML. You'll love it.
--
Dan.

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:11:21 -0700, Floyd Rogers wrote:

> Domenic Fontana" > wrote
>>I am looking at getting a 2002-2003 M3 or M5. I am however a bigger guy,
>> 6'2 350lb's or so. Can you give me some advice if for the most part the
>> legroom and the dash space are adequate? I wanted to see here first
>> before I go to the showroom for a test drive and it is awkward for all.
>
> The 5 series is significantly wider than the 3 - you would probably be
> more comfortable in it. They also have a little more headroom. I have
> one of the few 3's without a sunroof for that reason - and I'm only 6' even.
> The main thing you might find most uncomfortable on both those cars
> is the sport seats - the side bolsters might be too narrow for you.
>
> FloydR

Yes, don't get an M. Get a 5 or larger series. The M's difference
includes sports seats, sport(stiffer) suspension, and sport rated braking.
But hell man, if you got the coin- I'm sure you'll figure something out.

At 6'2 350lbs you will need the 5 series or larger in BMWland. No sport
anything. You can modify it later if you want sport suspension and the
like. I'm 6'4, and my head is pretty damn close to the ceiling on a 5
series. But, I'm not that wide. So the seat is comfortable. And my
suspension is comfortable. And my brakes are comfortable. If you are
going to the dealer, I'm sure you'll figure this all out on your own
accord.

I got the BMW because of my size as well. Low riding racing bucket seat
stiff suspension having wasn't my goal in getting a bimmer. But you have
other ideas.

Good luck. Same car, just one ain't gonna be as comfortable.

"Domenic Fontana" > haute in die Tasten:

> Can you give me some advice if for the most part the legroom and
> the dash space are adequate?

Being tall is not the whole story. There are tall guys like me who
have very long legs, others have shorter legs, while the upper part
of the body is longer. I have test driven both E39 (five series) and
E46 (3 series) and did not find neither of them very roomy. In former
times it was possible to get longer seat rails to push back the
drivers seat. A good seat maker can even take the seat apart and make
it one inch lower or so. You should definitely look after a car
without sunroof, because this leaves you more headroom. A smaller
sports steering wheel amy also give you more room for your knees.

As a rule of thumb I'd also say: Mercedes offers more space than
BMW;-)

Frank

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On Tue, 02 May 2006 10:48:07 +0000, Frank Kemper wrote:

> "Domenic Fontana" > haute in die Tasten:
>
>> Can you give me some advice if for the most part the legroom and
>> the dash space are adequate?
>
> Being tall is not the whole story. There are tall guys like me who
> have very long legs, others have shorter legs, while the upper part
> of the body is longer. I have test driven both E39 (five series) and
> E46 (3 series) and did not find neither of them very roomy. In former
> times it was possible to get longer seat rails to push back the
> drivers seat. A good seat maker can even take the seat apart and make
> it one inch lower or so. You should definitely look after a car
> without sunroof, because this leaves you more headroom. A smaller
> sports steering wheel amy also give you more room for your knees.
>
> As a rule of thumb I'd also say: Mercedes offers more space than
> BMW;-)
>
> Frank

Yep, I'd agree with that.
There are some seat customizations that can be done as you said. But it's
a pain and by no means standard operating procedure. I wish I could have
a car with tons of headroom that didn't look like a bubble or SUV.
Germans are pretty big guys. It's kind of odd to have this problem in
their flagship cars.

Not as big as the Dutch... ;-)

I have to crick my neck in NL more than in Germany...

Still, the question is valid since Mercs are widespread in The Netherlands.
But maybe the guys in GB (second-biggest market in Europe for Mercs) bring
the average size down slighly.

DAS
The Shortie
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"Enoch Root" > wrote in message
news [...]
Germans are pretty big guys. It's kind of odd to have this problem in
> their flagship cars.
>

Enoch Root > haute in die Tasten:

> It's kind of odd to have this problem in
> their flagship cars.
>

It is not so much a "german car" thing rather than a BMW thing.
In order to get recognition as a "sports car" BMWs always are made
slightly "tight", compared to their more luxurious competitors from
Mercedes. The definite german flagship car is the Mercedes S Class
where you do not have any problems to fit in. The same is valid for
Germany's most sold car, the Golf V (AFAIK they plan to market this
car under the name "Rabbit" in the US). I have plenty of room in a
Golf, it is a pleasure to sit in this car.

Frank

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