BMW E34 M5 vs G80 M3

Too close to call on the Guide Score: 4 points apart, and the places each could hold overlap. Read the parts and the cost to own.

First car Second car

BMW E34 M5

85Guide Score for 1991Excellentabout $3,552 a year to own

About 15th of 69, likely 6th to 26th

BMW G80 M3

89Guide Score for 2022Excellentabout $2,818 a year to own

About 10th of 69, likely 4th to 19th

The seven parts and acclaim, side by side, each with its share of that car’s score
Part	E34 M5	G80 M3
Heritage	39 counts 15 of 100	34 counts 16 of 100
Engine	69 counts 15 of 100	62 counts 16 of 100
Drive feel	77 counts 20 of 100	76 counts 21 of 100
Analog connection	100 counts 10 of 100	74 counts 10 of 100
Weight	72 counts 10 of 100	72 counts 10 of 100
Long-term value	not measured	not measured
Ownership	44 counts 16 of 100	69 counts 12 of 100
Acclaim	49 counts 15 of 100	73 counts 16 of 100
Chance of a bill over $10,000 in five years	0.5%	under 0.1%
Cost to own a year	$3,552 ($2,528 to $5,128)	$2,818 ($1,870 to $4,652)
The bills that decide it	Rust (body repair, the era's price); Timing chain tensioner (S38); Self-leveling rear suspension	Coolant tank and charge-air cooler leaks; Carbon buildup (direct injection); Infotainment software glitches

Guide Score method v5-final.14; each score is shown with its cost to own (about $3,552 a year to own and about $2,818 a year to own at each best year). How it works.