BMW is always playing catch-up to MBZ. Mercedes set the standard with the W210 E50 and E55 while BMW has had no 5-Series M-Car available since 1995. (Trivia: Did you know that there is no such thing as a 1996 BMW 5-Series in the US, BMW missed a whole model year trying to catch-up with the E-Class introduction) Each competing model they produce will normally have the horsepower higher than the competing MBZ or it may not sell as well. The M5 will always be a tad quicker than the E55 and C55 because it uses a manual tranny and has 51 more horses, what do you expect? When the next M3 hits it will probably be quicker than all (including the M5) whether it has a tuned I6 or the M5 V8 because the 3-Series is BMW's volume leader in sells and visability, while the E-Class is MBZ's volume leader. The 3-Series is the car that keeps BMW afloat in the U.S. and around the world and is the most tunable in the after-market. Mark my words gentlemen, "THE NEXT M3 WILL OUTPERFORM EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE M5, HANDS-DOWN."

[This message has been edited by Kevin (edited 09-14-1999).]