Discussion
don't panic - this is not a which is faster topic!
I have a 335d at the moment, originally I bought it as I got fed up waiting for the M3 to come out.
After buying it (my first ever diesel!) I was impressed, pretty quick, reasonably economical, seats 4, etc, etc.
So when the M3 finally arrived I cancelled my order after driving one, on the road and to be fair mostly in traffic but then that is where I spend most of my time - it just did not seem worth the extra £25K or so.
I do not want this to become a bashing post, but I am interested in people's opinions on how good the new M3 is in docile mode - i.e. driving into city centres in rush hour, taking the kids to football, taking the missus for a meal - all that stuff we do in real life.
I am considering the change quite seriously, I do love the 335d a lot but now and again I do wish i had gone for the M3 (heart only by the way - wallet suggests having the 335d and changing now is the better option).
I have a 335d at the moment, originally I bought it as I got fed up waiting for the M3 to come out.
After buying it (my first ever diesel!) I was impressed, pretty quick, reasonably economical, seats 4, etc, etc.
So when the M3 finally arrived I cancelled my order after driving one, on the road and to be fair mostly in traffic but then that is where I spend most of my time - it just did not seem worth the extra £25K or so.
I do not want this to become a bashing post, but I am interested in people's opinions on how good the new M3 is in docile mode - i.e. driving into city centres in rush hour, taking the kids to football, taking the missus for a meal - all that stuff we do in real life.
I am considering the change quite seriously, I do love the 335d a lot but now and again I do wish i had gone for the M3 (heart only by the way - wallet suggests having the 335d and changing now is the better option).
Neil.D said:
I dont know what your car history is but the M series cars (even the CSL) are well venerated, partly for their dual personality. So easily to live with yet fantastic on track.
In this months BMW car a chap takes one for a 4 thousand mile road trip, if youre interested.
before the 335d I had a 330ci, and before that a TVR Chimaera and a motorway muncher, so I do love V8s, I like a car to drive, but 99.5% of my driving is boring stuff going to work and back, I know a good car makes a difference all the time, but I am particularly interested in hearing from current M3 owners who live day to day with their cars - I may put up to 30K a year on it.In this months BMW car a chap takes one for a 4 thousand mile road trip, if youre interested.
The M3 with EDC is actually far more comfy than the regular cars, the damping is far superior.
You really need to try one, they are fantastic as an everyday car, in fact, that is the only thing that puts me off them a little, just don't feel as raw as the E46 M3, sure I will swap at some point but not in a desperate hurry.
You really need to try one, they are fantastic as an everyday car, in fact, that is the only thing that puts me off them a little, just don't feel as raw as the E46 M3, sure I will swap at some point but not in a desperate hurry.
gizlaroc said:
The M3 with EDC is actually far more comfy than the regular cars, the damping is far superior.
You really need to try one, they are fantastic as an everyday car, in fact, that is the only thing that puts me off them a little, just don't feel as raw as the E46 M3, sure I will swap at some point but not in a desperate hurry.
yes EDC would be on my shopping list - what do people think of DCT, better/worse than the manual?You really need to try one, they are fantastic as an everyday car, in fact, that is the only thing that puts me off them a little, just don't feel as raw as the E46 M3, sure I will swap at some point but not in a desperate hurry.
I have tried one - but as I said only in traffic, and I have grown to love the auto box for day to day driving....
Mine is an E92 with DCT and EDC. I consider it to be a good daily driver, while always managing to feel (and sound) more special than a 335 (either i or d).
People say the low down torque is less good than the 335's. It is definitely much better than the E46 M3, and I find it swift but refined when driven gently.
The DCT is fantastic on track or country road; the gears swap instantly and smoothly when you pull a paddle. I generally use auto in suburban and town driving. In auto it works fine most of the time, but it is not as consistently smooth around town as a conventional auto. It makes good gear choices and a lot of the changes are good, but sometimes you get a particularly awkward change, particularly when you have slowed to say 10 to 15 mph and then want to accelerate again.
For your mileage and in the present state of the market changing to a DCT M3 sounds expensive - early cars are so cheap (£25k less than list), but I have not yet seen cheap DCT's. As to consumption (and range) on local journeys I average 18 mpg (up to 24 for long distances on trunk roads).
People say the low down torque is less good than the 335's. It is definitely much better than the E46 M3, and I find it swift but refined when driven gently.
The DCT is fantastic on track or country road; the gears swap instantly and smoothly when you pull a paddle. I generally use auto in suburban and town driving. In auto it works fine most of the time, but it is not as consistently smooth around town as a conventional auto. It makes good gear choices and a lot of the changes are good, but sometimes you get a particularly awkward change, particularly when you have slowed to say 10 to 15 mph and then want to accelerate again.
For your mileage and in the present state of the market changing to a DCT M3 sounds expensive - early cars are so cheap (£25k less than list), but I have not yet seen cheap DCT's. As to consumption (and range) on local journeys I average 18 mpg (up to 24 for long distances on trunk roads).
waremark said:
Mine is an E92 with DCT and EDC. I consider it to be a good daily driver, while always managing to feel (and sound) more special than a 335 (either i or d).
People say the low down torque is less good than the 335's. It is definitely much better than the E46 M3, and I find it swift but refined when driven gently.
The DCT is fantastic on track or country road; the gears swap instantly and smoothly when you pull a paddle. I generally use auto in suburban and town driving. In auto it works fine most of the time, but it is not as consistently smooth around town as a conventional auto. It makes good gear choices and a lot of the changes are good, but sometimes you get a particularly awkward change, particularly when you have slowed to say 10 to 15 mph and then want to accelerate again.
For your mileage and in the present state of the market changing to a DCT M3 sounds expensive - early cars are so cheap (£25k less than list), but I have not yet seen cheap DCT's. As to consumption (and range) on local journeys I average 18 mpg (up to 24 for long distances on trunk roads).
thankyou for your post - exactly what I was after - an honest post.People say the low down torque is less good than the 335's. It is definitely much better than the E46 M3, and I find it swift but refined when driven gently.
The DCT is fantastic on track or country road; the gears swap instantly and smoothly when you pull a paddle. I generally use auto in suburban and town driving. In auto it works fine most of the time, but it is not as consistently smooth around town as a conventional auto. It makes good gear choices and a lot of the changes are good, but sometimes you get a particularly awkward change, particularly when you have slowed to say 10 to 15 mph and then want to accelerate again.
For your mileage and in the present state of the market changing to a DCT M3 sounds expensive - early cars are so cheap (£25k less than list), but I have not yet seen cheap DCT's. As to consumption (and range) on local journeys I average 18 mpg (up to 24 for long distances on trunk roads).
I am sure I will get criticised for this but money is not my primary driver in this - I spend a lot of time in my car so I want to enjoy it, I work long days and travel a lot so for me a good car is an essential.
I could live with the gear changes - we went over to Guernsey last year and the autobox really struggled with the speed limits over there - it was constantly hunting!
We run a 335d M Sport. I took an M3 out for an afternoon and was terribly impressed by it's ability to be a normal tractable day to day car. The clutch was light and the box easy to use unlike our previous six cylinder M3. The steering was also very light, almost too light, even in M mode. The engine was beautiful and it was easy to drive around in top at 30 MPH.
The only thing that stops me from buying one now is the cost of purchase and the fuel. I managed a very enjoyable 13mpg average on my afternoon play.
The only thing that stops me from buying one now is the cost of purchase and the fuel. I managed a very enjoyable 13mpg average on my afternoon play.
x5x3 said:
OllieWinchester said:
DXB!! Your thread is here!Get those stats ready, what the OP really means is which one is faster from a rolling start.....
Went thru this "dilema" myself at the end of '07 treated myself to one of the first E92 M Sports (fully Loaded) in 335d form and loved it to start off with 
but the more i drove it the more i became bored with it,you don't drive a 335d you waft along and daft speeds....all very nice but for me just not a drivers thing ?? So swapped it for an E92 M (Manual) and this thing makes me smile everytime i drive it 
anyone who is still whinging on about them not being a "proper" M car is talking b
ks,they go like fk when req;) but can still wander around in town quite civilised go and have a decent drive in one mate ........you'll be glad you swapped.
but the more i drove it the more i became bored with it,you don't drive a 335d you waft along and daft speeds....all very nice but for me just not a drivers thing ?? So swapped it for an E92 M (Manual) and this thing makes me smile everytime i drive it anyone who is still whinging on about them not being a "proper" M car is talking bks,they go like fk when req;) but can still wander around in town quite civilised go and have a decent drive in one mate ........you'll be glad you swapped.squeezebm said:
Went thru this "dilema" myself at the end of '07 treated myself to one of the first E92 M Sports (fully Loaded) in 335d form and loved it to start off with but the more i drove it the more i became bored with it,you don't drive a 335d you waft along and daft speeds....all very nice but for me just not a drivers thing ?? So swapped it for an E92 M (Manual) and this thing makes me smile everytime i drive it anyone who is still whinging on about them not being a "proper" M car is talking bks,they go like fk when req;) but can still wander around in town quite civilised go and have a decent drive in one mate ........you'll be glad you swapped.
I'd echo this. I have an E92 M3 DCT and the missus has a 335d Touring, so well placed to compare. Both cars are excellent in their own ways. The 335 is good for a long motorway schlep and covers ground quickly and effortlessly. But the M3 is equally refined and with EDC and 'proper' tyres actually has a better ride on poor surfaces than the 335d. You have to work it more to get the best out of it, but the M3 will put a HUGE grin on your face every time you want to have some fun. but the more i drove it the more i became bored with it,you don't drive a 335d you waft along and daft speeds....all very nice but for me just not a drivers thing ?? So swapped it for an E92 M (Manual) and this thing makes me smile everytime i drive it anyone who is still whinging on about them not being a "proper" M car is talking bks,they go like fk when req;) but can still wander around in town quite civilised go and have a decent drive in one mate ........you'll be glad you swapped.my dad just ordered an 08 plate manual M3. he said it was lovely to drive around town, or when giving it the beans! and this is coming from someone who has owned a comfy merc for the last 3 years (albeit not a very well built merc). oh, and it has EDC. he has fallen in love with it and can't wait to pick it up (9th march). take one for test drive, he said he couldn't stop thinking about the car for ages, then he put his deposit down 
cracking all rounders. he had the car for 1 day. took it to work, saw what it was like in rush hour. took a half day (how unfair is it being a boss huh!) and then went around some fun roads and just fell in love with the thing.
cracking all rounders. he had the car for 1 day. took it to work, saw what it was like in rush hour. took a half day (how unfair is it being a boss huh!) and then went around some fun roads and just fell in love with the thing.
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