335i perfect go between e46 & e9x M3s?

[DVandrews]

Later models (late 2010 on) adopted a single twin scroll turbo (N55 engine) although the 335is model continued with the N54 twin turbo. The N55 ECU has yet to be cracked so engine upgrades are limited to BMW upgrades or add one boxes subs as the JB4 and Hartge boxes.

There isn't much wrong with the 8 speed auto boxes..

Dave

Edited by DVandrews on Wednesday 22 October 17:33

[gixermark]

cheers ! yes - i imagine the DCT is an improvement over the auto in older cars... although i found the normal auto ok - esp when in 'manual' or sport

[ladderino]

gixermark said:

cheers ! yes - i imagine the DCT is an improvement over the auto in older cars... although i found the normal auto ok - esp when in 'manual' or sport

Even better if flashed with the Alpina B3 TCU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ14mbzj5Zk&fe...

Does rev matched downshifts. Still no DCT though.

[Rdawson]

Not sure if this is meant for me, but if so here are a few pics. The dream list would include 19" CSL style wheels and the aforementioned mods but in the meantime needs must!

Smuler said:

Great post, any pictures of what sounds a superb car?

[Smuler]

Yep,it was meant for you. Looks great. Best colour. good luck in getting the mods.

[Rdawson]

Thanks kindly. I also like the Le Mans blue in this shape. Plan is to keep it for several more years and keep mileage as low as possible. I'll try to get the mods in over that time. If only there was no such thing as living expenses.

Smuler said:

Yep,it was meant for you. Looks great. Best colour. good luck in getting the mods.

[DVandrews]

Good old Le Mans Blue, took a while to find my E93 in that colour, well worth the wait.

Dave

[161BMW]

Get a nice E46 M3 CS with BMW Manual Gearbox for sub £15k
:-)

[Rdawson]

It's a great colour for the E93 - very rare in that shape I imagine. There's a chap on here with a Le Mans blue E90 335i which looks superb too.

DVandrews said:

Good old Le Mans Blue, took a while to find my E93 in that colour, well worth the wait.

Dave

[gangzoom]

gixermark said:

the 335i drop top is def. a lovely looking car (esp the M Sport) and is again at a nice price point.. the test drive i had in one i thought went well.. not unbelievable.. but was swift, smooth

This sums up a stock 335i perfectly, lovely drive train, lots of speed but it's let down by the lack of a LSD and poor suspension. I'm sure many people are happy with their stock 335s, but the fact your considering a M3 suggest that your after something really special, and I assume enjoy 'spirited' driving down a B road rather than just blasting it to vmax on the M ways.....in which case I'm pretty sure you'r find the stock 335i a little but bland/disappointing. I've had to spend £6k+ of mods on my 335 to get it to a point where am now happy with its performance, seriously if you can get into a M3 just do it

The M3 was/is a no-go option for me, but had there been no option to fit a LSD to my 335i I would have sold in with in 1 month of taking ownership, but lucky for me the modifications market is so massive for the 335i 3.5 years on and am still adding bits, but I now wouldn't even consider swapping my 335i for any M car, not even the new M3, so although I found the stock car frustrating there's plenty of potential in the 335i.

Actually I cannot think of another car that will keep a RS5 honest on a 140mph blast down the autobahn whilst my wife was fast asleep next to me, crawl along comfortably in a grid lock traffic, responsive/fun enough to make driving 4 alpine passes in 6 hours a joy. Than at the end of the day feel safe leaving it parked up any where without having to worry about attracting attention, because to 90% of the public it looks like just another 3 series. And to top it off achieve 30mpg average whilst doing all of the above in a 2300 mile road trip around some of the best roads in Europe So although it may sound like am trying to put you off the 335, am actually a huge fan of the car, but just pointing out the stock car has important weakness, especially when compared to a M car.

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 23 October 07:16

[SignalGruen]

161BMW said:

Get a nice E46 M3 CS with BMW Manual Gearbox for sub £15k
:-)

This. I sold a perfectly good E39 M5 to buy mine and I regretted the decision pretty much straight away. Mine is a manual with an LSD and uprated suspension. The worst thing about it is the steering feel - it is awful. Not sure if the E9X M3's share the same steering setup but I think my old 110k mile M5 had better steering.

[DVandrews]

I found the steering on my E39 M5 lacked some feel, especially in the dead ahead position, the 335i feels not a great deal worse.

Dave

[gixermark]

thanks guys.

yes - I am thinking an M might be more of a keeper as it is more of an 'event' to drive.... the E93 would be lovely.... only issue is - most of my miles are wk end with family etc.. during teh week is only short school runs/stuff... and i've a feeling due to needing dog + or bikes - we'll end up using my current car (VRS estate) which i was going to give the wife...

could end up where this began and start looking at RS 4 avants again - but dont need/want two estates - so would have to sell the VRS and buy the Mrs something mid size (with tow bar)

the joys of first world problems !!

[Smuler]

Easy :- Send the wife out @ the weekend with the dog and children in the VRS whilst you have a blast in the M3 or as you were considering 335is , get a touring one.

[gixermark]

^^ like your thinking! ^^

[SBN]

gixermark said:

thanks guys.

yes - I am thinking an M might be more of a keeper as it is more of an 'event' to drive.... the E93 would be lovely.... only issue is - most of my miles are wk end with family etc.. during teh week is only short school runs/stuff... and i've a feeling due to needing dog + or bikes - we'll end up using my current car (VRS estate) which i was going to give the wife...

could end up where this began and start looking at RS 4 avants again - but dont need/want two estates - so would have to sell the VRS and buy the Mrs something mid size (with tow bar)

the joys of first world problems !!

If you get an m3 instead of a 335i you will have exactly the same driveway as me and I can confirm its perfect!!!

The wife's car



I then got this as I believed it to be a great compromise to an m3 but I already had family wagon. 335i lci in azurite black and piano black trim sold now to a chap up north... Nice car but nothing special like the m3 which can carry the family and return smiles for miles!



The current car

[gangzoom]

Lovely looking M3, like the performance wheels

[gixermark]

ha...... that VRS looks nearly identical to mine.

funny - there is a 4 door M3 locally with a host of extras that caught my eye.. i think i'm decided if its a BMW its an M3.

i just need to decide whether i replace the octavia's practicality and get an Audi RS4, or keep it - and get the M3.. i had like the idea of a convertible, but i think reality is a coupe or 4 door woudl be more useable, and at least with proper BMW accessories - i could carry my bikes on the roof of the M3 coupe/4door... not everyones taste - but at least i'd get to use it more

[gixermark]

deal done.

went for a VERY tasty 4dr. M3

will pass the octavia VRS estate to wifey.. but at least with the E90 we can do a fair bit of family stuff too..

hopefully have the M3 collected at the end of this week.

[TheHound]

gixermark said:

deal done.

went for a VERY tasty 4dr. M3

will pass the octavia VRS estate to wifey.. but at least with the E90 we can do a fair bit of family stuff too..

hopefully have the M3 collected at the end of this week.

Excellent choice! I love my 4 door E90 M3 it does everything I want and carries me and the family around in comfort. I don't believe there are many cars that can be considered a better all rounder.