What car after 335d M sport

[yogi bear]

Been scratching my head recently at what car to get after my BMW 335d M sport (remapped). I've had the BMW for over 2 and a half years and just want a change but every car I think of to replace it I always come back with a reason as to why it ain't as good as the 335d. My budget is under £20k.

Some cars I've been looking at:

Audi S3 (will only be the 260bhp version as can't afford the newer 300bhp model)
Golf R (ditto)
BMW 335i (Not too different from the 335d)
Newer 335d (Very unimaginative)
BMW M135i (What I've been keeping my eye on mostly)
BMW M3 (Probably a little bit out of my budget)
C63 AMG (too expensive)
A5 3.0 tdi (I just know that there's a 335d out there that will kill it)
S5 (Similar bhp to a remapped 335d but a lot less torque and economy)
S4 (ditto)
Golf 170 tdi (big drop in power)
A3 170 tdi (ditto)

Part of me thinks I should just stick with the 335d.

Does anybody else have any suggestions?

[yogi bear]

Yes mine is a e90.

Totally agree with what you're saying, if I can't find something I like more than the 335d then don't change. May have to keep my eye out for M3s as well, nothing like revving a petrol engine (especially when it's a V8)!!

[yogi bear]

cerb4.5lee said:

A E92 M3 will be a completely different driving experience to a mapped 335d, the 335d will have oceans of low down pull with a twitch of the toe...the M3 doesn't come alive until around 6k revs so it will come as a shock to drive.

They are epic on the top end to 8400rpm though and the chassis and LSD make the M3 feel like a different car to the standard 3 series.

If it was me I think I would be looking at the 335i with it being similar to the 335d in terms of low end punch but without the diesel clatter at idle/low revs, a V8 S5 would also tempt me I think.

I suppose a couple of things I miss out with owning a 335d is the fun factor of a petrol non turbo engine and the engine note. I imagine driving an M3 at 8000rpm would be awesome in terms of noise and fun.

[yogi bear]

So the options going through my head now is either a mapped 335i or standard M3, maybe even stick with my mapped 335d.

335d I find is a brilliant car and I don't think much rivals it in terms of power combined with economy, but it does lack the fun factor and a nice engine note.

335i I'm assuming will be similar in performance to the 335d but will have a nicer note.

M3 will have a completely different power delivery method that requires a lot more input from the driver (which should be more appealing to a petrol head), but economy will be sacrificed dramatically. But a high revving V8 will sound lovely.

I'm guessing some test drives are required.

[yogi bear]

Smuler said:

Test drives, the essential, but if you wanted some reading material I rate this chap's comparison of M3 v 335i.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428...

Wow, great write up, the paragraph where he talks about going through the gears in the M3 had me gripped! Thank you for pointing me in this direction.

The part where he was describing the handling of the 335i in the corners (not as confident) does remind me of the 335d, straight line speed it's an absolute brute but does lack in the bends (it might just be me and my lack of ability). But I do find myself taking corners at lower speeds than I did with previous cars (Civic TypeR ep3, Megane R26).

What I got out of reading the above link is that both cars are brilliant at what they do but it's down to me to decide on what I want...what I want is the M3 but there's a lot of man maths involved I think!!!

[yogi bear]

contractor said:

If you are feeling brave 20k will get you a sub 60k M6. Even if you only keep it a while its well worth experiencing a V10

Jesus, didn't realise the purchase price on these were that cheap! I'm afraid if the M3 is a push then the M6 is an even bigger push...good suggestion though.

[yogi bear]

stuart-b said:

yogi bear said:

BMW 335i (Not too different from the 335d)....

Does anybody else have any suggestions?

Sorry I just had to stop there ...

If you love the 335d and you've had it tuned, you would love the 335i.

Burger Motorsports are now publishing their latest R&D maps, pushing 481 WHP from a stock N54 with an additional fuel pump and E85 fuel. Obviously you don't need to go that mad, but it shows you what is possible.

Perhaps look into a 20k 335i and look to have it mapped (MHD)? There are also mods to the stock turbos which allow it to push 400+ bhp with the same PSI levels for a reasonable price.

Once you have heard the sound of a 335i or 335is engine you will realise it's a completely different beast ... and not just the sound. It pulls hard all the way with 500nm available from 1500-2000 rpm with overboost (is).

https://youtu.be/hW4aKUBiI0g?t=38s

Edited by stuart-b on Tuesday 4th August 19:52

Yep I know the power gains possible with a 335i as the guy that mapped my 335d had a 400bhp 335i, but I'd only really be mapping a car and nothing else...maybe an exhaust as well.

[yogi bear]

alock said:

yogi bear said:

Does anybody else have any suggestions?

All your suggestions are German.

How about a 510bhp XFR at £18K.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

Yes guilty, they are all German, it just happened...honestly.

I did look at the XKR as I'd prefer a coupe, but 5.0 V8 supercharged as much as it sounds the nuts will be too much of a push with running costs. Those Jags do look and sound bloody lovely though.

[yogi bear]

Smuler said:

I've learnt to really push the handling of my 335i on some lovely Welsh Mountain roads and with the confidence and better tyres (Michelin Pilot Super Sports) it has surpassed my e46 M Sport in it's ability to be composed at high speed, the E46 otherwise was a car which made me, through feedback, feel closer to the road. It's great fun and so far no dead sheep. I wouldn't want to upset the locals

I live on the west coast of Wales and majority of my late night fun drives are done on the mountain road that goes by the Sweet Lamb rally stage, the 335d does perform well on the road but the fun factor is not quite there if I'm honest. One of my favourite cars to drive along this road was a Civic TypeR, you and the car had to work as hard as each other but once finished you had a massive smile on your face. Based on that memory it would make sense to get a M3...some further maths required along with more brownie points in the bank with the missus.

[yogi bear]

stuart-b said:

I'd rather the 400-450 bhp sorted 335i with decent suspension and brakes and not have the worry about the rods and sudden engine grenade. I'm sure it is rare, but it will show itself more and more as the mileage increases. I was about to pull the trigger on and M3 but I couldn't live with the underlying design fault of something so fundamental - reminded me of the RMS/IMS failures in the Cayman S which I was also going to buy !. HPFP and injectors are ancillaries and easy to upgrade so I can live with that ...

Just Googled 's65 rod problems', didn't know this problem existed!! Sounds like if the oil has been changed regularly then the issue doesn't pop it's head up but when considering an 08/09 s65 engine that will easily have 50k on the clock this is something to think about.

[yogi bear]

moffat said:

With regards the other choices like the Golf R and S3 I think you will be disappointed.

You're not the first to say this to me.

[yogi bear]

Smuler said:

Wouldn't the M3 'rods' be covered by warranty (assuming you get one) as a fault, whereas a modded 335i be without such a warranty because it's in breach of terms. I think your biggest issue with M3 is fuel cost and whether you can get enough value added on the 'right road' as a few guys have said. There's one coming into Sytner Cardiff soon. Out of 20k budget but not sure if many in W. Wales for sale.

Ye the fuel and tax is the main concern.

Yep not many/if any M3s for sale in this neck of the woods but don't think I've ever bought a car within a 100 miles from my home.