Change my 335i for an E90 M3 ?

[Kananga]

Morning all....

Faced with a bit of a dilemma... I have a 335i (N54) e92 which I use as my daily driver. It has a load of upgrades, and is frighteningly quick, absolute joy to drive. Probably the car that has come closest to my 1M (now sold) for usability and entertainment.

I know this has been debated before but wouldn't mind some current views. I do like the low-end torque of the 335i, but is the E90 M3's v8 so much worse for daily driving ?

Gonna test drive one later this week, but happy to hear any views from others who have made the switch either way.

Thanks!

[crazy about cars]

Well coming from a GTR the low end torque is the first thing that hits me.

Just need to adjust my driving style. I have to say the E92 M3 is very nimble and enjoyable to drive especially around the twisties.

I use mine a daily and I can say it's definitely more versatile. More space in the back/boot, comfy when needed too and nice V8 soundtrack. The DCT is brilliant too.

Sure it's not as quick as I expected but I can live with that. Dare I say I can explore more of the car's power compared to the GTR confidently.

Just do your research and be aware of common faults (throttle control valve being one). Fuel economy ranges from 16-28 for me but that's to be expected

[Gruber]

It comes down to personal preferences on low-down torque, willingness to change gear and emmpeegees.

Personally, I'd gladly have another e92 M3 and would use it at every opportunity - ideally with EDC and DCT. But they don't have the low-down torque that some people have come to expect from FI petrol / diesel lumps.

It's part of the character of the car - you either get it or you don't. It needs to be revved to get the most out of it. To my mind, that's a joy. It really is a superb engine.

And depending on your daily commute, don't expect much better than a 22mpg average - less if you're crawling through city traffic.

[pjv997]

The 'lack of torque' is all relative. It's still very brisk at low revs and would have no problem seeing off most cars without extending too high in the rev range, after all it is a 4 litre engine.

[Wills2]

If you're into how the performance is achieved as well as the performance then I'd get the e90, the s65 is a masterpiece of an engine, you need to stretch its legs to get the best from it but short shifting it at 5k still makes for a very rapid car.

I just love holding it in 3rd at 6.5k as you join the a motorway through to 8.4k into fourth and repeat, naughty I know but great fun.

I love it that the engine feels un-burstable even at 8.4k it seems to want to rev of the scale.

[Kananga]

Thanks all for the views!! Sadly the one I was looking at is now sold!

Keen to do the swap but just need to find one with a good spec at a sensible price!

[bennyboysvuk]

Kananga said:

It has a load of upgrades, and is frighteningly quick, absolute joy to drive. Probably the car that has come closest to my 1M (now sold) for usability and entertainment.

Have you made any suspension changes? Notably ARBs? These greatly affect the handling and the M3s are way thicker than the 335s in order to provide much more pleasant rear wheel steered roundabout exits.

[Kananga]

bennyboysvuk said:

Have you made any suspension changes? Notably ARBs? These greatly affect the handling and the M3s are way thicker than the 335s in order to provide much more pleasant rear wheel steered roundabout exits.

Yup - Birds B3 suspension (+ ARBs), quaife LSD, etc. Evolve Stage 2 with ETS intercooler, BMS dual-cone intake...

[gangzoom]

Kananga said:

Yup - Birds B3 suspension (+ ARBs), quaife LSD, etc. Evolve Stage 2 with ETS intercooler, BMS dual-cone intake...

I have almost identical upgrades on my 335i though it'll never be as 'special' as a M3, have to say though I have little interest in swapping it for a M3. As a day to day car my 335 is more economical, attracts almost no unwanted attention, costs less to run, and in real world terms just as fast....But if some one offered me a 'free' M3 I certainly wouldn't say no

[paulmoonraker]

Epic engine. As somebody has mentioned, hold at 6K and then nail it banging through the gears. Sure, low end torque is a bit low, but it's hardly a slouch round town.

Great car...

[SBN]

Three months ago this was me I bought a 335i after owning a string of older e90's it was the sensible choice. Cheaper on tax, insurance and better mpg with no unwanted attention... Apart from the dual exhaust it was like any other 320d on the road

It did however go very well but in reality didn't feel any more special than the previous BMW e90 i have had so I sold with a view to get an m3... Sooooo with money in my pocket I started to look and at £20k I could only get an early edition 2008/7 model in manual only with limited spec. What I wanted was a saloon with sunroof, dct, lci (but not that important) and the upgraded stereo system (individual) with edc.

Soooo bearing in mind I couldn't get one I have opted for a 2010 s4 which has all of the spec of the m3 I wanted at the price I wanted.... So what's my point I guess is make sure the budget you have set aside gets an m3 you want and make no compromises. The biggest put off for me was not being able to get a Uac (most are at small independents at £20k) and dct as Bmw manuals are not great and after a test drive with dct with the exhaust blip on down changes I was sold but I'm going to wait.... Enjoy the s4 and look at an m3 in couple of years

[bennyboysvuk]

Kananga said:

Yup - Birds B3 suspension (+ ARBs), quaife LSD, etc. Evolve Stage 2 with ETS intercooler, BMS dual-cone intake...

If that's a manual car then apart from throttle response (I'd imagine it's somewhat delayed compared to the M3) I'd imagine it's close to being a perfect daily driver. I would expect the handling to be more neutral/oversteer biassed than the M3 is from the factory.

I guess it comes down to whether you prefer the bags of torque, low down turbo grunt delivery or the wringing it out at the top end character of the S65 lump. I can't help, but find that the latter is far more exciting.