Any E92 M3 owners driven the E92 335i?

[wax lyrical]

...and if so, trying to be as subjective and unbiased as possible, how did they compare? In terms of handling, ride and power delivery?

Many thanks for all input. I am seriously thinking of moving onto an M3, but not really sure the cost to change is worth it for 100% road driving.

[Zod]

A friend had a 335i, then swapped it for an M3. He much preferred the M3. He now has a 996 Turbo.

[Johnky1990]

The M3 as a whole package is just so much better than the 335i.
Car feels completely different. You should testdrive, IMO it defo worth the extra money without a doubt.
(unless you're planning to get cheap 335i and tune it like a monster, it's much cheaper and easier to tune 335i)

[Wills2]

The M3 is a better drivers car, but it depends what you want, the 335i is a quick car and very tunable I know people running well over 400bhp who have ditched the run flats put some BBS CF wheels on and they are brilliant.

If you're not hankering after a high rev 4.0V8 and an M chassis/drive train (M diff etc..) then you might not think it's worth it.

I looked at 335i/d's when getting my second M3 a few months ago I went for the M3 for these reasons:

1. The engine
2. The noise
3. The Chassis
4. The looks as cooking e90/92's can look a bit plain Jane (subjective)
5. I prefered the interior/exterior paint of the M3 I bought. (not available on a 335i)
6. The engine did I mention that?

Take one for a test and decide.

[DT398]

Worlds apart in my view. M3 handling and ride is sublime. 335i handling is good but ride is rubbish and crashy on run flats. Power delivery on the M3 is totally addictive and the V8 spanks the 335i in every department in my opinion. Sure, the 335i can be tuned to a million horsepower and you can ditch the run flats and put some flash wheels on it but it's still a 335i in the end.

Owning and running the M3 is simply a special experience every time you get behind the wheel. 335 is a great car by most standards but its not close to the M3 IMHO.

[wax lyrical]

Many thanks for all the feedback so far guys - a lot of food for thought! I think next step is to drive an M3.

My other choice is to go back to a 911. (I had a 996 for almost 9 yrs). For £25k, a pretty decent 997 can be had these days and the rear seats are fine for kids. I hardly ever have to transport adults in the back of my 335i anyway.

[Wills2]

I had a 997.2 C2S for 3 years and 55k miles wonderful machine and a step on from the 997.1 in terms of engine reliability and updated interior, try one of those.

[JNW1]

wax lyrical said:

...and if so, trying to be as subjective and unbiased as possible, how did they compare? In terms of handling, ride and power delivery?

Many thanks for all input. I am seriously thinking of moving onto an M3, but not really sure the cost to change is worth it for 100% road driving.

I have an E92 335i and it's a very acceptable daily driver; reasonable running costs, pretty quick in a straight line and comfortable and refined on a long run.

However, I've just returned from a business trip to London today and, as the traffic was relatively quiet, I headed home via one of the back roads (as you do). Did the same trip several times in my old M3 CS and it was terrific; the faster you went the faster it encouraged you to go and it always felt like it was working with you. The 335i? Competent up to around 7 or 8 tenths but loses composure after that and hence as a driver's car it's not in the same league as the M3 IMO; never driven an E92 M3 but I suspect it would be a similar story. Don't get me wrong, in isolation the 335i is a very good car and I'm very happy with mine; however, if I was doing a lower annual mileage I'd go back to an M3 like a shot!

[DT398]

Get a 335i and you will want an M3 every time you see one. That won't happen the other way round.

[M888SXY]

I've just traded my 335i in for a new M3, get it in a few weeks. Let you know then!

[gangzoom]

I would have bought a M3, but my wife said a firm NO to it so ended up with a 335i. The 60 mile drive from the dealership back to my house confirmed to me out of the factory the 335i had some major handling flaws that needed sorting.

Have changed the following:
1) LSD added
2) Uprated Antiroll bars
3) Larger intercooler
4) High flow primary cats
5) ECU tune
6) Aftermarket brake pads/lines.

7) Bought waiting to be fitted - Bird B3 suspension.

After all of that lot I would say I'm finally happy with the way my 335i drives. It now compared well to my mates E90 M3 and quite happy with it, the next car will be a XJR or M5, so a performance category about the M3....But it would have been much cheaper and simpler to have bought a M3 in the first place

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th April 11:35

[Schermerhorn]

The M3 feels heavier, meatier and more planted.

Also looks the dog's danglies too if you hit the sweet spot in terms of colour/wheel/interior combo; something you just can't seem to do on the standard E9X models.

[JNW1]

gangzoom said:

I would have bought a M3, but my wife said a firm NO to it so ended up with a 335i. The 60 mile drive from the dealership back to my house confirmed to me out of the factory the 335i had some major handling flaws that needed sorting.

Have changed the following:
1) LSD added
2) Uprated Antiroll bars
3) Larger intercooler
4) High flow primary cats
5) ECU tune
6) Aftermarket brake pads/lines.

7) Bought waiting to be fitted - Bird B3 suspension.

After all of that lot I would say I'm finally happy with the way my 335i drives. It now compared well to my mates E90 M3 and quite happy with it, the next car will be a XJR or M5, so a performance category about the M3....But it would have been much cheaper and simpler to have bought a M3 in the first place

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th April 11:35

I don't doubt that the 335i can be improved significantly and I've thought seriously about both the Birds B3 suspension and their Dynamics package (which includes the suspension plus anti-roll bars and a LSD as well); I'll therefore be very interested to hear what difference the B3 suspension makes when you get it fitted! I can also see the merit in a remap but for me the main problem with the 335i is the chassis rather than any lack of straight line speed and hence I'd look to fix that first before adding more power and torque!

Aside from the initial outlay the other negative with all these modifications is that you probably don't see much of it back come resale time because the car is still "only" a 335i. Ok, someone in the know may be prepared to pay a bit more for a Birds modified car but it won't cut any ice if you part-ex it and modified cars can actually be a turn-off for some people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have the work done but it does mean you have to go in with your eyes open and accept you're doing it for yourself rather than it being some sort of investment. If you keep cars a while and get the benefit of the work that's fair enough but if you chop and change regularly I can see this modification lark becoming a very expensive hobby!

[RossP]

I had a 335i touring and now have an E92 M3. 335i is a quick car but as others have said it is just not as special as an M3. Also the ride in the M3 (on EDC comfort setting) is is much better than 335i on runflats.

If you get the 335i, you will constantly be hankering after an M3...

[Shirt587]

gangzoom said:

I would have bought a M3, but my wife said a firm NO to it so ended up with a 335i.

OK, a really stupid question - what in your wife's eyes meant an M3 was out but a 335i was OK? Assuming both were comparable, not one coupe and one saloon?

[gangzoom]

JNW1 said:

Aside from the initial outlay the other negative with all these modifications is that you probably don't see much of it back come resale time because the car is still "only" a 335i. Ok, someone in the know may be prepared to pay a bit more for a Birds modified car but it won't cut any ice if you part-ex it and modified cars can actually be a turn-off for some people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have the work done but it does mean you have to go in with your eyes open and accept you're doing it for yourself rather than it being some sort of investment. If you keep cars a while and get the benefit of the work that's fair enough but if you chop and change regularly I can see this modification lark becoming a very expensive hobby!

I don't expect to see any £££ back from the modifications I've put on the car, in my mind its money written off. But it was the same with my last car, and the one before that. I don't swap cars very often, and the 335 will be with me for a good few years yet. But part of owing a car for me is making it more personal to me, had I bought a M3 I would have no doubt wasted money on mods too . As I've said the M3 is clear a better drivers car, even with all the money I've spend on my 335 my mates M3 still feels more special.

Shirt587 said:

OK, a really stupid question - what in your wife's eyes meant an M3 was out but a 335i was OK? Assuming both were comparable, not one coupe and one saloon?

She didn't like the bonnet vents , and thought it would attract too much attention. Part of the reason for buying the 335i was to get a car that my wife felt comfortable driving alone, and actually I much rather she drives around in a 335 which to 99% of the public looks like a 318d rather a M3. The fact the 335i also returns higher mpg than my old 350Z helped secure the deal...the alternative was a Golf R or GTD

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th April 17:08

[JNW1]

gangzoom said:

I don't expect to see any £££ back from the modifications I've put on the car, in my mind its money written off. But it was the same with my last car, and the one before that. I don't swap cars very often, and the 335 will be with me for a good few years yet. But part of owing a car for me is making it more personal to me, had I bought a M3 I would have no doubt wasted money on mods too . As I've said the M3 is clear a better drivers car, even with all the money I've spend on my 335 my mates M3 still feels more special.

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th April 17:08

Nothing wrong with getting a car more how you want it, let us know your thoughts on the B3 suspension when you get it fitted!

Edited by JNW1 on Wednesday 1st May 08:45

[Hom]

I had a manual (rare as hens teeth apparently) E92 335i before my M3. Great car, but the ride was harsh with the runflats, also the traction control was constantly kicking in for me when taking roundabouts at any sort of speed.

Still I did love it, but as others have mentioned it always made me want an M3, so I got one

[dvshannow]

gangzoom said:

JNW1 said:

Aside from the initial outlay the other negative with all these modifications is that you probably don't see much of it back come resale time because the car is still "only" a 335i. Ok, someone in the know may be prepared to pay a bit more for a Birds modified car but it won't cut any ice if you part-ex it and modified cars can actually be a turn-off for some people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have the work done but it does mean you have to go in with your eyes open and accept you're doing it for yourself rather than it being some sort of investment. If you keep cars a while and get the benefit of the work that's fair enough but if you chop and change regularly I can see this modification lark becoming a very expensive hobby!

I don't expect to see any £££ back from the modifications I've put on the car, in my mind its money written off. But it was the same with my last car, and the one before that. I don't swap cars very often, and the 335 will be with me for a good few years yet. But part of owing a car for me is making it more personal to me, had I bought a M3 I would have no doubt wasted money on mods too . As I've said the M3 is clear a better drivers car, even with all the money I've spend on my 335 my mates M3 still feels more special.

Shirt587 said:

OK, a really stupid question - what in your wife's eyes meant an M3 was out but a 335i was OK? Assuming both were comparable, not one coupe and one saloon?

She didn't like the bonnet vents , and thought it would attract too much attention. Part of the reason for buying the 335i was to get a car that my wife felt comfortable driving alone, and actually I much rather she drives around in a 335 which to 99% of the public looks like a 318d rather a M3. The fact the 335i also returns higher mpg than my old 350Z helped secure the deal...the alternative was a Golf R or GTD

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 30th April 17:08

I'm all for pleasing the wife but not liking the bonnet vents...she can live with that. A chick in a fast car is pretty hot tho I agree..... 😁

[NIIKME]

Chalk and cheese really despite sharing the same bonnet badge! Whatever you do don't drive the M3 first and then hop into a 335i (like I did) because that test drive lasted all of 5 miles before turning around and buying the M3.
Also, choice can depend on who else is going to drive the car as stated above. My wife loved our auto 335d, but has driven the M3 once because "its too loud, fast, and attracts boy racers". All bks of course.