Help me decide 335i or s4

[SBN]

As title really, but both are saloons with similar mileage, spec... The BMW is slightly cheaper per month but then it is the older of the two.

335i saloon, 30k on the clock newer I drive on 2009 plate, heated seats black leather. Silver.

S4 saloon, 2011 plate. 2g Nav mmi in blue with black leather and heated seats. 30k on the clock.

Which would you go for and why or would you look at something else?

[fjord]

I looked recently at the 335i, until i read dozens of horror stories about HP fuel pumps (which BMW have now decided to cover for 10 years/100k miles, but still the principle of it...) and wastegate rattle.

It seems the 335i is their least reliable engine.

[steve singh]

335i bad reliability and horrible drive on the run flats - E46 M3 was miles better.

S4, don't like the bhp return from the engine - feels wrong !

E92 M3 would be my drink of choice

[mudster]

The HPFP is £140 and a couple of hours spanner twirling (and it's only the US that get the extended warranty). Rattling wastegates are more embarrassing than a major issue and they don't have to be fixed straight away.

Of more concern to me are:

-Thermostat and water pump failure
-Gearbox sump and mechatronic sleeve leaking (had mine fixed now)
-Serpentine belt being ingested by the engine after the pulley hits the front subframe on worn engine mounts
-Injectors failing (and they need to be replaced in threes rather than individually)
-They can also throw fault codes for fun although most are fairly easily fixed

They can have boost control issues due to the lines getting old and introducing air leaks, but that's an easy fix. To be fair, the N54 is a tough engine but some of the ancillaries and the control systems can be temperamental.I still love mine.

[SBN]

Well aware of the issues... So an e90 m3 would be a better choice then out of the two???

Any other fast exec saloon options?

[LocoBlade]

Wastegate rattle is only an issue on the N54, later N55 "twin scroll" single turbo engines from ~2010 don't have the same problem AFAIK, and I think they'd improved the HPFP by then too.

[David87]

I'd take the S4. They go excellently with a little tuning. Ask Chris Harris.

[steve singh]

SBN said:

Well aware of the issues... So an e90 m3 would be a better choice then out of the two???

Any other fast exec saloon options?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1346218&mid=185814&nmt=XKR+v+C63+v+M3+v+997

[schmalex]

If the S4 is the V8, do not, under any circumstances, but it if it's fitted with the manual box. It TOTALLY ruins an otherwise excellent car through completely mismatched gear ratios and the most clunky change you have ever driven

[martin mrt]

SBN said:

Well aware of the issues... So an e90 m3 would be a better choice then out of the two???

Any other fast exec saloon options?

Certainly is, the M3 is pretty much bullet proof.

[rallycross]

SBN said:

Well aware of the issues... So an e90 m3 would be a better choice then out of the two???

Any other fast exec saloon options?

The E90 m3 is double the price of a 335i which is a bargain in relative terms £10k will get you a very nice 335i the cheapest M3 is £20k for a scruffy or big mileage one.

I've had a few 335i's the current one is on 190,000 miles and still going nicely on original engine, turbo's clutch etc.

Do your research on rattly waste gates before buying one as replacing the turbo's out of warranty is close to £2k bill.
The fuel pump not a big issue in uk.

[underphil]

steve singh said:

335i bad reliability and horrible drive on the run flats - E46 M3 was miles better.

S4, don't like the bhp return from the engine - feels wrong !

E92 M3 would be my drink of choice

2011 s4 is a 3.0 v6 sc