Discussion
Have been thinking recently about getting another BMW again although I would love another e46 I'm now leaning towards an e92. An M3 would always be my first choice of car but as I will be buying outright an M3 is out of my price range so looking at the next best thing. Either a 330i or 335i. I like the idea of the 335i being twin turbo so very may well get one. Just want to know if anyone else has owned or owns a 335i and can give me some insight to what their like. Do they feel fast? How much slower do they feel compared to the M3? Are they easy to modify? Running and maintenance costs etc.
Hard to compare an m3 vs a standard 3 series.
If you want a 3 series which can be as fast as a m3 in a straight line but lacks the special m3 feeling, get a 3 series - it will also be cheaper on consumables. Or get an m3 which feels special to start, look at and drive if that’s what you want.
Ive had E90s and E91s in petrol, diesels and M3 guise but nothing beats the s65. Fuel wise: diesel m57. Fun: s65
If you want a 3 series which can be as fast as a m3 in a straight line but lacks the special m3 feeling, get a 3 series - it will also be cheaper on consumables. Or get an m3 which feels special to start, look at and drive if that’s what you want.
Ive had E90s and E91s in petrol, diesels and M3 guise but nothing beats the s65. Fuel wise: diesel m57. Fun: s65
There was a good thread on this subject a couple of months ago. Nothing I’d add to the post I contributed to that at the time - I’m an LCI 335i (N55) owner & still very happy with my choice
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I'm glad I got my 335i, but it really is a tough car to replace. Mine is an E90 saloon which is rare, but also an M Sport and a manual which is only beaten on rarity by E91 335i I think.
They handle well enough and are quick with a bucket load of torque, but being relatively linear in delivery and quite refined they don't feel quite as fast as they are. Can catch you out and 150mph comes up quite quickly on the autobahn without really trying all too hard.
They handle well enough and are quick with a bucket load of torque, but being relatively linear in delivery and quite refined they don't feel quite as fast as they are. Can catch you out and 150mph comes up quite quickly on the autobahn without really trying all too hard.
I had a 2009, 59 plate, LCI, 335i with DCT. It's on pace with the E46 M3 in a straight line. The M3 will edge it at the top end, when you wind it up.
335i, however, has greater flexibility due to the low down torque, is stealthy, more comfortable and makes a great daily driver all rounder. I swapped after 25k miles in 19 months for a E46 M3, manual. But for one reason :-
It's strengths come in the twisty b-roads. It's much more capable, due to chassis balance, LSD. The 335i even in my preferred guise with square stance 17s on Michelin Pilot 4 tires did not meet my expectations on those same twisty roads.
Otherwise the 335i is probably better, you lose a bit of throttle response, the drama of revving a n/A engine out; but I think in daily situations the torque is more useful. I'm daily driving the E46 M3 now and sometimes I feel a bit of a clown really revving it , in the lower gears when battling at traffic light situations whereas with the 335i, I just had it in sport and floored it and it shot down the road. Drama isn't always good!
Oh, but if you want attention : well no one noticed my de-badged 335i. M3 on the other hand , loads of comments and attention
335i, however, has greater flexibility due to the low down torque, is stealthy, more comfortable and makes a great daily driver all rounder. I swapped after 25k miles in 19 months for a E46 M3, manual. But for one reason :-
It's strengths come in the twisty b-roads. It's much more capable, due to chassis balance, LSD. The 335i even in my preferred guise with square stance 17s on Michelin Pilot 4 tires did not meet my expectations on those same twisty roads.
Otherwise the 335i is probably better, you lose a bit of throttle response, the drama of revving a n/A engine out; but I think in daily situations the torque is more useful. I'm daily driving the E46 M3 now and sometimes I feel a bit of a clown really revving it , in the lower gears when battling at traffic light situations whereas with the 335i, I just had it in sport and floored it and it shot down the road. Drama isn't always good!
Oh, but if you want attention : well no one noticed my de-badged 335i. M3 on the other hand , loads of comments and attention
I owned a manual E92 335i with a mild remap circa 365BHP for 2 years, a quick capable car and pretty frugal considering it was a 3 litre twin turbo, 37mpg on a run, not too shabby I thought. Sold it to a mate back in 2015 and it's still going strong in his ownership to this day. Bought a manual E92 M3 after the 335i, so much more of a car on the back roads local to me, but so much more money too. You could see where the money was spent on the chassis/suspension/diff etc on the 'M'. In reality though and on a personal note for everyday use and just driving about locally I believe the 335i was a better car for everyday normal use. I think the 335i is a great buy and I wouldn't hesitate on buying another one. Pre 09'/10' examples like the example I owned were the N54 engine, try to buy one with the Turbos changed (waste gate rattle.) The later models, N55 came with a larger single Twin Scroll turbo which was supposed to be less problematic.
Apart from me changing the Turbos (big bill) the 335i was much better on my wallet than the M3.
Hope you find a good one.
Apart from me changing the Turbos (big bill) the 335i was much better on my wallet than the M3.
Hope you find a good one.
Edited by Fury RS on Thursday 27th June 06:40
I've had a E90 330d/E90 330i/E92 M3 and as a daily driver the 330d absolutely walks it out of those three for me. So based on my experience the E92 335i would make the ideal daily...plenty of torque(similar to a diesel) and effortless performance(with a good noise) which is what you will appreciate in a daily for me.
Comparing the 335i to the M3 an interesting one. In isolation the 335i feels fast and handles well. Compared to more modern stuff (I’ve tried the M135i and 340i) it’s a more raw experience and the hydraulic steering is way better. Both the N55 and N54 engines can be tuned to 370 bhp pretty easily.
The M3 is harder to judge. I did a load of test drives and came to the conclusion that I’d never be able to get under the skin of the M3 on a test drive, so in the end I decided to buy one.
The thing that strikes me about the 335i is that while they seem excellent value, they really come into their own with a bit of tweaking. Especially if you’re looking at tuning I’d say an LSD makes the car. Low mileage ones are getting rare.
While they aren’t as cheap, M3’s seem to be far more plentiful (300 odd on AT at the moment) and come with a lot of handling enhancements as standard (LSD, bespoke suspension).
Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
The M3 is harder to judge. I did a load of test drives and came to the conclusion that I’d never be able to get under the skin of the M3 on a test drive, so in the end I decided to buy one.
The thing that strikes me about the 335i is that while they seem excellent value, they really come into their own with a bit of tweaking. Especially if you’re looking at tuning I’d say an LSD makes the car. Low mileage ones are getting rare.
While they aren’t as cheap, M3’s seem to be far more plentiful (300 odd on AT at the moment) and come with a lot of handling enhancements as standard (LSD, bespoke suspension).
Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
survivalist said:
While they aren’t as cheap, M3’s seem to be far more plentiful (300 odd on AT at the moment) and come with a lot of handling enhancements as standard (LSD, bespoke suspension).
Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
Running costs are worth mentioning for sure and my E92 M3 was twice as expensive to service/tax/insure in comparison to my E90 330i. Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
The E92 M3 is great value currently though and they are very tempting and I can't certainly see the appeal of them for sure.
cerb4.5lee said:
survivalist said:
While they aren’t as cheap, M3’s seem to be far more plentiful (300 odd on AT at the moment) and come with a lot of handling enhancements as standard (LSD, bespoke suspension).
Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
Running costs are worth mentioning for sure and my E92 M3 was twice as expensive to service/tax/insure in comparison to my E90 330i. Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
The E92 M3 is great value currently though and they are very tempting and I can't certainly see the appeal of them for sure.
survivalist said:
cerb4.5lee said:
survivalist said:
While they aren’t as cheap, M3’s seem to be far more plentiful (300 odd on AT at the moment) and come with a lot of handling enhancements as standard (LSD, bespoke suspension).
Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
Running costs are worth mentioning for sure and my E92 M3 was twice as expensive to service/tax/insure in comparison to my E90 330i. Running costs are in a different league though, so I’d say it depends on your annual mileage. Servicing at a specialist actually isn’t that bad. And insurance depends on age and location.
Guess I’m saying don’t discount the M3, if you’re willing to look at forum classifieds and Facebook groups there are some real bargains to be had.
The E92 M3 is great value currently though and they are very tempting and I can't certainly see the appeal of them for sure.
My mistake was using mine as my daily and it just became very ordinary very quickly for me and just like any other 3 series. Hence why I champion the rest of the 3 series range because I don't think that it is quite special enough to set it apart in that situation.
I bought an E90 330i earlier this year as a replacement for an E91 325i, and it's just so much better!
While a 335i might have been more entertaining, early ones came with a £555 a year road tax bill which is the same as the E9* M3. By the time you've had a Quaife diff and some suspension upgrades by Birds (or similar) fitted to a 335i you might as have well bought an M3 in the first place IMHO.
While a 335i might have been more entertaining, early ones came with a £555 a year road tax bill which is the same as the E9* M3. By the time you've had a Quaife diff and some suspension upgrades by Birds (or similar) fitted to a 335i you might as have well bought an M3 in the first place IMHO.
Brooky90 said:
Have been thinking recently about getting another BMW again although I would love another e46 I'm now leaning towards an e92. An M3 would always be my first choice of car but as I will be buying outright an M3 is out of my price range so looking at the next best thing. Either a 330i or 335i. I like the idea of the 335i being twin turbo so very may well get one. Just want to know if anyone else has owned or owns a 335i and can give me some insight to what their like. Do they feel fast? How much slower do they feel compared to the M3? Are they easy to modify? Running and maintenance costs etc.
You haven't even bought the car, yet you're already looking at modifications...if a car needs "modifying", then perhaps it's not the right car in the first place.Billy_Whizzzz said:
While an M Car addict and serial M car owner (currently in an M2C) I think that non Ms are better daily’s. I’d hunt for a a 335i (Manual touring please) over an 330i (feel gutless) or (sacrilege on here I know) a 330d (again over a 330i).
This is exactly my thoughts too. I'd wanted a 330i for as long as I can remember but when I finally got one I didn't think it was anywhere near as good as the 330d I'd had previously. I know I shouldn't say that as a petrol head but the 330d was the better all round car for me. If I'd not had the 330d though I think I would have held the 330i(and the M3 to be fair) in much higher regard, and as you say the 330i felt gutless and thirsty in comparison.
Monty Python said:
You haven't even bought the car, yet you're already looking at modifications...if a car needs "modifying", then perhaps it's not the right car in the first place.
But when the 335i is as easy to modify as it is I can see why people do. Mine is standard, but when 60-75hp is so easily obtained via a remap it remains tempting. What other daily drivers could be had with 360-375hp for this price bracket? 900hp is possible on stock internals....Mike335i said:
900hp is possible on stock internals....
Yes for about 5 minutes. People have bent rods at half that power and less than 500lbft of torque. Even though the early N54's came with forged rods and cranks from factory, they aren't really that much stronger than stock. And anything mid to late 20's psi boost have people cracking ring lands due to inefficient stock ignition system. There are a few people in the UK running between 550-650hp on stock internals with the torque dialed right down and they seem to be going well. But it's just a matter of time before something lets go.
To get an N54 to 900hp takes significant time and cost which is why you don't see many of them around. None in the UK at least.
Acidrop said:
Mike335i said:
900hp is possible on stock internals....
Yes for about 5 minutes. People have bent rods at half that power and less than 500lbft of torque. Even though the early N54's came with forged rods and cranks from factory, they aren't really that much stronger than stock. And anything mid to late 20's psi boost have people cracking ring lands due to inefficient stock ignition system. There are a few people in the UK running between 550-650hp on stock internals with the torque dialed right down and they seem to be going well. But it's just a matter of time before something lets go.
To get an N54 to 900hp takes significant time and cost which is why you don't see many of them around. None in the UK at least.
Acidrop said:
Yes for about 5 minutes. People have bent rods at half that power and less than 500lbft of torque. Even though the early N54's came with forged rods and cranks from factory, they aren't really that much stronger than stock. And anything mid to late 20's psi boost have people cracking ring lands due to inefficient stock ignition system.
There are a few people in the UK running between 550-650hp on stock internals with the torque dialed right down and they seem to be going well. But it's just a matter of time before something lets go.
To get an N54 to 900hp takes significant time and cost which is why you don't see many of them around. None in the UK at least.
Possible if clearly not advisable, but it is a very tuneable car I can completely see why someone would buy one to modify.There are a few people in the UK running between 550-650hp on stock internals with the torque dialed right down and they seem to be going well. But it's just a matter of time before something lets go.
To get an N54 to 900hp takes significant time and cost which is why you don't see many of them around. None in the UK at least.
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