E92 335i Questions
Discussion
I have a couple of questions regarding buying a 335i with one of the late (2009) n54 engines.
The car i viewed was low mileage and in excellent condition, very tidy and drove well. However it did have a bit of wastegate rattle on startup, this went away after 30 seconds or so, does this mean new turbos etc or do they all do that on startup?
Other question is that it would replace a well loved e46 m3. I am i going to be bored after 6 months? Anybody done the same move? How difficult or expensive is it to fit a lsd? Not many rwd, 300bhp+ with lsd cars about for around 10k nowadays🤔.
Thanks
The car i viewed was low mileage and in excellent condition, very tidy and drove well. However it did have a bit of wastegate rattle on startup, this went away after 30 seconds or so, does this mean new turbos etc or do they all do that on startup?
Other question is that it would replace a well loved e46 m3. I am i going to be bored after 6 months? Anybody done the same move? How difficult or expensive is it to fit a lsd? Not many rwd, 300bhp+ with lsd cars about for around 10k nowadays🤔.
Thanks
I had an e46 M3 an now have a 335i both are great and the waste gate rattle is very common, I just had mine sorted at PMP but as it happened the whole turbos needed a rebuild so thankfully I had it booked in for that any way at the cost of a grand so well worth it for a full rebuild. The N54 is much more tuneable if that's your thing but lacks an LSD which is the dilemma I have with mine as for not a lot of money is pushing out 400bhp and struggling for traction but birds can do supply an LSD for 900 quid, plus 400 to fit so Id go with that when I'm ready as its a specialist job really and make all the difference. I'm sure you will get plenty of comments on here about how better M cars drive but unless you are into whizzing around corners at 100mph it isn't a problem as all bm's are competent drives compared with others. hope this gives you some help
Think I’ve got a video of a cold start on my 2009 (Sept build) 335i. I’ll listen.
It never had any issues to 85k miles , apart from new injectors.
I sold it for an E46 to “whizz around corners”.
It does that so much better !
I did consider Birds, but they wouldn’t let me drive the demo ; “you’ll appreciate difference from passenger seat”
I wasn’t buying that.
335i is a great car, maybe the LSB etc. will help with that whizzing.
It never had any issues to 85k miles , apart from new injectors.
I sold it for an E46 to “whizz around corners”.
It does that so much better !
I did consider Birds, but they wouldn’t let me drive the demo ; “you’ll appreciate difference from passenger seat”
I wasn’t buying that.
335i is a great car, maybe the LSB etc. will help with that whizzing.
Morty1 said:
I have a couple of questions regarding buying a 335i with one of the late (2009) n54 engines.
The car i viewed was low mileage and in excellent condition, very tidy and drove well. However it did have a bit of wastegate rattle on startup, this went away after 30 seconds or so, does this mean new turbos etc or do they all do that on startup?
Other question is that it would replace a well loved e46 m3. I am i going to be bored after 6 months? Anybody done the same move? How difficult or expensive is it to fit a lsd? Not many rwd, 300bhp+ with lsd cars about for around 10k nowadays??.
Thanks
The N54 exhaust system has a butterfly valve in the left rear tailpipe that can clatter briefly on cold start (though only for a few seconds) - this could be the issue and is completely normal. Wastegate rattle I believe is more commonly heard on deceleration. You can test to an extent by revving the car in neutral to around 3,500 - 4,000 rpm - any wastegate rattle should present itself as the revs fall back down to idle. The car i viewed was low mileage and in excellent condition, very tidy and drove well. However it did have a bit of wastegate rattle on startup, this went away after 30 seconds or so, does this mean new turbos etc or do they all do that on startup?
Other question is that it would replace a well loved e46 m3. I am i going to be bored after 6 months? Anybody done the same move? How difficult or expensive is it to fit a lsd? Not many rwd, 300bhp+ with lsd cars about for around 10k nowadays??.
Thanks
I went from an E46 M3 to the 335i, they are completely different cars, don't get me wrong I love the 335i, but don't expect it to feel anything like the E46 M3.
Will you be bored in 6 months?
I was.
I sold the 335i and bought another E46 M3 and an A6 avant 3.2 Quattro, which was a great combo.
That was over 10 years ago now, and to be honest, if I was buying now I reckon I would prefer a 335i over an M3. But then again, I bought a 330i E91 recently and realised that as I get closer to 50 in age, I actually prefer my 5 series, so I'm getting old and want different things from my cars now.
Don't buy it thinking it will be a more modern feeling M3, it won't. It is a very quick, effortless, comfy cruiser. Because of that there is very little drama, and no real experience like you get with the M3. You don't have to work it in any way at all, therefore there is no reward. The novelty of having instant power no matter what gear you are in wears off in days rather than weeks, unlike the M3 which never got old, and then you are left with a quick effortless car, if that is what you want, great, if not, well, maybe it is not for you.
To sum up the 335i, to me it feels like a big diesel with a nicer engine note and slightly more rev range.
Some will call that perfection, some will turn their nose up at it. Only you know what you think of that.
Will you be bored in 6 months?
I was.
I sold the 335i and bought another E46 M3 and an A6 avant 3.2 Quattro, which was a great combo.
That was over 10 years ago now, and to be honest, if I was buying now I reckon I would prefer a 335i over an M3. But then again, I bought a 330i E91 recently and realised that as I get closer to 50 in age, I actually prefer my 5 series, so I'm getting old and want different things from my cars now.
Don't buy it thinking it will be a more modern feeling M3, it won't. It is a very quick, effortless, comfy cruiser. Because of that there is very little drama, and no real experience like you get with the M3. You don't have to work it in any way at all, therefore there is no reward. The novelty of having instant power no matter what gear you are in wears off in days rather than weeks, unlike the M3 which never got old, and then you are left with a quick effortless car, if that is what you want, great, if not, well, maybe it is not for you.
To sum up the 335i, to me it feels like a big diesel with a nicer engine note and slightly more rev range.
Some will call that perfection, some will turn their nose up at it. Only you know what you think of that.
gizlaroc said:
...To sum up the 335i, to me it feels like a big diesel with a nicer engine note and slightly more rev range.
Some will call that perfection, some will turn their nose up at it. Only you know what you think of that...
I would agree with this, in power delivery terms it is like a diesel that revs to 7k, but obviously is much more refined and sounds nicer. Great daily driver but not as exciting as an M3. Throttle response is also quite blunted and needs resetting every now and again.Some will call that perfection, some will turn their nose up at it. Only you know what you think of that...
Thanks for the replys.
I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
Morty1 said:
Thanks for the replys.
I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
You have an E46 M3 that is climbing in value, where as the 335i will just drop and drop and drop. I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
I bought one for £3800 last year, it was an early SE, but 90k miles, FSH and was in great condition. Grey with black sports leather, L7 hifi, bluetooth, xenons.
I couldn't say no.
But the reality was that it is not the sort of car you have as a second fun car, it was no good for us as an every day car as we have a dog, so I just didn't use it and moved it on after a couple of weeks. But my point is, £10k of M3 will be £12k at least in 2 years time, where as £10k of E92 335i could be £4k in 2 years time.
Morty1 said:
Thanks for the replys.
I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
Possibly. I think it might be a bit too comfy and not sporty enough to replace my m3. Both from what you are saying and from from my test drive which was impressive but on reflection i was never excited. With a bit of modification i am sure it could be really good but then i might be better keeping my m3 and putting that money into it and/or saving for a e93 m3. An lsd would be a must and i think that might be closer to 2k than 1k to fit?
Would a 135i feel a bit more sporty?
Here's my favorite comparison video of all 3.
Every time I watch it I'm glad I've got the E46 M3
https://youtu.be/9ZGwpifULe4
Thanks for the advice i am going to keep the m3!
I thought about it and know i wouldn't be happy selling on my m3 to replace it with a bmw that wasn't a m car. I would have ended up spending a fortune trying to modify it to feel like an m3 and as written above it would be dropping value at the same time. So the e46 stays at the moment and will possibly look at an e92 m3 in the future😉.
I thought about it and know i wouldn't be happy selling on my m3 to replace it with a bmw that wasn't a m car. I would have ended up spending a fortune trying to modify it to feel like an m3 and as written above it would be dropping value at the same time. So the e46 stays at the moment and will possibly look at an e92 m3 in the future😉.
TBH I think keeping your E46 M3 is probably the way to go - a 335i just wouldn't feel as special.
While an E92 M3 seems the obvious replacement, if you don't need rear seats a Z4 MC might be an option. I bought one in December and am loving it!
I have an E90 330i as a daily and while it is a great car it just doesn't feel particularly special when I get in the driver's seat - much like any other E9*.
While an E92 M3 seems the obvious replacement, if you don't need rear seats a Z4 MC might be an option. I bought one in December and am loving it!
I have an E90 330i as a daily and while it is a great car it just doesn't feel particularly special when I get in the driver's seat - much like any other E9*.
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