[chbrules]

I am now the proud owner of an E92 335i. It is an absolutely insane driving machine. I have no regrets or complaints (besides the dumb signal stick thing that doesn't self cancel).

Even though it's amazing and all that, I don't like the turbos. I'm not a big forced induction kind of guy. I would still rather drive the M3 because of all the advanced track technology in it, the raw feel of a V8, and the general atmosphere an M car brings with it. The M3 is a track car that's looking to kick ass. The 335i is a go-getter's car that you can trick out and all that.

I think BMW was going after 2 seperate markets here. They may have lost a few sales, but I still think the M3 is going to be another legend.

[j|rz44]

I think they should have put turbos on the V8...

[Das M]

Originally Posted by herbz

...you can mod the 335i and still keep your warranty...

explain to this newb please. thank you.

[berm3]

I can already see new thread coming in near future to this forum "Anyone thinks BMW killed the 335i with the 135i"

[RussianM3_dude]

The problem is that the expectations for the 335 are natuarally lower then with the M so it vastly exceeds expectations while the M3 does not. When a luxury GT is not far off the supposed enthusiast sports car, there is a problem.
BMW should have done a more hardcore 335 to occupy the niche the e92M3 seems to be placed (kinda like BMW's S4) and left the M3 to cater to the enthusiast.

[DFW_M]

anyone that has driven e46 M and regular e46 would agree that no regular 3er can "kill" the spirit of an M. M cars are just different. It is not all about how fast you can go 0-60 or a 1/4 mile. As someone mentioned, you can have Geo Metro outrun Porche...

It is like buying speakers -- you don't test them full blast, you check the clarity and quality of the sound at very low volume... Any speaker can be made to output 500W, but what is the sound quality at low volume...

[mesier1111]

Originally Posted by phazedkid

and even though i (will) have 335i, i ernestly hope that there's more to M3 than the numbers imply.

Exactly what I am hoping for. I think people see me bitch and moan and think I am just trying to build up the 335i cause I own one, when in reality, that is SOOOO NOT true. I want the M3 to smoke my car. I love Ms, even though I am still a few years from affording one. I want to pull next to an M, and even with Procede have the car smoke mine, and leave the driver laughing at me, thats how it should be, its the order of the universe.

[nusevad]

Why dont you just go and buy a Civic Crx or hyundai, if you "mod" it im sure it will kick the 335 and M3's ass too, for alot more cheaper than a modded 335.

[herbz]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

No, it's still a kickass driving machine. These OMG x35i will pwn M3 are like saying "OMG my STI will rapezorz ur Ferrari" Even if it is faster, which it usually isn't, it's still not even nearly as good of a car.

I never said the M3 won't be a kickass driving machine. Of course it will. But the 135i will be lighter, much higher performance potential, and still offer that supple BMW ride. Id also like to mention that a 335i/135i is much easier to live with on a daily basis than an M3.

So what does the M3 have over the 135i/335i?

I'll ask you what makes the M3 so much of a better car. Namely, $20,000 more of a better car. Here's what I can think of.

-Better stock performance, which we all know can easily be reversed.
-Looks

The extra horsepower and less torque at a higher RPM and some cosmetic mods is worth an extra $20k to you?

Why dont you just go and buy a Civic Crx or hyundai, if you "mod" it im sure it will kick the 335 and M3's ass too, for alot more cheaper than a modded 335.

Um, why are we bringin Civic CRX's or hyundai's into this thread? This is about the difference between the 335i and the M3 and if it's really worth an extra $20k for the M3 when u compare it with the 335i.

In the past, it surely was, as the e46 M3 was better than the e46 normal 3 series in basically every performance aspect. This is simply not true for the e90 range. The N54 is just a superior engine to their new V8, sorry to say it. a modded 335i with 500lb/ft of torque at 1800rpm is just going to completely run away from a new M3. That's my point. It never was like this in the past and that's why the new M3 is going to be attracting a whole new democraphic of buyers.

[nusevad]

Because it seems like you are concerned with the money and savings you can get from buying a 335 or 135 and mod it to beat a M3, so i was simply giving you a suggestion that if you buy a Civic CRX and mod it you can easily beat a M3, hell if you do it right you can beat a Ferrari!

Originally Posted by herbz

its pretty obvious that a modded 335i/135i will absolutely kill an M3 for thousands less while still being able to have the same warranty.

But now, a 135i with $10k into it will blow this new V8 M3 out of the water so hard it won't even be a contest.

Not to mention it will cost thousands upon thousands to improve on the V8 engine, while as little as $5 grand can give you better numbers out of the N54.

IMO why would anyone buy an M3 now. The 135i is lighter on its feet, has a better more modable engine, and a more compliant ride. M3 owners are not going to tolerate being beat by a 135i that costs $30 grand less than their overpriced overweight.

@ modding the 335 and still keeping warranty.

I think i will buy my M3 and have all the goodies out of the box. You can go toy around with mods this and mods that and in the end it still wont be as superior.

[Vmotion]

The comparison is not a true comparison. When BMW creates a car or any manufacturer creates a car the main goal is to appeal to the market place. Modifications does not play a significant role in there design and sales. This would be evident with just using the M5 as an example. You can get a manual M5 in United States but not in the country it is built in.

They appeal to demand as well as potential sales. So the need for the m3 is a must, and not a option. For people who can afford a 40k to 50k car here is the best we think on the market, the 335i. For those who can afford 50k to 60k car here again is what we think is the best in the market, the M3. This is what they are thinking.

And lets not forget one major thing. The M3 will be track ready out of the box. Plus you will see more M3's in professional racing then you will see the 335i. Trust me on this. Naturally aspirated engines are more reliable with less tuning involved.

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by Vmotion

Modifications does not play a significant role in there design and sales.

Normally, I would completely agree with you. But the n54 is one of those super rare, perfect for modding engines. Look at the success of the current S4 compared to its the old turbo'ed version. There are countless people on this board who would have NEVER considered this car without the mod potential of its motor. Myself included.

[Vmotion]

Originally Posted by TheAcAvenger

Normally, I would completely agree with you. But the n54 is one of those super rare, perfect for modding engines. Look at the success of the current S4 compared to its the old turbo'ed version. There are countless people on this board who would have NEVER considered this car without the mod potential of its motor. Myself included.

Well myself is also included. So its hard to disagree with you. I just have a hard time believing their target audience was you and I.

[spacedogg]

It sounds like people already know how new E92 M3 will drive like.

C'mon...nobody knows how the new M3 will drive compared to a 335i (even an Proceded 335i) because it will have an LSD, likely have different gearing, different throttle response, different suspension setup, lower centre of gravity if they go with the carbon fiber roof and different steering ratio.

So who cares if on paper the 335i has similar performance figures as a potential M3...we'll wait and see what the actual M3 is like when it is released.

[TheAcAvenger]

This is one of two current threads on this topic...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71994

Any way to merge?

[txusa03]

I dont think so. Coz 1) they dont make that many M3 and 2) M3 has a V8 now. So I feel that that makes the M3 in a different class as a regular 3 series. Remember what is BMW objective for the M3, they are going after porsche.

M3 != 335
M3 # 335
M3 not = 335
in programming logic

[Hey-G]

I haven't read a single post yet, but I just wanted to say. How can you make that comparison when the M3 is not even out yet. But that's just me. Gsr integras were out when Type-R's were selling too.

[Kiemyster]

well gentlemen. i will wait and see. i honestly dont think you guys understand, the M3 is targeting a diff. consumer now. now its up to give porsche some hell, out of the box. you think the people that are out to buy an m3 are worrying about cash? (at least, the majority that is). no, they dont give a fuck. its just that all of us on here may be wealthy (or not? it dont matter) but what seperates us is that we are enthusiasts, and modders. consider us the "honda civic" type mentallity. consider those who mainly go after the M3 a "ferrari mentality", if you get what i mean (dramaticly speaking).

so. its no longer the true car enthusiasts buying the M3, its just people with a fat stack of cash in their wallets, who like the cars style and want something that they will enjoy driving, but that also makes the statement: hey fucker, ive got more money than you XD. untill an aston martin pulls up, then its a diff. story ahahah!

[E90330xi]

I think it's true that the 335 may be a too close to the M3 performance wise. But the only responsible for this are the 3 series rival...IS350, G35, TL Type S, CTS and you can even include cars like WRX, EVO, Civic Si, GTI, I mean all those cars were offering ''better performance'' 0-60 wise than the 330 for a thousands less than the BMW so they add to react, which they perfectly did.

So I would say that the 335 is right where it's supposed to be : in the top of it's category!

Now the question is : Will the M3 be the top of it's category against RS4, IS-F, CTS-V, C63, etc?

I think BMW did the right thing with the 335 to stay on top of the sport sedan/coupe category, but I'm not sure they did enough with the M3 to make it the best, like e46 M3s were in their time.

That's just my 2 cent, and I hope my english isn't too bad...I'm a 16 years old french canadian

[chbrules]

Originally Posted by E90330xi

That's just my 2 cent, and I hope my english isn't too bad...I'm a 16 years old french canadian

Zere's no Canada like French Canada!

[herbz]

Originally Posted by FifthStreetz

Because it seems like you are concerned with the money and savings you can get from buying a 335 or 135 and mod it to beat a M3, so i was simply giving you a suggestion that if you buy a Civic CRX and mod it you can easily beat a M3, hell if you do it right you can beat a Ferrari!




@ modding the 335 and still keeping warranty.

I think i will buy my M3 and have all the goodies out of the box. You can go toy around with mods this and mods that and in the end it still wont be as superior.

I think that's fine, the M3 will be a great car.

However, I disagree when you say the new M3 will be "superior".

The e46 M3 was superior to the e46 330 in every performance category. There was no easy way to make the 330 as fast as an M3, unless you spent $10g on a supercharger.

the e92 M3 will not be superior to the e90 335i in every way, and this is a fact. $2k will make your 135i or 335i basically on par with the new M3. You actually think that's fine? Whatever.

I can't wait till the first video of a Proceeded 135i vs. e92 M3 comes up, there's gonna be riots in M3 land.

And also, yes you can keep your warranty, I see no need for your lil smiley face when people on this forum ahve already posted about getting their oil changed with proceeds.

[herbz]

Originally Posted by Hey-G

I haven't read a single post yet, but I just wanted to say. How can you make that comparison when the M3 is not even out yet. But that's just me. Gsr integras were out when Type-R's were selling too.

Because, we all know the specs of the new M3: 420bhp, 295lb/ft tq at 3k rpm, 3500lbs

And we all know the specs of a slightly modified 135i(exhuast, DP, ECU tune): 450bhp, 500lb/ft tq at 1800rpm, 3400lb

You do the math.