[Damage Inc]

Hi all,

I sold my 01 M3 to get a E90 330i SP manual ED. At the time I was looking for an easier daily driver than the M3 (was starting to do alot of driving around town), so I got a great deal on a E90 330i tit\blk leather, manual, SP. Driving them back to back the differences are appearant: 330 is smooth, quiet, refined, updated, free maintenance\warranty vs. M3 loud, raw, sporty, agressive, precise, better interior materials.

Having the E90 for a year: it does everything well. Smooth, a little grunt, looks great - just get in a drive, no worries. But, it's not quite as exciting as the M3 and I miss that. Its not about the power, its the "sport" factor I miss. What the heck do you "need" 300+ HP for? When I'm at the track its all about sport and balance (I'm a beginner )

So, I went to check out the 335i. Drove the space grey\red manual, very impressive. But, its too similar to my E90 330 to go through the pain to get a new 335i (I would do ED again for the savings) and its basically the car I have now with more power. While I think its a nice looking car, its not a "WOW gotta have it" like the E46 M3.

So now I'm looking at an 04 M3 (my price cap is $38k), but I'm second guessing myself to pass up a brand new 335i to get a 3 year old used M3. I'm also a little concerned about resale on the M3 since I see the 335i as a direct competitor.

My 01 M3 I bought for $35k, drove for 18 mos, sold for $33k. I plan to have great resale on my 330i since I acquired at ED vs. US invoice.

Anyway, anybody else thinking about this too? I'm just looking for some opinions and thoughts.

[RiXst3r]

oh no... here we go again...
IMHO you cant beat the 335 for a fast daily driver... m3 was too harsh for me... even the service manager at my bmw dealership traded his m3 for a 335

[Damage Inc]

I'm not looking for "tell me which is a better car". I'm looking for "who has gone through this decision, what was your choice, and why"?

We can sit here and debate which car is better, blah blah.

Just curious what others are doing.

[stressdoc]

Patience, save up and wait for the new M3.

[335isGuy]

well my question is, is the E46 M3 still a better handling car than the 335i. I would like to know because im heavy into track and thats what my councern is.

[RiXst3r]

Originally Posted by 335iGuy

well my question is, is the E46 M3 still a better handling car than the 335i. I would like to know because im heavy into track and thats what my councern is.

For track, yes m3 is better... 335 doesnt have a LSD...

m3 = better on track
335i = better daily driver

the current m3 is still a great car, its really hard to compare a 335 and m3, they are a different beast.

[cntlaw]

you are the M man, nothing else can make you happier.
get the 04 M3 now, drive for 3 years
and get a 07 M3 E92 in 2009.
(Friend of mine only drives Porsche Turbo, he always upgrade to a newer Porsche model of two generations behind )

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by MojorisinM3

....easier daily driver than the M3 ... 330 is smooth, quiet, refined, updated, free maintenance\warranty vs. M3 loud, raw, sporty, agressive, precise, better interior materials...., it's not quite as exciting as the M3 and I miss that. Its not about the power, its the "sport" factor I miss. ... check out the 335i. .... too similar to my E90 330 .... While I think its a nice looking car, its not a "WOW gotta have it" like the E46 M3....I'm looking at an 04 M3 ....I'm second guessing myself to pass up a brand new 335i to get a 3 year old used M3. I'm also a little concerned about resale on the M3 since I see the 335i as a direct competitor...Anyway, anybody else thinking about this too? I'm just looking for some opinions and thoughts.

We share the same sentiments... I have an everyday e90-325i w/c good to save the wear a tear of my e46/M.... they are both different cars for different set of driving needs... If ever I get the e93 335 it would be to replace my e90 and not replaced my priced e46/Mcab.

The resale value of an Me46 has nothing to do with the release of the e92... they dont share the same fan base... M fanatics stay true to their M cars and are not easily swayed to cool features..ie iNavs, beltbutler, bluetooths etc, at least Im not.... in this case the novelty of a new twin w/ 300HP (w/c will dissipate over time like any other car release)

you just going to have to ask yourself what you need, whats important to you
and what you will enjoy better... a 335i or an e46/M....

by sound of it you're already a true M guy, since you've already have own one and kinda hard to take an opinion of one that hasnt had any. So, what ever you decide it will be all good

GL... enjoy your lovely predicament
... thats my .02 cents

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by MojorisinM3

.......M3 loud, raw, sporty, agressive, precise, better interior materials...But, it's not quite as exciting as the M3 and I miss that. Its not about the power, its the "sport" factor I miss....I went to check out the 335i...very impressive...too similar to my E90 330...basically the car I have now with more power.....its not a "WOW gotta have it" like the E46 M3.

I knew the 335i was coming and I still went with the M3 and have no regrets. You're in the same place I was 6 months ago. I already have an E90 330i and didn't really want a car that was basically the same as what I already had. I feel the same way as you, even though the 335i coupe is a nice car, I don't get the "WOW gotta have it" like I get from the M3 either. Both are good cars and you don't lose either way you go. But once you've owned a M it's hard to see yourself driving a non M BMW coupe, I think that's what is making the decision tough.

Read between the lines of your post, sounds to me like your brain as already made the decision. Now go make it happy and get the M3.

[Pretender]

Now, this topic again. It's been discussed 100 times before. Just do the search instead of starting the new one on the old topic. Sorry, but it's old.

[d3l0n]

wait for new body m3.. thats what i am doing. SMGIII and maybe even the option like the m5/m6 to have the m button and choose how much hp to use... OMG... dude!

...wait...

[Traceaz]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

The resale value of an Me46 has nothing to do with the release of the e92... they dont share the same fan base...

No idea how you say this with a straight face. The E46 M3 and the E92 335i have an almost interchangeable fan base. At least, the closest you'll find between 2 cars, and even more so with both coming from BMW. There are a lot of people that went through the "Do I buy a 2007 335i or a 2 year old E46 M3?" Even more so, a lot of people take it even a step further, with "Do I buy a 2007 335i, or do I wait a year, save up more, and get a 2008 E92 M3?". The E46M3 cross-shop with the 335i is much more common, but both are there even a step further.

While the E46 M3 is definitely more on the sportier/aggressive side and high revving, the E92 335i is more of an updated better daily driver with more torque. Both are great cars and cross-shopped quite a lot. I'd say there's a bigger gap in cross-shopping an E46 M3 vert vs. an E46 M3 coupe, than there is cross-shopping the E92 335i vs the E46 M3.

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Patience, save up and wait for the new M3.

Dont really need to save up, I could spend more money on a car but choose not to. My self made "max" is $40k which should get me plenty of nice car choices.

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by TracerHawk

No idea how you say this with a straight face. The E46 M3 and the E92 335i have an almost interchangeable fan base. At least, the closest you'll find between 2 cars, and even more so with both coming from BMW. There are a lot of people that went through the "Do I buy a 2007 335i or a 2 year old E46 M3?" Even more so, a lot of people take it even a step further, with "Do I buy a 2007 335i, or do I wait a year, save up more, and get a 2008 E92 M3?". The E46M3 cross-shop with the 335i is much more common, but both are there even a step further.

While the E46 M3 is definitely more on the sportier/aggressive side and high revving, the E92 335i is more of an updated better daily driver with more torque. Both are great cars and cross-shopped quite a lot. I'd say there's a bigger gap in cross-shopping an E46 M3 vert vs. an E46 M3 coupe, than there is cross-shopping the E92 335i vs the E46 M3.

In most points, they are only interchangeable if they dont know the difference of owning one over the other, but you pointed out a good case. ty

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

We share the same sentiments... I have an everyday e90-325i w/c good to save the wear a tear of my e46/M.... they are both different cars for different set of driving needs... If ever I get the e93 335 it would be to replace my e90 and not replaced my priced e46/Mcab.

The resale value of an Me46 has nothing to do with the release of the e92... they dont share the same fan base... M fanatics stay true to their M cars and are not easily swayed to cool features..ie iNavs, beltbutler, bluetooths etc, at least Im not.... in this case the novelty of a new twin w/ 300HP (w/c will dissipate over time like any other car release)

you just going to have to ask yourself what you need, whats important to you
and what you will enjoy better... a 335i or an e46/M....

by sound of it you're already a true M guy, since you've already have own one and kinda hard to take an opinion of one that hasnt had any. So, what ever you decide it will be all good

GL... enjoy your lovely predicament
... thats my .02 cents

thanks for the info.

[Traceaz]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

In most points, they are only interchangeable if they dont know the difference of owning one over the other.

Your opinion. Guess that's what forums are for.

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by TracerHawk

Your opinion. Guess that's what forums are for.

you're welcome

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

In most points, they are only interchangeable if they dont know the difference of owning one over the other, but you pointed out a good case. ty

While I dont think they're 100% interchangeable, I do think there will be cross-shopping. If you're spending $40k on a bmw sport coupe, how can you not consider both cars? I would guess 3 out of 10 $40k bmw coupe shoppers would be asking this question. I am so there's 1...

[HRC]

Originally Posted by Pretender

Now, this topic again. It's been discussed 100 times before. Just do the search instead of starting the new one on the old topic. Sorry, but it's old.

+ Me

Danny

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by MojorisinM3

While I dont think they're 100% interchangeable, I do think there will be cross-shopping. If you're spending $40k on a bmw sport coupe, how can you not consider both cars? I would guess 3 out of 10 $40k bmw coupe shoppers would be asking this question. I am so there's 1...

I said "only interchangeable if they dont know the difference" in this case it doesnt apply to you since know you the difference.

cross-shop!?

I agree, I asked the same thing months back between these two cars.. for both were totally foreign to me then... after asking around and getting responses... words was used to describe one over the other, and unique special key words folks exclusively used to describe one car was "Sports Car" .

Its only then when one was uniquely referred to as a Sports Cars that I knew want I wanted.

but the 335i is an awesome car worth a second glance indeed

[Traceaz]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

I said "only interchangeable if they dont know the difference" in this case it doesnt apply to you since know you the difference.

cross-shop!?

I agree, I asked the same thing months back between these two cars.. for both were totally foreign to me then... after asking around and getting responses... words was used to describe one over the other, and unique special key words folks exclusively used to describe one car was "Sports Car" .

Its only then when one was uniquely referred to as a Sports Cars that I knew want I wanted.

but the 335i is an awesome car worth a second glance indeed

I've driven both and know the difference. Anyone on this forum is probably an enthusiast, and probably knows the difference too.

On a side note, thats why I put "almost interchangeable", and not "100% interchangeable"

[radgator1]

Originally Posted by MojorisinM3

Hi all,

I sold my 01 M3 to get a E90 330i SP manual ED. At the time I was looking for an easier daily driver than the M3 (was starting to do alot of driving around town), so I got a great deal on a E90 330i tit\blk leather, manual, SP. Driving them back to back the differences are appearant: 330 is smooth, quiet, refined, updated, free maintenance\warranty vs. M3 loud, raw, sporty, agressive, precise, better interior materials.

Having the E90 for a year: it does everything well. Smooth, a little grunt, looks great - just get in a drive, no worries. But, it's not quite as exciting as the M3 and I miss that. Its not about the power, its the "sport" factor I miss. What the heck do you "need" 300+ HP for? When I'm at the track its all about sport and balance (I'm a beginner )

So, I went to check out the 335i. Drove the space grey\red manual, very impressive. But, its too similar to my E90 330 to go through the pain to get a new 335i (I would do ED again for the savings) and its basically the car I have now with more power. While I think its a nice looking car, its not a "WOW gotta have it" like the E46 M3.

So now I'm looking at an 04 M3 (my price cap is $38k), but I'm second guessing myself to pass up a brand new 335i to get a 3 year old used M3. I'm also a little concerned about resale on the M3 since I see the 335i as a direct competitor.

My 01 M3 I bought for $35k, drove for 18 mos, sold for $33k. I plan to have great resale on my 330i since I acquired at ED vs. US invoice.

Anyway, anybody else thinking about this too? I'm just looking for some opinions and thoughts.

Dude no offense but, you have spent extended time driving an e90 and an m3and have test driven a 335i. How in the hell could we possibly tell you anything that would help you make up your mind? Just nut up and decide which one you wnat since you know both much better than just about everyone you are asking, sheez