[akhter]

I have an E90 335i M Sport with every option other than Active cruise control (pics on my profile).

Went to my dealer to test drive:
E90 M3
DCT transmission
I Drive with M drive
No EDC (its optional here and there is no tech package like US)

The moment I stat down I switched it to Manual with the fastest transmission setting (well second fastest I think because you have to turn off DSC for the fastest mode I think but I may be wrong)

Drove on city roads I drive on every day with potholes but atleast I know how my car is on those roads very well.

Here are my findings:
1) The seats look cool, BUT didn't feel any more supportive than the already great sport seats on the 335.

2) Interior is plain for a car that price (its 4m JPY more hare than a 335 which is like 35k USD). Once I sat down it felt like I was I my old car, granted, my car is maintained like new. Unless you look at the shift knob and levers its hard to know its an M3. For reference. I paid about 5-7k more for a loaded 335i here than a car I configured in BMWUSA.com once u factor in taxes. I expect some cooler details in the M3.

3) For city driving, the twin turbo engine blows away the m3 v8--anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't lived with a 335i. The torque is just not there for passing and the m3 feels a lot slower. Once you rev it up though its a different story and the power just keeps coming. The engine is probably tuned for track. I track my car once a month (Fuji Speedway) so would have *LOVED* to try it there, but this was a dealer demo.

4) The exhaust note is amazing

5) The steering rack is razor sharp and precise. The wheel feels a bit smaller and easier to change lock.

6) Suspension was about the same, however this car didn't have EDC, so I wouldn't count this as much. Also my 335i has M sport suspension, which is not available in the US (its lower and stiffer and has thicker antiroll bars than ZSP). This may be a different story on the track and even the non-edc setup will probably blow away my m suspension.

All in all, I expected to be blown away and I wasn't. If you are a 335 owner lusting for an M3--unless you track it, you are not missing much. We have amazing cars already!

[iheartsole]

nice. thanks for sharing

[toorip]

335 > M3 all the way baby! woo


































not

[akhter]

Originally Posted by toorip

335 > M3 all the way baby! woo

not

That is not at all what I said.

For the price, 335 is a fantastic car, and the twin turbo engine with the low end torque, is *FAR* better for city driving--unless you have driven both cars--you are in no position to argue. And you get better mileage to boot

As a track machine though, there is no doubt as to M3's superiority.

I am just sharing my own experience--take it as you will....

[bsd107]

akhter, thanks for the nice and detailed review. It's easy to do the "what if I got an M3 instead" thinking sometimes - nice to see thoughts from people who have driven both...

[akhter]

Originally Posted by bsd107

akhter, thanks for the nice and detailed review. It's easy to do the "what if I got an M3 instead" thinking sometimes - nice to see thoughts from people who have driven both...

I went to the dealership to fall in love with the M3 so that I get motivated to start saving for an upgrade next year. I left somewhat confused.

[mrad01]

Originally Posted by toorip

335 > M3 all the way baby! woo


not

Yeah, the guy above is a clown...I wonder what colour his nose is?

Anyway, yes, I have had 2 M3s since buying my 335i M-Sport as loaners (and the dealer knows I have money and wants to get me into an M3). My conclusions were basically the same.


The 335i (with SSTT) smacks the M3 to death under 5000rpm....

...over 5000rpm, the M3 hits back and takes over.

The M3 is a track car you can drive to work in.

The 335i is a VERY fast street car.

The M-Sport suspension really takes the ride near the M3 - but the overall handling and steering on track - the M3 is better.

[jli801]

hmm. thought m3 would have a way better interior for what you are paying for. do they get better mpg than 335s? i would probably get one for the aggressive look and sound, the badge, and high end power; but not at it's current price... ripoff.

time to make some quick passes on some m3s on the freeway...

[GMWNashville]

you guys are nuts...m3s are WAY more fun to drive than a 335...

[attorneyscott]

Originally Posted by akhter

All in all, I expected to be blown away and I wasn't. If you are a 335 owner lusting for an M3--unless you track it, you are not missing much. We have amazing cars already!

I'm with you. My heavily-modded 335 feels much faster than a M3, and I wouldn't be scared of a M3 on a track. My car's powerband is much fatter than that of a M3, and my torque advantage is massive.

However, the M3 exhaust note is so damn intoxicating that it alone may make the extra cost worthwhile. It's amazing, pure sex - everyone who calls themselves a "car guy" needs to experience it at least once.

[kaleb]

Originally Posted by akhter

I went to the dealership to fall in love with the M3 so that I get motivated to start saving for an upgrade next year. I left somewhat confused.

You think you're confused? I'm still scratching my head about Apu living in Japan!

[ALPINE6SPD]

Originally Posted by jli801

hmm. thought m3 would have a way better interior for what you are paying for. do they get better mpg than 335s? i would probably get one for the aggressive look and sound, the badge, and high end power; but not at it's current price... ripoff.

time to make some quick passes on some m3s on the freeway...

How would it get better mileage being a V8? Are you that clueless to ask that question? I would not say the price is a "ripoff" (expensive yes) being 6k less than the RS4 and 2-4k less than a c63 make it a reasonable to good price actually. The RS4 is the reall ripoff in that class of car. The RS4 vert is 88k which is the biggest joke EVER. It also gets smoked by the M3 and C63 and costs thousands more. Its AWD but cant be driven in the winter because it has High perf tires so AWD is now a hinderance to the car.The IS-F is less than all of them and is a very good deal

I can say this after having driven all of the cars on the track in street while in traing. I did also learn one more thinkg. The S5 really is not as nice as it looks. The 335i felt just as fast if not faster and would beat the S5 on the track. S5 is looks IMO espically the interior. The 335i handles and drives so much nicer espically the steering in the BMW. The S5 sterring was not something i Liked. It was overboosted and not tight compared ot the BMW.The M3 is NOT a competitor to a 335i. Thats the bottom line.

[AdamJ]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

you guys are nuts...m3s are WAY more fun to drive than a 335...

You haven't driven either one, Francis.

[darkphantom]

Originally Posted by AdamJ

You haven't driven either one, Francis.

owned!

thanks for the review! I definitely have to go test drive one now!

[Mr.Marvelous]

Well, I was gonna buy a M3. Its a great car with a great exhaust note. And it looks much more menacing on the outside.

However, after I test drove a 335i, my mind has changed. The 335i feels much more faster in city driving. Overtaking someone is just easy and that immense torque is always there. Its such a great engine.

Now I will buy a 335i because I won't have the chance to track my car, so the M3 is just useless for me.

[jli801]

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

How would it get better mileage being a V8? Are you that clueless to ask that question? I would not say the price is a "ripoff" (expensive yes) being 6k less than the RS4 and 2-4k less than a c63 make it a reasonable to good price actually. The RS4 is the reall ripoff in that class of car. The RS4 vert is 88k which is the biggest joke EVER. It also gets smoked by the M3 and C63 and costs thousands more. Its AWD but cant be driven in the winter because it has High perf tires so AWD is now a hinderance to the car.The IS-F is less than all of them and is a very good deal.

well i didnt know it had a v8, so yea i was clueless on that part or maybe i did know... and didnt think of it at the time. weird. anyhow BMW always worked with the inline 6 engines for the 3 series, they passed on the v8 and instead worked on and upgraded the I6. the e46 m3 was an I6 and it has a little lower specs on mpg but i get around the same in the 335. so yea...

as for the price, i think the m3s markup price by dealers puts it pretty much up there with near ripoff i would say... (not the bang for the buck) i would say compared to what a 335 gives you.

[jli801]

Originally Posted by kaleb

You think you're confused? I'm still scratching my head about Apu living in Japan!

lol

[mrad01]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

you guys are nuts...m3s are WAY more fun to drive than a 335...

...obviously hasn't driven either....

[mrad01]

Originally Posted by Mr.Marvelous

Well, I was gonna buy a M3. Its a great car with a great exhaust note. And it looks much more menacing on the outside.

However, after I test drove a 335i, my mind has changed. The 335i feels much more faster in city driving. Overtaking someone is just easy and that immense torque is always there. Its such a great engine.

Now I will buy a 335i because I won't have the chance to track my car, so the M3 is just useless for me.

No track? No M3. Simple really. (Although there are those people who still like V8s....dying breed IMHO)

Get the 335i, add the SSTT, live happily with great power, awesome torque - and still one of the best mpg in the game....

[Advskier]

This is kind of a funny thread.

A Subaru WRX can be built to outperform a 335 for a lot less $'s than a 335.
So if it's all about money, you guys pushing the 335 over the M3 might want to look at buying Subaru's.

A stock M3 will outperform a stock 335 in every measurable way. If you don't have the money, or if the performance difference isn't worth it to you, then I'm sure the 335 is an awesome car. You don't need to justify why you saved the cash by comparing it to a superior car.

If it really is all about ultimate performance, there are cars that will outperform these for less or similar money, and you don't have to modify them.

[arctic335i]

I have driven both extensively, and was thinking of getting rid of the 335i for the M3. However, the torque of the turbo engine, and in my opinion, the better steering feel, encouraged me to keep the 335i. Both great cars though! I do love the M3 at 8000 rpm!

[VDPHB]

Originally Posted by Advskier

This is kind of a funny thread.

A Subaru WRX can be built to outperform a 335 for a lot less $'s than a 335.
So if it's all about money, you guys pushing the 335 over the M3 might want to look at buying Subaru's.

A stock M3 will outperform a stock 335 in every measurable way. If you don't have the money, or if the performance difference isn't worth it to you, then I'm sure the 335 is an awesome car. You don't need to justify why you saved the cash by comparing it to a superior car.

If it really is all about ultimate performance, there are cars that will outperform these for less or similar money, and you don't have to modify them.

You're right....to a point...

There is no doubt that when it comes to ultimate performance, the M3 is the superior car....period.

It's when you factor in the value/performance equation where it loses a bit of its luster. Also, factor in the fact that most of us drive on city streets and not tracks, than the view that the 335i might be a better daily driver than an M3 holds more water. This despite it ultimately being a lesser performer.

Think of the M3 as a Honda with a DOHC VTEC engine that needs to be caned to much higher revs than the larger displacement engine tuned for low end torque. The higher revving engine's potential is less accessible than the larger displacement engine. In this case, BMW substituted twin turbos for displacement.

In the end though, you're right...the M3 is the ultimate performer and much more fun to drive. I'll admit, my 335i is so polished and docile...it is a bit boring sometimes.