11-01-2008, 04:23 PM | #23 |
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a firm note on the M3...
It's simple... if you want the badge and all that comes with it, get an M car.
Otherwise, buy a 2005 STI. The most frustrating part of all these answers is that it really comes down to money... it never comes down to performance. Although, everyone thinks it does... "Well, buy a 335i, it can be tuned... and a lot faster..." - sure - but, go buy a used 2.0-2.5L Japanese car, drop $3-5k and enjoy your car that will keep up with just about anything mass produced. Drop even a few more thousand and you'll have something ridiculous. Save your money. If you want fast, and luxurious - buy an expensive sports/luxury car. Just let it be known that I drive a 2004 E46... and probably, as far as stock goes - the absolute slowest - being that I have every option available (adds a lot of weight). Due to that, I felt like it was necessary to get it slightly turned by Dinan - YET - still naturally aspirated. So the simple truth of the matter is... you don't buy an M3 because you want the fastest car... the nicest car... the most luxurious car. If you want cheap and fast, BMW is not the way to go. 335, 135, 328 etc etc etc are great cars, but not M cars. Regardless of their specs, regardless of their price, or performance - they are not, and will never be an M car. It's in my opinion that a 600bhp+ and some ridiculous amount of torque STI will smoke the pants off a Ferrari 355, or Ferrar 360, hell - I don't know, maybe beat an F430 (I don't know)... so then the real question is: Why is that the richest people... don't buy STI's and tune them... make them faster than thier $400,000 exotics in their multiple garages scattered around the world? The VAST MAJORITY of these people (it's important that i capitalize that because some will say "well.... some people do...") don't buy 335i's and tune them and I wonder why. Hmmmmmmm... It's a club, just like driving a Ferrari, or a Lambo - but significantly less prestigious. So, it just depends what club you want to be socially judged and associated with (I don't mean that derogatory). The E46 M3 is my bias... and I understand that. I wouldn't mind pulling up in a Ferrari 348 GTS next to some Mitsubishi Evo IIISR blah blah whatever the hell letters and numbers come after it... and get completely smoked. Good. At the end of the day it's the EVO driver that will remember the Ferrari ... not vise versa. So, cheers to all the 335, EVO, STI etc owners - they are all cool cars and will probably beat me in every race that I never enter - let a lone many other M cars on the road. That's not why we bought the M car. |
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11-01-2008, 04:29 PM | #24 |
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The e46 m3's engine is definitely more fun to drive.
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11-03-2008, 09:37 PM | #25 |
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Get the E92 335. The m3 is just too expensive to maintain. Plus turbo has nice torque.
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11-04-2008, 08:19 AM | #26 |
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M3 hands down.. Its the package of the drive.. the feel is top notch when the DSC is off completely and you push thru those tight corners and you will not regret why you chose M over 335.. Stock vs stock I meant.. Mods is very subjective..
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11-05-2008, 01:29 AM | #27 | |
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11-05-2008, 02:49 PM | #28 | |
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Adding more "peak" power to 335i just imbalances the overall package even further. There's such a drastic fall off in power toward redline that you erase much of the benefit of what you gained at peak. Quoting rwhp numbers isn't any way to compare the actual acceleration capability of two cars. Gearing is a torque multiplier, so what's measured at the crank means little in multi-car comparisons.
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11-06-2008, 01:31 AM | #29 | |
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But chipping a 335i gives you 100rwhp and tq all throughout the rpm range not just peak soo..... |
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11-19-2008, 04:06 PM | #31 |
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That's my plan. I'm buying one to add to my collection of S54 cars as soon as I get back to the States next year. I hope the prices keep falling!!!
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11-24-2008, 05:06 PM | #33 | |
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At least the M3 has been in production longer and replacement parts are more readily available. Either way, Euro's are an arm and a leg to maintain and replace parts |
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11-26-2008, 06:12 PM | #34 |
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I had this question for awhile. I have a 04 M3 and I wanted to sell it for 2 years now. I did try to compare the 335 to my M. For 2 years I still have my M because I can't find the styling as nice as the M on 335. I have seen a modded 335 and just didn't feel the same as my modded M. This is me but other might feel the different way. Get the M, I haven't had a problem yet.
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11-26-2008, 10:22 PM | #35 |
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I had a e46 M3 and loved it and I might even buy another one just to put in the garage for keep sake!
Get a M!
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12-07-2008, 04:29 PM | #36 |
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I kinda like my 335i better...especialy when im putting tarc lengths on e46 M3's when all I have is about $1K worth of mods.
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12-07-2008, 08:22 PM | #37 |
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Garage List 2009 e92 M3 DCT CF ... [10.00]
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Body stylewise 335i has the advantage over the e46 body style, for performance and fun I feel e46 M3 especially now that the prices are dropping
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12-29-2008, 09:28 PM | #38 |
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12-30-2008, 09:49 AM | #39 |
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M3 all the way. Buy a 335i and you will spend all of the time you own it wishing you had an M3. Buy the M3 and you will spend all of the time you own it prodding fun at the 335i owners on the "Vs" board. Say no more.
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12-30-2008, 10:17 AM | #40 |
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bad idea to poll a comparison of an m3 e46 on an e46 forum???
as you are from the USA (mostly straight roads), the 335 would be better for you. I have an M5 and a M3 e46, i love the handling of the e46 but do miss the torque and in gear pull a torqy engine like the 335 & M5 would give you. With all those straight roads a 335 would be lovely, although i would miss the LSD...... But still a 335 in the US and a e46 M3 if living in the UK, does that help |
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01-03-2009, 08:38 PM | #43 | |
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01-03-2009, 10:09 PM | #44 |
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For the money, get the M3. I picked up an 04 E46 M3 in great shape, 50k miles with CPO until 2010 for 21k.
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