m3 vs 335i, who wins?

[iron_man]

Originally Posted by Autobahn335i

Pretty much agree on that. But at some point the only major differences between our two cars will be the engines, gearbox and some bodywork (not counting the M badges ).

I would love to take a ride in your car! Too bad you live over the big pond.

But theoretically wouldnt that be the difference between all cars? Cts-ctsv; c350-c63; mustang gt -gt500

[TurboBimmer]

Originally Posted by iron_man

But theoretically wouldnt that be the difference between all cars? Cts-ctsv; c350-c63; mustang gt -gt500

I was implying that on both of these heavily modded cars many stock parts have been replaced and upgraded. Brakes, suspension, chassis parts, seats etc etc. Many of which make the difference between a stock M3 and a stock 335i.

Of course not everyone takes the modding to such an extent. Generally speaking, there are too many modded 335i's which only focus on straight line performance. Which is a shame in my book as the most fun lies in the corners And the chassis has equal potential as the big brother M3.

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Autobahn335i

And the chassis has equal potential as the big brother M3.

As a fellow 335i owner, I really have to say that no, it doesnt. You can modify the 335i to close the gap, even when compared to a modiffied M3 but, without actual engineering work, the M3 will always do some things better.


Whether that makes you faster around the circuit or, first to the next stoplight is another matter.

[TurboBimmer]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

As a fellow 335i owner, I really have to say that no, it doesnt. You can modify the 335i to close the gap, even when compared to a modiffied M3 but, without actual engineering work, the M3 will always do some things better.


Whether that makes you faster around the circuit or, first to the next stoplight is another matter.

Care to elaborate? BMW didn't do some black magic on the M3

The bigger wheel arches are a definite advantage though as they allow to fit wider rubber.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

As a fellow 335i owner, I really have to say that no, it doesnt. You can modify the 335i to close the gap, even when compared to a modiffied M3 but, without actual engineering work, the M3 will always do some things better.


Whether that makes you faster around the circuit or, first to the next stoplight is another matter.

Originally Posted by Autobahn335i

Care to elaborate? BMW didn't do some black magic on the M3

The bigger wheel arches are a definite advantage though as they allow to fit wider rubber.

Jonjt speaks the truth The suspension difference between the two cars is immense. I modded my 335 for the track but its chassis was just so far inferior to the M3....so I just sold my 335 for an M3 to save myself all the hassle and trouble of continuing to mod the 335.

I love the stock suspension of the M3 so much that I'm modding everything else but that. My goal is to get better as a driver with the stock suspension, stock wheels and 300 treadwear tires (on the track).

Back on topic, I had an auto n54 335 with a Procede, downpipes, and meth, LSD, coils and Michelin PSS tires. It was WAAAAAAYYYY faster than an M3 from a stop or from a roll-on. It did 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, 0-100 in 8.7 seconds, etc. Over 120mph it pulled (slowly) on two e92 ESS 535 supercharged M3's...one 6MT one DCT. Without meth or racegas or e85, a race against a stock M3 will be closer, but the nod to the 335. I'd say an M3 with a tune and no cats will actually beat n54 335 without meth/racegas/e85.

[Crimson92]

Why do these threads still exist?

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Autobahn335i

Care to elaborate? BMW didn't do some black magic on the M3

The bigger wheel arches are a definite advantage though as they allow to fit wider rubber.

Yeah, Longboarder nailed the crux of my argument. The frame is a bit stiffer, the suspension maintains lower force variation at the contact patch, the steering system is better, the bushings are stiffer and provide more feedback, the car privides better brake cooling capability and has brakes that are better suited to fast driving, etc. It's not black magic, it's just engineering. BMW engineered the 335i for a specific target, and did the same for the M3. The targed for the M3 exceeded that for the 335i. And, that targed included more than just a new engine, transmission, fender flares and bigger tires.

You can make up for all most all of this but, why? By that point, you've closed the gap in price between the two cars. And, you still haven't dealt with the N54s inherent heat and bearing wear issues.


In the end though, this argument is academic. If you are concerned with racing/tracking/HDPEs (which, not too many of are), driver skill will determine the winner in a race between the two cars, at the technological limits of their respective platforms. If you are only concerned with sporty street driving, both will do well. Buying a car is a very emotional thing, particularly since the M3 provides NO increased utility over the 335i.


So, while my tuned N54 335i is faster than any M3 I've run into on the street AND on the track, I still pine for an S65 (specifically, a supercharged one). And, I do so because I believe the M3 is a better drive. It makes me feel better than a 335i does. Since we do not race these cars for a living (at least, 99% of us don't), we all should just stop arguing and buy whatever makes us happy/we can afford.

[krnnerdboy]

Moneys on the 335i up to 120.

My x5 jb1 tuned n55 would win an m3 in the 1/8th. I loved going to irwindale in that thing

[klammer]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

Yeah, Longboarder nailed the crux of my argument. The frame is a bit stiffer, the suspension maintains lower force variation at the contact patch, the steering system is better, the bushings are stiffer and provide more feedback, the car privides better brake cooling capability and has brakes that are better suited to fast driving, etc. It's not black magic, it's just engineering. BMW engineered the 335i for a specific target, and did the same for the M3. The targed for the M3 exceeded that for the 335i. And, that targed included more than just a new engine, transmission, fender flares and bigger tires.

You can make up for all most all of this but, why? By that point, you've closed the gap in price between the two cars. And, you still haven't dealt with the N54s inherent heat and bearing wear issues.


In the end though, this argument is academic. If you are concerned with racing/tracking/HDPEs (which, not too many of are), driver skill will determine the winner in a race between the two cars, at the technological limits of their respective platforms. If you are only concerned with sporty street driving, both will do well. Buying a car is a very emotional thing, particularly since the M3 provides NO increased utility over the 335i.


So, while my tuned N54 335i is faster than any M3 I've run into on the street AND on the track, I still pine for an S65 (specifically, a supercharged one). And, I do so because I believe the M3 is a better drive. It makes me feel better than a 335i does. Since we do not race these cars for a living (at least, 99% of us don't), we all should just stop arguing and buy whatever makes us happy/we can afford.

And that just about sums it up

[Wendall]

Originally Posted by Lute

Love it!

[Chriskm3]

Ironman vs the war machine. Who wins ?

[krnnerdboy]

Originally Posted by biggynuts01

Love it!

Decided to watch it...I'm glad i did !!!

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by iron_man

so i have a stock 08 e92 6speed and a guy i know wants to run me in his 335i(dct) and he says he has a tune and an intake, but a while back he mentioned getting a mid pipe. will probably end up running him after i do exhaust atleast, but what would the outcome most likely be?

I wont be going from a dig probably like a 45 roll...

I raced plenty of modded 335 on the highway with my stock manual M3, unless he has a couple of bolt-ons on top of the tune, you should be a bit faster! But make sure you're in the right gear because he'll get you on the jump!

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

tune only probably wont be enough to win. he may take you early, but then you will pull on him

and why does everyone in this thread have to defend the m3 vs the 335 and start talking about how the 335 isn't an m and doesn't handle as well. that has nothing to do with his question.

he asked can his car beat this 335 in a straight line, that's it. stop being so defensive, its exhausting.

+1
Op just ask if he beat a tuned 335, he never said he bought his M3 to do drag race!!

[e92livin]

I raced my buddys FBO 335 downpipes, intercooler, jb4, intakes while i was stock with just a meisterchaft rear section, I am also 6spd manual. he won but here are the results

[e92livin]

by the way we did a 60 roll, off a dig you should take him since the 335s spin alot first to second, the N54s are awesome motors for tuning purposes. I raced about 3 fbo 335s off a dig and i won everytime, never raced this one off a dig tho.

[Sandye90m3]

I think the 335 is the most underrated car. I mean modify your car with a tune and your already making minimum of 50hp or more and it's as fast as an M in a straight line.

But then again, it would have been a better car if they didn't have all those elaborated problems.

[mlambert890]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

+1
Op just ask if he beat a tuned 335, he never said he bought his M3 to do drag race!!

Well yeah but the answer to that is a really easy no. A stock M3 is never taking a straight line race against a tuned, fbo, >DCT< 335. Seems pretty obvious and there are thousands of threads and videos on it so people get exhausted with that and then become, not so much defensive, but more dismissive because they are already familiar with the downward spiral into which these types of threads tend to swirl.

[Alex07M3]

Originally Posted by mlambert890

Well yeah but the answer to that is a really easy no. A stock M3 is never taking a straight line race against a tuned, fbo, >DCT&lt; 335. Seems pretty obvious and there are thousands of threads and videos on it so people get exhausted with that and then become, not so much defensive, but more dismissive because they are already familiar with the downward spiral into which these types of threads tend to swirl.

It's not a FBO 335, and it's not a DCT, it's a tuned with intake and possibly midpipe 2008 335i with auto tranny! Legitimate question I think since the outcome should be pretty close! Like I said, I raced plenty of different 335 with tune an BOs on the highway and none have beated me except for a FBO one and it was by a hood lenght at +220km/h so I say it all depends on which tune he's running!

[e92livin]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

I raced plenty of modded 335 on the highway with my stock manual M3, unless he has a couple of bolt-ons on top of the tune, you should be a bit faster! But make sure you're in the right gear because he'll get you on the jump!

Exactly starting in the wrong gear is the biggest mistake people make.

[Vanmarsenille]

Originally Posted by fast335i

I drive fbo 335i + e85 and i take m3s like nothing but at the end of the day m3 is m3..

"I'm telling everyone I can, because I am going to slap a JB3 on this bitch and dust M3s like it is my f*cking religion."

[GIdriver]

Originally Posted by Vanmarsenille

"I'm telling everyone I can, because I am going to slap a JB3 on this bitch and dust M3s like it is my f*cking religion."