Thoughts on the 335

[drvai]

As a happy owner of an M3, wanted to highlight some points as I have been reading for years about the M3 Vs 335 BS. I have been questioning myself if I would have been better saving 25k and getting the 335. This was considering all the comments that "fly around"

Dropped the car in the dealer for service and got a 335 E90 loaner. My M3 is 6MT and the 335 is auto. To those who state that the 335 is over the M3 on a lot of stuff, let me tell you something:

- I don't feel a difference with the so called "low end torque". The M3 feels quicker in every single situation. With all due respect, those who say that "the 335 is faster in the city because of it's low end torque" are complete lost or do not know how the M3 is supposed to be driven.
- The leather in the M3 is 1000X better
- The 335 has turbo lag (mild, but is there)
- The M3 sounds better
- M3 has much better handling
- M3 with EDC has a much better ride
- Steering is heavier in the 335 (??).
- M3 is definitely worth the extra 20-25k, even if you will not use the car for racing.
- Auto transmissions are getting better, but are so inferior to the 6MT. I haven't driven the DCT though.

In summary, the 335 is a very nice car, much better than other on its same category, but has no chance against the M3.

Also...
- base audio system sucks

[1Sleeper]

I had an N54 335 and really enjoyed it. Its really just a different driving experience. You left out two things in the M3 that really make a difference IMO, and thats seats and steering wheel. For spirited driving the 335 seats were awful and the I am a sucker for a fat steering wheel. I think the N54 was a great motor (I had no fuel pump issues) and really responds to mods, and $ for $ you get a lot more power for a lot less money out of the N54-N55. I can only speak for myself but I get a lot more enjoyment out of driving my M3 than I ever did in the 335. I never tire of listening to that motor.

[radiantm3]

Steering is only heavier on the 335i at parking lot speeds. Everyone says otherwise, but I own both and drive them back to back often. 335i feels light as a feather on the freeway which is quite scary when you are used to the M3 steering (especially in sport).

Originally Posted by 1Sleeper

I had an N54 335 and really enjoyed it. Its really just a different driving experience. You left out two things in the M3 that really make a difference IMO, and thats seats and steering wheel. For spirited driving the 335 seats were awful and the I am a sucker for a fat steering wheel. I think the N54 was a great motor (I had no fuel pump issues) and really responds to mods, and $ for $ you get a lot more power for a lot less money out of the N54-N55. I can only speak for myself but I get a lot more enjoyment out of driving my M3 than I ever did in the 335. I never tire of listening to that motor.

You get the fat steering wheel on the 335i if you get the M sport package. Not really an M3 vs 335i thing.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by drvai

- I don't feel a difference with the so called "low end torque". The M3 feels quicker in every single situation. With all due respect, those who say that "the 335 is faster in the city because of it's low end torque" are complete lost or do not know how the M3 is supposed to be driven.

Yes. "Faster around town" or whatever is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. The only advantage in the 335 is fuel consumption.

[tibra1]

Loved the 335's instant torque when tuned..but the suspension sucked..all in to get the 335i comparable to an M3 is about $15-18K and then its still not AS good as the M3 stock..If I had to assign a number I would say a FBO 335i w/suspension n LSD is about 80% of the M3

The M3 is the much better platform to build on but the costs of tuning it is so prohibitive..

If you have the means I say do both..they really are two different driving experiences

[mmm def]

Hey justify whatever you want so you can sleep at night. They're both great cars, I'm not sure I would spend the extra $20k for the M3 new over a 335..and that is why I sold my 335 for a CPO E90 M3.

[xquisit]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

You get the fat steering wheel on the 335i if you get the M sport package. Not really an M3 vs 335i thing.

This.


M-tech ftw

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

You get the fat steering wheel on the 335i if you get the M sport package. Not really an M3 vs 335i thing.

You get a fatter steering wheel but not the exact M3 one, right? It didn't seem like the M3 one to me...

If you have an auto 335, stick it in DS mode and it has another character. Nice torque off the line. But I still preferred the M3, and feel that it's worth its price premium. M3 just feels like another class of car, that's all.

The handling is definitely superior.

[Nine]

i really enjoyed my e90335i loaner, seems like a great car and plat form..

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

You get a fatter steering wheel but not the exact M3 one, right? It didn't seem like the M3 one to me...

If you have an auto 335, stick it in DS mode and it has another character. Nice torque off the line. But I still preferred the M3, and feel that it's worth its price premium. M3 just feels like another class of car, that's all.

The handling is definitely superior.

Pretty sure the thickness is the same, but yea the M gets the tricolor stitching and slightly different cover.

[CalgaryX3]

I have both, and I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that the M3 *looks* so much better than the standard car. My E90 335, despite a few visual mods still looks pedestrian parked beside my E90 M3....

A

[Raptor251]

Originally Posted by CalgaryX3

I have both, and I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that the M3 *looks* so much better than the standard car. My E90 335, despite a few visual mods still looks pedestrian parked beside my E90 M3....

A

Ah yes the M3 looks so beautiful! PS the 335is w/DCT is really fast 0-60mph

[clar]

I have never driven a 335, but i owned a 135 before and i still prefer it to the M3 for city driving. Not that it's faster in the city, but it's more relaxing to drive. Who needs to go fast in city driving anyway? I love my M3 for everything else!

[Prophizee]

I had an 08 335xi coupe before I got my m this past April. The biggest difference in my IMHO is that the 335 was better on street roads. I def felt a difference in low end torque compared to the m3. But with that said nothing else can be compared between the two cars. The m3 is so powerful I don't seem to have enough road to engage all the power from the car which I'm not complaining about mind you.. But that why I have the track. Another thing the m3s interior is fit better and the handling is far superior. Def worth the 20 k over the 335 any day.

[Black Gold]

I owned a tuned LCI e90 335i 6mt before my m3.

I really liked some things about it, it was a great car. The mtech interior parts (same as on the 135i) make a big difference, the steering wheel is nice and fat just like the m3 except its perforated leather and the shift knob is really great, much better than the m3 stock shifter.

The power was good with a tune and FMIC. Definitely has more torque than the m3, and feels like it too.

The m3 to me is the superior car in most ways. There are a few things to me that really stand out as very big differences between the two cars.

-handling (not even close in stock form here)
-steering feel, especially at speed (so precise on the m3)
-sound of the motor (stock, the n54 does not sound good)
-styling (this is a huge difference, the m3 looks way better)

The negatives are the fact that the stock power cannot be majorly improved upon without spending a lot of money, the gas mileage sucks, and the torque at lower speeds is a little lacking. But once the m3 gets into 2nd or especially 3rd gear and above, torque is not an issue at all. The m3 fatness bogs it down in first and some of 2nd, but its not really a big issue. Thats why 6mt ftw, the power is only a downshift away.

Both good cars, but m3 ftw for sure, even just for styling alone IMO.

EDIT :

One way I describe to my friends and people what this m3 is like is that it is a combination of the best features of the e9x 335i and the old e46 m3. The driving excitement, handling, styling, great engine of the e46 m3 and the smoothness, higher build quality and more tq and useable performance of the 335i.

[armyav8tor]

Nobody mentioned throttle response? The M3 is instantaneous, while the 335i felt lazy in comparison.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by drvai

- The leather in the M3 is 1000X better

I know this is not a performance factor, but is a factor when paying $$$ for a car. I've also noticed that Novillo leather is 10000% better than Dakota leather, and I'm surprise not many people bring it up as a "nice feature" in the M3.

The Daktoa leather just feels like super cheap sythentic cow hide, they shoudn't even call it leather. It feels like scales on a snake. Now I don't recall what the 7-series top of the line leather feels like, (it's not Novillo either), but I don't recall a major quality difference in touch.

[Mr.MichaelM3]

Hahaha so when is everyone gonna start talking about how the new F30 328's are gonna SMOKE OUR M3's with a tune!>!?!? Only a matter of time.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by mdosu

I know this is not a performance factor, but is a factor when paying $$$ for a car. I've also noticed that Novillo leather is 10000% better than Dakota leather, and I'm surprise not many people bring it up as a "nice feature" in the M3.

The Daktoa leather just feels like super cheap sythentic cow hide, they shoudn't even call it leather. It feels like scales on a snake. Now I don't recall what the 7-series top of the line leather feels like, (it's not Novillo either), but I don't recall a major quality difference in touch.

7-series uses Marino. The Dakota leather is definitely a rougher texture, some may consider it to be more durable because it feels thicker.

Originally Posted by armyav8tor

Nobody mentioned throttle response? The M3 is instantaneous, while the 335i felt lazy in comparison.

Especially when the Power button is engaged!

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Mr.MichaelM3

Hahaha so when is everyone gonna start talking about how the new F30 328's are gonna SMOKE OUR M3's with a tune!>!?!? Only a matter of time.

seriously what's the point? My old 1983 Ford Fiesta has a GT35 turbo and built on a tube and can smoke a Lambo. Who gives a fuck? Any tuned car can be tuned enough to be the fastest car on the planet.

[Mr.MichaelM3]

Originally Posted by mdosu

seriously what's the point? My old 1983 Ford Fiesta has a GT35 turbo and built on a tube and can smoke a Lambo. Who gives a fuck? Any tuned car can be tuned enough to be the fastest car on the planet.

I had a 2008 Audi A4 2.0t with a GT30 That could smoke many cars as well........its just the fact that 335 drivers smack talk about Ms all day it gets old and very annoying.

[DylanMckay]

Guys it is clear that anyone who has an issue with the m3 not being good on the street or having "no torque" has not driven it at the higher rpms where the engine belongs. Around the city put it in 2nd at 6600 rpms and the instant torque at the wheels is on tap that pulls harder and stronger than any gear at any rpms in the 335.

Now stay in 4th, 5th or 6th and go 40mph and than punch it-it will feel like a dog because it is a dog at those rpms.

So nobody can really say it does not have low end torque unless they are making sure they are riding the 6000 and above rpm power band.

Now I understand why people may not want a car that you have to keep at those revs but nonetheless if you want to compare the cars you have to compare them while in their own respective power band.

That is like saying the 335 is a dog if you only compare how it pulls from 5500-7k which is terrible since its not in its power band