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      09-23-2011, 12:27 PM   #1
BMWsully
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Nicely optioned 335is or stripped M3?

What's going on guys. In my search for a new car I've narrowed it down to two, one is a decently optioned '11 e92 335is and the other is a pretty much no option '11 e92 M3. Both of these would end up coming in around the same price, with the 335is being slightly cheaper. Which one should I go with? Below are the specs for each:

335is
6MT
Premium
Winter
Ipod
Sunroof

M3
6MT
Carbon Leather Trim
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      09-23-2011, 12:31 PM   #2
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slightly cheaper 335is??
then why the hell would you buy it?

if you could get a 911 turbo a little more than the 911,
why would you buy the 911??
and that 335is is not nicely optioned either
premium and winter only is more or less a stripper too

whats the price on both?
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      09-23-2011, 12:47 PM   #3
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Drive both. If you plan to drive it mostly as a city cruiser and don't have any track time or even back country road time in your future, the 335is may be better for you even if it's only marginally cheaper. If on the other hand you DO plan to have a lot of driving enjoyment opportunity you plan to take advantage of and you don't mind the higher gas, insurance, and maintenance costs, definitely go with the M3! The M3 isn't a bad DD by any means, but if that's all you'll be doing with it I think it'd be kind of a waste.

Just take a good hard look at that Premium package list and make sure you can live without it. Personally as the above poster said, I think the 335is is practically a stripper too and there's nothing absolutely essential in the Premium package IMHO. Bluetooth is the nicest feature, and memory seats if they get moved by a car wash or -- gasp! -- you let someone else drive it, but neither is a sine qua non.

Lack of iPod integration might be annoying, but I believe even cars without iPod integration have Aux in -- not 100% on this though. iDrive is definitely sweet but since neither car has that it shouldn't be a factor if you're determined to get one of these.
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      09-23-2011, 12:50 PM   #4
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Well, I had both cars. A modded 335i (Procede, etc., 370whp) and an E90 M3 (with intake and pulley) and I would say hands down the M3 any day. As just a daily driver either car would be fine. The 335i was actually better around town as it had sooo much more torque than the M3. However, if you like to drive your car hard, do track days at all (I often went to Willow Springs), then you absolutely want the M3. The 335i was not so fun at the track. No limited slip diff, brakes too small, suspension too soft, engine would overheat all the time. The M3 was a track monster. I could run all day long there. Handling was just perfect. I think my 4 door M3 was the best all around daily driver / practical car / track car I've ever had. That being said, I did get rid of it and replaced it with a 2012 Nissan GT-R. Holy crap. With a few mods and 600hp, it's really mind boggling how fast it is!

Back to the original question. I say M3.
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      09-23-2011, 12:51 PM   #5
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Save up a bit more and do European Delivery (saves $$$) to get the options you want on the M3.

I faced a similar choice when my 1M order didn't work out. 335is was within price-reach, and for sure it is an awesome car. But if you really want an ///M, you better get one. Because every time you look at the M-sport steering wheel in an 335is, ya might have a pang of regret
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      09-23-2011, 01:36 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kmarei View Post
slightly cheaper 335is??
then why the hell would you buy it?

if you could get a 911 turbo a little more than the 911,
why would you buy the 911??
and that 335is is not nicely optioned either
premium and winter only is more or less a stripper too

whats the price on both?
335is would be 52.1k

M3 would be 56.7k
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      09-23-2011, 01:47 PM   #7
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used M3 fully loaded > both of those
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      09-23-2011, 02:25 PM   #8
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325i all the way.........
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      09-23-2011, 02:26 PM   #9
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Hmm, iS
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You sound like my buddies who have AMG's - Slam the gas, slam the brakes...
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      09-23-2011, 02:28 PM   #10
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335is, options are important.
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      09-23-2011, 02:32 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by youngnastyman View Post
used M3 fully loaded > both of those
A point.

This guy has one.
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      09-23-2011, 02:32 PM   #12
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There is nothing like an ///M nothing like an ///M ,,,, and so on

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      09-23-2011, 02:43 PM   #13
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If you go with the IS, you'll wish you got the M every time you see one on the road. If the M3 is in consideration, never settle for less.
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      09-23-2011, 03:09 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWsully View Post
335is would be 52.1k

M3 would be 56.7k
not sure how quickly you want to buy the car
but if you don't mind ordering, you can order a 2012
keep in mind the 2012 has bluetooth , ipod/usb, and the OEM alarm all standard
you can get very close to invoice on 2012s
invoice on a 2012 is 55110
so even if you can a few cheaper options
you're not far from the 56.7 of the M3 you found
and this way you can choose what colour you want and what interior trim etc
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      09-23-2011, 03:11 PM   #15
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I actually considered a 335is and an M3 when I was in the market. Even living in the Mile high, there is not a single day that goes by where I say "damn, I should have gotten the is!"
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      09-23-2011, 03:16 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kmarei View Post
not sure how quickly you want to buy the car
but if you don't mind ordering, you can order a 2012
keep in mind the 2012 has bluetooth , ipod/usb, and the OEM alarm all standard
you can get very close to invoice on 2012s
invoice on a 2012 is 55110
so even if you can a few cheaper options
you're not far from the 56.7 of the M3 you found
and this way you can choose what colour you want and what interior trim etc

Add EU delivery to that, it is even better of a deal.
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      09-23-2011, 03:21 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zba View Post
I actually considered a 335is and an M3 when I was in the market. Even living in the Mile high, there is not a single day that goes by where I say "damn, I should have gotten the is!"
agreed... the M3 was quite a bit more than I was planning to spend, but every time I drive it, any regrets disappear
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      09-23-2011, 03:51 PM   #18
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      09-23-2011, 03:55 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by radiantm3 View Post
If you go with the IS, you'll wish you got the M every time you see one on the road. If the M3 is in consideration, never settle for less.
agree
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      09-23-2011, 04:23 PM   #20
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Get the M3. You will always think about the M3 after you bought the 335is. Judging from my personal experience. Be patience and save more for the M3. Not in my case so it cost me more.
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      09-23-2011, 04:35 PM   #21
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M3 vs. 335is

I understand your predicament but here is some advice coming from somebody who had a 2010 335i stage 2+ (500hp) and now an M3...

The 335 is sweet if you really dont know how to drive or rarely test the limits of the car...For $5000 in mods, you can have a car that competes with Ferraris in acceleration...but if you need to turn, forget about it. Another plus is that even modded to the hilt, you will be averaging near 18mpg. Conservative driving at 22+.

If you are a guy who occasionally visits the windy road or the local track 5 times a year, the M3 is by far a better fit. The truth is, the E9x M was the first car that actually was worth the extra cost. The E36 wasn't a whole lot different from non-M and the later E46 was on the way to worth the difference.

The only things that the 335is and an M3 coupe share are the doors and the trunk...(interior dashboard not included). EVERYTHING else is different...even the quality of aluminum of the cars skeleton frame. Body panels, hood, suspension, engine, seats...everything.

This time, M division got it right and the M3 is definitely $15k better than a 335i...and most definately $5k better than the 335is.

Again, if you're just a putt around town kind of guy and you care about gas mileage, get the 335is... but as it was mentioned before, you will always regret that decision with "if I had only"...

Don't let me forget the resale value as well... the secondary market demand for the M3 is huge, therefore your depreciation expense will be much less on the M3.

Hope this helps...best of luck to you.

Last edited by EuroTrip; 09-23-2011 at 04:42 PM..
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      09-23-2011, 04:59 PM   #22
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You don't state whether the cost of the cars are an issue, but the implication is there otherwise why not buy a M3 with the same options as the 335is?

Based on the aforesaid premise, I suggest neither car. You can't afford it. If the price difference between a 335is and M3 matters you should reconsider your priorities because the price difference of ~7k is meaningless when you are already spending 50k+, unless you are paying the whole thing up front in cash.

On the other hand if the car is affordable, wth are you nickel and diming a 50k+ purchase for, if you are already spending the money spend the extra 7k for the M3.

Choose the 335is if you want it, but it is nonsensical to choose it based on money if you want a M3. I always wonder wtf when a guy driving a 335is wishes he could afford an M3, it is absurd to say you can afford a 335is but not a similarly optioned M3. Otherwise you are eating cup ramen every meal and living in a hole to afford the 335is.
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