Is M3 better built and more reliable car then 335?

[mylydiamy]

Hi everyone,

I currently own a 2008 335i e93. Although the car is pleasure to drive, I am looking forward to the day that I will get rid of it. Besides the infamous HPFP issue, I have had numerous problems. Evey time I get the car back from service while thinking that I can now enjoy the car, I get another problem and the car is back in shop again. I drive 25K miles a year and most of my driving is highway. Although I drive very aggressively I don't do anything that may cause any issues. I don't track either.

This is not what I was expecting when I spent $ 60K.

So what I am looking for is a honest opinion about reliability/dependability of M3. I don't want to go through the similar experience after spending another $ 75K on M3.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[kmarei]

i've had my M3 since late october 2008
i have about 26,000 miles
no issues
i once had a headlight with water inside that replaced under warranty
and it was my fault for not tightening the turn signal bulb when i replaced it

otherwise just a lot of smiles

[FStop7]

Based on the number and frequency of HPFP issues on the N54/N55 I would say yes.

[ham96]

I have an 09 e92 m3 and its gone into limp mode at least a dozen times in the last year. Took the dealer 3 tries but they eventually figured out it was a faulty vacuum pump. They changed that a few months ago and so far no problems. Fingers crossed that it stays that way.

[ooowowizstev]

08 m3, 19k miles. Zero problems.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by ham96

I have an 09 e92 m3 and its gone into limp mode at least a dozen times in the last year. Took the dealer 3 tries but they eventually figured out it was a faulty vacuum pump. They changed that a few months ago and so far no problems. Fingers crossed that it stays that way.

DCT?

[mylydiamy]

Thanks everybody for your inputs

[ham96]

Originally Posted by kmarei

DCT?

Yes DCT.

[ooowowizstev]

Oh and I have DCT as well.

[richardbb85]

5k miles no problem as of now, lol

[DadzM4]

4000 miles in the last 45 days without an issue. Been to the shop to install my exhaust, an oil change, lowering springs, but not for any repairs.

[klammer]

11k miles in 5 months, everything from city to highway to track, dct, drive the piss out of it, AWESOME!!!

[warzilla]

15k and basically no problems. There was a weird message on the iDrive about my DCT (N range issue), but it was taken care of in one day at the dealer.

Had the 335i and while that was pretty good also, I did have the dreaded HPFP issues.

[JCtx]

Most of the problems with M3s have been relatively simple, with the exception of the few cases of bad main crankshaft bearings (crossing fingers here), but many were hard to diagnose initially. And some remain a mystery, but only show up once every blue moon.

If you want a more reliable experience, you need to steer clear of the complicated options, like DCT, EDC, iDrive, etc. But at the same time, a lot of those options is what makes this car attractive in the first place. A catch 22. If you drive 25K miles a year, I'd commute in something else, period. A RWD Hyundai Genesis coupe is a very nice car for the money, and has powertrain warranty to 100K miles. And it's much better with fuel. If you can afford/justify an expensive car every 2 years (plus the fuel), and the potential headaches of service issues, then go for it. A complicated car with tons of electronic gadgetry will never be as reliable as a simpler car, period. Good luck.

[mylydiamy]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Most of the problems with M3s have been relatively simple, with the exception of the few cases of bad main crankshaft bearings (crossing fingers here), but many were hard to diagnose initially. And some remain a mystery, but only show up once every blue moon.

If you want a more reliable experience, you need to steer clear of the complicated options, like DCT, EDC, iDrive, etc. But at the same time, a lot of those options is what makes this car attractive in the first place. A catch 22. If you drive 25K miles a year, I'd commute in something else, period. A RWD Hyundai Genesis coupe is a very nice car for the money, and has powertrain warranty to 100K miles. And it's much better with fuel. If you can afford/justify an expensive car every 2 years (plus the fuel), and the potential headaches of service issues, then go for it. A complicated car with tons of electronic gadgetry will never be as reliable as a simpler car, period. Good luck.

I 110% agree with you. Certainly simple cars give you less headache. But I spend about 3 hours driving every day. I want make it as enjoyable as I can. 335 certainly does it (I am sure m3 does it better..) But the troubles that I have been having kills the fun factor.

[ihyln]

08 E90 w/ DCT and iDrive. Just a hair over 17k miles and no issues.

BMW of Morristown NJ did not install my alarm properly but that is not a factory defect. I just steer clear of them now.

[calintexas]

This is by far the busiest E9X M3 site I've found. If there were common or chronic problems, the forum would be full of them. If you look through the threads, you'll see that there are issues, but they impact a small number of people with the possible exception of the lag issue on the early DCT cars (which has been resolved with software changes). You will see that when an individual has a problem, it can take a while for the dealer to resolve it. Several times I've read comments from people that have experience with multiple 3 series models that the South African built 328's and 335's are rattle free; whereas, the German built M3's have various annoying rattles.

[tailgate1234]

I've had ZERO problems with my 2008 with 36k miles (other than the rear sunshade that my 5-year old daughter may have ripped out of its frame and which may have been replaced under warranty and the Toyota that rear ended me).

[brava09]

I had my 335i for 9,000 miles, no issues.

I have my M3 for 19,000 miles, only one issue so far, some electronic module from the engine management needed replaced

400$ was the cost of replacement

[shagkie]

2008 M3, 16K miles
- ignition coil went
- passenger seat belt arm went
- right and left angel eyes (bulb) went

[elm3]

2009, 10,000 miles and no issues.

[Bubbles]

I had a '07 German-built 335i. Car was solid rattle-free. Fuel pumps failed/turbos failed, but I did drive the heck out of the the car

M3 @ 6k mls no issues.

335i = good car
M3 = great car

But you pay extra $$, so you should expect BMW to use higher quality materials for the M3.