Advice please! E46 M3 vs. E92 335i

[ohaywood]

I'm thinking about trading/selling my E92 335i for an E46 M3. I have never driven the M3 though. For those of you who have driven both: could you tell me the pros and cons of each? If the M3 is more of a performance car than a 335i with a JB+, then I'd definitely go for the swap. The reason for the trade would be to put some money in the bank to put money toward a new car for my dad; however, I obviously would have no complaints driving an M3. Please help me out!

[E82tt6]

Test drive it.

It is indubitably more of a performance car than an E90, unless you mean drag racing by performance.

[rc'Z]

Ever wonder why they call the 335i with a 'kit' an M killer?

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

Ever wonder why they call the 335i with a 'kit' an M killer?

Hubris.

[Sniz]

go drive one. Your 335 w a JB+ will certainly beat an e46 M3 in a straight line, but all other performance aspects the 335 will lose.

[ZJP]

The difference between the M3 and 335i is a lot more than which car can scoot down a 1/4 mile track in the least amount of time.

[RUS0628]

IMHO e46 m3 has nothing on the 335. 335 with Jb3 is a beast.
Plus e46 is getting outdated.

[ohaywood]

Originally Posted by RUS0628

IMHO e46 m3 has nothing on the 335. 335 with Jb3 is a beast.
Plus e46 is getting outdated.

So other than by the E92 M3, how is the E46 outdated??

[Robert]

I still like the E46M3 over E92 335i and M3. Generally speaking the e46 m3 is sculpted more aggressively, tuned more like a sports car and in a small tighter package. Some allure of the BMW has been lost when they decided to build a bigger, proletarian car for everyone. Basically a crowd pleaser that would appeal to more buyers than pleasing just the car enthusiasts. The new generation 3 series will no doubt run circles around the old M3 but for those who likes E30 M3 knows we don't buy cars for 0-60, highest skidpad, or fastest ring time, or bragging rights. We buy cars that make us happiest.

[j0hn]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

Ever wonder why they call the 335i with a 'kit' an M killer?

Originally Posted by RUS0628

IMHO e46 m3 has nothing on the 335. 335 with Jb3 is a beast.
Plus e46 is getting outdated.

i am SO sick and tired of comments like these.

[s1cke92]

ahhh e46 m3 hpf stage 2+ ...beastt!! better everyday car would probably be the E92 335i! and e46 weekend. lol

thats IMO.

[j0hn]

take a decently optioned out, new E92 335 and youre looking at ~$50k; now take a used M3 with decent miles ~$30k + HPF stage 1 and youre looking at ~$43k and 500+ bhp. ill take the M3.

[eunosracr]

I just did a similar trade. I traded in my 135i for an M roadster (3.2l e46 motor), soo happy with my choice.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by eunosracr

I just did a similar trade. I traded in my 135i for an M roadster (3.2l e46 motor), soo happy with my choice.

thats because the S54 is a hell of a motor and you got a cooler car.....congrats!

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by jh valley

take a decently optioned out, new E92 335 and youre looking at ~$50k; now take a used M3 with decent miles ~$30k + HPF stage 1 and youre looking at ~$43k and 500+ bhp. ill take the M3.

Actually, you can get a pretty good one for 20k add 30k for hpf stage 3 and you have a 950hp beast. Oh yea and WITH an LSD.

You would be surprised how quickly things add up for the 335 as well. LSD, tune, intake, downpipes, exhaust, gauges, oil cooler and so on (all stuff that either comes with the m3 stock or with the HPF kit)

Not saying the 335 is a bad car, I would rather sit in a 335, but I would much rather drive a stage 3 m3.

[persian54]

if you want to be comfortable, the 335i

if you want to go fast in a straight line, a modded 335i like yours

if you want to take turns, the M3.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by persian54

if you want to be comfortable, the 335i

if you want to go fast in a straight line, a modded 335i like yours

if you want to take turns, the M3.

add to that

if you want to take turns fast and be brutally fast in a straight line, FI M3

[Vlad]

Interesting to see how people are actually back-grading from E92 to E46s. There must be a good reason for it, I wouldn't know though, as I never drove an E46 M3 before.

[ohaywood]

Great call on the HPF.. I was thinking the same thing. I think I might go for it.

[s1cke92]

i always wanted an e46 m3 i end up going thru 2 e92s haha and one is my current.

[bogdan]

I'll throw in my .02

I had a E92 335. It was a great car, but, I'm more of a NA guy personally. For that reason, I'd be more inclined to give the nod to the E46 M3.

I can not/will not take any acclaim away from the 335i. I was faster on autox that E46
M3's. It was a beast in a straight line and corners, slightly better than the E46's, I feel.

There are some sticking points with the 335.
1. Run-flats (I know you can change them, but still)
2. No LSD (one tire fire sucks. You can either get LSD, or let off the gas when one tire spins. No fun.)
3. Lag. (I know it's slight... but it's still annoying to me personally)

The intangibles are what push me towards the E46 M3, though. Having driven both, the
E46 "feels" more like an extension of you when driving. The E46 is certianly cheaper if you compare it to a new 335i.

You really can't go wrong with either. The faster experience is found with the 335i, but the more involving one is with the E46 M3.

[ohaywood]

Originally Posted by bogdan

I'll throw in my .02

I had a E92 335. It was a great car, but, I'm more of a NA guy personally. For that reason, I'd be more inclined to give the nod to the E46 M3.

I can not/will not take any acclaim away from the 335i. I was faster on autox that E46
M3's. It was a beast in a straight line and corners, slightly better than the E46's, I feel.

There are some sticking points with the 335.
1. Run-flats (I know you can change them, but still)
2. No LSD (one tire fire sucks. You can either get LSD, or let off the gas when one tire spins. No fun.)
3. Lag. (I know it's slight... but it's still annoying to me personally)

The intangibles are what push me towards the E46 M3, though. Having driven both, the
E46 "feels" more like an extension of you when driving. The E46 is certianly cheaper if you compare it to a new 335i.

You really can't go wrong with either. The faster experience is found with the 335i, but the more involving one is with the E46 M3.

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks bud.

I've now realized that the ONLY thing that turns me off about the E46 is the interior (namely the control panel with the AC and CD and all that). I think it looks really outdated and cheap, but I guess you have to sacrifice something.