How many of you came from an N54 before your M?

[Gmstevenson]

I went from an E46 M3 to a 335is to a 2011 E93 M3

[sor]

Originally Posted by esquire

that's because your M3 is a vert.

vert or not, I call BS.

[ilidon]

Originally Posted by tooshay

after owning a 335i for just 10 months, i traded it in for the m3 and never looked back. the only thing i miss about the 335i is the mpg. other than that, the m3 is pretty much what a car is suppose to be. it is the best combo of power, handling, and comfort from a stock car.

same thing for me. only i had mine for a year.

[kitw]

We have an 09 335i and a 2011 M3. I don't miss the 335i AT ALL when I drive the M3... and I miss the M3 DEARLY when I drive the 335i. Even though you can make a 335i handle like an m3, with the m3 suspension bits, the S65 is just such a stimulating motor.

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by kouhii

I hope that's sarcasm.......

Why would that be sarcasm? The M3 is a > $65K vehicle that individuals who are generally well off can afford, hence it tends to attract women because they perceive the driver to have tremendous financial stability.

This isn't just a human female phenomenon, by the way, we see this same type of phenomenon across the entire animal kingdom. Female animals are more sexually attracted to male animals with greater resources. It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's just biology.

I never understood why people arbitrarily criticize this notion often with pejorative terms like "gold digger."

It's just a fact of life. Embrace it and do everything in your power to use it to your advantage.

Having wealth makes you more attractive to women, period. Being physically fit makes you more attractive to women, period. Having a more symmetrical face with prominent jaw lines and light facial hair (stubble) makes you more appealing to women.

And, back to the topic, driving a luxury prestige car like the M3 makes you more appealing to women. Nothing to be ashamed about.

[Crazy Bimmer]

^ Most chicks cant tell the difference between a $35k 328i and a $65k M3.

Just saying.

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

^ Most chicks cant tell the difference between a $35k 328i and a $65k M3.

Just saying.

True, good point. Fortunately though, overall, BMW as a brand is considered to be rather prestigious due to the average income/wealth levels of typical buyers.

This last point offers an objective way to measure the prestige of a luxury brand (average income/net worth levels of buyers across the brand). As it turns out, there's an institution called the Luxury Institute that gathers data to determine the prestige of a particular brand (for a variety of items, not just cars) in this very way.

The bottom line is this - a car brand's prestige is directly a function of the average income/net worth of buyers of that car brand.

In 2005, BMW was considered one of the top 3 (rank 3) most prestigious brands by this metric -

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/...ury/index.html

The top 4 in 2005 were:

1. Porsche
2. Mercedes
3. BMW
4. Lexus

In 2007, BMW fell to 4th -

http://www.sys-con.com/node/358481

1. Porsche
2. Mercedes
3. Lexus
4. BMW

2008 was similar, although Lexus seemed to move up a notch to oust Mercedes.

http://www.luxuryinstitute.com/docli...863537ac71.pdf

In 2008, the top 4 were

1. Porsche
2. Lexus
3. Mercedes
4. BMW

Not surprisingly, Porsche is consistently considered the most prestigious brand (that is, porsche owners have - on average - higher income/net worth).

I should add that Porsche is generally considered rank 1 by quite a large margin. BMW, Lexus, Mercedes are in a virtual tie for 2nd place after that, so the individual ranks among them are not as important. They are literally separated by a point or two.

[yousef]

I had chipped N54 135i and recently got ZCP M3, so I hope this helps you a bit.

135i is a quick car as you know, and mine felt slightly stickier than stock 135i since I changed its tires just like yours. It was so quick and even M3 felt not quick enough when I lightly test drove. I got M3 because I was not a fan of 135i's insolvable understeer tendency and infamous HPFP problem. So, when I got M3, I was quite happy with the balanced handling and over all quality, although it still felt not that quick.

After break-in period however, my opinion drastically changed. I realized that M3 just didn't feel quick. It is seriously quick, but it accelerate without letting you know it because of its low-end torque and high-end power. I can't tell how many times I was surprised how fast I was going. This does not happen when I go slowly, like test drive. In corners, their difference is much bigger. I'm going every corner around 5-10 miles/h faster than 135i, sometimes 15+, without struggle of understeer. M3 is in completely different league in almost all aspects. I admit that M3 doesn't have easy punch like turbo though.

I doubt 1M will have this much of performance and joy. Sure it will get good handling, but one thing I'm guessing is, 1M won't have more power than chipped 135i. I doubt that the opinions like "oh it's gonna be a better car than M3" or something like that. It might be because I know how bad 135i's understeer was, and how bad N54's HPFP problem was.

So, get M3 is what I can say now at this point.


By the way, M3 works as very strong man-magnet. I'm not going to say it works only for boys, but don't expect too much. Comparing with 135i, it just works twice as strong as chick-magnet, and 100 times as strong as man-magnet.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by yousef

I had chipped N54 135i and recently got ZCP M3, so I hope this helps you a bit.

135i is a quick car as you know, and mine felt slightly stickier than stock 135i since I changed its tires just like yours. It was so quick and even M3 felt not quick enough when I lightly test drove. I got M3 because I was not a fan of 135i's insolvable understeer tendency and infamous HPFP problem. So, when I got M3, I was quite happy with the balanced handling and over all quality, although it still felt not that quick.

After break-in period however, my opinion drastically changed. I realized that M3 just didn't feel quick. It is seriously quick, but it accelerate without letting you know it because of its low-end torque and high-end power. I can't tell how many times I was surprised how fast I was going. This does not happen when I go slowly, like test drive. In corners, their difference is much bigger. I'm going every corner around 5-10 miles/h faster than 135i, sometimes 15+, without struggle of understeer. M3 is in completely different league in almost all aspects. I admit that M3 doesn't have easy punch like turbo though.

I doubt 1M will have this much of performance and joy. Sure it will get good handling, but one thing I'm guessing is, 1M won't have more power than chipped 135i. I doubt that the opinions like "oh it's gonna be a better car than M3" or something like that. It might be because I know how bad 135i's understeer was, and how bad N54's HPFP problem was.

So, get M3 is what I can say now at this point.


By the way, M3 works as very strong man-magnet. I'm not going to say it works only for boys, but don't expect too much. Comparing with 135i, it just works twice as strong as chick-magnet, and 100 times as strong as man-magnet.

I'm in the same boat and came to the same conclusions after my test drives. But one thing I noticed immediately in the M3 is how rev happy it felt compared to my 135i. After getting into my 135i, I felt like the flywheel was made of a 50lbs piece of lead. The throttle response on the M3 is just amazing (and I wasn't even in sport + mode).

[jaserion]

i too came off an e92 335xi after 8months or so. ouch.

[Ferre86]

Originally Posted by esquire

that's because your M3 is a vert.

Full bolt on N54 + meth + race gas , I don't believe even any full bolt on e92 m3 keep up with it, I have both of them , able to compare it ..

[saurabbhatia]

traded in my 6mon old 335i for an M

[ChrisK]

Came from the 135i...


No Turbo (Lag and/or Failure), No HPFP = M3 WIN

[sparkyg]

I had a 08 335xi with Stg 3 Dinan and it was fast but handled brutal

I am not sure how BMW can call the 335 a drivers car, the M3 suspension is the way all BMW's should be

I'd never go back. But that begs the question, what is the next car...

[hammick]

Originally Posted by NemesisX

Why would that be sarcasm? The M3 is a > $65K vehicle that individuals who are generally well off can afford, hence it tends to attract women because they perceive the driver to have tremendous financial stability.

This isn't just a human female phenomenon, by the way, we see this same type of phenomenon across the entire animal kingdom. Female animals are more sexually attracted to male animals with greater resources. It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's just biology.

I never understood why people arbitrarily criticize this notion often with pejorative terms like "gold digger."

It's just a fact of life. Embrace it and do everything in your power to use it to your advantage.

Having wealth makes you more attractive to women, period. Being physically fit makes you more attractive to women, period. Having a more symmetrical face with prominent jaw lines and light facial hair (stubble) makes you more appealing to women.

And, back to the topic, driving a luxury prestige car like the M3 makes you more appealing to women. Nothing to be ashamed about.

[u2b][/u2b]

My wife hates driving my M3 and often makes fun of me for talking about my car too much. She would drive my 335i quite often.

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by sparkyg

I had a 08 335xi with Stg 3 Dinan and it was fast but handled brutal

I am not sure how BMW can call the 335 a drivers car, the M3 suspension is the way all BMW's should be

I'd never go back. But that begs the question, what is the next car...

I'm curious...maybe a full track ride? SC E46?

[adc]

After 2 years in a modified 335i, no regrets.

When the 1M comes out, I will try it out for sure, mainly because of size/weight not power or torque.

[klammer]

One thing that I think goes unnoticed in these comparisons (or not for some) is the smoothness of this engine is confused with slowness ( won't even get into handling, no brainer). Get on the highway, stoplight to stoplight, b4 you know you're just flying... To me that's the true sign of an awesome ride... It's all about control and precision... Btw LOVE MY M!!!!!

[335rocket]

I would have to dosagree with that. I would not at all say the 335 handling is brutal. The 335 handles great. especially on the highway. Of course its no M3, but its still an amazing car

[335rocket]

how did you have a 335is and get rid of it so fast? That car just practically came out

[sparkyg]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

^ Most chicks cant tell the difference between a $35k 328i and a $65k M3.

Just saying.

Yup, just ask them what colour the car is

kinda sad...

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by hammick

[u2b][/u2b]

My wife hates driving my M3 and often makes fun of me for talking about my car too much. She would drive my 335i quite often.

Originally Posted by GoGeo

You must be in a very small market. BMWs in Dallas, Miami, LA, etc. are like mopeds. It doesnt' matter which one you drive. Most people can't tell the difference between an X3 or an M5. Unless you drive a Ferrari or something along those lines, we're all stuck in the same cars. BTW, even if you drive a ferrari, all ferraris look the same to 99% of people, same with Lambos, etc.

Now, as to wealth...If you're dealing with women in the same social class, then money is expected to be there...much like wearing shoes to a restaurant...if you're trying to pick up waitresses, then that's when that beemer and money will come in really useful!

Good points all around.

Certainly a shame that so many car non-enthusiasts (note: virtually all women) cannot differentiate between lower and higher end models of a particular brand.

Thinking back, I realize that I've actually seen this phenomenon first hand with many of my lady friends -

I've heard Maybachs and Bentleys being referred to as Chryslers, for example

A lady friend of mine saw a Pontiac solstice once and went "wow sweet take a look at that ferrari!" .... Decades and decades worth of Italian racing heritage being denigrated to the likes of a pontiac

It should be noted that I'm a college student on a college campus, if it matters. Maybe older, more mature women can recognize a legendary car when they see one.