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

[bmw13]

With 21k on the odometer after just one year, I will be pulling the trigger for a new vehicle around 35k, and at this rate, 8-12 months from now. My question is.. how many of you ///M die hards came from a non-stock N54?

My plan was to purchase an 1m, but due to only 2700 units to be produced world-wide, I doubt I will be able to get my hands on one...

With that said, that leaves me one option for the mean time, an M3. My only fear is:

1) I will miss that amazing turbo torque in every gear vs just having it in a lower gear..

Now I do care about handling and carrying a car through a turn at speed correctly more than straight line performance. I have test driven an e90 m3 and an e92 m3. The car is phenomenal, it is the perfect balance, I know I am preaching the choir when I state that..

But you guys who have come from an N54 and jumped into an ///m, do you think this is the right car for me... i prefer handling>power; but then again do not want to give up a lot of that power

[Richbot]

I predict that availability of the 1M will not be a problem in this country. Get that.

[bmw13]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I predict that availability of the 1M will not be a problem in this country. Get that.

i hope so..; this would be the best option in my case.. an n54 with everything m/// applied and built around it... my dream car...

[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.

[Brosef]

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.

my thoughts exactly.

[bmw13]

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.

as is any ///M

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by bmw13

But you guys who have come from an N54 and jumped into an ///m, do you think this is the right car for me... i prefer handling>power; but then again do not want to give up a lot of that power

Is your 135i heavily modded? If not, you are not giving up power, you are gaining it.

Have you test driven an M3 back-to-back with your car? If not, go do that. That's the best way to compare them.

Personally, when I go from the E90 335i to the (pig-heavy) E93 M3, its a no brainer. The M3 blows away the driving experience of the 335i, even with 500 lbs of extra weight. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the 335i (especially if I get the urge to row gears) but it lacks the handling and the magic that is the S65.

[1cleanm6]

i had an 07 335 which was crazy with problems

eventhough my 335 was not chipped or anything, the m is a different beast. Yes you might miss the torque and all but i never care. Once you rev this baby up its truly a monster. The way it drives is completely different.

Get a e92 m, however i think even in one year youll have trouble getting a nicely equipped with low miles for 35k

[JJM335]

I also came from a 355i...a chipped one at that...and do not miss it one bit. To me the "joy" of driving is about the feel and not necessarily the ultimate speed or grip levels. The 335 was fast but so effortless it was kindof boring. The M3 makes me work a bit harder at times to go fast, but it so much more engaging...and fun to drive. That said most performance cars these days are just stupid fast for the street. I find that my MKV GTI is nearly as fun as the M3 anywhere but at the track or autocross.

[richardbb85]

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.

pretty much the same for every other ex 335i owners

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by 1cleanm3

Get a e92 m, however i think even in one year youll have trouble getting a nicely equipped with low miles for 35k

He was talking about getting a vehicle when his current car hits 35k miles, not having a $35k budget.

[bmw13]

Originally Posted by 1cleanm3

i had an 07 335 which was crazy with problems

eventhough my 335 was not chipped or anything, the m is a different beast. Yes you might miss the torque and all but i never care. Once you rev this baby up its truly a monster. The way it drives is completely different.

Get a e92 m, however i think even in one year youll have trouble getting a nicely equipped with low miles for 35k

35k miles my friend, when i reach 35k miles, not cash... lol i thank you for addressing that concern though

[Lodaka]

I came directly from 335i E90, and put up about 50k km (approx 30-31k miles) before moving on to E92 M3. I am still in the break-in period; so, I haven't been able to rev it up too much.

I don't miss the low end torque. It's a little difficult to put my thoughts into words, but M3 just feels very different from 335i; my brain doesn't expect it. Give it a little gas and the smoothness is totally unreal.

I had both 335i and M3 for about a month before dumping 335i off and even though I drove both for about a month; I still wanted to be in M3. It could've been the novillo leather seats...

[Bubbles]

50k+ in a modded N54 = Love the M3

[Ferre86]

having E93 m3 and having Fully loaded N54 , m3 aint fast as N54 but interior , drivebility , quality , handling way improved compared to N54..

[duk]

m3 has plenty of tq for around town driving, should be last of your worries. it's an M car designed to live at above 7k rpms

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Ferre86

having E93 m3 and having Fully loaded N54 , m3 aint fast as N54 but interior , drivebility , quality , handling way improved compared to N54..

that's because your M3 is a vert.

[Crazy Bimmer]

Had a heavily modded 335i for a year. Even had coilovers but still couldnt get it to handle the way a stock M3 does. The balance just wasnt there.

335i is an amazing car and i still recommend it to many but the M3 is just so much better. While its nice to have that low end torque.. theres still something special about a V8 that rev over 8k rpm.

Sadly just test driving an M3 doesnt even show half of the giddy feeling you get after its really broken in.

[richardbb85]

plus the //M3 is a chick magnet car

[kouhii]

Originally Posted by richardbb85

plus the //M3 is a chick magnet car

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

[PunjabiM3]

Didn't come from an N54. Had a 997 C2S and e46 M3 (S54) prior. You may miss the torque though. I know the 997 had a lot more low end torque (at least according to my butt dyno).

[///Mperative]

I had a 2008 335xi and last month I dumped it like a sack of shit for a new M3. No question in my mind that I made the right choice. I guess it's true that once you go \\\M you never go back.

Screw torque. I'll take the S65 over the N54 any day of the week.