[minn19]

Here is my take on this subject. I have always wanted an M3, but I have a family and want to have an xDrive equipped car with winter tires because I feel it is a safer choice for daily driving with my family. Not to start another xDrive vs RWD fight. I live in the country in MN and have a 60 mile round trip commute to work and have to either drop off or pick up my daughter everyday in all weather etc. So it is a personal choice.

Any way, my car stickered for about 55k. 335 xDrive Sport Line with Cold Weather Package, Comfort Access, Driver Assistance and Nav. I may have forgot something, but those are the major packages. I got the car before taxes for a little over 49k and have added MPPK/MPE which was about $2500ish installed. I plan on putting in KW V1 coilovers and upgrading the sound system which will cost roughly 4k more. So, I am at around 55-56k when I am done modding.

The M3 I want comes in at 78-79k sticker. I feel I have pretty close to the car I have always wanted for roughly 20k less and feel it is a better choice for my family and the conditions I drive in. Is it an M3, of course not, but still a damn nice all weather daily driver that is fun when I have the time.

I will just wait until the time is right for a third car and get a dedicated sports car. I'll find a used Cayman or something like that in the future.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by 300hp

This is inaccurate and I am not even in Canada. The mperformance versions are not the same price as a base M3. The base M3 stickers for quite a bit more than an mperformance F3x. And notice how I use the word base M3 because that's a key point.

I said "bumping up against" the price of an M3. You're right that there's a gap of about 10k. But when you're talking 64k vs 74k (Canadian dollars), I personally do consider those to be in the same neighborhood.

I'm sure some people would consider a loaded up "335i M Performance Edition" to be more attractive than a base M3. For me, I'm perfectly happy with my 52k 335i. But let's say I added 6k worth of options and m-perf parts, suddenly a base M3 for 62k (US dollars) starts to look a lot more attractive. Choices are good, and to each his own.

Anyway here's the Canadian 335i M Performance Edition.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=839850

[300hp]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

I said "bumping up against" the price of an M3. You're right that there's a gap of about 10k. But when you're talking 64k vs 74k (Canadian dollars), I personally do consider those to be in the same neighborhood.

I'm sure some people would consider a loaded up "335i M Performance Edition" to be more attractive than a base M3. For me, I'm perfectly happy with my 52k 335i. But let's say I added 6k worth of options and m-perf parts, suddenly a base M3 for 62k (US dollars) starts to look a lot more attractive. Choices are good, and to each his own.

Anyway here's the Canadian 335i M Performance Edition.

url]

Apples/oranges

I got my 335i for 61k, added ppk and mpe so say about 63, less 8k in discounts.

I can't imagine getting 8k off an M3 right now and as you said it's a base M3 with manual transmission. DCT is 3k so already we have a nice difference of 11k. Factor in taxes to bring it to 12k. I know for you 12k is nothing but for me that's around a 20% difference and that 12k is a HUGE difference. Not even in the same neighborhood.

If 12k were nothing I would have a yellow m3 right now

[335BOY]

I'd take stripped M3/M4 over loaded 335 ANYTIME. Drove my Pals M4 last week. The sound alone makes it for me.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

I'd take stripped M3/M4 over loaded 335 ANYTIME. Drove my Pals M4 last week. The sound alone makes it for me.

+1

I think most people would agree with that, but you are always looking at a minimum of 10k between the two. If 10k is nothing then we would all be on the F80/2 forums. However we are here

[minn19]

Originally Posted by 300hp

Apples/oranges

I got my 335i for 61k, added ppk and mpe so say about 63, less 8k in discounts.

I can't imagine getting 8k off an M3 right now and as you said it's a base M3 with manual transmission. DCT is 3k so already we have a nice difference of 11k. Factor in taxes to bring it to 12k. I know for you 12k is nothing but for me that's around a 20% difference and that 12k is a HUGE difference. Not even in the same neighborhood.

If 12k were nothing I would have a yellow m3 right now

I don't know what my number is, but you are right 12-20k is significant money.

Originally Posted by 335BOY

I'd take stripped M3/M4 over loaded 335 ANYTIME. Drove my Pals M4 last week. The sound alone makes it for me.

Again, Chiefneil said it well that choices are good. I would not want to live with out the tech and creature comforts I've gotten used to. If it was a third fun car and not my daily driver than I could do a so called stripper.

[335BOY]

All I need is bluetooth. I have Nav now and rarely if ever use it.

[sam6133]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

More or less yeah I guess so?

Why's it matter?

i just recently bought a 435i and was wondering if there was going to be any m performance version of the model. more is always better!

[sam6133]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Quick feedback about my personal experience: I own an F30 33i M sport with the Dinan tune (advertised for 360 hp) and springs (nothing more so far) and an E46 M3 (engine is stock, suspension is track oriented) and my butt dyno tells me that they are overall equally fast. Still, the F30 is way more comfortable for daily driving and faster in a straight line and the naturally aspirated E46 with modified suspension is more fun on the track and much more planted in the turns.

Is an M performance equipped F30 or F32 as much an M car as the M235i? I would say yes without hesitation. I test drove the M235i before getting my F30 and would not say that both cars were worlds apart, especially not after the F30 started to get modded (not M performance parts, but similar).The one thing it misses is indeed a LSD, which for the very little German I can decipher seemed to be on the M-Perf equipped 435i.

"M performance" optioned cars are NOT BMW M GmbH cars and do not intend to. Still, I do not see an issue using the M badge for them as they are sport oriented versions of the car ("M Performance" could be seen as Audi "S", while M3, M4, M5, M6 would be comparable to Quattro GmbH's "RS" for instance).
Just my 2 cents.

EDIT: Audi S4/S5's have nothing exclusive (no hate, I owned one a couple of years ago and loved it), they just do not sell as many cars in the US. But a 335/435i is not a direct equivalent to an S4/S5 either and you would need to consider an F3x equipped with M Performance options to compare apples to apples (firmer suspension, more hp, etc.). Taking this into account, I am not sure there are more of those F3x on the street than S4/S4's.

I would also add that the concept of being "exclusive" is all relative. What percentage of the world population, or developed countries, can afford a $55k? Certainly a ton more than Ferrari's, but it still does not come cheap for the middle class...

you basically just answered my question with the clearest and best explanation. Thank you.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by sam6133

you basically just answered my question with the clearest and best explanation. Thank you.

+1 on your edit as well

I understand what you mean by 55k is not exactly cheap. However I can't beat myself on the chest for having what I have. Having known people who can afford to pay cash for 2 kids at Ivey league colleges that's about 60-90k per year per child, that's like 2 loaded M4s per year, it kind of gives you a different perspective on life. Or knowing that in Manhattan where I work one in 22 people who lives there is a millionaire. Or there being a million millionaires in the US alone, never mind the billionaires. I figure 55k is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. Sure we can beat ourselves on the chest about having what we have but I just never want to lose scope of what the real world is like.

[ATLBlue]

Originally Posted by 300hp

+1 on your edit as well

I understand what you mean by 55k is not exactly cheap. However I can't beat myself on the chest for having what I have. Having known people who can afford to pay cash for 2 kids at Ivey league colleges that's about 60-90k per year per child, that's like 2 loaded M4s per year, it kind of gives you a different perspective on life. Or knowing that in Manhattan where I work one in 22 people who lives there is a millionaire. Or there being a million millionaires in the US alone, never mind the billionaires. I figure 55k is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. Sure we can beat ourselves on the chest about having what we have but I just never want to lose scope of what the real world is like.

I do not disagree at all and nobody should feel guilty about his accomplishments or earnings. I misunderstood your point. I have unfortunately seen people in forums regularly looking down to others who have a less expensive or slower rides , but this was clearly not the case. Enough threadjacking on my side