[2014_335i]

I'm sure this has been debated before in one way or another, but interested in some thoughts from those who have owned a F30 335ix (6MT) and/or a B8 S4 (6MT). Trying to keep apples to apples here for the most part..

After 9 months with my 2014 335ix, I've decided I've married the wrong car for me. As they used to say on the game show, I've not found a 'love connection'.

I had a B8 A4 before moving to the F30 335ix. But it was a decision between the 335ix and the S4 at the time and I assumed that the BMW/Ultimate Driving Machine would be the better choice - again, for me.

Here's some stuff I'll miss on the 335:
- the engine is great - no doubt
- the exhaust sounds ridiculous. I LOVE that sound!
- the sports seats are very good/comfy
- I'll miss my heated steering wheel here in Colorado

Some stuff I won't miss:
- Auto stop/start engine (yeah, I know you can disable it manually)
- steering feel (or lack thereof)
- Comfort access trunk never works right
- Run flat tires (yes those can be replaced - but add $1,000 to the car cost)
- I have the 6MT: reverse and 1st gear are not super intelligent to navigate
- the HK stereo 'upgrade' is very disappointing
- iDrive - ugh what a lousy interface
- why are the seat heaters so damn hot on the #1 setting? I've never even used 2 or 3
- BMW jack points/adapters - enough said
- wiper fluid reservoir - why should it take me 10 minutes to fill it up because I can only add teaspoons of fluid at a time
- why do we have to 'code' so many things? - just put it on iDrive screen

What I'm looking forward to in the S4:
- the sound of raw induction roaring from under the hood. That supercharged V6 is sweet
- MMI - it's not great but seems much more logical and useable than iDrive
- Regular tires with a spare - no RFTs
- the B&O stereo sounds much better than the HK in the 335 IMO
- quad exhaust tips
- the electro-mechanical e-brake
- a stereo mute button on the steering wheel (lol)

I know the B9 S4 is on the way and that will likely change the comparison with the 335ix in one way or another, but I wanted to keep the comparo to what I can buy TODAY.

Happy motoring, all!

[FC4]

People nitpick about some pretty insignificant things about these cars, but holy shit...your list takes the cake. How does your significant other deal with you on a daily basis?

[2014_335i]

Originally Posted by FC4

People nitpick about some pretty insignificant things about these cars, but holy shit...your list takes the cake. How does your significant other deal with you on a daily basis?

Easy explanation. The more expensive an item gets, the more I expect it from it. My expectations from a $25K Hyundai are much less.

With the 3-series surpassing the $60K mark w/options now, it better be close to perfect IMO.

[S4Dude]

Clearly I have an S4. I think perhaps what sunk you here was that you came from an Audi and familiarity won the day. I don't personally think you can go wrong with either but I've obviously picked Audi THIS TIME...I may do something different in the future. Both great cars.

[zamboni]

Good luck on your new ride and keep us posted.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Both are good cars, yes difference between them in some areas.

Regarding coding, not sure about over the Pond, however there are loads coding things on the audi.

If was changing would definitely wait for the new A4 model range coming out, I believe you lot may be getting the RS4, which is superior to the S4. Changing before then 'could' see you with an older and less capable car in comparraison.

[Blubaron79]

This biggest problem I have with your review: iDrive. Way better and easier than Audi's. Also: go sit in a Ford or a Cadillac and look at their systems. Garbage compared to iDrive.

[joz]

The stereo mute button! Its one the one thing BMW kind of forgot on the steering wheel. I've had a few cars with that option and it was convenient

That being said you can just click the volume knob and it mutes.

[the_phew]

I'm a big BMW fan, and I prefer the S4 to the 335ix. But my reasons have nothing to do with stereos, trunks, and tires:

-The available Sport Diff on the S4 is befitting a proper AWD sport sedan, while the x-drive BMW has open diffs
-Audi installs actual sport suspension on the S4, while the x-drive BMWs get the pudding springs from a Buick
-Audi's alcantara top sport seats are very supportive and look awesome with the two-tone contrast. Even the $60k 335ix has the same boring seats/materials as my 320i

[335BOY]

I'd go S4 for sure. Having said that, I would wait for B9. B8 is about 7 years old I think. I test drove 335 x drive before I got my last BMW (coming from S4) and didnt like it at all. I ended up with RWD but missed Quattro. I see quattro in my future...B9 no question. I really don't get why BMW insists on higher and softer suspension on xdrive (other than M235) when their main competitor lowers it and firms it up.

[fecurtis]

Lol, you hated the steering in the 335i but think the S4 EPS will just magically be better?

Both are very similar to one another, the one in the S4 I thought was slightly worse when I looked at an S4.

And there's nothing wrong with the iDrive interface, seems straight forward enough to me. Better interface than Audi's MMI, but Audi's MMI system isn't bad when you get past the GUI.

And who "looks forward" to an electrical e-brake switch? That's probably the most insignificant thing I've heard someone get excited about.

Plus, both cars can require coding to get custom things that are not available by default.

And the washer fluid comment? Wtf are you talking about? You just dump out a bottle of washer fluid into the reservoir literally like any other car on the face of the planet. If it takes you 10 minutes to do that, then something is very wrong with you.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

I really don't get why BMW insists on higher and softer suspension on xdrive (other than M235) when their main competitor lowers it and firms it up.

Lexus, Mercedes, and Infiniti do not, all of them give you softer and high suspension in their AWD models, makes sense when you think about it. Not sure about Cadillac. Most people opt for AWD for weather related reasons, on an unplowed, snowed over road, you'd want a slightly higher car with slightly softer suspension.

B9 S4 should be nice though.

[Prissy]

S4 for sure! I was thinking to get one instead of my current 3 but the new model is coming out in an year or two so... S4 might be my next car, if my budget allows, M4 it is.

[Buckeyes]

Not sure if op plans on doing any mods to the S4 but read up on the TD1. Audi is going full tilt on this stuff and taking it out of the hands of the "friendly" dealerships and into the hands of audi na.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Lexus, Mercedes, and Infiniti do not, all of them give you softer and high suspension in their AWD models, makes sense when you think about it. Not sure about Cadillac. Most people opt for AWD for weather related reasons, on an unplowed, snowed over road, you'd want a slightly higher car with slightly softer suspension.

B9 S4 should be nice though.

I was considering S4 to be main competitor to 335 xdrive msport......
Something like 93% of all 2,3&4 series brought into Canada are xdrive now. Our roads get plowed quickly.

[snipnoob86]

i love thw audis i had an a6 that i did 190k miles in from new. loved it. my choices for upgrade were simple audi s4/s5 or 335

the s4 looked too sedate. its appearance is just aged in my opinion though still nice. the s5 is amazing the best looking car of all 3. though it doesnt offer 5 seats very well and having 3 kids this didnt work. such a shame.

so the 335 it was. great car ticks the boxes and fits the kids in. i drive so much better than mmi. and dare i say it.... xdrive is great compared to the quattro i had. xdrive actually let me kick the back end out on demand.

that said. you wont go wrong with the s4

[E30toF30]

I test drove both the 2015 S4 and the 335xi before i made my decision.
In my personal situation, the 335xi won by a landslide. However I still LOVE the S4 and really wish there was an S4 Avant available on this side of the world...if there was, i would have taken that in a heartbeat!!

[64-bit]

You forgot a very important point on 335xi vs Audi S4/S5, the Audi AWD is two generations batter than the BMW, and that is why I choose the RWD.

I drove a 2015 Audi S5 and OMG what a combination of AWD and suspension! They nailed it down!
Why BMW's has such bad AWD? When you floor the 335i you can feel the torque on the front wheels, the front of the car will go up, making a bad experiencing when exiting curves or doing 0-60, I F hate that!

Next car, if not an M3 will defensively be an Audi SR.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by snipnoob86

i love thw audis i had an a6 that i did 190k miles in from new. loved it. my choices for upgrade were simple audi s4/s5 or 335

the s4 looked too sedate. its appearance is just aged in my opinion though still nice. the s5 is amazing the best looking car of all 3. though it doesnt offer 5 seats very well and having 3 kids this didnt work. such a shame.

so the 335 it was. great car ticks the boxes and fits the kids in. i drive so much better than mmi. and dare i say it.... xdrive is great compared to the quattro i had. xdrive actually let me kick the back end out on demand.

that said. you wont go wrong with the s4

I've done donuts on snow in Audis.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Lol, you hated the steering in the 335i but think the S4 EPS will just magically be better?

Both are very similar to one another, the one in the S4 I thought was slightly worse when I looked at an S4.

And there's nothing wrong with the iDrive interface, seems straight forward enough to me. Better interface than Audi's MMI, but Audi's MMI system isn't bad when you get past the GUI.

And who "looks forward" to an electrical e-brake switch? That's probably the most insignificant thing I've heard someone get excited about.

Plus, both cars can require coding to get custom things that are not available by default.

And the washer fluid comment? Wtf are you talking about? You just dump out a bottle of washer fluid into the reservoir literally like any other car on the face of the planet. If it takes you 10 minutes to do that, then something is very wrong with you.

Lol. The Washer fluid comment. So true. Talk about being picky.

[xlover]

I actually moved on from a B8 S4 to a 335 xdrive. I did not like MMI at all to me it felt like integration with I devices was way behind idrive and other systems at the top of the automotive industry. For example no usb connection, no ability to access the device via voice control or siri eyes free. Its true MMI is simpler but in my opinion in a bad way, i don't mind navigating Idrive. I also liked the BMW interior more.

I do miss the sport suspension of the S4 when i push the car a bit but appreciate the softer xdrive ride around the city. Potholes and MBTA tracks dont feel like the whole car is going to shatter. I also miss the bit of extra power from the S4. I am going to remedy that in my next BMW and go for MPPK and DHP... I am also hoping they will finally offer the lowered suspension with xdrive models.

for my needs the give and take made the BMW an easy choice for me but everyone has their own to evaluate

[BimmerBoomer]

I nearly bought an S4 in 2009, but at the last moment I sat in a 2010 M3 coupe DCT. It was home, and I bought it. This time I looked at the S4/S5 again, but I got an offer I couldn't refuse from my dealer on the 435i xDrive 8AT. I'm not too excited about BMW's direction on the 3/4 series and I think a new lighter vehicle from Audi would tip the balance.