[eddieinotayev]

The Reason I would like to make this thread is to help people that were struggling to pick a 335i and make it fast or get a stock M3. This is something I struggled with and I hope this thread will help people make there decision.

Those who don't want to read this whole thread, long story short my tuned 335i made more power than a stock M3 but it never felt like an M3, even though the M3 was slower it felt faster and it is much more fun and just as capable as a daily driver. The 335i got boring after 2 months, the M3 after having it over 9 months, every time I start the car i get exited and cant wait till the engine warms up so i can drive it hard.

Those who would like to read this whole thread i will categorise each subject.

My Background :

I work at a car dealership I am a carsalesman/loan officer. I have driven a lot of cars from the lot from AMG 63, Subaru Sti, Mustang GT 5.0, etc... My first sports car i decided to get a 2013 F30 335i MSport xDrive 6MT. The dealer got it cheap so i decided to snatch it. The mods that i added was Jb4, Injen intake, Catless Downpipe, charge pipe, meth, E85 mix with 93 octane. I never dynoed the car but I'm sure it was over 400 hp and 400 tq. I had the car a little bit over a year, sold it then bought a 2011 E90 M3 saloon DCT with competition package. Currently have this car for 9 month's.

Reliability :

2013 F30 335i : Was pretty reliable, had to change oil every 3,000 miles was black at 3k mark even though i used 5k premium mile oil. Spark plugs and coil pack go out pretty often. My coolant wire broke bursted coolant everywhere in the engine, fuel-pump went out, and my wheel bearings was going bad made a lot of noise.

E90 M3 : Also just as reliable as the 335i if not better. Oil was 2x expensive but i can change it every 5k miles. Needed spark plugs as well. Thermostat went out and two o2 sensors. Window regulator went out, as well as a washer fluid line went out. 85k miles on the motor and NO rod bearing issue yet.

Conclusion : Overall both engines are reliable, you will have little small petty issues but nothing major. You will have less issues with the M3... Why? Let me explain, it's normal for a 4.0 V8 to make 400+ horsepower. It is not normal for a 3.0 i6 to make more power than a V8. You hear the saying there is no replacement for displacement, well its true. It takes a lot of boost and stress on the engine for the 3.0 i6 to make that much horsepower. Engine longevity and reliability will be less on the 335i, also not to mention that the 4.0 V8 is a better built engine.

Driveability/Comfort :

The 335i wins this one in terms of suspension, but by a little, the BMW M3 is a little more rough when going through bumps and rough roads, but is that the reason you buy a sports car? The M3 has the better seats than the 335i. So this is a tie you get a softer suspension on the 335i but you have better seats in the M3.

Sound

The sound on the M3 is so good i had to make a separate category for this. It's just amazing, one of my favorite soundings V8 out there. The 335i is quiet when stock, the cat-less down-pipe really helped and it sounded good but nothing compared to the M3, stock form this thing sounds amazing I can only wonder how it will sound when i put a cat-less x pipe or exhaust on it. Even after 9 Month's the sound doesn't get old trust me. At 8k plus rpm's its a intoxicating sound.

Fun :

I saved the best for last. The M3 Wins this category in a heart beat. The Sport configuration can completely change the car, while the 335i doesn't really change much. In the M3 the steering gets heavy, the throttle gets sensitive, and the M Dynamic Traction control is amazing. Let me explain BMW M3 amazing traction control technology, You can either turn OFF the traction control or keep it ON. Keeping it ON makes you lose a lot of the cars potential, keeping it OFF makes the car like a wild dog that can't behave, M Dynamic Traction Control gives the right traction while still letting it spin a little, which gives it the best acceleration and makes this thing feel like a rocket off the line. Even though my tuned 335i was faster it felt nothing like the M3, M3 felt so much faster, maybe its the suspension or the chassis. Not only that it felt faster it also handled much much better and the steering feel is just amazing. Also did i forgot to mention it revs all the way to 8500 rpm? Trust me it is always an amazing feel every time you do it, it pulls all the way to 8500 and the sound it makes its just amazing! The 335i dies off over 5000 rpm and it really ruins the fun.

Conclusion :

Do you want a fake sports car just to win a few races you see on the streets? Or do you want a True sports car that will put a smile on your face every time you drive. I'm not sure about everyone else but i believe the answer is pretty simple.

P.S.

If you thing I'm dogging the 335i and saying its a bad car, its not. I'm trying to deliver the message that the M3 is much more superior car. The 335i is still a sports car and if the M3 wasn't a choose for me the 335i would be one of my top picks.

I Hope i helped those who were struggling with this subject like i was. Hope this makes you decision if your right on the edge, feel free to ask any questions ill be happy to help.

Thanks - Eddie

[RoundelM3]

Good luck with your last-generation M3. Opinions are subjective and are like navels - everyone has one. I doubt you're going to find anyone on this forum who's "struggling" with this subject. We have There's an M3/M4 forum on this website for folks like yourself.

[jmg]

Coming from a 340i M Sport with the Track Handling package to an F80 M3, I have learned that while you CAN make a 3 series as fast and agile as an M3/4, you are going to spend a lot of money and make some big compromises, at which point when all is said and done, you are near the tunable limits of the car. With a stock M3/4, you are already starting at almost that same level of performance of a highly modified 3 series, but now you have a higher ceiling with where you want to go. There is a reason that they make these cars more performance oriented and the 3 series more street oriented. They serve different purposes. Does that mean you cannot have fun modding and racing a 3 series? Of course not.

[yoandry]

Originally Posted by jmg

Coming from a 340i M Sport with the Track Handling package to an F80 M3, I have learned that while you CAN make a 3 series as fast and agile as an M3/4, you are going to spend a lot of money and make some big compromises, at which point when all is said and done, you are near the tunable limits of the car. With a stock M3/4, you are already starting at almost that same level of performance of a highly modified 3 series, but now you have a higher ceiling with where you want to go. There is a reason that they make these cars more performance oriented and the 3 series more street oriented. They serve different purposes. Does that mean you cannot have fun modding and racing a 3 series? Of course not.

No shit, really, you deduced that for yourself?

Everyone knows the M3/4 is better starting point for performance, Oh wait, no everyone can afford one. And you do know there are also better starting level performance than the M3/4 right.

[paimon.soror]

I've heard that V8 mustangs also follow the same ideology when compared to their ecoboost cousins.

It's as if they are catered to two different purchasing markets.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by yoandry

No shit, really, you deducted that for yourself?

Everyone knows the M3/4 is better starting point for performance, Oh wait, no everyone can afford one. And you do know there are also better starting level performance than the M3/4 right.

No need to get defensive. This wasn't an attack on people who can't afford an M. This was some advice for people who can afford a $62k F30 (the price of my aforementioned 340i) and dump about $12k+ in mods into it. They would probably be in a better place with a stock F80.

If you want to spend $12k on an older 335i you can get for $30k, then of course that probably the more economic route and bang for your buck. My post wasn't for you.

Maybe I should have made more of an emphasis on the last sentence where I said you can still have fun with it. I've been a defender of the 3 series as a fun car for over 20 years. My first car was a 1979 320i, and I happily drove a F30 328i for 3 years, so please don't misunderstand me.

[yoandry]

Originally Posted by jmg

No need to get defensive. My post was merely from a practical standpoint with the take-away being that if you want to be as fast as an M3, you might as well get one because you are going to be spending a lot of money to get there. THAT IS NOT TO SAY that you can't still have fun with a substantial amount of mods to hit the track in F30. It all depend on how much you want to spend.

So no, this wasn't an attack on people who can't afford an M. This was some advice for people who can afford a $62k F30 (the price of my aforementioned 340i) and dump about $12k+ in mods into it. They would probably be in a better place with a stock F80.

Maybe I should have made more of an emphasis on the last sentence where I said you can still have fun with it. I've been a defender of the 3 series as a fun car for over 20 years. My first car was a 1979 320i so please don't misunderstand me.

I was not trying to be defensive, but these comparisons between inferior/superior models gets old.
For how long you have your M3? I'll be here watching for when you start modding it and getting that MSRP up, as M parts are more expensive.

[Polo08816]

There's going to be a lot of BMW tuning bros / industrial complex butt hurt in this thread for sure... Subscribed to hear the cry babies whine about how they can make their x35i/x40i the shit...

[jmg]

Originally Posted by yoandry

I was not trying to be defensive, but these comparisons between inferior/superior models gets old.
For how long you have your M3? I'll be here watching for when you start modding it and getting that value up, as M parts are more expensive.

None of these cars values are going up with mods.

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by eddieinotayev

...

Conclusion :

Do you want a fake sports car just to win a few races you see on the streets? Or do you want a True sports car that will put a smile on your face every time you drive. I'm not sure about everyone else but i believe the answer is pretty simple.
...

I would have probably agreed with your assessment until you got to this conclusion...

Saying that the 335i is a "fake" sports car is quite incredible.

I wonder what your definition of "true" sports car is...

[eddieinotayev]

Originally Posted by stormlv

I would have probably agreed with your assessment until you got to this conclusion...

Saying that the 335i is a "fake" sports car is quite incredible.

I wonder what your definition of "true" sports car is...

If you thing I'm dogging the 335i and saying its a bad car, its not. I'm trying to deliver the message that the M3 is much more superior car. The 335i is still a sports car and if the M3 wasn't a choose for me the 335i would be one of my top picks.

if you read my post statement, i was being over exaggeration. i believe its a proper sports car.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by eddieinotayev

If you thing I'm dogging the 335i and saying its a bad car, its not. I'm trying to deliver the message that the M3 is much more superior car. The 335i is still a sports car and if the M3 wasn't a choose for me the 335i would be one of my top picks.

if you read my post statement, i was being over exaggeration. i believe its a proper sports car.

The reality is people get butt hurt when you tell them their car isn't good enough.

[Mike.]

I like my fake sports car

[MacklinUSOB]

Originally Posted by Mike.

I like my fake sports car

I very much like mine too. It is all semantics, though. The F30 by definition is not a Sports Car, fake or real, it is a Sport Sedan/Saloon.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by MacklinUSOB

I very much like mine too. It is all semantics, though. The F30 by definition is not a Sports Car, fake or real, it is a Sport Sedan/Saloon.

Neither is the M3 an M4.

They are both sporty sedans/coupes.

[Dylan86]

With this logic, we should all be looking at E60 V10 M5's, not E90 M3's.. It's a FAR superior engine, with a better interior, and the sound is intoxicating, right?? (must convince myself of my own convictions so I can sleep tonight)

It is easy to fall for an M car, if you're an enthusiast. It's harder to try and convince a board of newer car owners, however, that an older/depreciated, 4-digit maintenance requiring M-car, is a "better" car than what they own, or have, already (with warranty etc). You came from an X-DRIVE car which is prone to under-steer and designed to be a "livable" sporty sedan, and are now comparing the experience to a RWD M-car, did you really expect anything else?

Is it "better" for you? Apparently, so enjoy it! And hopefully it serves you long enough not to resent it for the maintenance costs you will accrue once you start racking up mileage, it may make for a great ownership period, Rod Bearings notwithstanding

[drummerlauw]

Definitely a salesman...

[Polo08816]

Still so much butt hurt on this thread...

[zinner]

I like the formatting of your post. Well put together.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Eddie

Based on the knowledge you showed in post #1 I would have a hard time taking anything you posted very seriously.

[eluded]

Originally Posted by eddieinotayev

You will have less issues with the M3... Why? Let me explain, it's normal for a 4.0 V8 to make 400+ horsepower. It is not normal for a 3.0 i6 to make more power than a V8.

Interesting opinion.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by eluded

Interesting opinion.

Especially since the current M3/4 come with a number of versions of the Turbo 3L inline 6 all over 400HP. But hey, he is an expert car salesman & knows all about these cars.