JohnM

Is it worth the extra $15,000 US? The 335i has more Torque and the interior is exactly the same (sans some different trim color options). If you get the sport suspension and variable steering then how much of the M3 handling do you get?

I've read wildly varying acceleration numbers for each car with the "official" BMW numbers differing by only 0.5 seconds (well within the overlap from the varying official sources). How do these two engines compare regarding feel? How do the manual transmission compare? I've read disappointing things about the 08 M3 6-speed but nothing about the 335i 6-speed.

The 335i gets vastly better gas mileage, which may matter more when gas hits 4.50+/gallon for premium but still another plus for the cheaper car.

What am I missing? I love my 97 M3 but I'm not convinced the 08 M3 is "good enough" to justify the cost differential (although oddly, I find it easily the best value with respect to it's peers, C63, RS4, IS-F).

DeDe

1. Different engine concepts: M3 V8 is a highreving sport-engine (up to 8400 rpm), 335i is a 6-cyl-twin turbo engine (max revs 7000) with a lot of torque.
2. M3's suspension is even sportier than 335i M's.
3. M3 has a M-differential if I'm right
4. M3 is an M3 335i just a BMW...

Centurion

The M3 and 335i are two cars in different worlds. With M3 you get better engine response, an amazing, sharper steering, better brakes and a few other goodies which sets it apart from your average car.

In the end the real way to determine if the M3 is worth the extra dough is by heading down to your local BMW dealer and drive the cars back to back. That's the only way my friend.

Just_me

I driven both 335i and the new M3. I pick a M3 over 335i, much sportier drive than 335i. But a 335i is much cheaper to own and maintain and offer a great performance that is more than enough for cardrivers.
If money is a problem then go with 335i, I think you will be happy with it. I dont know were you live but if Alpina B3 is for sale were you live, then take a look at it. B3 gives you 360hp (including BMW warranties) and is cheaper than a M3.

hussein

m3 of course m3 is something else coulmon man its like youre saying cls 550 vs cls 63 amg

Tarek

M3 without thinking twice if the money is not a problem

dr Dunkel

If 0-60 is your main concern and aim you should go for the 335i and maybe some tuning.

ateekt

A 335i with a couple of grands ($) in mods will eat M3 without any headache but, at the end of the day, M3 will be the M3 ...!

JohnM

Thanks All,

The 335i seemed like it could be the next M3 when it came out in 2007 and it competes against the RS4 regarding track times so it's a spectacular car in it's own right. I know all the technical changes between the cars, but those never tell the tale of which car is faster around the track or drivable in the real world. If the 335i isn't in the RS4/M3/C3/ISF class then I don't know what class it's in. I don't feel it's much of a choice between the 335i and any car within $10,000 if you have the money and I'm not sure what else comes close regarding performance except the above four cars (or variants of those). I think the 335i is probably a better car than the RS4 regardless of money. It does sound like the M3 is still a significant step up but I've never seen the cars directly compared. I've seen the 335i compared to the RS4 favorably and I've seen the M3 compared to the RS4 favorably. It would be disappointingly to plunk down an extra $16K just to discover that the M3 isn't really any better than the 335i just different. "Prestige" isn't worth an extra $16K to me, it has to drive (not just in a straight line) significantly better.

<So far> I haven't found a dealer that is going to get an M3 for several months so driving it (if I want a new car before August) isn't an option. I live in Atlanta if anyone knows of someplace with an M3 I could drive that would be spectacular. Waiting would be prudent but I'm about out of patience.

Money is always an issue whenever I'm spending $50K+ or maybe that's just me being cheap.

Anyway, thanks for all the insight. It's been very helpful!

Poverty

335i as good as the RS4

335i laps just as fast as the new Audi A4 3.2 Quattro around hockenheim racetrack. Also S3 laps similiar to 335i around alot of tracks too.

You might aswell just get a 335i and get it remapped and fit a sport diff.