[.:bHd:.]

My lease is gonna finish at the end of this year and I'm looking into e46 M3s. I always loved this car and wanted to own one. You can get a decent one for around $25,000. Have any of you guys gone from a 335 to an e46 M3? Any pros and cons?

this is what it's gonna look like once I'm done

[GregL]

I'd like to know too. The lease on my E90 330xi will be up later this year and one of the replacements I'm considering is an E46 M3 convertible.

[noro]

There is a ton of info on this site about pros vs cons between the 2. I am in the same boat as you but slightly different in a sense that I NEED a 4dr car because of my new born son. So I am considering an E46 330i (ZHP ideally). So I can understand your thought process.

Be prepared to invest a bit more into the up-keep of the M3 since the parts a generally a bit more expensive as well as basic stuff like the motor oil etc.

That particular one BTW looks stunning.

[GME92]

wow that M3 is parked REALLY close to the curb...Living dangerously!!

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by GME92

wow that M3 is parked REALLY close to the curb...Living dangerously!!

Its also leaking.. is that going to be covered by warranty?
Its a nice car, but the fact that the warranty if not already over will be really soon, would steer me away. Newer bimmers are not the cheapest things to take care of either..

[BartM3]

There's also no pic of the rims on the right!

I went the other way, from an E46 M3 Coupe (SMG) to a 335iA Convertible. Must say, that's the way to go IMHO. M3 is a real sportscar, the 335i is more aimed at comfort and definately the newer car (more gadgets on board). After driving the M3 for two years it's a nice improvement to get more comfort, almost the same speed and a smoother ride. The M3 however, will always be "the car to have" as a second car (not daily driver) to play with because it's such a sharp, fast, adrenaline rush causing machine!!

Good luck on making a choice!!

[.:bHd:.]

Originally Posted by RambleJ

Its also leaking.. is that going to be covered by warranty?
Its a nice car, but the fact that the warranty if not already over will be really soon, would steer me away. Newer bimmers are not the cheapest things to take care of either..

You can always buy extended warranty or a 3rd party warranty

[benyl]

I have both.

The M3 spends a lot of time in the garage.

[.:bHd:.]

Originally Posted by benyl

I have both.

The M3 spends a lot of time in the garage.

Since you have both can you please tell me how the M3 is different than the 335? pros and cons.. And how much maintenance costs you.

Thanks

[jmsent]

Two very different cars. M3 is much more intense, raw, stiff, and louder inside. Much heavier clutch, better shifter. And you will be shifting it a lot more due to the narrower power band. You may be put off by the lack of torque, especially compared with the 335. The running gear (controls, hvac, stereo) are last generation, and they show it. The E9x has made a lot of improvements in this area. I went the other way, M3 to 335, and don't regret it. The M3 is a great car in many ways, but the 335 is a better daily driver, IMO.

[darkphantom]

335i = pampered when you want it to be, and sporty at the same time.

e46 m3 = raw power, and not exactly a soft suspension...

[astris]

I believe that's Daytonaviolet's M3. Has OEM CSL everything. It's actually being parted out right now...

[hl0m4n]

Originally Posted by astris

I believe that's Daytonaviolet's M3. Has OEM CSL everything. It's actually being parted out right now...

it is daytona's car. he is parting it out now? for what? he already has a gt3 on the side haha.

[Park2670]

I went from a 335 sedan to a Z4M coupe. To say the least, some days I miss my 335 (torque, ease of driving, gas mileage) But the S54 is a FANTASTIC engine and is a blast to tool around with.

I would just never want to own one out of warranty, the upkeep is quite expensive for most.

[astris]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

it is daytona's car. he is parting it out now? for what? he already has a gt3 on the side haha.

Who cares, he has a white GT3!

Yep, no takers with all the mods so it's being parted. Not sure what/if he plans to replace it with.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by .:bHd:.

You can always buy extended warranty or a 3rd party warranty

Extended warranty can only be bought by original owner and if the car is under the regular 4/50,000 miles warranty.

I would do more research on 3rd party warranty. Some are sketchy, to say the least. The E46 M3 is a classic. I would love to own a 6MT one.

[gtrokin330]

Sick, to make it look it look like that will cost $$$$$$...those are all OEM CSL parts. Im thinkin of getting into an e46 M3 vert and FI'ing it after my 335....always loved that car.

[Exacc]

I didn't sell my 335i...soon after I got the 335i, I was offered a ZCP M3 deal that is too good to refuse so I got it too!

The biggest difference you will feel is the lack of low end torque of the M3 compared to the 335i. At first test drive I was a bit disappointed with the M3. However, this is just test driving it around the city. This is the extent of my disappointment over the M3...after I took it out to the highway and places where I can drive faster...everything about the M3 is better!

Better high speed stabilty, top end power is better than 335...can't comment about the shifting because my 335 is auto, but the stock clutch for me is fine, and the shifter is a bit long, but something I can live with cause it is smooth.

At the end of the day, both seem similar on paper, but are very different cars. The 335 is more of a relaxed GT drive with good power for sporty driving...while the M3 is a focused car, for performance, handling and driving pleasure, but with GT-like feel.

Primary focus of the M3 is performance, and comfort is secondary...which it does both very well...The 335 is more comfort and long driving comfort, while performance is secondary (as seen by its soft suspension setting - somewhat disappointing actually), but it does both rather well too.

If you put FI on the M3, it will be better than the 335 all the way...If you upgrade the suspension of the 335i, it can be close to the M3...but one thing I will say...when I wake up in the morning, its the M3 that I am itching to drive...and its ability to be quick on track, while being very comfortable to ride is quite an great achievement of ///M division.

[.:bHd:.]

looks like it's gonna be a tough choice. My other option is to buy out my car at the end of the lease. For some reason I have a feeling the 335 is going to cost more to maintain than the m3

[E90330iS]

they are all at least 4 years old now..

[astris]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

they are all at least 4 years old now..

It's 2010 already?!

[GregL]

Originally Posted by astris

It's 2010 already?!

Well the last year of the E46 M3 was MY2005 right? So the last batch of cars would have been delivered around summer of 2005, by that logic the last batch will also be running out of the 4-year original comprehensive warranty by this summer.