[sy2767]

Here is my dilemma and im very fortunate to have it because i cant really lose, either way i get an amazing car!! I live in Manitoba, Canada where we get 6 horrible months of winter, the roads are usually snow packed and VERY icy, this year has been a record snowfall that won't melt until mid may im guessing. The roads are almost arrow straight for miles and very flat, very...very boring driving here!!! I have always lusted over owning a E90 M3 sedan, my budget is $43000 so i am limited in this country as to whats available to purchase, car would most likely have higher KMS (50xxx plus kms) with no warrenty and would be a 2008 at that price range here. A very good friend of mine ( near retirement) has a beautiful 2011 335xi loaded with every option available and only 17xxx kms that i can get for that price, it also comes with extended warrenty and an additional set of BMW wheels with winter tires. I know full well that's its no M3 but its still a very nice car, if i find an M3 i would want to purchase some kind of warrenty for piece of mind and also buy some winter tires and wheels. It will also be my daily driver to and from work, daycare (4 yr old son) and shopping etc...... it will never see "track day" . any opinions would be helpful.

[gds52]

Originally Posted by sy2767

Here is my dilemma and im very fortunate to have it because i cant really lose, either way i get an amazing car!! I live in Manitoba, Canada where we get 6 horrible months of winter, the roads are usually snow packed and VERY icy, this year has been a record snowfall that won't melt until mid may im guessing. The roads are almost arrow straight for miles and very flat, very...very boring driving here!!! I have always lusted over owning a E90 M3 sedan, my budget is $43000 so i am limited in this country as to whats available to purchase, car would most likely have higher KMS (50xxx plus kms) with no warrenty and would be a 2008 at that price range here. A very good friend of mine ( near retirement) has a beautiful 2011 335xi loaded with every option available and only 17xxx kms that i can get for that price, it also comes with extended warrenty and an additional set of BMW wheels with winter tires. I know full well that's its no M3 but its still a very nice car, if i find an M3 i would want to purchase some kind of warrenty for piece of mind and also buy some winter tires and wheels. It will also be my daily driver to and from work, daycare (4 yr old son) and shopping etc...... it will never see "track day" . any opinions would be helpful.

This is a tricky situation. If you buy M3 you may not be able to drive comfortably all year around, I may be wrong. Plus warranty worries for you. But M3 is M3

335xi, with winter tires, you can comfortably drive all the time specially those 6 months of snow.
Lower insurance premiums. 335 is pretty good at power and you can have extended warranty till 2017. If you are not that paranoid about getting an M3, IMO go for 335

[Transport3r]

I'd go for the 335XI.
As a DD, the 335 is better than the M3. The M V8 shines on the track but on daily roads it has less oomph than the turbo six. With a few upgrades the 335XI will be significantly faster, handle well enough, and you'll have AWD for the snow.

[Dozhdbog]

Get the 335xi and put a couple thousand dollars worth of mods into it. As a daily driver it will be the best thing for where you live, and after the mods it will be a beast during the summer months.

[g0at23]

Do not buy a 335i by all means. Worst reliable engine in the world. If you can't drive a M3 there then get an Audi. You don't want to be in the shop every 3 months like me.

[Transport3r]

Originally Posted by g0at23

Do not buy a 335i by all means. Worst reliable engine in the world. If you can't drive a M3 there then get an Audi. You don't want to be in the shop every 3 months like me.

Too bad the Audis handle like a golfcart with an anvil strapped to the front. I'd take a 335 with CPO over them any day.

[sy2767]

Originally Posted by g0at23

Do not buy a 335i by all means. Worst reliable engine in the world. If you can't drive a M3 there then get an Audi. You don't want to be in the shop every 3 months like me.

I just replied to your post on the issues you have had, such a shame you are so bitter but i understand why giving your history with your car...

[g0at23]

Im a sad sad man...

[sy2767]

Originally Posted by g0at23

Im a sad sad man...

I currently own a 06 325 with 105xxx kms and i have had minimal issues with it, (purchased it CPO with 55xxx kms) i usually get 35 plus mpg hwy and as reliable as a cast iron pot! I'm sure that will change now that i have said that...LOL .. I can only hope that whatever my future car will be it gives me as much trouble free and enjoyable driving.

[3_runner]

Well you already had a 325 RWD you shouldn't be to concerned with the snow... Get the M3.

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by sy2767

Here is my dilemma and im very fortunate to have it because i cant really lose, either way i get an amazing car!! I live in Manitoba, Canada where we get 6 horrible months of winter, the roads are usually snow packed and VERY icy, this year has been a record snowfall that won't melt until mid may im guessing. The roads are almost arrow straight for miles and very flat, very...very boring driving here!!! I have always lusted over owning a E90 M3 sedan, my budget is $43000 so i am limited in this country as to whats available to purchase, car would most likely have higher KMS (50xxx plus kms) with no warrenty and would be a 2008 at that price range here. A very good friend of mine ( near retirement) has a beautiful 2011 335xi loaded with every option available and only 17xxx kms that i can get for that price, it also comes with extended warrenty and an additional set of BMW wheels with winter tires. I know full well that's its no M3 but its still a very nice car, if i find an M3 i would want to purchase some kind of warrenty for piece of mind and also buy some winter tires and wheels. It will also be my daily driver to and from work, daycare (4 yr old son) and shopping etc...... it will never see "track day" . any opinions would be helpful.

Based on your situation, I would say definitely the 335xi.

I would only get the M3 if it were a second car (in your situation). Remember when buying used, regardless of the price you pay, maintenence is paid on the full value of the car. a $70k car comes with the maintenence costs of a $70k car (same goes for the 335, which isn't that much lower in price)

[sy2767]

I do all the maintenance on my current car. That's not a concern whatsoever.

[SHEEDI]

Go for M3 and you will smile all the time when you get into it, buy second used car All wheel drive for winter

[psmitty95]

Originally Posted by Transport3r

I'd go for the 335XI.
As a DD, the 335 is better than the M3. The M V8 shines on the track but on daily roads it has less oomph than the turbo six. With a few upgrades the 335XI will be significantly faster, handle well enough, and you'll have AWD for the snow.

Originally Posted by Dozhdbog

Get the 335xi and put a couple thousand dollars worth of mods into it. As a daily driver it will be the best thing for where you live, and after the mods it will be a beast during the summer months.

+1 to both of these

I needed a car I can drive every day in the snow, rain, or pretty much anything. With a few mods like Tune and whatnot, you should be as quick as the M3 and you can do suspension to improve handling although it won't be as good. You did say you're not going to go on the track though so that's not too big of a deal. The xi makes a great DD for those of us that live where the weather is not always perfect

[Pete Schweaty]

M3

[Sam335ix]

I have an Xdrive and I am tuned up the ying yang but this past two winters has been dry and my winter set up has already come off. For DD, my car is everything I ever want and it's pretty fast and powerful when I need it. Make sure to lower your car to get better handling.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by g0at23

Do not buy a 335i by all means. Worst reliable engine in the world. If you can't drive a M3 there then get an Audi. You don't want to be in the shop every 3 months like me.

Do not try an turn everyone away from 335i because you had a bad experience. You have posted your situaiton which is unfortunate. You are an outlier though. There are thousands of reliable 335i's out there, and a few bad stories on here.

[douwe22]

i have 2008 335xi and love it in winter and summer, just get winter tires and car will be beast in the snow, install a tune (cobb / jb4) + intake, and you will not be disappointed with the performance, 0-100 kmh in around 4.5 sec.

[WULFFZA]

OP

I was in exactly your position, except for the snow consideration because I have a truck for that. At the price point it was mint low mileage 08 M3, or loaded low mileage and 4yr warranty 335i. It took me 4 months to decide. You can see which way I went..

I wanted a fun, borderline "fast", economical daily driver for 20k+miles a year etc. As others have posted, the 335i is the better daily driver/commuter, city car. I will attest to that. My previous car was an 08 M5. I'd pick the 335i over the M5 again given the choice (the M5 was destroyed which was not my choice..).

I am having more fun in the 335i as a daily driver. It has surprised me with its flexibility and giddyup. The mid-range punch is awesome, modding is cheap when you get the itch and repairs cost will be notably more affordable than on an M car.

I do miss the specialness of the M car. The fit, finish, sound, put a huge smile on my face. Test driving the M3 did the same. I hope to have one again one day, but it will be a weekend toy. It can be used as a daily driver, but you need a wide open wallet for that.

Good luck

[Kolyan2k]

M3 with winter tires is pretty good in snow, but for the snow that you have there maybe AWD is not a bad choice. Look at positives, 335 will be cheaper with warranty.

Perhaps look at B8 S4 or maybe B7 RS4, not as crazy as M3 but still more special then 335

[g0at23]

Originally Posted by WULFFZA

Do not try an turn everyone away from 335i because you had a bad experience. You have posted your situaiton which is unfortunate. You are an outlier though. There are thousands of reliable 335i's out there, and a few bad stories on here.

Don't lie to yourself. This is the most unreliable car in the world. Name a car more unreliable in the last 10 years? Nothing has more big problems than this one. I'm just one of many on this board who has the same problems.

[WULFFZA]

g0at23
I don't know what research you are referring to in your claim, but since your car is 4 yrs old, you had an N54 335i?

What research shows an N55 is having the same reliability problems?
Why would BMW expand the use of the N55 to just about every model - 5, 7, X5 etc. If it is truly an reliable time bomb, then the company is in for a world of hurt. I doubt they'd make such a mistake. They did however limit the use of the N54 and replace it with the N55 for mainstream models in less than 4yrs, which is a short run for an engine. Yeh, that could be an admission of guilt, I'll give you that