[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

There is a long sweeping piece of road near me that is only 3 miles long, but it has some nice sweeping bands and adverse cambers, and you can take it very quickly.
In the 335i it never really mattered what gear you were in, as long as it was 2nd, 3rd or 4th you could come out of a corner, plant the throttle and you were shot down the road into the next bend, all very quick but a little boring after the first few times.

Take the M3 and it is very different, you have brake hard into the first corner, drop it down into 2nd and as you come out of the corner catch it just before you loose too much speed, as you plant the throttle you are at 4500rpm....perfect! You feel the back end twitch and the tyres chirp, you get to 5500rpm and the engine is alive, the car feels lighter and you are pushed back into your seat, you hit 6500rpm and the engine is shouting at you to give it more, 7500rpm and it is screaming, you hit 8500rpm and it sounds like thunder, that metallic rasp that sounds like the devil himself, you have a huge grin on your face, you put it into 4th and repeat going through those wonderful revs, and then realise the next corner is coming up, you slam the brakes on and hit the corner, as you come out of the apex you have dropped down to second again, and once more the tyres chirp and the back end wiggles as you plant the throttle and you catch it at 5000rpm, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500!!!! Up into third and continue down the straight..........and breathe.

That got my pulse going just reading that, the devil comment made me LOL. I've just got in from a spirited drive home from work.

This sums up the M3 perfectly from a man who's clearly experienced what it's all about.

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Amateur MILFs v/s Pornstars ....

Manual v/s Auto

Modded 335i v/s M3s

Each to their own.

Amateur MILFs - now we've found some common ground.

[ss134]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...wpost&t=428177

My full review of both cars is on page 1 of the above thread, written a few years ago but still holds true IMO.

[MUFASA1]

Originally Posted by Ascension335i

That is a great read

Like a clean yet so dirty porn. I have a 335 but the two times av seen an M3 around me made me realize I would 100 times rather be in the other car

[gangzoom]

I don't know why some people just cannot accept there are better cars out there than what they own.

I've owned my heavily modified 335i (Procede tune/AR design down pipes/Birds suspension/LSD etc) now for 3 years+, and unless your going to spend 10k+ on bigger turbos, new suspension all round, extra oil cooler, LSD, big brake kit for the 335.

M3 > 335 > Nissan Micra

It really is as simple as that; in my mind there is no 'debate'

[mowflow]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Forced induction is great for an easy drive, it works in everyday cars really well, it makes driving them very easy, but then so is driving a 330d auto.

You can also make a forced induction behave in different ways, you can give that constant power increase all the way up to the redline, just try the new M3, they manage it in that.
However, in the case of the 335i the power is very linear, and our bodies can tell changes in acceleration rather than speed itself.
If you took someone out in a 335i on a billiard table smooth road and went from 30-130mph with them blindfolded they would have a hard time telling you how fast they were going or rather how quickly you got to 130mph, do the same in a NA car and you can feel the constant change of speed and power, it feels a lot faster, and this is what gets your juices flowing.



There is a long sweeping piece of road near me that is only 3 miles long, but it has some nice sweeping bands and adverse cambers, and you can take it very quickly.
In the 335i it never really mattered what gear you were in, as long as it was 2nd, 3rd or 4th you could come out of a corner, plant the throttle and you were shot down the road into the next bend, all very quick but a little boring after the first few times.

Take the M3 and it is very different, you have brake hard into the first corner, drop it down into 2nd and as you come out of the corner catch it just before you loose too much speed, as you plant the throttle you are at 4500rpm....perfect! You feel the back end twitch and the tyres chirp, you get to 5500rpm and the engine is alive, the car feels lighter and you are pushed back into your seat, you hit 6500rpm and the engine is shouting at you to give it more, 7500rpm and it is screaming, you hit 8500rpm and it sounds like thunder, that metallic rasp that sounds like the devil himself, you have a huge grin on your face, you put it into 4th and repeat going through those wonderful revs, and then realise the next corner is coming up, you slam the brakes on and hit the corner, as you come out of the apex you have dropped down to second again, and once more the tyres chirp and the back end wiggles as you plant the throttle and you catch it at 5000rpm, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500!!!! Up into third and continue down the straight..........and breathe.



Anyone who thinks the 335i is the same as the M3 needs their head looking at.



335i is great for the motorway and arriving relaxed, the M3 is a different beast altogether.

Brilliant post. I tried writing something like that but i wasn't making much sense so i gave up.

I'd rather have a slightly slower car that gives that exhilaration that you get from the engine screaming in a power band at the top end and nailing perfect shifts than a really fast car with lazy easy power.

Unfortunately cars made for that type of experience are becoming increasingly rare. It's all peak torque at low revs, twin/variable vein turbos, robot gearboxes and electric steering.

[BMWChap]

Porsche Boxster is the poormans 911
BMW 335 is the poor mans M3

Simple really .... Lol

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by ss134

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...wpost&t=428177

My full review of both cars is on page 1 of the above thread, written a few years ago but still holds true IMO.

That is a must read (just read it again). I read this about a year ago and it pushed me even further towards the M3.

Especially this bit, was right up my street...

"However, if you regularly get in your car and start to drive with no destination in mind and for no other reason than to enjoy a blast down your favourite roads only one of these cars will really do the job properly – the sound of the V8 screaming at max revs, the feedback from the steering as you flick between the bends, the planted feeling the suspension gives you and the confidence to push faster and faster will leave you with a grin on your face the 335i cannot come close to........the M3 makes the 335i feel ordinary in this regard which is not an easy thing to do."

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by mowflow

I'd rather have a slightly slower car that gives that exhilaration that you get from the engine screaming in a power band at the top end and nailing perfect shifts than a really fast car with lazy easy power.

I have bought a manual 2.8i Z3 to do exactly this, with the hood down you feel far more vulnerable and you really have to get it right when changing gears in and out of corners. It also feels really raw to drive which is just a joy compared to many modern cars. If you want to learn about how to handle a car properly and not just get to 120mph as fast as possible it is worth considering one as a second or third car, an e30 325i is just as good. Something manual, NA and with a LSD can be great fun and is cheap enough to justify.
E30 325i for the price os a set of winter wheels and on low mileage classic insurance is peanuts, £1500 or so for the car, I pay £158 a year for the insurance and I put £40 a fuel in a month at most. But it is there for the days I just want to go out for a couple of hours for no other reason than to go out for a couple of hours.
The fact the Z3 is appreciating in value and has not tied up any money also means I don't car if it sits doing nothing for a month, I'm not looking at it thinking "That's lost £500 this month and I've not even used it!".

It also means I can have something at the other end of the scale, at the moment it is a Merc ML, which I will probably swap for a Discovery 4 soon.

Don't get me wrong, If I hadn't fallen for the 4x4 thing big time I would probably have another 335i touring, or an Alpina B3, but I like having both, so a cheaper fun car is winning right now.

That is not to say I may not keep the ML and buy another M3, but rather than an E92 it may be another E46 and keep the Z3.

In the UK we are seriously lucky with things like E30 325i's, 2.8i Z3s and E46 M3's being so cheap, they are trouser money compared with the rest of the world, so take advantage.
Plus you have the advantage of a car you can tinker with, which can be great fun.

[Josh1a1h]

EUGH

This is still on going!???

M3 is better FULL STOP

Doesn't matter about power etc... IT IS!

& I drive a 335i!

Don't get me wrong, my 335i is faster in a straight line, and i prefer daily driving my 335i over an M3... but an M3 is better

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

In the UK we are seriously lucky with things like E30 325i's, 2.8i Z3s and E46 M3's being so cheap, they are trouser money compared with the rest of the world, so take advantage.
Plus you have the advantage of a car you can tinker with, which can be great fun.

I did this with a 2006 Z4M Roadster....bought it with 23K miles, drove it for 2 Cabriolet seasons (April - October) and it cost me ca. £4,400 all-in including a £1000 repair to diagnose and replace two exhaust sensors. Brilliant. If I'd have kept it longer the price per year would be less as they still go for similar money

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Boz335i

That is a must read (just read it again). I read this about a year ago and it pushed me even further towards the M3.

Especially this bit, was right up my street...

"However, if you regularly get in your car and start to drive with no destination in mind and for no other reason than to enjoy a blast down your favourite roads only one of these cars will really do the job properly – the sound of the V8 screaming at max revs, the feedback from the steering as you flick between the bends, the planted feeling the suspension gives you and the confidence to push faster and faster will leave you with a grin on your face the 335i cannot come close to........the M3 makes the 335i feel ordinary in this regard which is not an easy thing to do."

That's really cool mate, appreciate your feedback! I'm judging by your sig that you bought the M3?

[BMWChap]

LOL .. I know..

I even threw in a sarcastic comment

Originally Posted by Josh1a1h

EUGH

This is still on going!???

M3 is better FULL STOP

Doesn't matter about power etc... IT IS!

& I drive a 335i!

Don't get me wrong, my 335i is faster in a straight line, and i prefer daily driving my 335i over an M3... but an M3 is better

[Boz335i]

Originally Posted by ss134

That's really cool mate, appreciate your feedback! I'm judging by your sig that you bought the M3?

I did, had it since April, absolutely love it.

I spent ages shortlisting cars. I still have the link to your review on my notes.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Boz335i

I did, had it since April, absolutely love it.

I spent ages shortlisting cars. I still have the link to your review on my notes.

That's Awesome hope you're enjoying the car. I've just been out in my F80 M3 and it's quite a car- will be posting up a comparison review vs my E90 M3 next week.

[AWSAWS]

Originally Posted by M3KingUK

Porsche Boxster is the poormans 911
BMW 335 is the poor mans M3

Simple really .... Lol

It's interesting then that the new M3 and M4 use a turbo charged 6 cylinder. Yes maybe for emissions but a turbo just makes a good engine better doesn't it?

It's hard to imagine an M3 being better if a 335 has uprated brakes,LSD and suspension. Not even starting to consider bigger turbos, meth etc.

A stock m3 is doing what around 340WHP and a JB4 335 is ding 380WHP.

The flat torque curve of a turbo charged N54, N55 sounds like an engineers wet dream.

Plus if someone has spent £££ on their 335 is it really a poor mans car or is it just snobbery.

[Banners24b]

I drive a 335i and would consider the M3 an upgrade over my car, that said as my driving skills are limited to putting the car into DS mode and pressing the loud pedal whilst going in a straight line the 335i suits me better and I expect with a JB4 would be faster than an M3 in a straight line, I just would not get the benefit from all the M3's wizardry round the corners.

Do I think the M3 is better? - yes, would I get one? - no

335i suits my heavy right foot on the journeys I do better.

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by AWSAWS

It's interesting then that the new M3 and M4 use a turbo charged 6 cylinder. Yes maybe for emissions but a turbo just makes a good engine better doesn't it?

It's hard to imagine an M3 being better if a 335 has uprated brakes,LSD and suspension. Not even starting to consider bigger turbos, meth etc.

A stock m3 is doing what around 340WHP and a JB4 335 is ding 380WHP.

The flat torque curve of a turbo charged N54, N55 sounds like an engineers wet dream.

Plus if someone has spent £££ on their 335 is it really a poor mans car or is it just snobbery.

For many yeah, a turbo does make it better, but many others prefer a NA engine.

I don't think calling it a poor mans M3 is fair, in the long run it will cost more than an M3, you do all that work and most of the extra cost is lost, when you come to sell it you might see a bit of that money spent back, but not all, where as an M3 is still an M3 when you sell.

[BMW325iE90]

Originally Posted by Banners24b

I drive a 335i and would consider the M3 an upgrade over my car, that said as my driving skills are limited to putting the car into DS mode and pressing the loud pedal whilst going in a straight line the 335i suits me better and I expect with a JB4 would be faster than an M3 in a straight line, I just would not get the benefit from all the M3's wizardry round the corners.

Do I think the M3 is better? - yes, would I get one? - no

335i suits my heavy right foot on the journeys I do better.

This is spot on.

95% of us will not grace the track to the fullest and let's face it, our exploits are limited to going off the red lights and motorway frivolities.

I've always been a fan of the underdog and care little for the M badge. A well modded 335i will whoop an M3 in these "domestic" encounters which makes it the best bang for your buck in terms of performance at reasonable costs.

The only thing I'd miss was the exhaust note but it that matters little when the M3 is in my rear view.

[gIzzE]

I do think people are missing the point of the M3, it is how special it feels every day, on normal roads, just going to work or for a drive for no other reason than to go for a drive.