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      04-16-2014, 06:13 AM   #1
Boz335i
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Goodbye 335i ...... Hello M3

My M3 story. A bit lengthy, sorry!

After 4 years of ownership of my 335i DCT, by far the best car I've owned, I part ex-ed her for an M3.

I have to blame Dan from M3 cutters for that. He drove me a few laps around Silverstone on a BMW track day over a year ago and I was hooked after that.

A couple of days later I saw a top gear episode where the Stig took the C63, RS5 and M3 around the track and the M3 wiped the floor with them by 5 seconds! This made me want one even more.

I used to think "what's the point in buying a car that costs twice as much to run, when I can make my 335i faster (in a straight line - 12.8 at the pod, but that's another story) than an M3, after all it's just another 3 series".
Oh how wrong I was, after that day I realised that these were 2 completely different cars, one was a bloody quick 3 series and the other was a sports car.

Anyway, I went around and test drove all of the competition first, so that I didn't make a mistake.
I drove:
C63 AMG
Jaguar XK-RS coupe
Audi RS4
Audi RS5
Porsche Cayman-S
even a 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage that had dropped into the price range.

They were all very good cars in different ways.

After all of that, an M3 with the spec I was looking for (2012 Lci, EDC, DCT, carbon trim, 3000 miles) came up and I went for a test drive.

I could have waited for the new M4, but I wanted an NA engine and have always wanted a V8, so in my mind I wanted a later one with low mileage that I can keep hold of (the value will probably fall off a cliff, but I'll worry about that in several years time)

I'd shown the wife the photos, and on the way there she was saying what all wives would. "I can hardly see the difference between this and the one we're in now", "so what are you getting for another £25k on top of yours?"
I then started to have my doubts . Maybe she was right!

She never liked going out in the 335i, especially once I put the JB4 in. The power delivery was quite brutal. A short pause then you got everything all in one go. Yep, very exciting for me as I knew it was coming. She got thrown around a bit. Especially on differing road surfaces, the power was quite difficult to lay down without an LSD, so this would make the ride quite jerky.
Still a brilliant car though.

When we arrived and saw it, the wife started to warm up a bit. "In the flesh it does look a lot nicer than yours". haha, she's starting to melt. Although I felt a little bit offended

We then went for a test drive down an A-road, nothing over 5000 rpm. It was at this point I asked if there were any country roads we could take a spirited drive around, I pointed out that I wasn't interested if I couldn't do that. Ok, next left he said. I turned left, M button pushed, throttle right up and away we go.
Now at this point I looked at the wife, her face was a picture. "Blimey" she said, followed by several more blimeys, it's the only thing she seemed able to say! (she's never normally lost for words ) - (was this a good thing, I was thinking ). The roar of the engine at 6000-8300 rpm is sublime, but for me the blips on the DCT downshifts are the best thing about it, the V8 just roars. "That's a nice noise" she said. At this point, I'd forgotten about the other test drives and I want it.

We get back to dealership and I play it cool. The dealer leaves us alone to look around the car. The wife says, it's up to you, buy it if you want it, I'm convinced. Music to my ears!!

All that's left now is the part ex. He'd asked me for the keys and I said I'd rather walk around the car with him, so he waited.
We went to look around it and he couldn't believe how well I'd looked after it. As we walked around it I pointed out all of mods I would be removing, there were a lot, which made me think, all of the mods I bought, I could have probably bought an M3 in the first place. At the time I bought the 335i though, I had the attitude that the M3 was a waste of money.

We reached a bit of a sticking point over the non run flats. It looked like it was going to be a deal breaker, I pointed out that whoever buys this car will see this as a plus point. His boss agreed and we reached an amicable agreement.

Anyway, I collected the car last Thursday and drove it gingerly into work on the Friday. I parked it up in the corner before all of the bosses arrived in there 320d and 520d's. Once they arrived, nobody would believe it was mine.

Here it is:



I didn't go anywhere on the Saturday as I was waiting in for people that had bought some of my mods.

I took it over to one of my mates on Sunday, who also owns an M3 (LE 500 in Imola red/black wheels).
We went for a drive and basically tooling around country roads. We got a lot of admiring glances from people outside pubs, a thumbs up from some garyboys at the lights and when I drove past some cyclists I blipped the DCT down to 2nd and I heard a bloke shout "WHOOOAA, F*cking sweet" which made me laugh.
We stopped at the side of A5D in Milton Keynes and another E92 M3 drove past us at WOT, it sounded like a fighter plane going past. Nice!

I woke up the next day and couldn't lift my head off of the pillow, I had completely f*cked my neck. I must have jarred it on the Sunday.
I have been off work since! Things are improving so I should be back in it for Easter.

One down side is that although it has the top media package, it has the most basic speakers I've ever had in a car since my Escort MK1. (It was originally a £64K motor!) I've just bought an Alpine upgrade kit from a forum member and I am looking for some logic 7 subs.

Got some subtle mods in mind:
Black performance grilles - DONE
Black side grilles
Spacers - Got these ready to fit.
Drop - Not really sure about altering the geometry on this car though.
Wheels and tyres for winter use (not black)
Exhaust (give it a while first though as I'm still enjoying the sound of the OEM)

I'll get some more pics up later.

Thanks for reading

Last edited by Boz335i; 04-16-2014 at 06:29 AM..
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      04-16-2014, 06:18 AM   #2
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Saw it the other day looks nice, gotta say though I can't believe the mileage 3000. Oh and as for the exhaust with my down pipes fitted I started it up this morning and frightened one of my neighbours. What a sound epic
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      04-16-2014, 06:27 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old grey steve View Post
Saw it the other day looks nice, gotta say though I can't believe the mileage 3000. Oh and as for the exhaust with my down pipes fitted I started it up this morning and frightened one of my neighbours. What a sound epic
Nice one Steve.
When you put your car through its paces the exhaust comes into its own. It sounds epic
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      04-16-2014, 06:40 AM   #4
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Congrats on your purchase! SHE LOOKS A BEAUT!

All you need to add to that list is an LED Angel Eye Retrofit you your car keeps up with all the latest cars and their DRLs

It is a simple OEM+ modificiation.... You know you it is the right thing to do... considering you are keeping it a while!
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      04-16-2014, 06:59 AM   #5
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Just drove past , should of stopped for a look!
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      04-16-2014, 07:07 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh1a1h View Post
Congrats on your purchase! SHE LOOKS A BEAUT!

All you need to add to that list is an LED Angel Eye Retrofit you your car keeps up with all the latest cars and their DRLs

It is a simple OEM+ modificiation.... You know you it is the right thing to do... considering you are keeping it a while!
Ah yes, forgot to add that to the mod list. That is something I plan to do, but there are so many to choose from, what do you recommend?

Mate, I've been following your build thread, all I can say is WOW!!!!
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      04-16-2014, 07:09 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparky68 View Post
Just drove past , should of stopped for a look!
I'll take you out for a spin one lunchtime.

Off work at the moment, can't move my neck!
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      04-16-2014, 07:19 AM   #8
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Hope things are well, and congrats on the purchase! Its been a while since the RR day.

the M3 is looks good, what a bout a set of M359 Comp wheels ?
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      04-16-2014, 07:39 AM   #9
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really good read... makes me think whether i shoulda test driven an m3 before buying a 335i... the amount i've spent on mine, i coulda easily bought an m3 saloon...
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      04-16-2014, 07:48 AM   #10
Boz335i
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tak1986 View Post
Hope things are well, and congrats on the purchase! Its been a while since the RR day.

the M3 is looks good, what a bout a set of M359 Comp wheels ?
Hey, it has been a while. It would be nice do that again some time.
Good idea for the wheels, M359's are very nice, they would need to be a second hand set for winter.

Quote:
Originally Posted by achu View Post
really good read... makes me think whether i shoulda test driven an m3 before buying a 335i... the amount i've spent on mine, i coulda easily bought an m3 saloon...
No mate, I wouldn't do anything differently if I did it again. The 335i is a cracking car and it's good to keep incrementing the cars rather than going straight for something like this. I think it makes you appreciate it more.
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      04-16-2014, 08:00 AM   #11
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congrats....lots of 335i owners move to the m3 ....i would to if i could afford to...
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      04-16-2014, 08:03 AM   #12
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Very nice motor mate..... no wonder your pleased!

With regrads to sourcing a pair of L7 subs to go with the alpine upgrade.... I'll have a pair for sale in a couple of weeks!
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      04-16-2014, 08:08 AM   #13
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Well played sir, enjoy the M Power!!
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      04-16-2014, 08:10 AM   #14
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Am sure your loving the M3, my mate had one which he sold recently due to high running costs but every time I saw/heared it I was very envious.

You can throw all the money you like at a 335, it's might end up been quicker than a M3 but never it's going to be as special....

But thanks to my wife's hatred of bonnet vents it will never happen for me
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      04-16-2014, 08:59 AM   #15
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Very nice mate.

Pm about m359 winter wheels on it's way!
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      04-16-2014, 09:15 AM   #16
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Nice! , I just hope you dont get bored of it after 9 months like I did.

As for the drop I wouldn't do anything but drop it on H&R Springs, perfect drop, only slightly harder. Personally I would just enjoy the car as it is fella, it already looks awesome!
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      04-16-2014, 09:33 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3KingUK View Post
Personally I would just enjoy the car as it is fella, it already looks awesome!
^^This^^
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      04-16-2014, 09:33 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3KingUK View Post
Nice! , I just hope you dont get bored of it after 9 months like I did.

As for the drop I wouldn't do anything but drop it on H&R Springs, perfect drop, only slightly harder. Personally I would just enjoy the car as it is fella, it already looks awesome!
Definitely not just H&R springs on an M3... Go for a full Bilstein coilover setup or KW V2 or higher setup.
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      04-16-2014, 09:56 AM   #19
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Awesome car! I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I really was thinking about getting rid of my 335i e93 for an m3 e93. However, I saw the M4 and now I kinda want to wait. However, I'm still in love with the way the m3 looks and addicted to the exhaust note.
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      04-16-2014, 10:13 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh1a1h View Post
Definitely not just H&R springs on an M3... Go for a full Bilstein coilover setup or KW V2 or higher setup.
..thats if you want the full Coilover set up , if thats what your used to having on your other cars then go for it, but if you are just going for springs then H&R
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      04-16-2014, 10:15 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRichieX View Post
Awesome car! I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I really was thinking about getting rid of my 335i e93 for an m3 e93. However, I saw the M4 and now I kinda want to wait. However, I'm still in love with the way the m3 looks and addicted to the exhaust note.
I like the look of the M4, but for me I went for this for the following reasons:

- I would have had to wait 2-3 years for one to be in the same price territory.
- I just think that the power delivery will feel similar to a tuned 335i (I wanted something NA)
- You can make a 6 cylinder sound pretty awesome, but for me I will always prefer the sound of the V8
- Before I bought it I couldn't stop looking at them and thinking, I want one.
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      04-16-2014, 10:24 AM   #22
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realisticly what mpg do you get out of these? or how many miles to a tank?
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