[Harper55987]

Hey everyone. First post on the 3 series forum and looking for some solid advice!
Time to upgrade cars for me...get something more winter.
Current car is a fully loaded 135i with JB4 tune right now.

I have 2 choices I'm going between:
2011 BMW 335xi. Fully loaded minus the sport package. 4Dr 6MT. dakota leather, all the trims.
31k miles. $32k

2011 Audi S4. 3.0 Supercharged. Premium Plus. 4Dr 6MT
36k miles. $40k


Both are relatively rare in the MT form. I'm torn between the 2. I already have a set of 5x120 winter tires for 335xi as well from my 135. I believe they should fit.


Any advice? When I do read about the 335xi i don't get as excited about it as the 135i. Sounds like the xi takes a bit of the handling/power away whereas the S4 started with AWD and added performance on top!

[hgtran21]

you need at least sports package on 335xi..

[zybar]

Have you driven both?

They are both great cars, but definitely have different strengths and weaknesses. You could take the $8k price difference and use it to "upgrade" the 335xi.

I just upgraded my stock suspension to KW v1 coilovers and there is a substantial improvement in the handling and feel. You would be able to do this upgrade for under $2k installed.

In regards to power, you can also do a software tune for $500-1000 that would add a good amount of power and torque.

George

[TrentOSU]

Audi S4, no doubt. Especially since the xi you're looking at doesn't have the sports package. The S4 will be a more enjoyable car for you than the xi, but you have to fork out more $$ initially. How about warranties? What do both come with?

[JETmn]

I have a 2011 Xi with the M sport package and I really enjoy it. I also checked out the S4, but ended up with the 335Xi. It was a little less money and I like the car better. Turn in was a little better on the 335Xi and it seems like a higher class interior (I have the saddle brown). Power was very similar between the 2. I do like the looks of the S4 better. Cars are very subjective, so drive them both and get the one you like better. Just for reference I got my 2011 (almost every option, M Sport, iDrive, premium pkgs) with 32k miles for $36k with a set of BMW winter wheels and tires and 100k maint/warranty package from a BMW dealership.

LOL, just saw you were in SE minnesota, Rochester? I am up in the cities if you want to test drive an M Sport. Still stock right now.

[Harper55987]

I think factory warranty is the same on both...about 14 months left.
BMW includes the service whereas Audi still have to pay for everything.


Coming from an M-Sport 135i I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to the flat seats of a non-sport Love those bolsters.

[divisionbell77]

Originally Posted by TrentOSU

Audi S4, no doubt. Especially since the xi you're looking at doesn't have the sports package. The S4 will be a more enjoyable car for you than the xi, but you have to fork out more $$ initially. How about warranties? What do both come with?

You are falling for the 'S' in front of that 4.

Performance wise, the 335 is on par with the S4/S5. They are direct competitors in all aspects. Only Audi's marketing department thinks otherwise to say it is a competitor to the M3.

[TrentOSU]

Originally Posted by divisionbell77

You are falling for the 'S' in front of that 4.

Performance wise, the 335 is on par with the S4/S5. They are direct competitors in all aspects. Only Audi's marketing department thinks otherwise to say it is a competitor to the M3.

After test driving the new supercharged S4 before I bought my 335, it felt faster stock vs. stock than the 335. I picked my 335 because I'm a BMW guy for life and just couldn't pull the trigger on the S4 that was loaded. The 335 had everything that I was looking for, plus it was a CPO. The two cars that he in comparing, I would choose the S4 but that's me. I wouldn't purchase a 335 without the sports/M package...personal preference.

[mashimarho]

I'd say both are great cars. I'd choose the 335xi if it were sport. Keep looking! So worth it!!

[Harper55987]

Originally Posted by divisionbell77

You are falling for the 'S' in front of that 4.

Performance wise, the 335 is on par with the S4/S5. They are direct competitors in all aspects. Only Audi's marketing department thinks otherwise to say it is a competitor to the M3.

Really? I haven't seen anything that says the 335xi is equal to the S4. All I read is that the S4 is between an M3 and a 335. The RS4 is the M3 competitor and I haven't seen much say otherwise.

[thegrinchboy]

As divisionbell77 posted, new(er) S4 are now competitors of 335 w/M Sport. While RS4 = M3 competitor. It's all marketing. If you read up on the S4 spec's and try to build a new one, or look up a newer used one, the performance # and $ are about the same as the equivalent model year 335. The marketing effort probably happened when Audi moved away from using a V8 in the S4, and the subsequent release of an RS4.

[hetzle]

The new S4 makes excellent power when modded, but that $8k difference in price would send me straight to the 335xi. That's a big turbo kit+supporting mods

[KG3356MT]

I'd go for the S4. Audi believes in AWD whereas on the bimmer its just an after thought. I was debating between an XI and a S4 and if I could do it again I would go S4 hands down. Its the better car stock for stock. FWIW I started to really enjoy my XI when the suspension was upgraded with sport springs and struts.

[Rat_House]

I regret not getting a B8. They are so much easier to work on than a e92xi, in my opinion they sound 100x better with exhaust compared to a 335i, aftermarket parts are a bit cheaper, their seats are by far more superior than a e9x with the sports package. drive them back to back and make a decision, but if i were to do it again i would spend the extra money on the B8 and feel much more satisfied. i might be a bit biased though as all of my previous cars were VAG cars.

[JETmn]

It just goes to show that everybody's taste is different. Drive them both and make a decision. I drove them both and the 335Xi sport was the clear choice for me even if there was no price difference. The Audi felt too blah inside. Both are great cars though.

[-Wingman-]

I'd go with the Audi if it had the optional torsion differential.

[BavarianBullet]

Originally Posted by Rat_House

I regret not getting a B8. They are so much easier to work on than a e92xi, in my opinion they sound 100x better with exhaust compared to a 335i, aftermarket parts are a bit cheaper, their seats are by far more superior than a e9x with the sports package. drive them back to back and make a decision, but if i were to do it again i would spend the extra money on the B8 and feel much more satisfied. i might be a bit biased though as all of my previous cars were VAG cars.

This.

The seats on the S4/S5 are waaaay nicer than the BMW offerings. In my case, I'm 6'3" and had BMW sports package on a 2008 335xi and non-sport on my 2011 335xi. The sports bolsters on the seat bottom are in the wrong place and dug into the sides of thighs which became pretty uncomfortable on longer trips. The upper part of the seat was fine for me though.

The S4/S5 seats are bolstered in the right place (rear thigh/butt, not mid-thigh) and can be had with Alcantara center sections which should help avoid warm weather swamp-ass common to full leather seats too. All in all, far superior seat, for me.

The S4/S5 also has a much nicer ride IMO. Steering feel is better on the 335 but it's not everything.

Also, you can get DCT/DSG and LSD in the Audi. For an AWD 335, those aren't even offered.

[douwe22]

c63 amg, lol

[drevil2k2]

I test drove the newer S4 recently:
great exhaust sound, nice seats, must get with select drive or sports diff option, and supercharger kicks in at higher rpm than the 335.

S4 had some water pump issues - should be fixed in 2011, and complaints of vibration during slow speed turns.

If given just 2 choices you listed, I would go with the S4.

If you have time, wait for a M-Sport 335xi to come up.

Good luck

[DennisCAN]

Both cars are very nice, but for me 335i is much more fun to drive than s4. Although it's a xDrive it's still a rwd car which IMO has a different feel than the Quattro. Yes, s4 is faster and better equipped but it left me unimpressed every time I went for a test drive, especially the new B8. The B7 V8 is a different story. Truly a European muscle car.

After leasing a 335i and owning a E46 M3 I decided to give an Audi a chance. Although B8 S4 was the most logic choice since I live in Canada, I was never impressed with it. Yes, it was fast but felt like a fast train planted on the rails. Although that engine is fantastic, the car always felt big and heavy and too safe (boring).

Finally I came across a well maintained B7 V8 which gave me chills when heard the V8 roar. much more exciting than the new S4. Don't forget V8 model was a direct competitor to e46 M3 and it felt much more raw than the new b8.

But again, it's weight and Quattro got me bored and now I'm driving a performance edition 335xi.

Since the feel and driving dynamics are critical for me, I would go for 335xi and put some money in it.

Cheers,
D.

[JAL0988]

Take it from someone that has a 335i x drive. Get the S4 because you really need the sport package with these cars. If you don't have it, you'll regret it and spend thousands trying to get it up to the same spec. Also, the S4 is a very fun car and if you can afford it, I would go that route. Trust me, I love my car but if I had a choice between these two specific cars, I'd go with the four rings.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by DennisCAN

Both cars are very nice, but for me 335i is much more fun to drive than s4. Although it's a xDrive it's still a rwd car which IMO has a different feel than the Quattro. Yes, s4 is faster and better equipped but it left me unimpressed every time I went for a test drive, especially the new B8. The B7 V8 is a different story. Truly a European muscle car.

After leasing a 335i and owning a E46 M3 I decided to give an Audi a chance. Although B8 S4 was the most logic choice since I live in Canada, I was never impressed with it. Yes, it was fast but felt like a fast train planted on the rails. Although that engine is fantastic, the car always felt big and heavy and too safe (boring).

Finally I came across a well maintained B7 V8 which gave me chills when heard the V8 roar. much more exciting than the new S4. Don't forget V8 model was a direct competitor to e46 M3 and it felt much more raw than the new b8.

But again, it's weight and Quattro got me bored and now I'm driving a performance edition 335xi.

Since the feel and driving dynamics are critical for me, I would go for 335xi and put some money in it.

Cheers,
D.

Surprised you like the 4.2l V8 so much over the new 3.0 supercharged motor. I found the V8 to be surprisingly sluggish and underwhelming in that car, especially compared to the S54. Also the B8 isn't that much heavier than the B7, both come in around a little over 3900lbs. The only thing the B7 has over the B8 is looks and I reserve that comment more for the RS4. FWIW I was seriously considering a B6/7 S4 few years ago.