[Fundguy1]

- 335i vs 335is vs M3
- 3 series vs 1 series (1M / 135i / 135is)
- Options if I decide to mod in the future
- Pros/Cons of the convertible over the coupe
- Breakdown of model year changes over '10 - Present
- Value or lack thereof of CPO
- Dealer vs Private Party price difference / experience


Here's my take
335i 2007-2009 N54 most common, cheapest, easily modified
2007 some without oil cooler, little differences
2008 and on, oil cooler
2009 and on manual has 6 bolt flywheel instead of 8, improved Idrive

335i 2010-2012 N55 engine, facelift, narrower rear tire wells, second cheapest. Less easily modified for power
335is N54 engine, has a lot of upgrades that if you like them make it cheaper and easier than 335i and has dct available
M3 v8 engine, most built in upgrades, lsd, wider tire wells, beefed up suspension, most expensive, most expensive to modify

1 vs 3. Size. 1 is smaller, lighter, not as many mods available, cheaper, vert is a soft top. 3 is opposite of this.

Pros and cons of vert, cons heavier, more stuff to break, less trunk space, if you get rear ended you're probably totaled. Pros, top down baby!
2010- 2012 changes, got me
CPO or dealer vs private, I'd just get the best deal. As long as the warranty is intact on the problem areas or they've been addressed, who cares. Save the bucks, especially if you plan on modifying

I have seen 2008 335i e93 convertible. For me it's the perfect choice.
I can modify it to beat just about any of the others short of a half dozen M3s in the country and save tons of bucks, I don't have or want Idrive or dct. I've got the convertible, the wider wells, the more modifiable n54, and any of the other upgrades the others have I can bolt on if I want to like led taillights. To me, best bang for the buck.
The M3 is the best package if you don't want to modify but want solid performance, but there's nothing on an M3 that you can't meet or beat with any of the others except the v8 sound.