[spak888]

About 5 years ago, I purchased my first BMW, a 2007 335xi 6mt and really liked the car. I thought it was going to be the last car I bought. Then a few weeks ago, I found a slightly updated version of it, a 2011 335i xDrive M-Sport 6mt with 70k miles. Now what do I do with the old one? Track car? Sell it? Other?

[skyview]

Looks great!!! If it were me, I'd probably just sell the old one or give it to one of my friends or family if someone was interested in it. Maybe there's still some sentimental value attached to the old car, but realistically these two cars are just too similiar. Especially when the new one is lci and m-sport... I'd probably find myself choosing that one each time I leave the house. Either way, congrats on the new ride!

[mawzi]

Definitely sell. Maintenance will cost too much on the older car.

[spak888]

Originally Posted by skyview

Looks great!!! If it were me, I'd probably just sell the old one or give it to one of my friends or family if someone was interested in it. Maybe there's still some sentimental value attached to the old car, but realistically these two cars are just too similiar. Especially when the new one is lci and m-sport... I'd probably find myself choosing that one each time I leave the house. Either way, congrats on the new ride!

Thanks! I was leaning towards giving it to my daughter when she's old enough to drive... in 4 years. ha!

Originally Posted by mawzi

Definitely sell. Maintenance will cost too much on the older car.

Since I thought I was going to keep it for a while, I proactively changed the valve cover and gasket, oil filter housing gasket, water pump, HPFP and turbos in the last ~20k miles. It only has 108k miles on it so it should last a while but as previously mentioned by skyview, they are pretty much the same car.

[E7J3F3]

I'm in the same boat here, except I haven't bought my LCI yet. Just give it to a family member who'll be able to use it. I have promised mine to my nephew when he starts driving next year. I could make a few bucks off it or I could make a new fan of these cars.

[spak888]

Originally Posted by E7J3F3

I'm in the same boat here, except I haven't bought my LCI yet. Just give it to a family member who'll be able to use it. I have promised mine to my nephew when he starts driving next year. I could make a few bucks off it or I could make a new fan of these cars.

I agree. Especially since manual transmissions are becoming increasingly difficult to find. I realistically could sell the 2007 for about ~$8k which may not be all that worth it. I just have to convince my wife...

[mike@x-ph.com]

Turn it to to a track car

[spak888]

My first autocross experience is this Saturday. I know it's not the ideal track car but I'm pretty excited.

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Turn it to to a track car

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by spak888

My first autocross experience is this Saturday. I know it's not the ideal track car but I'm pretty excited.

Have Fun!

[spak888]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Have Fun!

Thanks! It was really fun. Now I want to mod the pre-LCI. ugh. First world problems.

*photo taken by Chris Keefer

[type-dRew]

Definitely keep it and modify it.

Best of both worlds, a nice well kept and well optioned daily driver and a fun toy that you get to enjoy whenever you get the chance without worrying about potential breakage.

[UncleShrek]

Weight reduction!
Go all out and make it an all purpose track car.
Selling some of the interior bits as well as some exterior will get you some money for race parts

[philgli]

since you did a ton a preventative maintenance (proactively replaced turbos? wow!), you should hang on to it to recoup that cost.

I like the purpose built driving school toy. Gut the interior, put sticky tires on it, and have fun. you have more than enough power for the average track day warrior.

[spak888]

Originally Posted by philgli

since you did a ton a preventative maintenance (proactively replaced turbos? wow!), you should hang on to it to recoup that cost.

I like the purpose built driving school toy. Gut the interior, put sticky tires on it, and have fun. you have more than enough power for the average track day warrior.

ok, ok, twist my arm to keep it...

After 5 years of no performance modifications, I just got the '07 back from replacing the suspension with Koni Yellows and OEM ZSP D7/D6 springs. Replaced all the top and bottom mounts while we were in there. I did the suspension on the '11 right after I purchased it. (Eibach pro-kit front, ZSP D5 rear springs with Koni Yellows)

...and so it begins...

[type-dRew]

This genuinely excites me. I wish I had two of these cars to fuck around with

[b92]

Originally Posted by type-dRew

This genuinely excites me. I wish I had two of these cars to fuck around with

Right? Making me want to go through with purchasing a 100-120k mile E90 335.

[type-dRew]

Originally Posted by b92

Right? Making me want to go through with purchasing a 100-120k mile E90 335.

Hey now. You're talking about my current ride. I just wish I could afford ANOTHER one. 😂😂

[spak888]

Originally Posted by type-dRew

Hey now. You're talking about my current ride. I just wish I could afford ANOTHER one. ����

With the new G20's coming out, E90's are going to drop even more in price! We'll all afford to have a whole fleet of them!!! Maybe...?

Once BMW announced they were dropping manual transmissions in the 3 series non-M's, I started casually looking for a similar spec vehicle since I would really prefer not to have an automatic. My wife has a F31 M-sport with the 8AT and while I know it'll shift faster than I ever can, it's just not the same driver engagement. I found the LCI in Pennsylvania and bought it sight unseen, not even pictures as it was a "new arrival". I ran the vin decoder, saw it was a manual, M-Sport xDrive with most of the desired options and just bought and shipped it out.

Anyway, I just finished up making the LCI cockpit feel pretty much the same as the pre-LCI. ZHP shift knob and I replaced the worn out M-Sport clutch pedal with a 335is pedal. I also removed the "soft touch" material from the steering wheel. That stuff is the worst.

[N54Society]

Looking good! I had two at once not too long ago. The modded one just sat there because I had to transport my son around and needed the extra doors. I had a coupe and a sedan but same dilemma. I ended up selling the coupe. Still miss it.

[spak888]

Originally Posted by N54Society

Looking good! I had two at once not too long ago. The modded one just sat there because I had to transport my son around and needed the extra doors. I had a coupe and a sedan but same dilemma. I ended up selling the coupe. Still miss it.

Thanks! It looks like you sold the one with 6MT. How'd you like the 335is clutch? Worth the upgrade?

[spak888]

After a month or so, the suspension has settled on the LCI. The front Eibach lowered another 1/2" and the rear OEM ZSP D5 essentially remained at its installed height. I anticipated the settling but expected the ZSP's to settle a little, even though they were near new but used. The front fender to top of wheel measured ~3 1/4" and rear measured ~3 5/8". The Koni Yellow front shocks are set 2 "clicks" from full soft and the rears are 2 "clicks" from full hard. Staggered 193 with stock RFT. Just information for those looking to lower the XI modestly without "reverse rake".

The pre-LCI didn't settle much and sits with a slight reverse rake. I left the front height as is because during the track day on worn shocks, I found some paint scrapes on my front right splitter. I didn't feel any bottoming out but another e46 after me had its right splitter broken off on a inclined right turn. Shocks are set up the same as the LCI. The pre-LCI is running on 235/18/40 square on 18x8 162's with rear 15mm spacers. Trying to maintain an OEM appearance while correcting some understeer issues. I chose the spring/shocks route rather than the coilovers because damping adjustment>height adjustment and I wanted to upgrade both car's suspension. Both cars needed adjustable rear toe arms because they were out of spec after alignment. The photo above with both car's side profile shows a comparison of both.

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by spak888

Thanks! It looks like you sold the one with 6MT. How'd you like the 335is clutch? Worth the upgrade?

It was good while it lasted. Honestly, I would consider it a temporary fix. If I were to do it over again, I would go with a stage 2/3 clutch and be done with it. I could feel some slipping after 20k miles on E85 making over 500wtq. Do you live in Mira Mesa by chance?