[Shiny.E90]

Hello all,
So I currently have an E90 335i 2007 to be exact. I may have found a rare manual spec 335is. Before I pull the trigger on this I wanted to know is the reliability better than the N54 in my 07 335i? The one I found is a 2011, I’m thinking this could also potentially be a good investment considering they only made 3,597 335is’s coupes. My current 335i is automatic and this one is manual. This one has sub 60k miles and mine has 150k miles. Just want everyone’s opinion. Thanks for reading :-)

[Biginboca]

It’s worth buying if the price is right and you value the features. I wouldn’t bank on it being more likely to hold value due to rarity, and the reliability will be comparable to other n54 cars

[N54Society]

Buying a car is almost never an investment. It's almost always a depreciating asset. The 335is isn't exactly rare when you can find them scattered across Craigslist and other car buying platforms. Not trying to be an ass, just the reality of things.

[r4dr]

From what I understand, the 335is has the "last revision" of the N54 in these cars, meaning later coil packs, wastegates (?) and etc. The shop foreman at my dealer casually mentioned that in passing.

That being said, they still have the same weak points as all N54s. And they're not Ms, so there's really no point in holding onto one as a collectable vs a regular 335i.

[E92.Dom]

In my own opinion I think it's worth it, I love the 335is (favorite car on earth) especially being priced around the same as a 335i equipped with the n55, I think it's the absolute best bang for your buck.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Shiny.E90

Hello all,
So I currently have an E90 335i 2007 to be exact. I may have found a rare manual spec 335is. Before I pull the trigger on this I wanted to know is the reliability better than the N54 in my 07 335i? The one I found is a 2011, I’m thinking this could also potentially be a good investment considering they only made 3,597 335is’s coupes. My current 335i is automatic and this one is manual. This one has sub 60k miles and mine has 150k miles. Just want everyone’s opinion. Thanks for reading :-)

Well, you are getting a car 4 years newer with 90,000 less miles. From that standpoint it's probably worth it. Also, on the 335is there are many small details in the trim that are much nicer than a 335i. The rims are another plus.

I don't think the n54 in a 335is is more reliable than one in a 335i.

If anything, the items you have fixed in your 335i from the time you owned it till now will go bad with your newer N54 to 150,000 miles.

If you bought all your parts from FCP and have a lifetime warranty on them, you'd be paying for the parts on your new N54 again.

[porsche959]

what is an is? difference versus i?

[Fritzer]

My friend has a 335is in 6MT. They are quite rare, only ~715 ever made in 6MT. Ever. Wouldn't buy a DCT but the 6MT may be worth it for you.

[NoGuru]

I have a 2011 IS DCT and LOVE it. Is it an investment? Hell no, but nice and fun, definitely.
Manuals are fun but so is DCT.

[e90yyc]

Buy it to drive it. Consider it an investment in your happiness

[E92.Dom]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Buy it to drive it. Consider it an investment in your happiness

This

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

My friend has a 335is in 6MT. They are quite rare, only ~715 ever made in 6MT. Ever. Wouldn't buy a DCT but the 6MT may be worth it for you.

I feel the opposite. If I wanted a manual I would get the normal n54 335 and spend the price differential on upgrades. The aftermarket has better parts for cheaper than the upgraded parts that came on the 335is. (I don’t even remember what they all are but it’s not really an impressive list, it’s not like it has a lsd, m3 Control Arms, or something really meaningful.)

If I wanted an auto (I don’t and never will lol)... but if I wanted an auto 335 then the 335is would be the only choice because the dct is way better than any slushbox on a 335.

[sehalfyard]

Yeh I've got a 335i wagon (in Adelaide, Australia) and as far as I'm aware its only one-of-two here.

[macheff03]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Buy it to drive it. Consider it an investment in your happiness

Bingo! That’s what cars are 99.99999% of the time anyway...

[tisdrew]

imo the value proposition of a 335is is n54 + dct (another reason i think the e89 sdrive35i is awesome!). if it's a manual it might as well be another 335i. idk, maybe bragging rights?

Most 335is I see go for north of 20k meanwhile a 335i of similar spec will probably be low teens closer to 10k...i'd much rather have a 335i + 10g cash

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by sehalfyard

Yeh I've got a 335i wagon (in Adelaide, Australia) and as far as I'm aware its only one-of-two here.

WHAT. Pics please? Factory E91 335i?

[Wingnutts]

My past E46 M3 6spd is still my favorite, but my 335is DCT by far a close second. If the price is reasonable, I'd go for the 335is.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

I feel the opposite. If I wanted a manual I would get the normal n54 335 and spend the price differential on upgrades. The aftermarket has better parts for cheaper than the upgraded parts that came on the 335is. (I don’t even remember what they all are but it’s not really an impressive list, it’s not like it has a lsd, m3 Control Arms, or something really meaningful.)

If I wanted an auto (I don’t and never will lol)... but if I wanted an auto 335 then the 335is would be the only choice because the dct is way better than any slushbox on a 335.

What I really like tho is that I have a N54 in a E92 LCI car from factory.

[924er]

Originally Posted by E92.Dom

In my own opinion I think it's worth it, I love the 335is (favorite car on earth) especially being priced around the same as a 335i equipped with the n55, I think it's the absolute best bang for your buck.

The 335is is equipped with the N54. Its more aggressively tuned from the factory, I think 330hp. Runs BMWs PPK, has DCT and LSD, and I believe better cooling as well.

OP, Its a great all around car because you get the LCI e92 with the latest n54 engine. I would get one, but its not going to be an "investment". Get it for fun

[Emilime75]

Originally Posted by 924er

The 335is is equipped with the N54. Its more aggressively tuned from the factory, I think 330hp. Runs BMWs PPK, has DCT and LSD, and I believe better cooling as well.

OP, Its a great all around car because you get the LCI e92 with the latest n54 engine. I would get one, but its not going to be an "investment". Get it for fun

iS does not come with LSD. The only real benefit with the iS is that you can get a newer car and the LCI cosmetics. Performance wise, you'd be much better off going aftermarket. MHD/JB4 will get you more than the 30 stock horsepower increase for a few hundred bucks. Additional cooler options are also available that match/exceed the stock parts.

With that said, if I could find one that didn't hold a $5-10k premium over a similar 35i, I'd buy it.

[Wingnutts]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

iS does not come with LSD. The only real benefit with the iS is that you can get a newer car and the LCI cosmetics..

Correct, no LSD, but it has some kind of electronic traction witchcraft going on...

Below is a copy and paste from a post by Kevinj from years ago which is pretty solid.

1) The 335is comes standard with a version of the M body kit. It includes a sculpted rear valance (diffuser) matching the body color versus the standard M kit which is black ABS only. The standard M package also includes sports suspension and other M bits such as thicker steering wheel, chrome accent peddle and foot rest, M door sill badging.
2) Black chrome exhaust tips, grill and shadow trim, and anthracit headliner unless comparing to the M kit only exhaust tips different. Black mirror caps also which are not part of the M kit.
3) The exhaust is a modified sports exhaust and not the standard BMW sports exhaust. According to BMW, they removed some of the fill to change the sound and also added a valve like a standard exhaust to control the noise where the normal BMW sport exhaust doesn't have this. The 335is exhaust differs from the 335i, 335i with M kit, and BMW branded aftermarket sports exhaust.
4) Also according to BMW the motor mounts are stiffer than a standard 335 and not available on the standard M kit. The suspension is no different however or the brakes.
5) There is the availability of the DCT transmission which you can not obtain on the standard 335i or 335i with M kit unless outside of the U.S which varies by country if available on the 335i.
6) The 335is uses the older N54 Turbo motor where the 2011 335i uses the new N55 Twin Scroll motor. 335is only exists as a 2011 and thus can't compare to prior years. Tunability or other unknown factors may come into play with the N54 versus N55 and why it was chosen for the 335is. It was remarked that BMW had more experience on the N54. N55 335is in the future? who knows.
7) The 335is includes tuned sports software not standard on the 335i and M kit. The 335is gets 320 hp and 332 lb-ft torque from the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine, and an overboost function allows for seven-second blasts of 370 lb-ft of torque. Compared to the standard 335i with 300/300.
8) The 335is has additional radiator, oil and a larger cooling fan compared to the standard 335i or 335i with M kit. "An additional radiator has been added behind the left-side front air intake, along with a more powerful electric cooling fan. An oil cooler is fitted opposite the second radiator, on the right side."
9) Foglight delete for better air cooling to support the additional radiator and oil cooler and not an option on the 335i or 335i with M. 335is convertible retains foglights.
10) The 335is includes a 335is cluster gauge with color/badging. There is unique 335is badging on the outside and inside.
11) The 335is comes standard with 18" 313 wheels compared to the standard 335i. The 335i M package no longer offers the 313 wheels standard. (Earlier models had 19" rims.)
12) The 335is comes with paddle shifters standard.
13) The 335is offers a sunroof delete option. This option may be available outside of the U.S. or on request for other 3 series models.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Buy it to drive it. Consider it an investment in your happiness

well said!