[g0at23]

I guess I should limit my bashing to the n54 engine... Although the n55 is new, we won't know about the reliability for at least another year or 2.

[g0at23]

Also please don't take offense to my negativity. The thing is... I read more than a few people bashing their 335i prior to purchasing my vehicle. I should have listen to them. It was a big risk buying this vehicle. A huge hit or miss. Not worth the risk considering the volume of problems. I just thought these people were just poor saps that got unlucky. Now I learned it first hand that its not a matter of if... It's a matter of when it will happen to you and I don't want people who currently have a choice to make the same mistake.

OP... Please buy yourself a M3. It's a better car and most important don't have half the problems as this one.

[SneakyDeeky]

I love my car, but if I were to do it over again I'd get an E90 M3. Because of your snow situation, look at the Audi S4 or even the Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Evo MR.

[1chanc3]

Originally Posted by g0at23

Also please don't take offense to my negativity. The thing is... I read more than a few people bashing their 335i prior to purchasing my vehicle. I should have listen to them. It was a big risk buying this vehicle. A huge hit or miss. Not worth the risk considering the volume of problems. I just thought these people were just poor saps that got unlucky. Now I learned it first hand that its not a matter of if... It's a matter of when it will happen to you and I don't want people who currently have a choice to make the same mistake.

OP... Please buy yourself a M3. It's a better car and most important don't have half the problems as this one.

Honestly, visit enough car forums and you'll notice that EVERY car will have its problems. If reliability was your #1 concern, then you should have invested in an ISF or something.
You can't say because you got a "bad" product that all cars from that manufacturer are bad, there will always be worse case scenarios, especially when dealing with products with thousands of part put together. I work in a manufacturing environment so I would know. Yes, we know BMW does have some issues here and there and can be a pain to deal with, but you can't generalize the n54 like they're all bad...


As for the OPs question, I've never driven an e90 m3 so I can't comment on that. As a DD, I would probably just do the 335 since allow you to actually drive in the winter months.

[Mr.335]

Tbh

wait hold on....:FLAME SUIT ENGANGED:

Yeah im biased since i previously owned it, but since someone did mention it. In your shoes I would purchase a brand new Evo for that cost and still pay less then what your willing to dish out.

AWD 4cyl turbo & balls out fun(Horrible Gas mileage) But put winter tires on it and I would dare you to get that car stuck somewhere. You said 6 months of winter? Yeah make your life easier and look into an AWD model of any car your looking into.

If it is definitely betwen an M3 and 335i. Here is my breakdown as I was in the same situation except the 335i I was debating was RWD.

Anyway M3 if your going to purchase a second car for winter/ your willing to travel to work or anywhere else by public transportation/ or you will be buying a second set of winter tires and have to limit yourself on certain occasions if weather conditions worsen.
M3 has no warranty (you can work on it yourself yes but dedicating your time off to work on your car after a long week does put a toll on you after awhile), higher ins premiums, more frequent stops to the gas station.

Pros: V8 holy crap do I want this motor myself..and til this day I still shop around for an M3

335i XI, You have a well built awd system that can definitely get you home safer with either seasonal or winter tires. (I'm not going to be a hypo-crite and say don't do it with summer tires since I have done it myself, but it's definitely not fun slipping and sliding put that AWD to work). You don't have to worry about conditions outside unless clearance of the road would be an issue. You save money on gas and insurance.

WARRANTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes you said you would work on the car yourself...but isn't it fun to say I'm going to drop off my car this saturday, get the loaner, and meet up with everyone afterwards. Rather then "I got to fix my car I'll let you know when I'm finished"

Its more fun to say I'm putting on a new part..then I'm fixing a part

[Transport3r]

Everyone talking about reliability of the Turbo sixes needs to read up on the V8 M3 bottom end failures. Thought the HPFP is expensive to fix?
As 1chanc3 said, If you want top shelf reliability, don't even consider anything that is not Japanese/Korean. at which point your performance/fun options are VERY limited and the luxury sports sedan selection even more.

[prairieoyster]

OP, I live just west of you in sunny Sask, so I know exactly what your talking about in terms of winter.....especially this one. And I deal with the same type of roads as you do. I own a 2011 335xi and have the normal mods slapped on it. I also have the burning desire to have an M3 in the garage.

But, as a DD, living up here, there is just no way on earth I would subject my self, my family or an M3 to the crap we deal with every winter. My wife drives the 335 daily and I drive it whenever I can. You know yourself what this winter has been like up here, and I can tell you one thing, with winter tires on, the thing is an absolute tank in snow and ice. Other than ground clearance, it does everything my 4x4 truck does, only way better. Hands down the most confident vehicle I have driven in our winters, on our roads. Plus, with the JB4, etc etc, it's fast enough to make me smile every time I drive it.

I still want an M3, and I will own one sooner or later. But until I move south, which is very high on my list of things to do after this mofo of a winter, it will be a summer car only. As a DD in this neck of the woods, the 335xi is the choice between those two.

[sy2767]

Originally Posted by prairieoyster

OP, I live just west of you in sunny Sask, so I know exactly what your talking about in terms of winter.....especially this one. And I deal with the same type of roads as you do. I own a 2011 335xi and have the normal mods slapped on it. I also have the burning desire to have an M3 in the garage.

But, as a DD, living up here, there is just no way on earth I would subject my self, my family or an M3 to the crap we deal with every winter. My wife drives the 335 daily and I drive it whenever I can. You know yourself what this winter has been like up here, and I can tell you one thing, with winter tires on, the thing is an absolute tank in snow and ice. Other than ground clearance, it does everything my 4x4 truck does, only way better. Hands down the most confident vehicle I have driven in our winters, on our roads. Plus, with the JB4, etc etc, it's fast enough to make me smile every time I drive it.

I still want an M3, and I will own one sooner or later. But until I move south, which is very high on my list of things to do after this mofo of a winter, it will be a summer car only. As a DD in this neck of the woods, the 335xi is the choice between those two.

Thank you, nice to hear from other prairie folk that knows first hand what i am talking about. Yes this has been a very harsh winter in terms of cold and snowfall, Roads constantly covered with ice and packed down snow, wishing i had xdrive that's for sure! I think i have made my choice and as much as it pains me not to have an M3 i think i will wait a few years and maybe get an F80 M3 later when my son grows more and i wont need the booster seat in the back. The 335xi i can get is a beautiful car and makes more sense for my family at this time, metallic deep sea blue over black leather interior with sports seats, i think the only options it don't have are HK audio and the upgrade 18'' wheels. The gentleman that owns it is very fussy and babies the car immensely! He cleans the brake calipers with a tooth brush!!! I might actually look into getting the BMW PPK installed mid summer after having the car for awhile, would like to keep the warrenty intact. Thanks everybody for the advice.

[BenTrovato]

Come on guys... the M3 is an incredible machine. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has driven one for a period of time would say get a 335 instead. 328's are better than 335's for daily drivers said no one ever. The only thing that makes sense is wanting an xdrive vs. a rwd. The M3 is not a track only car. I have been driving rwd in the snow for the past few years and I get by, but it's not as good as awd. If you need awd, then that's the car for you.

[Lux3m35i]

Just an idea..
What about an Alpina B3 AWD?

[marv85]

335i! plus the N54 scene is getting more exciting by the minute

[SubzeroVR4]

If it was the occasional snow shower I'd say the M3.

You mentioned that you'd be driving on hard packed snow/ice for months on end. 335 x drive is the way to go.

You wouldn't get to exploit anywhere near the potential the M3 has to offer over the 335i.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by BenTrovato

Come on guys... the M3 is an incredible machine. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has driven one for a period of time would say get a 335 instead. 328's are better than 335's for daily drivers said no one ever. The only thing that makes sense is wanting an xdrive vs. a rwd. The M3 is not a track only car. I have been driving rwd in the snow for the past few years and I get by, but it's not as good as awd. If you need awd, then that's the car for you.

The 328i IS better than a 335i as a daily driver. Much, much less to go wrong with it, costs less to buy, less to feed, and less to fix. Goes around corners just as well if not better being lighter in the nose. More than fast enough to get your license shredded. And you can only get the wagon with the N52, and it is the one to have anyway. Win, win, win, win, win, win, epic win.

If it is never going to see a racetrack, and where the OP lives there aren't even any CORNERS really, what is the point of having an M3?

[zamboni]

Go for the M3 get third party ext coverage and you are set, love the S65 engine sounds and it's pretty reliable since it's NA V8.

[Sweattdogg]

M3 for sure. 335 is a great car, but M3 is M3. I've owned an M3 and now a 335d, so I feel I speak from some experience. Get an extended warranty.

[M3E46M]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Go for M3 and you will smile all the time when you get into it, buy second used car All wheel drive for winter

+1

If you are a modder get the 335i or xi, you will get better power after mods but you will have to get aftermarket LSD (Limited Slip Diff). However there is nothing better than a V8 revving to 8000RPM which = M3 + LSD is included. Go get an M3 and a winter beater for $2K. I got 335i because I couldn't refuse the deal i got. But If I had to pay 10K extra to buy same style M3 as 335i I would have.

[zipstic]

OP,
It sounds like you've made your decision, but I'll through my two cents in. It all comes down to compromising. Would you rather have more confidence driving in snow and ice conditions or have the raw power of the V8? Part of that depends on your driving style. Are you one to tear around town and corners in the summer? Or are you more of a laid back driver? I live in Minneapolis and decided that I would rather have the extra piece of mind of having better traction in winter conditions. To me, it honestly make driving a lot more enjoyable during the winter knowing I have AWD and winter tires on.

Cost of ownership is important to consider as well. Maintenance, insurance, MPG, resale, etc. Part of it depends on how long you're planning to keep the car. Would you drive it into the ground or sell it within 3 years?

BTW, maybe it's different in Canada, but I'm guessing it's a 335 X-Drive, not a 335xi, right? Just semantics Good luck with your decision!

[sy2767]

Originally Posted by zipstic

OP,
It sounds like you've made your decision, but I'll through my two cents in. It all comes down to compromising. Would you rather have more confidence driving in snow and ice conditions or have the raw power of the V8? Part of that depends on your driving style. Are you one to tear around town and corners in the summer? Or are you more of a laid back driver? I live in Minneapolis and decided that I would rather have the extra piece of mind of having better traction in winter conditions. To me, it honestly make driving a lot more enjoyable during the winter knowing I have AWD and winter tires on.

Cost of ownership is important to consider as well. Maintenance, insurance, MPG, resale, etc. Part of it depends on how long you're planning to keep the car. Would you drive it into the ground or sell it within 3 years?

BTW, maybe it's different in Canada, but I'm guessing it's a 335 X-Drive, not a 335xi, right? Just semantics Good luck with your decision!

Yes its a 335 xdrive, with winter lasting 6 months the 335 xdrive would be great to have, the more i think about it the M3 would be a waste as my DD because i wouldn't get to take advantage of that wonderful engine and chassis living here. I like spirited driving when conditions permit and i'm by myself, but that's not very often. I will keep the car for 4-5 years and then possibly get the M3 at that point.

[M3E46M]

Originally Posted by zipstic

OP,
It sounds like you've made your decision, but I'll through my two cents in. It all comes down to compromising. Would you rather have more confidence driving in snow and ice conditions or have the raw power of the V8? Part of that depends on your driving style. Are you one to tear around town and corners in the summer? Or are you more of a laid back driver? I live in Minneapolis and decided that I would rather have the extra piece of mind of having better traction in winter conditions. To me, it honestly make driving a lot more enjoyable during the winter knowing I have AWD and winter tires on.

Cost of ownership is important to consider as well. Maintenance, insurance, MPG, resale, etc. Part of it depends on how long you're planning to keep the car. Would you drive it into the ground or sell it within 3 years?

BTW, maybe it's different in Canada, but I'm guessing it's a 335 X-Drive, not a 335xi, right? Just semantics Good luck with your decision!

FTW: X-Drive =XI SAME THING. The only difference is the spelling. Get rear wheel drive with winter tires and drift!

[zipstic]

Originally Posted by labedra

FTW: X-Drive =XI SAME THING. The only difference is the spelling. Get rear wheel drive with winter tires and drift!

Yes, that's why I wrote that it's just semantics.

[E90Company]

M3

[DDS2015]

Coming from a fellow Manitoban, I'd go for the 335. My dad has one with xdrive, a coupe. 2011 as well. He has had minimal issues with it (a sensor needed be reset a couple of times). For Winnipeg winters, xdrive is a must.

I have a 328 xdrive with Nokian winter tires and it is outstanding in the winter time. It is glued to the road, and way better than my sister's X5 with all seasons or my old Xterra. The xdrive system is amazing.

Could you make do with the M3? Of course. However, you'll be only making do for half the year and then the other half the year you have to deal with all of the road work that goes on.