I encountered the same dilemma just recently. I owned an '01 E46 M3 dating back to 2004. I absolutely love the damn thing. I have since moved on to four different cars (don't ask....I have issues) and will be number five here in November. I test drove a 335i coupe and was sold immediately. The low end torque is intoxicating....and will only be better once the Procede is done. I guess it all depends upon what you are after. The M will be more raw and more of a drivers car. I have owned a number of "drivers cars" since the M3 and the best one was the CaymanS... which will kick the *** of any E46 out there in the handling dept (save CSL) so I knew whichever one I chose (beit E46M3 or 335i) was not going to measure up to the CaymanS in the "driving" arena. The reason I sold the CaymanS was I felt it was underpowered.....and it is. Unless you are seriously going to drive the ******* off the car, get the one that is going to give you the most fun for the driving situation you are in 75-80% of the time. For me, it was highway romps, out on client calls and in town driving 75% of the time and the weekend jaunts in the twisties the other 25%. Thus, I chose the 335.

Bottom line is you can't go wrong with either one. Pretty nice situation to be in.

All I know is that for under $50K loaded you can have a car that will crank 400HP and be a blast to drive yet civil enough to take a client out to lunch in.

btw, the ones on here that say they have to add SSK, wheels, etc. to the 335i have done so or will do so with any E46M3 too so take those comments with a grain of salt. Actually, the stock wheels on the 335s are more attractive than those on the E46M3 IMO.

 

I see where your coming from...but to me and many others, sometimes being a bit well..."raw" (in the context of a bit of a pain to use) at times just feels right...I like to wrestle with the gal and show her whos daddy...the 335 is more a yessir kinda gal...the m3 likes a bit of...pain...

 

Great comment. Thank you a bunch. Coming from a previous C6 Z06 owner turned 335 I suppose it can't be too bad of a car! :P

The 335 potential is what has me intrigued. I love all the new technology incorporated with the car as well and the fact you make can make it quite fast while not spending a absolutely ridiculous amount of money.

Hopefully the test drive doesn't let me down. I have seen some of the dynos on the car and the torque distribution is just absolutely sickening. I would love to have a power band like that. 400lbs of torque sounds like a whole hell of a lot of fun

 

I gotcha. Its all in what you want.

Love 'em both. Well, I loved the M when I had it. I'll know whether "its love" with the E92 after about 2 weeks of ownership. I'll just say that I was infatuated after testing her

 

Actually I still own the Z06 (haven't sold the damn thing yet). I know that there is very little out there (and nothing in my price range right now) that will compare to the power of the Z06....namely the TQ but the 335s low end torque/power band with the Procede will be more than sufficient for 90% of most people's driving. Hell, I never use anywhere near the limit of what the Z produces in terms of HP and TQ.

 

Give yourself 1k miles... I hit 4k today and it's getting better and better. Uncork the exhaust and the sound is REALLY good. It's actually, dare I say, loud? (For fully muffled, catted, stock exhaust).

 

can we testdrive yours?
thanks for comments, keep em coming 8)

 

the exhaust is DEF heard...pops and burbles for sure...and as for loud, well, I wouldnt say "loud", but its got one of the greatest "presences" ever...its very concentrated and strong without ever getting too annoying or too noticable...I would say its one of the niced sounding stock exhausts produced for the most part!

 

Seriously, in the last 300 miles, it's gotten a TON louder... you'll hear Sat.

 

Can't wait. My dad actually agrees with me that this car is a keeper. What was your initial thought when you test drove it? (Assuming you did before purchase)

And how do you like it now that you are driving it more and racking up the miles? What is the designated "break in" for this car? I can't wait! All these replies from 335 owners make me antsy! Too bad there is a 2 month waiting list Gives me some time to save up for mods at least I keep telling myself I will wait for at least a couple thousand miles before getting it tuned but I don't know if I can wait that long It would seem utterly logical for me to save up money and buy/install everything at once. (Tune/Exhaust/Intercooler etc.) Make the most of my tune!

 

omg wtf 2 months waiting list?
i need to check that out because i want it by May...when the school ends...
so you wait 2 months...then production begins, which takes another 3 months...so total 5 months?!

 

Im pretty sure they have a used gray one at a local dealer here
looks great and has some nice options...good price too!


www.bmwofthemainline.com

 

I did test drive one before delivery and was luke-warm. Having had an E36 M3 with suspension, diff, full NA engine mods, etc, AND being one for road feel (hence my ownership of the M ), the 335 on stock suspension with run-flats left me with a certain "it will work after it has some work" taste in my mouth. Fast forward to two months later.

Taking delivery of my car, I literally got in it and FORGOT about my M3. Although it doesn't have the connection my M3 had, I personally like it MUCH more overall. It's significantly more fun to drive. The torque, the steering (yep, believe it or not), the stability... it's really a great car. As I rack the miles up (4k in two months... one month of which has been in college ), I'm loving it more and more. It gets better each time. The "preferred" () break-in is 1200 miles.

I'm kind of torn about modding it. I REALLY love the stock package. For what it is, there is nothing better. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. BUT it is SO easy to mod the thing. A tune, exhaust, and DP will put you into some rarefied air as far as numbers go. I think I may succumb gradually even though I don't really need to or want to (ok, I kind of want to...).

Any other questions, let me know.


Joe

 

Word, almost bought that car... didn't want the wood though.

 

Thanks again for your help. ^^^ Only makes me look forward to it more.

As for the waiting - Pretty sure you can pick one up at a stealership as long as you aren't in hopes of getting what you want! If you can find one that suits your fancy more power to you!

As for me, I know what I want and I would never be able to find it unless I special order it. The wait will be worth it. Now if only the sport package rims weren't so horrible looking!