View Full Version : BMW M3 vs 335
Kompete
09-04-2008, 02:42 PM
Recently had a chat with a bmw rep who said that the E92 M3 (309kW) would have trouble running away from the E92 335 (225kW), at altitude (e.g. on the highveld), given the 335's twinturbo which compensates for the lack of oxygen (where the M3 would suffer a 17% knock on power)
Some friends of mine concur and in addition believes that the 335's engine rating is actually understated (not sure why bmw would do that)
I tested the 335 this morning and was definitely impressed (it f**s off effortlessly:D), but cannot say whether it will match the M3 (since I have not yet driven the M)
I cannot seem to find an article where someone has actually done the comparison on the SA highveld.
Any opinions or real facts?
Killove
09-04-2008, 02:48 PM
While both cars are amazing, the 335 is highly understated.
Stock standard they can do a 13.4 quarter mile.
I'd say 1st and 2nd it would escape the m3, but when that v8 kicks in in 3rd it would run away from the 335.
1st and 2nd in the new m3 arent THAT impressive. Kinda the same as the e46, if not slower.
Ye I agree 335/135 is faster than the M!
Dolby
09-04-2008, 02:52 PM
Never seen a dice between the two (probably one on Youtube though ...) but apparantly up here they're very close. I wouldn't say the 335i ever jumps the M3, but certainly very close at reef altitute.
I think the Topcar review summed it by saying, paraphrased : 'if you've just bought an M3 at reef altitude, and a 335i stops next to you at the traffic light - you best stop playing with your radio and start concerntrating ...'
Killove
09-04-2008, 02:59 PM
Down at the coast m3 would eat it though :)
Kompete
09-04-2008, 03:00 PM
I think the Topcar review summed it by saying, paraphrased : 'if you've just bought an M3 at reef altitude, ad a 335i stop next to you at the traffic light - you best stop playing with your radio and start concerntrating ...'
lol :D:D:D
CaTcH21
09-04-2008, 05:39 PM
If you looking at 1/4 mile, yes the 335 will 'just' win, but overall the M3 is superior.
Not taking away anything from the 335, its a brilliant car.
Fiekus
09-04-2008, 10:01 PM
does that 'performance' justify more than 200k difference in price? i suppose the 'm' badge carries a price tag but so much? sorry for asking the 'stupid' question... :D
DarkDenim
09-04-2008, 10:32 PM
335i should be quicker to 100kph. Watch these videos filmed at reef altitude...
Chipped 335i vs. M5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qFJj2U84LY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPDP0B3zpaE
The M5 is a different animal!
EvoBunny
10-04-2008, 12:09 AM
I'm more scared of racing a 335i than a m3, although the m3 has the v8 engine and it sounds o so sweet, but that's about it for me, sure it's got the whole electronic ls diff going on, etc... but I'd still take the 335 because you could spend an addition say R40k - R50k and you'll make the new m3's cry even at the coast...
If I was spending my own cash, I'd take a 335 and pocket the change, but actually I'd prolly take ma 135 and pocket a little more change.
CaTcH21
10-04-2008, 08:56 AM
If I was spending my own cash, I'd take a 335 and pocket the change, but actually I'd prolly take ma 135 and pocket a little more change.
then why dont you just buy a freekin 1980 car for R20 000, buy recaro's to make it comfy, and mod the shyte out of it for R80k , then pocket the balance R180k :rolleyes:
Highflyer_GP
10-04-2008, 09:07 AM
then why dont you just buy a freekin 1980 car for R20 000, buy recaro's to make it comfy, and mod the shyte out of it for R80k , then pocket the balance R180k :rolleyes:
I think what he means is that the 135i is an even better deal than the 335i (which in turn is a better deal than the M3) when it comes to bang for your buck.
CaTcH21
10-04-2008, 09:36 AM
I think what he means is that the 135i is an even better deal than the 335i (which in turn is a better deal than the M3) when it comes to bang for your buck.
I know what he is saying, but its personal preference when it comes to cars.
Yes he would rather buy a 135i, but that doesnt give me the right to then say how stupid he is because he could have got have this or that car for this price and blah blah. Every car has its + points over another car.
People who buy M3's or other mid-super cars dont just buy for speed, the M3 must be having so much more than the 335i to give it that crazy price tag.
Highflyer_GP
10-04-2008, 09:43 AM
I know what he is saying, but its personal preference when it comes to cars.
Yes he would rather buy a 135i, but that doesnt give me the right to then say how stupid he is because he could have got have this or that car for this price and blah blah. Every car has its + points over another car.
People who buy M3's or other mid-super cars dont just buy for speed, the M3 must be having so much more than the 335i to give it that crazy price tag.
Fair enough, but keep in mind that the ///M is BMW's motorsport division, meaning that you expect pure performance. It doesn't bode well if lesser models can offer superior performance to the flagship.
sox63
10-04-2008, 09:55 AM
Fair enough, but keep in mind that the ///M is BMW's motorsport division, meaning that you expect pure performance. It doesn't bode well if lesser models can offer superior performance to the flagship.
I remember in the E36 era the 328 was called the poor mans M3. Maybe the same could be said for the 335?
Killove
10-04-2008, 09:58 AM
I remember in the E36 era the 328 was called the poor mans M3. Maybe the same could be said for the 335?
comparing apples to oranges..
335 is the reason BMW fanatics around the world are up in arms.
How dare they make a non ///M comparable to the E92, this is Madness!
THIS IS TWIN TURBO *kick*
limnos
10-04-2008, 10:11 AM
I have seen a 'chipped' 335 annihilate the new M3 :) but completely....
And it simply doesn't make sense what BMW have done: ///M is suppose to be like Audi's "RS" or "S" models, correct? I don't see any A4 been quicker than a RS4 ;) or in that fact, an A3 been quicker than the S3..... I honestly think 135, 335 is money better spent than on an M3.
Kompete
10-04-2008, 12:21 PM
Fair enough, but keep in mind that the ///M is BMW's motorsport division, meaning that you expect pure performance. It doesn't bode well if lesser models can offer superior performance to the flagship.
True that. I think bmw engineers either underestimated the performance of the vehicle or did not think thru the economic consequences of their design (i.e. potential cannabilisation and/or destroying the M brand).
Was lucky enough to again drive the 335 this morning and I must say although it is very quick off the mark, its does not 'thrill' me. In other words I dont get the sense that I'm going very fast (maybe its the lack of a decent soundtrack, or that its so effortless, or the fact that there were no other cars around (320's, GTI's, M3) to pwn :p
sox63
10-04-2008, 12:23 PM
Was lucky enough to again drive the 335 this morning and I must say although it is very quick off the mark, its does not 'thrill' me. In other words I dont get the sense that I'm going very fast (maybe its the lack of a decent soundtrack, or that its so effortless, or the fact that there were no other cars around (320's, GTI's, M3) to pwn :p
I think it may be becuase, the 335 is aimed at people that want the "go" without the "show". They just want to blend in. No loud engine note and stuff to wake up the kiddie sleeping in the back. :)
I think it may be becuase, the 335 is aimed at people that want the "go" without the "show". They just want to blend in. No loud engine note and stuff to wake up the kiddie sleeping in the back. :)
Lol the 335 and 135 have show!!! Havent you seen them?
They also loud!
Kompete
10-04-2008, 02:22 PM
Lol the 335 and 135 have show!!! Havent you seen them?
They also loud!
The 335 coupe has show, the 335 sedan not
efitol
10-04-2008, 04:04 PM
i'd also buy the 335i over the ///M3, apart from the price difference it really wouldnt make sense to buy the latter considering i live here at reef altitude. now the next question would be, coupé or sedan... decisions decisions
Fiekus
10-04-2008, 04:32 PM
lol i agree spending more than 200k for the m-badge is madness. i have a '06 320d so my next upgrade is going to be interesting :D
To throw something completely different into the hat... what about the subaru impreza wrx sti for +- 400k. It's 50k cheaper than the 335i. any comments on performance etc?
apology if i have my facts and figures a bit wrong:o
Messugga
10-04-2008, 04:41 PM
But the new STI is a hatchback and a bit...common compared to the BMW. Don't get me wrong, I have tremendous respect for Subaru and Mitsubishi, but I suspect the type of person who buys a M3 or some or other AMG are of a classier sort and wouldn't want to be seen in any of the aforementioned companies' cars.
Not to mention that the new Impreza looks ****ING ugly.
efitol
10-04-2008, 04:46 PM
Not to mention that the new Impreza looks ****ING ugly.
sadly, agreed :(
Fiekus
10-04-2008, 05:55 PM
sadly, agreed :(
agree too :D
i think what i actually wanted to know was if i was sitting in a 135i and a STi pulls up next to me, should I be scared?
Guys I don't know performance cars so go easy ;)
Juggy
10-04-2008, 06:12 PM
The M5 is a different animal!
Hm, so is the M6;)
question is do you want to pull up at a robot with a car that is 200k cheaper next to you and be scared ??
surely you should be like bring it b!tch :P
Fiekus
10-04-2008, 06:34 PM
surely you should be like bring it b!tch :P
:D
CaTcH21
10-04-2008, 06:35 PM
agree too :D
i think what i actually wanted to know was if i was sitting in a 135i and a STi pulls up next to me, should I be scared?
Guys I don't know performance cars so go easy ;)
Look, the 135i is a NA engine, where as the STi ( WRX) is a FI engine and will smack you left right and center first two gears, other gears you'll slowly catch. If he plays around with the ECU, he will kill you, period.
Did i answer your question ?
adamr
10-04-2008, 08:42 PM
^^^ 135i is FI ... it got two turbos ... :) ... nah ... the STi should not scare a 135i
drove the M3 the other day for about 20min, but "drove" it ... i actually like it, it aint bad at all... different drive to the 335i ... its an ///M :) ... not sure which will be quicker ... the speedos seem to climb the same ... and the 335i does sound oh soooo nice ... a lil like a porsche, not quite BMW... but a lovely exhaust note ... the M3 exhaust note is just an instant "orgasm" for me ...
LOL... the dealer is trying to sell me a M3 and his only bargaining chip is: " its an M3 people will go wow when they see it, with a 335 they not going to" ... he is really playing the cards that it about the image and not performance... blah blah ... makes me smile ... every dealer at BMW says if you with your new M3 and a 335i comes next to you, dont race it ...
but in honesty the 335i is a great motor, the best in the BMW line-up IMO, the M3 is a great car ... they should have put that 335i motor in an ///M body ... and not detune it like they have done in the 335i, then u got a true successor to the E46 M3 ...
M5 is a different beast, even up here it is much quicker than the 335i ... but am struggling to sell my car ... damn economy
CaTcH21
10-04-2008, 10:09 PM
^^^ 135i is FI ... it got two turbos ... :) ... nah ... the STi should not scare a 135i
:o my bad, totally thinking 130i.
The WRX STi is a 2.5L 4 cylinder turbo charged engine that produces 226kw and around 400nm of torque, will still eat the 135i even though the BMW has much more advantages such as bigger engine + twin turbo. They both are equal in weight though, but the STi has more sport tuning like exhaust and sport suspension. Im not sure if this one has the LSD like the older one but if it does, sorry 135i you'll be left for dust at the robots. The STi is as ugly as hell, but the 135i is not that great either.
McGuywer
11-04-2008, 07:57 AM
BMW wouldn't make a 335i that eats an M3 cause the obvious: The 335i is cheaper and does not symbolize the M3 status. It is as easy as that.
As for the sound, perhaps it has something do to with cylinders??? Just a thought....
Dolby
11-04-2008, 08:16 AM
BMW wouldn't make a 335i that eats an M3 cause the obvious: The 335i is cheaper and does not symbolize the M3 status. It is as easy as that.
As for the sound, perhaps it has something do to with cylinders??? Just a thought....
I think that is what the argument is about : BMW shouldn't make the 335i take the M3 because of the reasons you state, but they have come very, very close ...
CaTcH21
11-04-2008, 08:39 AM
BMW wouldn't make a 335i that eats an M3 cause the obvious: The 335i is cheaper and does not symbolize the M3 status. It is as easy as that.
As for the sound, perhaps it has something do to with cylinders??? Just a thought....
do you know much about FI ? The 335i with twin-turbo boosts from low revs therefore making it very quick off the line. Im assuming the 335i is also lighter so it will have the advantage. On top end the M3 will be much superior due to the V8 , but realistically who really has the opportunity of doing close to 200km's nowdays. So its a win for the 335i. IMO the M3 overall is much superior to the 335i.
Of course the more cylinders you have the the more vicious the tone is.
McGuywer
11-04-2008, 09:14 AM
do you know much about FI ? The 335i with twin-turbo boosts from low revs therefore making it very quick off the line.
Ja, two turbo's one for low and one for higher rev's....
adamr
11-04-2008, 09:41 AM
BMW wouldn't make a 335i that eats an M3 cause the obvious: The 335i is cheaper and does not symbolize the M3 status. It is as easy as that.
As for the sound, perhaps it has something do to with cylinders??? Just a thought....
///M is a division on their own ... so i think the BMW engineers and ///M engineers were not talking to each other and it was not BMW AG intention to see the 335i being just as quick as an M3 ... but it is or at worst very close ... and BMW engineers were s******ng at the ///M guys cause they achieved a lot more at a smaller budget than the ///M boys ....BMW realised this and at one conference the ///M boys said that they will look at FI in future ///M models citing the amazing success of the 335i... this goes against ///M philosophy ... so the future looks exciting for the ///M brand .. im all for FI
sound of the two cars are different when u in the car and out of the car .. exhaust note and engine note ... M3 when in the car sounds like a V8 BMW, nothing too special and the 335i when in the car even less special cause it sounds just like every other BMW ... but the exhaust notes of thes two cars is quite pleasing to the ear ...
HavocXphere
11-04-2008, 11:47 AM
If the performance is approx the same then look at:
Status
Price diff
Resale value
Emotions/looks
CaTcH21
11-04-2008, 02:00 PM
If the performance is approx the same then look at:
Status
Price diff
Resale value
Emotions/looks
Im probably going to buy the M not because of speed, but the complete package. The 335i doesnt have half the things the M has. the M sets the benchmark, and been doing so for almost 3 decades.
90% of people buy cars tht suit their needs, 10% just want the damn car. people who buy M's fall in the 10% bracket.
Kompete
11-04-2008, 02:59 PM
Have been driving the 335 around jozi for the last few days (ps. not my car though); have come across two E46 M3's and one E92 M3...none of them seemed interested to any form of contestation
I did however dispatch a 3.0l Z4 and an STI on my way...it was fun :p
adamr
11-04-2008, 04:18 PM
Im probably going to buy the M not because of speed, but the complete package. The 335i doesnt have half the things the M has. the M sets the benchmark, and been doing so for almost 3 decades.
90% of people buy cars tht suit their needs, 10% just want the damn car. people who buy M's fall in the 10% bracket.
cant agree with u more ...
adamr
11-04-2008, 04:19 PM
Have been driving the 335 around jozi for the last few days (ps. not my car though); have come across two E46 M3's and one E92 M3...none of them seemed interested to any form of contestation
I did however dispatch a 3.0l Z4 and an STI on my way...it was fun :p
they bang!!! period!
CaTcH21
11-04-2008, 05:23 PM
have come across two E46 M3's and one E92 M3...none of them seemed interested to any form of contestation
cos they knew you would make them look like fools down the road :D
julians
13-05-2009, 11:49 AM
Having gone down the same path, M3 versus 335i coupe.
I got the 2009 M3 DCT. (DCT stands for Dual Clutch.) I drove both, and was really more hooked on the 335, since my current car was a GTI, i loved the turbo pull.
I chose the m3, cause it really is a racing machine, the brakes handling etc, can not be compared. Comparing the 2 cars, on speed alone, then rather go buy an old golf, spend 50k , and it will give both the above a good hiding. (At least on a straight line.)
Although i have not raced a 335, i would not shy away at all. I suspect he will take me in 1st, but then i will leave it a few cars behind. I will update once i get to take one.