I've had my 06 MT w/Navi for over 18 months now and it's starting to get stale. I am really craving more power and am strongly consiering purchasing an 08 BMW 335i sedan when they come out. My monthly payments would increase about $100 with the $5K I will put down after selling the TL. Not so bad really.

Has anyone seen what those cars can do with a little piggyback system from Vishnu for ~$1,500? We're talking an additional 100 hp to the WHEELS! Crazy stuff.

 

Got to say I love 335i coupe more than the sedan and its potential with after market parts. Did you consider leasing 335i? Normally BMW has aggressive leasing programs.

 

lol i would do the same exact thing if i had the money

 

don't blame you......

only $100 higher? did you put nothing down on the TL?

 

BMW Lease Programs are excellent, however I think that purchasing is the wisest decision in the long end.It's what I ended up doing myself...The day the car will arrive in your garage, the miles will add up very quickly and you will regret your limited miles per year.I did install the Vishnu package myself and needless to say, it is incredible. We're talking about under 5 seconds to 60 and high 12's,low 13s in the quarter mile. If you can afford it, it's a good upgrade for your TL!

Here is a quick shot of my car:

 

We must have posted within seconds of each other because I'm thinking of doing the same thing as mentioned in this post.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166932

I would love to get everyone's feedback!!

 

wow its weird i was gonna start a thread thinking about ditching my TL-S for a 550....

 

The reliability of German cars has really sucked in recent years. Be prepared to pay for any service you have done at much higher rates than Acura. Parts are sometimes not readily available. I know a guy that waited 2 months for wheel bearings for his 750I. Lastly, you have some inclement winter weather in St. Louis, and RWD is not condusive to winter weather.
Good luck

 

well they have 5 years until they have to worry about service costs.........

 

I could see why you would do this. When is comes to upgrades the TL's $/HP
ratio is completely ridiculous. You could literally spend $1500 on the TL and still
only gain under 20hp.

 

if your gonna get the 335 get the coupe

 

Nokiaman: Nice car Are you going to upgrade to Procede v2 when shiv finally starts production?

I wish I could still drive a coupe but being in sales it doesn't really work with entertaining clients.

Also, leasing is not really an option since I drive for work (mileage limitations = )

In the winter there are a couple of days when RWD would suck but not more than a handful. I could always drive my wife's car on those days anyway.

Someone else already mentioned the free maintenance package with BMW so that's not a huge concern for me.

About my payments, well, I have about $6K in equity in the TL and would drop another $6K down from my wallet. Over 5 years the difference in my monthly payment would only be about $100 (from $540 to $640). Not all that bad really.

 

With proper winter tires, the 335i works just fine. The tires choice are sometimes more important then the wheels that push them. I got no clue how St.Louis winter is, but I know if I can make it through a canadian winter, you will be just fine.

 

nokiaman, how much did you paid for your 3 series and what is your monthly payment.

 

I payed just a hair above 56K cdn dollars.My monthly payments are 620/month with zero down.
I should mention that my father and brother both work at the local bmw dealership so I did get a favor
I received the Premium Pack, Cold weather,sport package and navi

 

How is it only $100 more per month? I just built one on the BMW website, "with options" for $48,000. Without options, it's still $40,000. Are you doing an 84 month loan? lol

 

Thank you I don't think I will upgrade unless the v2 really is much more than what is already available. I have the V380 and the vishnu exhaust, which is about 4800 cdn that I find more than enough for daily drive!If you do pull the trigger, let me tell you that the torque is intoxicating!

 

335i is nice piee of work. There are 100 threads on "thinking about trading in".

2 points of consideration.

1) If your only financial factor is the monthly payment, then you'll never NOT have a payment.

2) Acura's retain thier value well, even after 5 years. That BMW will be worth less than a TL at 5 years when that service plan runs out, even though it cost almost 2X as much new. For that fact, you're kinda married to BMW (or take a huge hit).

Another note. BMW warranty folks are pricks. Have fun with vishnu. But when you blow a turbo, and take it for service, they'll find where you had the piggyback installed... and deny your claim. They look a LOT harder than anywhere else I;ve experienced.

Those service plans are for lazy people, not mod happy people.

 

Ya...after my lease is up in 08, I was consider leasing a 335 coupe. I know for the fact just retuning the ECU can outrun the current M3. I stress leasing because I hear problems with European cars. I have nothing against it but have personal experience before. I like the looks and designs. So who knows maybe I might consider next year. 2 other car I also thought about are Mercedes Benz C63 and the Lexus IS 500. I know first year production car will have problems. But that was my 2nd alternative in the future. I would say lease your 335 sedan if you tends to drive it a lot. Because down the road you will have problems. Good Luck!

 

I have to disagree with you.Even if reliabily with german cars is usually lower than competitors,blowing a turbo won't happen anytime soon.The engine will take a fairly high degree of stress.''Piggy-back computers, by definition, work in conjunction with the factory ECU, not against of it.'' If anything was to happen, Vishnu tuning has an excellent warranty program. I've had my Vishnu chip for now six months, and not only it improves the gas mileage , it returns stupendous performance.Feel free to visit e90post.com and vishnutuning.com should you have any worries.

 

Hey guys just putting in my . Last fall I was struck with this decision. I have always wanted an M3, but I wanted a new car. New M3 = >80,000 which is sad because I really did love it. So I went and test drove the 335i, the G35 and the TL-S. I have to day dollar for dollar you get more out of the Acura. I know some of you will say that the power is totally different. But for the average everyday driver, who wants a little sportier feel and pep every now and then, and totally blow away those ricers the TL-S is great. For 10,000 less I got the same if not better (in my opinion) interior, with way more extras. I was willing to spend the extra money on the 335i but I could not justify it. And I know more than one person who has had an M3 and had horrible transmission and engine problems, and I even know people that have had work on their new 335i for various reasons. So with no work on my 07 TL-S, I may buy RonJons for its birthday. Again just my but the Acura is a great car.

 

Don't fool, yourself. I've been down this road before, and have experienced this effect. It's like the German mechanics are taught how to find this stuff.

Any mod that adds 100 HP places huge strain on the motor. Vishnu, like other turbo car remaps or piggybacks simply applies more boost sooner, and lays in more gas. I'm not questioning it's performance, or how it works. I know how it works. Chiptuning is MUCH more common in the german market.

Vishnu's warranty will not cover your thrown rod, head gasket, or turbo...

Perhaps you should read these guys opinion of Vishnu:
http://www.bmwquebec.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=1377

Just google Vishnu and blown motor and you'll read the horror stories.
Modding comes with risk, especially this one.

 

IF money is not an issue here, get the bimmer for its power and handling ... also if you are not going to keep car beyond 4 or 5 year max, then Bimmer is the way to go ...

Otherwise, stay with TL as it's a long term relationship, not just some summer love ... LOL

 

i think bimmers interiors are HIDEOUS exteriors, you see em all the time and they all look the same, parents test drove one and the g35, got the G, some people love BMW but there all too common...then again so is the TL, but every time i see a TL i appreciate the lines of the car. keep the TL

 

This picture kinda reminds me of a CL.

anyone agree?

Here is a quick shot of my car:

[/QUOTE]

 

Then I've been very lucky so far .*knock on wood*It's a risk many(me included)have accepted to take that has paid off in every sense of the word.Then again, the car comes with more than ample power in stock form...

 

I gotta add, I didn't post here to argue about a subject that has been debated a thousand times on e90 post.You do have good points I just wanted to give the OP some insight from a 335i owner.I'm sure he'll be able to make a good conclusion out of all this.

 

my friend has a 07 335i sedan and its fast. but as far as luxury goes, its not. id rather drive the TL everyday then the 335i. dont get me wrong the 335i is fast and handles great but the TL hold its own IMHO.

 

^^Very nice 3-I shoulda taken white!!

 

3 Series have been editors' choices on various publications for like the past 15 years...A Bimmer is a hell of a car. I'd say get one if you can afford it. i would have gotten one but the rear quarters are a bit tight...if the drive is whats important you can't go wrong with a 335...

And for what its worth I think an Infiniti M45 is a fine choice as well...

Just my contribution...

 

The 335i coupe manual with sport pkg 18" wheels is SO SWEET.

And as far as reliability, the 3 series is BMW's best car. NO comparison to the TL

or TL-S. Its a real sports coupe. WOW, I wish I had one now....

 

I can't blame you for wanting to make a swap. Go for it if you are financially able to. I would, but I have my eyes and hopes set on another vehicle.

 

The 335i with the Sport Package + Bluetooth + Comfort Access + Sirius is what I am looking for. It seems I can get my hands on one with those options for about $43,500. That's really not that bad.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not unsatisfied with my TL. I like the interior more than the 335i but I am a real driving enthusiast and can't away from the feel of driving that car. I will probably wait until after the winter and ditch the FWD.

As far as Vishnu is concerned - his piggyback for the 335i has been out for over a year now and it would still be another couple of years before I would make that purchase. So I figure if everyone's engines are blowing up I will probably have heard of it by then. At the very least he's forcing others to play catch up which is fine with me.

 

Well put Ditto on Acura interiors being better than bmw's Good luck ans keep us updated.

 

Well put Ditto on Acura interiors being better than bmw's Good luck and keep us updated.

 

For about 44 grands, even though slightly expensive, you get a lot of car for the money.I do wish bmw had better interiors like those from audi or acura.Keep us updated and good luck.

 

As for driving experience and engine performance, the 335i is untouchable in it's segment.

 

Funny how we forget that Germans have to deal with snow. They even make it happen on the autobahn in the winter!

 

I've had my 07 TL-S right from the beginning. When the 335i came out I really wanted to get that car b/c like someone said with the Vishnu performance it will be a monster. But just wait until the BMW 1-series comes out. It is going to be the same engine same everything the 335i has but much lighter and much faster than the 335i. You just boost the performance on that and you're done. As for the TL-S, in 2008 or 2009 I think they're coming out with a SH-AWD TL. Its going to have a new look and more power. So don't waste your money on the 07 cars. Wait a little more and you won't be disappointed with the results you'll get next year with so many cars to choose from.

 

I read about this upgrade in Road and Track and got all jealous that they're able to get 100hp with a chip and exhause and we get 60hp with a $5k supercharger!

Now I feel much better!