I was at the Bimmer dealer a couple days ago, and with a little pull from my Sister I was able to test drive an e92 M3. I couldn't really rip on it because it was already sold, but it sure was fun.

Well, since there's no way I'll be affording and f30 m3. I was thinking a an e90 335i. My best friend has got one, and he's always texting me all the new mods he keeps getting. I guess that's part of the reason I want a bimmer the others are manual trans and rear wheel drive.

I know this is obviously an Acura forum. So, opinions are probably biased, but honestly what do you think of an e90 335?

 

Honestly, I would not buy a BMW if someone gave me the money. Especially not any 3 series. And it's not because I have an Acura, I have an Infiniti too. I just feel that #1, everywhere you go there is a BMW and generally speaking, it's a 3 series. Why would you want to have a car that everyone else has? I would much rather have a more "rare" car. I have a TL Type-S and an Infiniti Q45t and I rarely ever see anyone with those. And personally I don't thing the 335 is sporty looking. It just looks kind of bleh to me.

 

As nice as BMW's are, I absolutely hate to recommend one without a warranty. My 760 has had a TON of repairs done under an aftermarket warranty! If I had to pay for the repairs then I could have bought a new SH-AWD TL!

I'd really look into the maintenance into the 335's and as well I would look into the trans on those things. My 760 uses a similar trans to the 335 however it's rated for more HP/TQ and I've already had a trans blow itself apart with the factory 444 ft/lbs of tq, I can't imagine what the mods to a 335 would produce HP wise and as well what parts would break, esp on a used one.

In all honesty, I've been debating on buying a TL-S or RL since Hondata now supports the engine (J35A8 which is also in the RL). Hondata hasn't responded to my email about the RL's compatiblity, but this is my MO:

1. Buy a 2007 TLS or 2006-2008 RL
2. Take the WHOLE dang car apart, fix all broken things, clean them, replace carpet, suspension, etc.
3. Custom Turbo kit: with Hondata all I would have to do is pay for tuning! I can get a JnR kit and just use Hondata to keep it tuned and swap out parts as needed.
That way I can have at least 300HP on tap at any moment and have a car that's comfortable! An RL with CMBS/ACC is my goal at the moment! To hell with the 760 then!

 

If I wanted a rare car I'd get a Holden Commodore(sorry a Chevy SS) you know Chevy's Australian NASCAR. I'll admit 3 series are everywhere, but most are yuppies who think they're someone because the have a BMW.

Tell that car doesn't stand out in a crowd:

 

From experience, Don't buy german unless you only plan to own it under warranty.

 

Fortunately, my Sister works at a Bimmer dealer. So, I'd get all work done when the mechanics aren't busy for a case of bear and the cost of parts. Plus my good friend from High School is a Certified BMW Master Mechanic. He knows everything about every BMW inside and out.

 

As a 2004 330ci bmw owner, I've never experienced any issues with my car in the 2-3 years I've had her. I bought her with 135k km and now shes got a little over 185k km. Just like any other car you want to do maintenance. In the time I've owned her never broken down on me and I've only had to replace things that break over time (just like any other car) but it hasn't been expensive (at least I don't think so) and I do most of the work myself.

 

And that's where you've saved a ton of money.

 

I like your opinion, and like you said as long as you do your routine maintenance. I change my oil and filter ever 3,000 miles, change the trans fluid every 30,000 miles, change my coolant every 50,000 miles, change my brake and clutch fluid every 30,000 miles.

My TL just ticked over 110,000 miles, and I haven't had one major or even minor failure for that matter. I also do all my own work on my car, my mom's car and my sister's car. Plus with her working at the Bimmer dealer I'd get parts at cost.

 

IMO if you're gunna get a bimmer dont get a 3 series.. Throw some more $$ on it and get a 6 series.. those things are pure sex

 

I personally hate 2 doors. Now an M5 I'd be game for. I do like the M6 gran coupe though.

 

M6 & amg c63 were the two cars that I was looking at before I picked up my TLS. Reason that I didn't pull the trigger on either of those was I decided last minute to stay debt free. I wouldn't buy either of those cars not under cpo warranty tho

 

Well, having a Sister and the BMW shop manager as friends I'm sure they'd hook me up with a good CPO model. Not that I care though, because the first think I'm doing is putting downpipes, midpipes, high flow mufflers, a new charch pipe, an Active Autowerke BOV, and a cobb tune.

Oh yeah, KW suspension and a short shift kit

 

I hate 2 doors too but I'd sacrifice that for the 6 series. They're just so damn sexy... And honestly if you're worried about passenger room in the back as the reason you hate coupes, the 3 series rear seats are just as small as the 6 from what I've experienced from sitting in the back of friends cars one who has a 645i and one who has a 335. I'm biased tho cause I've driven that 645i too and that thing is just amazing i love the heads up speedometer on the windshield and everything on the inside. One of my dream cars, was heartbroken when my buddies dad sold it to get a new Panamara Turbo S.. That car tho

 

Looks like you've already made up your mind....so when's all this gonna go down?

 

It"ll be a little while. I'm waiting for the f30 M3, but who knows when they'll make it to the USA. Otherwise I'll have to settle for a f30 335i.

 

My prior boss leased 740i and spent more time driving Huyndai Elantra from enterprise rent-a-car.

Just imaging shopping at supermarket putting all your groceries in the nice trunk and not being able to star the F..ing car. Or you need to pick up your kid from school...... Does it really matter that you can do it yourself or you get a break on the cost of parts at that very moment?

 

My best friend owned an e43 M3 for 5 years, and now he's going on his 3rd year of his e90 335i. He has had absolutely no issues with either car.

I talk with the shop manager and the local Bimmer dealer, and he says 90% of the work is routine maintenance ie: oil changes, brakes, tires etc.

 

I talked with Acura shop manager and you are not going to believe it but there are no other Acuras with dash cracks or rattles except mine.

 

I love my TL. I had it 7 years now, and I just feal like it's time for a new car.

 

Just looked at reliability of 3 series and since 2009 most are better than average and only had some minor issues with fuel system.
In contrast Acura TL since 2009 had some minor issues with electrical system.

BMW 5 series still have a lot of problems

BMW 7 looks like horror movie.

I wouldn't hesitate to own 3 series at this time since its been more than 4 years since BMW got their act together.

 

Ballers talk lol beamers r nice luxurious cars but the only thing is u gots to b a baller to own one unless u under waranty but den again even if u aint u say ur sis works der nd u have a beamer mechanic buddy so u shudnt have no major headaches if something was to go wrong on it. And out of da two choices u goin for i would def go for da m3

 

Here is list of complains for 2013 from owners:

Cons: BMW nickel and dimes you on options..have "voice command" button but have to buy app to run it

Cons: Expensive options

Cons: back seat could be larger, default settings

Cons: Cramp back sitting. Bad blind spot. Complicated navigation and on board computer

Cons: Low mileage, front bumper seems to hit everything in parking lots, curbs, etc. lack of sufficient passenger and luggage space

Cons: Rough Ride, High price of fuel

Cons: Gps inaccurate

Cons: Backup lights inadequet, Head rest won't go down, block vision to the right. Seats don't go high enough for short people (5'5"), Run flat tires very expensive, not repairable.

Cons: cupholders, lack of interior storage space

Cons: Small trunk, counterintuitive controls

Cons: Very poor fit and finish, electrical problems, numerous trips back to the dealership.

Cons: Small Trunk

Cons: speeding ticket, and can use more back seat space.

Cons: Layout of the dash, fuel mileage, dual clutch transmission

Cons: Run flats awful, no temp gauge, no spare

No major complains and a lot for flat tires. Nothing I would not be able to manage.
Looks like you will not need any parts for 3 series except for tires.
Reading all the cons I didn't find anything that would turn me away from it. If you like the looks I am sure you'll love the car just do not get blue color.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/bmw-drivers-really-are-jerks--studies-find-214456020.html

 

Lol blue would be my first choice imagine that

 

have you considered a 335is? one thing that still makes me want a e90/92 m3 is the fact that it's the last of the V8s.

 

Dude, seriously.......


OP, no doubt 335 > TL, especially if you enjoy driving hard. I drove an e90 335 and my TL felt like a boat when I got back into it. Honestly, I think the hype about maintenance costs and problems is way over played on the 3 series. The biggest issue with the early e90 335's was the high failure rate of the HPFP, but that's not an issue with the later ones or the f30. Definitely get one with the sport package.

Personally, I'd take the 335 over the M3. I'd go JB4, DCI, catless down pipes and meth and be faster in a straight line. That's a pretty nice consolation prize over the superior handling M3 when you factor in the much lower cash outlay.

But please, save the BOV's for the SRT 4's and Cobalt SS's.

 

Attempting to read this hurt my brain. Is it extremely difficult to type in proper english?

OP good luck with your decision. My dad use to have a 335 and it was an absolute blast to drive. Be sure to keep this thread updated with pics when you make the switch to whatever you decide

 

Beamers are their motorcycle. Bimmers are their cars.

Oh, I did get to rip a e92 M3 a few days ago white with red leather and the cf roof it looked sick. I couldn't really stretch its legs because it had already sold.

 

Agreed!! I owned an A4 out of warranty and this is exactly why I am getting rid of it this weekend, cost of repairs is substantially more than anything else I have ever owned. Better have a FAT bank account to cover maintenance, and then the mods.

 

Yeah, and the $150 Brembo pads my brakes go through in 25,000 miles are real cheap.

Believe I love my TL I've had it for 6 years. Before that a 97 CL before that a 93 then a 90 then Accord. Every car I've ever owned has been a Honda, but now I want something rear wheel drive with a manual trans. That leaves pretty much only BMW, and after driving my friends e43 M3 and his F90 335 BMW's IMHO are just more fun to drive. Plus, you gotta admit a v6 with exhaust sounds pretty crappy compared to a I6 BMW.

 

do it

 

Let me be the one to correct you... E46... not E43...

You are comparing apple to oranges. A used E92 M3 still runs about 50k. If you have the money and want to spend it on a car, go ahead. I love M3's, but I don't see myself driving one any time soon.

It'd be very hard for me to get rid of the TL-S for anything, mostly for finacial reasons.

I'd wait for a CLA45. You can actually get one, brand new, for 50k.

 

Actually E43 is correct. Before that it was E36 and before that the E30

You are absolutely right about the E90 and E92 M3's costing a fortune especially the E90 since they didn't make as many 4 door M3's.

I'm not that familiar with Merc's anymore, but won't the CLA45 be auto or flappy paddle only? If so, I can't handle it I need the clutch pedal

 

My brother has had his 2007 335i with 50k miles for almost 3 years with out a problem. With a small tune and some supporting mods these cars can be just as fast or faster than the M3 for under 2 grand. They also blow the doors off of the TL stock vs stock power wise.

 

As you get older, you want raw power. BMW M5 on the other hand has been my favorite car. If you want to go different, try grabbing a Infiniti G37s, Q50, Mercedes CLA, Lexus GS-series to the IS- series. I peronally love the manual gear box as it's the real passion to being a sports car than the paddle shifter. Anything above 300 hp stock on these sedans will perform very well with modifications down the road. Even the TL is trying really hard getting to the 300 whp mark. Take your picks, and happy hunting!

 

3 Things.

1. What exactly is the E43? I re-built a few of those cars, and unless E43 was Euro-Spec, it's known as the E46 here in the US...

2. My prior point having been made, why not the E46 over the 335? The I-6 in the 46 was amazing. I mean, literally amazing. You can get them for VERY reasonable prices and turn them into monsters with minor alterations.

3. Dude, never, ever listen to someone tell you that you shouldn't get a car because it's "too popular." WTF? Are you kidding me? The Miata, S2000 and Boxster are incredibly popular. Does that mean you shouldn't enjoy the impeccable engineering and joy of driving one? Get real. That's absurd.

Anyway, good luck with your hunt!

 

nothing in between e90 and e46. unless you were thinking that an e43 was the convertible, like the e93

 

I apologize, I don't know why I thought it E43 not E46. Somehow I just had that error stuck in my head.

Your right my best friend had an E46 M3 that had catless euro headers, downpipes, active autowerke muffler and their tune. That car was a bad ass car. He smoked my TL laughably. I helped him install every part on that car, We both sliced our hands open trying to install the euro headers. I took that car to 8000rpm before. But, this is a huge but for me I just prefer four door cars. That's the exact same reason my friend is driving his E90 335. He's put a ton of mods in that, and he said it'd smoke his old M3.

I'm not sure why you think I care about driving a car that's too popular. I drive a TL how many 10's of thousands of those did they make? If it's about flappy paddle gearboxes, I love a double clutch sequential manual that can shift in milliseconds. But, that's only in what they truly belong in, and that's a McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini heck even in a R8 Audi. Double clutch boxes belong in automotive works of art not a VW Golf?

I was valet where I got to drive a Ferrari 599 with flappy paddles, and I got to drive a Ferrari Superamerica with a h pattern. I loved that 599 a lot, but there's just that connection I got in the Superamerica. It's very a typical of me personally because I love automotive technology. My absolute favorite sport in the world is Formula 1.