[AWSAWS]

OK,

so if I JB4 my 335i DCT and get an LSD fitted, maybe even getting meth injection? In what ways would an M3 be better, other than the badge?

Do I need to consider uprated suspension and maybe brakes?

i.e. Track comparison and road comparison.

[jwilliams]

M3 is made for track better. It is better handling and made to be M car. 335i is very fast daily drive car for family. The chassis of a M car is made for one thing. Going faster.

[gangzoom]

Not AGAIN!!

[335ier]

All of the M3 will still be better, other than the MPG. I've owned both. 335i was modded.
I now drive a 330i so I'm impartial.

[Sparky68]

It will certainly be a lot better handling, no doubt. Will struggle to keep up with a modded 335i though on the straights.

[marknjayne]

I don't think M3's are anything special handling wise , driven one hard round cadwell , didn't impress , 20 year old skylines (gtst's )with just a set of coil overs are better , would imagine a 335 with a decent diff and a decent set of coil overs would be as good if not better .... my opinion though , I'm sure many will.disagree because it has an M badge

[phil200tdi]

For around 3 laps the modded 335i would be quicker..

Then the brakes would fade and the car would overheat due to poor oil cooling. All of these things can be rectified of course - then you have a great track car, but a crap road car!!

M3 is good at both.

[WRichieX]

Originally Posted by marknjayne

I don't think M3's are anything special handling wise , driven one hard round cadwell , didn't impress , 20 year old skylines (gtst's )with just a set of coil overs are better , would imagine a 335 with a decent diff and a decent set of coil overs would be as good if not better .... my opinion though , I'm sure many will.disagree because it has an M badge

I actually agree with you. I've driven a few m3's pretty hard on corners and never really was that impressed. Although the lsd was nice. obviously better than my 335i but have driven plenty of cars that are WAY better at handling. I would love to drive a skyline. Never got a chance to....yet.

[myboris]

I was in the same boat a month ago. Ended up going for a 335i but didn't try an M3 so can only give one side of the story
I adore it. As a daily driver it is sublime, admittedly not economy wise but smooth as silk if you want it and bonkers if you put your foot down.
For a seven year old car it feels very modern, I've got DAB radio which for an avid Talksport listener is a massive plus. I've also got Bluetooth prep, again something a lot of cars didn't have seven years ago.
Again I haven't driven an M3( and maybe I should have) but I felt I was getting a little bit more for my money with a 335i

[BMWChap]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

Not AGAIN!!

.. I know

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by marknjayne

I don't think M3's are anything special handling wise , driven one hard round cadwell , didn't impress , 20 year old skylines (gtst's )with just a set of coil overs are better , would imagine a 335 with a decent diff and a decent set of coil overs would be as good if not better .... my opinion though , I'm sure many will.disagree because it has an M badge

but not because it has an M badge...just because it is genuinely a lot better track car


Wider tyres, lower, improved damping, improved suspension in general with greater precision, improved steering, with better feel, weighting and turn-in characteristics, more supportive seats, far better transmission set up gives less understeer and much improved transition into oversteer, so much better on-limit handling. Better brakes, with more feel, more power and less fade, better cooling for both brakes and motor, better weight distribution (lower CG). Typically the fastest way to drive a 335i is to keep it just under its limits as its not faster at or beyond the limit and the transition isn't pleasant. The M3 has generally much higher limits and is a lot happier when crossing the line so is both easier and faster to drive at and even beyond the limit.

With respect, 'driven hard' can mean practically anything. Take an M3 and drive it well and its a lot easier to drive considerably faster than a 335i, expensive mods notwithstanding.

[AWSAWS]

Well I used to watch the 'Best motoring' DVDs alot and the M3s left a lot to be desired even against s2000, skylines and Evos on the track. Just to heavy.

I really do wonder that if a few mods make a 335 far better than an M3. For one I think the power plant is far better. Instant power at low rpms, option for more boost and better economy.

With uprated, boost, an LSD, brakes and maybe suspension I think it'll be hard to convince me the M3 is better than the 335 even on track. That's my opinion of course.

[gangzoom]

If your really serious about making a 335 drive like a M3 or better your need to spend some serious cash.

I've spent 6-7k on mods for my 335 and I would it just about a match for a M3 on the road.

A quick search on the forum will show you some guys have turned a 335 into proper quick cars, but it's far from cheap....so for the majority a stock M3 is by the best choice of you want something that handles well and feels special to drive.

[mowflow]

If you aren't spending money on handling (and that includes your abilities as a driver) then you are wasting your money with power mods. I've seen bog standard Mx5s and Mini Cooper GPs amongst other embarrass much more expensive metal simply down to better handling and driver ability.

[jwilliams]

Twin turbo N54 engine is very good platform. This is why new M3 has got a S54 twin turbo engine. It now has best of both worlds.

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by jordon335

Twin turbo N54 engine is very good platform. This is why new M3 has got a S54 twin turbo engine. It now has best of both worlds.

N55 & S55 you mean...

[M4rius]

Why not get 335 and do single big turbo conversion , after that m3 will feel like 318d

[jwilliams]

No. I mean n54 and s55 But the new m3 and m4 engine is twin turbo. Not single

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by jordon335

No. I mean n54 and s55 But the new m3 and m4 engine is twin turbo. Not single

the S55 is derived from N55 6 Cylinder, it has a bigger bore/shorter stroke and is much lighter, they had to use the current engine to make use of production infrastructure, it is true that it has a twin turbo design like the N54 but it is valvetronic like the N55

[myboris]

Originally Posted by jordon335

Twin turbo N54 engine is very good platform. This is why new M3 has got a S54 twin turbo engine. It now has best of both worlds.

This is what I was wondering. Is it just the e46 M3 that is an amazing drive or us the E9x the same experience. If so I may put my bucket list car on hold for 5 years and get the more modern version

[335ier]

The M3 is a hybrid as with most hybrids there are compromises.

Please don't compare it to any skyline they are a god awful road cars, your teeth usually fall out in around 5 minuets of driving one I would never expect any good road car to compare to one of those on the track.

S2000? not really a comparison, you couldn't take the family on holiday in one of those either.

Yes, the M3 doesn't feel as fast as a modded 335i on the straight, but there isn't really much in it however on the corners,track even sitting in traffic it really is way better.

The point the M3 is better at more things than a modded 335i so it is better.

Oh I have tracked both my modded 335i, and M3 extensively, people who say (remembering it is a family road car) it isn't that good a lot of people will be disagreeing with you for good reason.

[M4rius]

Originally Posted by jordon335

No. I mean n54 and s55 But the new m3 and m4 engine is twin turbo. Not single

i mean n54 , for around $7000 you will end up in super car territory