335i vs M3 Reliability?

[Dylanize]

The m3 seems like a more reliable car even though cost to own is higher.

What has been your experience?

I want to get into an LCI E90 of sorts, and deciding on 335 vs m3 is killing me....

(please don't turn this into anything besides reliability. I don't care which car goes from red light to redlight faster)

[BrewRifle]

There are people who have had excellent luck with their M3's or 335i's and others who have had a hell of a time, it's really the luck of the draw on all cars in my opinion. I had a 135i and it was more finicky than the M3, but I never had any serious work on done on it.

[tdott]

Search, the exact question was asked a few days ago and i'm sure it's been asked many times before.

[Edward]

Earlier N54 engines are generally more finicky and have more components that you can almost count on failing prematurely. In 30k miles, I had two injection system/fuel pump related failures that amounted to probably 1300-2400 worth of damage each time. Not a car to own out of warranty. My sister had an N54 E92 also and she has had many of the samel failures and just recently had two turbos swapped out. She put something like 70k on the car since new.

M3's can have their problem too. General maintenance parts cost a good amount more and the oil costs more and you will need to top off more frequently. Not a big deal. Warranty plans cost more for M3s if you want one. Also, the M3's version of catastrophic failure is DCT failure (seems unlikely unless you run FI) and rod bearing failure which just seems luck of the draw and probably much less likely by probability measures than a fuel pump failure in an N54.

The right answer here is get the M3.

[AshyLarryMP]

There are more things that can go wrong with a turbo car. The naturally aspirated V8 is simple and they have been improving on the technology for a long time. We are at the pinnacle for NA engines and therefore manufactures have to move on to new technologies to get better performance. The new stuff is better, but more complicated and going to break more often until they have time to work out the bugs. Even after they work out the bugs there are still more components and sensors to break.

The BMW S65B40 was chosen as International Engine of the Year for the 3.0 to 4.0 L category in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. McLaren won the award in 2013 and 2014 with a 3.8 litre twin-turbocharged flat-plane V8.

[AshyLarryMP]

Remember this from American Graffiti?

[Ezio]

i might got as far to say the M3 is more reliable car. but is probably more money to fix repairs on certain things.

[Eau Rouge]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

There are people who have had excellent luck with their M3's or 335i's and others who have had a hell of a time, it's really the luck of the draw on all cars in my opinion. I had a 135i and it was more finicky than the M3, but I never had any serious work on done on it.

+1

My M3 has 19k miles and has been problem free. All previous BMWs had some problem or another with fewer miles -- window motor, TCU, etc.., So maybe this time is a "lucky" draw for me.

[Ink09]

I would have to agree that the M3 will most likely be more reliable being that it is an NA motor vice turbo'd. I owned an 09 335i and had all the typical problems.. Fuel Pump and Wastegates. All were covered under warranty but I can only imagine what cost would be out of warranty. I have also owned an 05 E46 M3 SMG with out any issues, an 09 550i without any issues, and now an 08 E92 M3 with 54K on it with out any issues to speak of. Like stated previously Turbo'd cars will have more things that can go wrong vice an NA car.

[m3ray]

Have had both.

n54 335 - Mis-fires (3 coil packs needed replacement), HPFP, and turbo seals (leaking and burning oil)

s65 M3 - radio died (needed replacement), rear wheel bearing.

Something to understand, is that an NA car will be more reliable than a twin turbo car. Also the 6 inline configuration with the added heat and torque (more so when tuned) means that cylinder 5 & 6 really take a beating on the 335

[TrevorM3]

In no way do i agree with the statement that "it is luck of the draw" in terms of reliability in the m3 vs 335.

The 335 is garbage. M3 is bulletproof.

Hell, my e46m3 was more reliable than my 335.

[jaehshim]

Considering the electronics and general chassis are same (E90 series), it's really the comparo of the engine really. BMW electronics are pretty reliable in general, I know VW and Audi (VAG) are HELL in electronic reliability after 5 yrs of ownership (had my own experience, seen around me all the time)

generally NA engines are more reliable than FI (turbo/SC) engines, as there's "less" parts and simply no forced induction addition to it, which stresses the engine more.

335i has not been the best engine for reliability.

And if you know people who have gone through M cars in the past, This S65 engine in E9X M3 is by far the most reliable engine ever built by M division, hence many owners consider this engine bulletproof.

[Killerfish2012]

M3 owners don't maintain their cars. Most if not all, keep all their fluids unchanged, and do 15K mile oil change intervals. If you're buying an E9X M3, make sure you check it's service history, and push fluids like crazy, once you get it. Plan on at least 2K in fluids/labor. As for the 335I, it's a bit more maintenance intensive, but mine was built in 10/06. I tracked it from 2009 to May 2014. It has over 120K miles on the odo. Original 6AT, Engine, and Turbos. I was very meticulous about the maintenance. The only thing that failed was the water pump after 80K miles, which is it's life span.

[Epoustouflant]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

M3 owners don't maintain their cars. Most if not all, keep all their fluids unchanged, and do 15K mile oil change intervals. If you're buying an E9X M3, make sure you check it's service history, and push fluids like crazy, once you get it. Plan on at least 2K in fluids/labor. As for the 335I, it's a bit more maintenance intensive, but mine was built in 10/06. I tracked it from 2009 to May 2014. It has over 120K miles on the odo. Original 6AT, Engine, and Turbos. I was very meticulous about the maintenance. The only thing that failed was the water pump after 80K miles, which is it's life span.

I must say my experience is contrary to what you are stating here.

All M3s I shopped had 10,000km oil changes instead of the prescribed 25,000km.

M3s are enthusiasts cars up in Canada as they are much more expensive than in the US where they are much more of a commodity.

335is are a nightmare really, lots of daily driven cars with owners that couldnt care less as it was leased and under free maintenance as well as warranty.

[scrammer]

I just moved from a 2008 E90 M3 to a 2011 E92 335is as my M3 was about to go off the CPO coverage.

I owned the M3 for 1.5 years and drove a total of 7,000 kms and had over $15k in repairs. The M3 got a new manual transmission & clutch and the condenser and A/C unit was replaced under CPO.

With that in mind, i am happy to drive my CPO 335is (balls out) until march 2017 with no worries!!!

[savaho]

I bought my 2011 E92 M3 new and put 82K miles on it without any problems before getting rid of it. I let the dealership do the maintenance. In comparison, my 2007 Honda Odyssey with 77K miles has been to the dealership for failed engine components.

[BaseM3]

had a 08 335i for about a year and a half. 48K when I bought it and 68K when I sold it. Problems that I had during that time included, water pump failure (left me stranded on the side of I95 at midnight), coil failure, spark plug replacement after 15k miles, all new injectors because of codes and ticking, and don't forget the carbon blasting. A Bavarian Tech cable should be a standard item with a 335i. I don't miss it.....

[M3-S65]

If you get unlucky or you don't maintain it properly then you will wish you bought American. The cost of maintaining and repairing is higher, and god forbid if something big happens like bearing failure and your engine goes....which these cars are known for.

[modkrazy]

Originally Posted by Epoustouflant

I must say my experience is contrary to what you are stating here.

All M3s I shopped had 10,000km oil changes instead of the prescribed 25,000km.

M3s are enthusiasts cars up in Canada as they are much more expensive than in the US where they are much more of a commodity.

335is are a nightmare really, lots of daily driven cars with owners that couldnt care less as it was leased and under free maintenance as well as warranty.

Don't feed the troll. Seriously, just ignore that guy.

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by M3-S65

If you get unlucky or you don't maintain it properly then you will wish you bought American. The cost of maintaining and repairing is higher, and god forbid if something big happens like bearing failure and your engine goes....which these cars are known for.

you gotta be pretty effing stupid to let your engine go from a rod bearing...

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by M3-S65

If you get unlucky or you don't maintain it properly then you will wish you bought American. The cost of maintaining and repairing is higher, and god forbid if something big happens like bearing failure and your engine goes....which these cars are known for.

Spoke like someone with some experience.

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

M3 owners don't maintain their cars. Most if not all, keep all their fluids unchanged, and do 15K mile oil change intervals. <snipped>

Interesting observation, since new M3's have 50k/4 years of fluids and maintenance included in the cost of the car. So, your point is that AFTER that, they don't care enough about their vehicle to maintain it?

(which, BTW, with an extended maintenance plan, even more of this is covered.)

- V

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