[boostmiser]

I'm thinking about it. I've got an '02 M5 with 68K miles. While I love the car, it's expensive to maintain. I've done a clutch, brakes, rotors, tires, brake fluid, flex disc, short shifter/dssr, etc etc. I'm a bit worried about the vanos taking a plunge or the carbon buildup issue. The car runs great and I love the V8 rumble. The warranty is up towards the end of the year, so I was thinking about leasing a 335i. Of course the first thing I'd do is put a Vishnu module in it. I really want the 335i with the M package...which is yet to be determined if/when it will be offered in the States. I like the size of my M5, interior wise - kids. But I don't think the 335 is that small. So, would you do this if you were me?

[FotiosF90M5]

tough call, but I think I would. Plus you get all the incredible new technology with the brakes, safety, etc and its so fast. 4.9 sec to 60 stock. get the 335 put some incredible rims on it and tune away. + no maintenance!!! go for it.

[1q2w3e4r]

Wait it out and get the upcoming M3 which will arrive 4th 1/4 or beginning of 08. Silly not to if your concern is warranty which runs out towards the end of the year and not the enjoyment of the car itself.

[spark227]

I wouldn't trade unless techie creature comforts matter to you (i.e. Bluetooth, Navigation, etc.). The laggy iDRIVE is nothing to call home about either.

[MWM]

I had an '00 M5, and I now have a 335i sedan. The M5 was two cars ago (so I might have forgotten some about it), but I like the 335i better as an overall package. And this is box-stock before XEDE. The cars in-between were both 911s, and I've come to understand that 4000lb is just too much for a car to weigh. The 335i has a much better steering feel than my M5 did and it has a clutch that can take the abuse of a non-perfect "spirited driving" upshift.

I say do it.

[RaptorKTM]

Do Not Do It id hold off for the e92 m3

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by boostmiser

I'm thinking about it. I've got an '02 M5 with 68K miles. While I love the car, it's expensive to maintain. I've done a clutch, brakes, rotors, tires, brake fluid, flex disc, short shifter/dssr, etc etc. I'm a bit worried about the vanos taking a plunge or the carbon buildup issue. The car runs great and I love the V8 rumble. The warranty is up towards the end of the year, so I was thinking about leasing a 335i. Of course the first thing I'd do is put a Vishnu module in it. I really want the 335i with the M package...which is yet to be determined if/when it will be offered in the States. I like the size of my M5, interior wise - kids. But I don't think the 335 is that small. So, would you do this if you were me?

+1 I agree I think you should too

go jump! the water is fine

[Norsk]

canuck335i use to have an E60 M5 and now has a E92 335i. Maybe you can PM him about this post ... for the performance and other stuff.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31803

[FirstClass]

335i is nice, but its no ///M

I'd wait for the e92 M3 if I were you.

[Walked U]

Do whatever you want to do its your money.

If the 335i never have came out, I would be an owner of an e39 m5.

If you like the 335i that much i say go for it.

[FotiosF90M5]

if you can wait, Id get the m3. like I said before, tough call cuz the M5 is just incredible, and very agressive

[longtran]

335 e90 FTW!!!

imagine this but 335...

[Walked U]

Hahahah longtran is a baller. Me and chris at wheel power just had a conversation about how baller he is.

[bzabodyn]

I also came from an E39 M5 - nearly an identical situation actually - my CPO warranty was about 3 months from expiring and I'd already bitten off a couple of big repair bills... I couldn't wait for the E90 M3 to come out, so this is the perfect fill-in car for now. BUT after only a month of ownership, the upcoming M3 has a hard act to follow... and I only have experience with the bone stock version thus far...

Planned in the next couple months are the XEDE, 19" wheels/tires, springs, and a few cosmetic mods - after that, there may be no going back! I do miss the sounds the M5 made (esp. with my Kelleners exhaust and Supersprint X-pipe - no resonators), but I think if I'm patient, an exhaust will come out that will fill that void... all in all, I'm a very happy camper and I look forward to seeing what else this car has in store!

[longtran]

Originally Posted by Walked U

Hahahah longtran is a baller. Me and chris at wheel power just had a conversation about how baller he is.

who?

[John 070]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

335i is nice, but its no ///M

I'd wait for the e92 M3 if I were you.

My sentiments exactly. I love the 335, but I'm coming up from a Nissan, not a M5. I may never own any M, but if I did, I'd be like my cousin who said one can never go back. Obviously some don't agree and they have gone from a E46 M3 to a E92 335. But my cousin feels that's a foul in the M world. You go E46 to E92 and you stay M.

The cost of maintaining the M was mentioned in this thread, yet in the same post, a lease of the 335. I would rather pay for maintaining the M because it's my car, despite the 2k brake jobs etc. Leasing a 335 is not a good financial agreement imho, which would be even worse than paying a lot for maintenance. At least in the latter, it's your car and you get the benefit of the upkeep.

[edgarj]

The 335i in 07' is not an M in 07', but it compares very nicely to the last generation M3/MZ3 on all but subjective points, and the lack or "rawness" comes with some nice gains in useable power and daily-driving refinement....well, not suspension, but I prefer the ride to the always-on track ride of my old M. The "M" range is a nice package, but the 335i is a tier above any previous 3-series in many respects and things arent as night & day as they were a few years ago.

From a lot of the opinions on the M range I hear on these forums, I'm starting to see it like I see those commercials for "natural male enhancers". A big psychological counterpart at least. It's a nice turnkey package, but it's not like the difference between a 911 and a RUF in the extent of modification to the base. The m-dynamics thing sounds like a nice plus... DTC that ads performance certainly isn't likely to be emulated by the afteramrket due to the complexity. With my last M, I truly felt like it amounted to added horsepower, better brakes, and track-ish suspension. The latter can be surpassed in the aftermarket at a moderate price. The former two are fully present on the 335 coupe, so all I really miss is the M viagra, which really did make my penis grow, I think.

[MBrown1003]

I have an '02 M5 (which has about 62k miles and which I've had since new) and 335i coupe (which I've had for about 10 days). I haven't had anywhere near the repair bills you have on the E39...still LOVE that car.

I'm enjoying the 335i a lot. I've been driving Bimmers for over 15 years, but all of them have been Fivers. I love the tossability of the Three, especially compared to a two-ton E39. I'm a techie, so all the toys on the E92 really attract me. I *think* I'm gonna keep both, but I don't have to decide for a few months -- the lease on the E39 ends in June. (I extended the original 3-year deal for two additional years because at the time I couldn't imagine giving up the car.)

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

335i is nice, but its no ///M

I'd wait for the e92 M3 if I were you.

Easy for you to say no when you dont even have a 335.


If I had kids I would get either the 335 sedan or M3. The couple would get torn up by kids in the back.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by ArmyBimmerDude

Easy for you to say no when you dont even have a 335.

The response would be the same if I had a 335i or not. The 335i is a good car with a good powerplant, but it just can't rival an M5 in terms of sheer "f*** yeah" sweetness. M5 has a customized M suspension, LSD, high revving V8, 400hp, etc. Sure the 335i may be as fast/faster with a Vishnu upgrade, but it's still not an M.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by MBrown1003

I have an '02 M5 (which has about 62k miles and which I've had since new) and 335i coupe (which I've had for about 10 days). I haven't had anywhere near the repair bills you have on the E39...still LOVE that car.

I'm enjoying the 335i a lot. I've been driving Bimmers for over 15 years, but all of them have been Fivers. I love the tossability of the Three, especially compared to a two-ton E39. I'm a techie, so all the toys on the E92 really attract me. I *think* I'm gonna keep both, but I don't have to decide for a few months -- the lease on the E39 ends in June. (I extended the original 3-year deal for two additional years because at the time I couldn't imagine giving up the car.)

Cool you responded. I was going to pm this guy to talk to you..

[dawgdog]

My last three cars were an 03 M3 coupe, 06 550, and e90 335. I like the e90 335the best. I've driven e39 M5s, and while I liked it a lot, I preferred the M3. What is nice about the e90 335 is that it has almost M3 handling, near M3 - e39 M5 speed, great sound system, tons of high tech electronics, and is just about as comfortable as the 550. Furthermore, my wife no longer complains that my car rides like a stagecoach.