[xxForgedxx]

I was wondering what your current 3 Series and your 3 Series of the past (E36,E46) compare to what other cars you have owned or driven. I am finding it quite hard to let go of the "fun and fast cars" especially considering that the 3 Series is near impossible to get power out of without forced induction. Please compare and contrast regarding to the following criteria:

Cost of ownership...
Satisfaction...
Reliability...

etc... I have driven a few but none long enough to really appreciate them I think but there MUST be a reason they have won so many awards right? Please state what it is you have experience with (what car) and how it stacks up to the BMW you have currently or have had in the past.

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by xxForgedxx

I was wondering what your current 3 Series and your 3 Series of the past (E36,E46) compare to what other cars you have owned or driven. I am finding it quite hard to let go of the "fun and fast cars" especially considering that the 3 Series is near impossible to get power out of without forced induction. Please compare and contrast regarding to the following criteria:

Cost of ownership...
Satisfaction...
Reliability...

etc... I have driven a few but none long enough to really appreciate them I think but there MUST be a reason they have won so many awards right? Please state what it is you have experience with (what car) and how it stacks up to the BMW you have currently or have had in the past.

My wife has a 2007 Jaguar XKR Coupe. It is about as fast (perhaps a bit faster) than my 335i and drives very well. The Jag has a supercharged 4.0 liter v8 and the 335i has a turbocharged 3.5 liter in line 6. Both are responsive with lots of torque available at virtually any speed. They both have ZF Automatic transmissions with Paddle Shifters. More upscale interior on the Jag but the BMW interior is a pleasant place to be. The Jag does better on bad road surfaces even though I replaced the RFTs on the 335i. They are both very composed on the twisties but the BMW seems more connected to the road. They are both capable of cruising the public roads at speeds well above the speed limit.
The 335 gives the Jag a good run for about 60% of the price.

CA

[Spydeputy]

i;ve had a volvo S60 awd turbo and an audi A4 quattro 3.2.my BMW 335xi beats them hands down. i do rember the volvo was very comfitable to drive

[noro]

In comparison to me E46 the E92 is very similar... straight line speed obviously is a lot better but an overall satisfaction of driving it is just about the same as my old 330i. the E46 seemed a bit more nimble though. I initially though that the E9X interior is a step down from E46, but now I think it's nice in its own way. I have been pretty lucky in terms of reliability with my cars and so far it's been as good as the E46.

In comparison to my E30, the E92 is BOOOOOORING... yeah it's fast but it does not have the same fun factor. E92 is a civilized car, and I like it for that. When I put on a suit to go out to a evening function I certainly want me seen in my nice coupe. The low end torque is very pleasing in city traffic. But to get my adrenaline fix I got hop into the M3, it sucks in stop and go traffic but all I have to do is take it to some back roads with twisties and it to life.

I love both cars equally for all opposite reasons... I know this sounds strange but I can't explain it otherwise.

You know how after a wild night out, you enjoy that calm Sunday morning...

[328skidpad]

Comparing to my 08 335 coupe. Had a bmw 96 convertible 328, felt like a heavy cadillac, then a 2000 328 felt like a big box on wheels too much luxury, became more fun after I installed a shark injector

Most fun car ever was my nissan 2003 350z. As for quality, mediocre, fast yes, handling very good only on dry pavement.

Although it was a fun car, it was basically a big piece of plastic and I went through 5 transmissions in 12 months (<16K miles)

As for the 335, I can see how many experts say this it is the best sports/luxury vehicle ever.

The only gripe is that it feels a bit heavy (possibily Pilot RFT's) and without looking in the rear view mirror, dosent feel seat of my pants fast enough.

But definitely a huge improvement over the e46 coupe.

[josephr25]

I also had a 350Z. It pretty much is a track car. I couldn't live w/ it for DD, especially when I upgraded to coilovers. Very plasticky, but very reliable. It was a car I could beat the crap out of and not care... and not worry at the end of hte day.

That said the new 370Z will be a tremendous upgrade.

[Bimmer330i]

I owned a '92 325i coupe many years ago. I loved it. Called it the red rocket. Drove it till she had 270,000 miles on her, and enjoyed every second behind the wheel. Then, due to the fact that I had four children, I got a 525iT Touring Wagon... again, in screaming red. Much larger car, but I made sure that it still had a manual transmission (the only way to go in my book). I drove it for several years, and really liked the weight and feel of the car. Then, I started looking to buy a new car. I was test driving the 5-series and I liked them. But... then... one dealership asked me to try a 330i. I did, and I totally was hooked. The performance was much tighter and had a much greater sportier feel. I was sold immediately on the model. Then I searched for a few weeks until I found the exact 330i with all the options just the way I wanted. I drove the 3 hours to go get her. And I have to say, each and every time I slide into the driver's seat, I remember that very same feeling from the test drive. I JUST LOVE IT!

[Lucky13]

Since this is my 13th BMW I'll spare all the comparisons. I had a E46 M3 and went to the E93 335 with Turbo tuner. I can't compare the two cars really, I can compare the E93 to my 2001 330IC and there is no comparison is power. The E93 is so much heavier
than the E46 M3, in turns I am very causious going because you can feel the weight and it feels like the tires will break loose. I compare my E93 to the 2002 E46 M3 I had and I think it feels a lot more powerful in straight line and actually about equal in cornering. My E46 had 19'' wheels while my E46 Conv had 18" and my E93 has 18". The E46 was a lot more fun to drive, more fun to rev the rpm's and so much lighter it was a blast. I must say that the E93 feels as fast but not nearly as fun to drive, much more torque and passing power but this is comparing apples with oranges.

[ArmyBimmerDude]

I had a Supra before I bought my 335. The overall package doesn't compare. The last day I drove my Supra, I ran it had one last time. I loved the engine, how it sounded when I floored it. How the front would jump up. An hour later I was driving my new 335 and it was so prestine, crisp, beautiful inside and out that I knew I made the right decision. Still miss it sometimes though.

[xxForgedxx]

Originally Posted by noro

In comparison to me E46 the E92 is very similar... straight line speed obviously is a lot better but an overall satisfaction of driving it is just about the same as my old 330i. the E46 seemed a bit more nimble though. I initially though that the E9X interior is a step down from E46, but now I think it's nice in its own way. I have been pretty lucky in terms of reliability with my cars and so far it's been as good as the E46.

In comparison to my E30, the E92 is BOOOOOORING... yeah it's fast but it does not have the same fun factor. E92 is a civilized car, and I like it for that. When I put on a suit to go out to a evening function I certainly want me seen in my nice coupe. The low end torque is very pleasing in city traffic. But to get my adrenaline fix I got hop into the M3, it sucks in stop and go traffic but all I have to do is take it to some back roads with twisties and it to life.

I love both cars equally for all opposite reasons... I know this sounds strange but I can't explain it otherwise.

You know how after a wild night out, you enjoy that calm Sunday morning...

Well consider yourself very lucky, you have two cars in your stable that I think every BMW fan would love. You don't need to compromise because you have both.

[cda888]

I'll make this as short as possible:

1989 RX-7 Turbo II: Smaller, lighter, more flickable by a chunk. But never seemed as fast as it's claimed 7-second-flat 0-60 time. Also required two engines before exploding in flames in my garage. Plus, I laugh when people complain about turbo lag on the 335.

1994 Lexus SC400: Seemed bigger, heavier, not as nimble and nowhere near as fast, not even close, even with the V-8. Beautiful outside, even nicer inside. Virtually no problems through 200,000 miles. I liked it a lot until I drove the IS300 and realized the SC was a boat.

2004 IS300: I HATED this car until I drove it on a whim. Then I loved it like no other, and it got me turned back on to good-handling cars, and opened me up to the possibilty of a sedan. Straight 6 was a dream, chassis was excellent, LSD, and seats were fabulous. It was also the perfect size- more compact than the E90. Don't flame, but I also thought the interior was more interesting than the 335. 335 is more luxurious without doubt, but the IS300 was cooler (never thought it was cheap looking like others). Never reconciled myself with the Altezza taillights though. Lexus completely destroyed the soul of this car with the IS350. Its faster, prettier, more luxurious, and a complete driving dynamics disappointment. If it handled like the IS300, I may not have bought a 335.

It goes without saying that the biggest, obvious difference between these cars and the 335 is the twin-turbo engine in the E90. First time I drove it, I was so stunned and impressed that I had to have it. But for that, I might be driving something a lot cheaper.

[cu_north]

'96 Toyota Avalon XLS was very comfortable but a bit lacking in any kind of performance, reliable, good workmanship.

'04 350Z was a dream in the handling dept., good performance, not the greatest DD, a bit cheap interior, very reliable, beautiful.

'07 335i E90 so far the perfect balance between comfort and performance, so far reliable as well, only have 3K miles in it though

[calleballe]

Comparing a 328, ZPP,ZSP, ZCW, Steptronic to A4 2.0T, XC70, S60AWD and an S4 the 328i has not impressed me as much as I had hoped for. The Steptronic in the 328 is pure crap. I think my impressions had been better with the MT as this makes for more balanced total package in the 328i (NA engine w/low torque in low revs combined with jerky/hesitant, non-revmatching and slow GM tranny ruins my ride)

The 335xi, ZSP that I once had as a loaner beats the entire set i listed above. If you get anything less then this, be carful with the configuration and don't take for granted that it will rock you.

[mwarsh1]

2005 g35 coupe, nice car had 20k in mods, bmw is just made better in every aspect, germans make great car, the best in my opinion.

[Staszek]

I have had a ton of cars, but I will compare I guess the E90 to the E46, it cant really compare with the E30 I am working on.

They are very similar but very different.

The e90 is definitely quieter and more comfortable. Its faster as well.

But my e46 is alot lighter, way more tossable, and easier to work on (make that cheaper to work on to).

Some say the E90 interior is worse then the E46, I think its the other way around. I did like the curve toward the driver more on my E46, but the E90 interior feels more luxurious and also a little more solid then the E46.

[dreamk]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

My wife has a 2007 Jaguar XKR Coupe. It is about as fast (perhaps a bit faster) than my 335i and drives very well. The Jag uqas a supercharged 4.0 liter v8 and the 335i has a turbocharged 3.9 liter in line 6. Both are responsive sith lots of torque available at virtually any speed. They both have ZF Automatic transmissions with Paddle Shifters. More upscale interior on the Jag but the BMW interior is a pleasant place to be. The Jag does better on bad road surfaces even though I replaced the RFTs on the 335i. They are both very composed on the twisties but the BMW seems more connected to the road. They are both capable of cruising the public roads at speeds well above the speed limit.
The 335 gives the Jag a good run for about 60% of the price.

CA

[flukey]

i liked the window switches in the middle on my previous E46 rather than on the door in my E9X....

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by captainaudio

My wife has a 2007 Jaguar XKR Coupe. It is about as fast (perhaps a bit faster) than my 335i and drives very well. The Jag uqas a supercharged 4.0 liter v8 and the 335i has a turbocharged 3.9 liter in line 6. Both are responsive sith lots of torque available at virtually any speed. They both have ZF Automatic transmissions with Paddle Shifters. More upscale interior on the Jag but the BMW interior is a pleasant place to be. The Jag does better on bad road surfaces even though I replaced the RFTs on the 335i. They are both very composed on the twisties but the BMW seems more connected to the road. They are both capable of cruising the public roads at speeds well above the speed limit.
The 335 gives the Jag a good run for about 60% of the price.

CA

The 335i has a 3.0 liter engine. In fact so does the 328i.

[captainaudio]

Originally Posted by Seminole

The 335i has a 3.0 liter engine. In fact so does the 328i.

I know - that was a typo.

[darkphantom]

I never owned an E46, but drove the E46 M3 prior to getting the E93.......that car was unbelievable...I still at times regret my purchase because the M3 felt so raw...but I know I made the right choice with the hard top hands down!