[T Bone]

As you may have read that BMW USA released the M3 pricing for the US. The base price for a M3 sedan is $54,575 and the M3 Coupe is $57,275.

I am curious about member thoughts on the value of modding a 335i vs. buying the M3.

I built a 335i coupe with what I think the base M3 will have and the price comes out to $46,695 for the 335i.

Adding a $4500 LSD, $2,000 Dinan Flash, $2,000 Dinan Oil Cooler, this brings up the price of the modded 335i coupe to $55,195.

So the poll Question: Is it better to mod a 335i or buy the M3?



Base MSRP$40,800Space Gray Metallic$475Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather$0Gray Poplar wood trim$0Premium Package$2,550Sport Package$1,100iPod and USB adapter$400Satellite radio$595Destination & Handling:$775Total MSRP as Built$46,695

[!Xoible]

Im thinking about that. Leaning more towards M3, but then modding you can do over the years, not right away, and you can choose to do it, or not.

335 can potentially gain a lot of power, but it's just a non-M 3 series after all..

but where did you get a LSD for 4500?? holy moly man!

let's take my car for example: my car is 50k approximately, put 10k in mods, that's 60 right there, but it's decently loaded. if im to get a M3 and put a couple of packages that'll jump in the 70k region im guessing

[stillclaimndp]

i think the thing to compare is a v2 335i straight across to an m3... not all the other mods... pretty sure we won't ever see an m3 with an msrp sticker under 60k as equipped btw, and i don't think you would have to pay 4500 for lsd on a 335i eiter if you wanted it (which i do but won't pay 3,000 for)...

[e36jakeo]

This is my EXACT dilemma right now. I have a nicely equipped 335i. I chipped it, and therefore have M3 power with way more torque and excellent gas mileage (25 MPG US or better on the highway going 80 MPH). Unfortunately the 335i did not come with LSD so I really need one (open diffs suck!). But because BMW welded the ring gear it will cost me $4500 to get an LSD and install it in the car (there are slightly cheaper solutions that involve shipping the diff internationally, which I don't want to bother with). Then factor in the need for suspension ($2K, installed) and an oil cooler at $1K.

So I will need to spend $8K to make my 335i perform pretty similar to the M3. But the M3 will have better resale and the warranty and, of course, is engineered from the ground up as an M car.

With the $54.5K sedan pricing I think as a performance car it is a better value than the 335i (which costs $40600 with sport package alone). The $14K gets you the V8, the better suspension, better brakes, stiffer chassis, better seats, a kick ass LSD, the M3 factor, and no-questions warranty.

I'll try to wait until Fall when the 09s come out . . .

[Game_Dev]

M3, better resale value, brand name, better suspension, better brakes, race chassis, better seats, and non-voided warranty. M3 is the obvious choice.

[e36jakeo]

Originally Posted by mantis

Im thinking about that. Leaning more towards M3, but then modding you can do over the years, not right away, and you can choose to do it, or not.

335 can potentially gain a lot of power, but it's just a non-M 3 series after all..

but where did you get a LSD for 4500?? holy moly man!

let's take my car for example: my car is 50k approximately, put 10k in mods, that's 60 right there, but it's decently loaded. if im to get a M3 and put a couple of packages that'll jump in the 70k region im guessing

But the cost of ownership for the 335i will be at least as much since you won't get the $$ back on the mods, plus you have to pay labor.

If the M3 based at $59K or $60K I think the 335i was the way to go and I would have modded mine. But $54,500 is a great deal, and with just the needed EDC and bluetooth (a MUST!) the car is pretty reasonable at about $57K.

[MTV]

Personally, I'd rather have a modified 335i.

V2 Procede, H&R race springs + Koni Yellows, 19'' BBS LM's, LSD, Various cosmetic mods (aero lip, CSL trunk...), Vishnu Motive Exhaust.

I've thought long and hard about this and the 335 with the above setup will handle similarily if not better, should be faster in straight line and IMO will look nicer.

[nhhiep]

now 335 owners get the taste of how 330 owners felt when 335 came out

[Rimola]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

M3 non-voided warranty. M3 is the obvious choice.

i think that is the deciding factor IMO. after all said and done, it's STOCK performance is of a modified 335i with its warranty possibly in the shitter

[MTV]

Originally Posted by Rimola

i think that is the deciding factor IMO. after all said and done, it's STOCK performance is of a modified 335i with its warranty possibly in the shitter

Good point. But I'd still opt for my modded 335

[Game_Dev]

Originally Posted by Rimola

i think that is the deciding factor IMO. after all said and done, it's STOCK performance is of a modified 335i with its warranty possibly in the shitter

Just read a thread here not too long ago where a guy's transmission and clutch was ruined, not his mods, but they found out he had mods in his car and they voided his warranty.

A modded 335i cost as much as a M3, and a stock M3 arguably has better performance. It's a very easy question to answer. M3 FTW.

[Rimola]

Originally Posted by MTV

Good point. But I'd still opt for my modded 335

whatever floats your boat brotha. as long as you are satisfied, that is all that matters. after all, you are the one making those payments on the car. in the end we all drive a 3 series

[MTV]

Originally Posted by Rimola

whatever floats your boat brotha. as long as you are satisfied, that is all that matters. after all, you are the one making those payments on the car. in the end we all drive a 3 series

I respect your logic. And in the end you're right, we all drive a 3 series, it's just a matter of preference which model!

[MTV]

Oh and did I mention that T Bone's posts are always the most interesting?

[!Xoible]

honestly to me, all that matters is lease terms. it might be cheaper to get a porsche cayman S than 335 right now

[Rimola]

Originally Posted by MTV

it's just a matter of preference which model!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Base MSRP$40,800Space Gray Metallic$475Coral Red/Black Dakota Leather$0Gray Poplar wood trim$0Premium Package$2,550Sport Package$1,100iPod and USB adapter$400Satellite radio$595Destination & Handling:$775Total MSRP as Built$46,695

T Bone, FWIW we already know the exact specs of the base M3:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90821

You need to remove leather, premium package, iPod and USB adapter, Satelite radio from your list.

Really the only thing that should be on there is the Sport Package to make the 335i even with the M3 in spec. So I guess that's $40,800 + $1,100 = $41,900.

[MTV]

Cause without the Sport Package, you get those ugly 18'' rims that make the car look horrible

[Rimola]

Originally Posted by MTV

Cause without the Sport Package, you get those ugly 18'' rims that make the car look horrible

i agree, but i was thinkin that even if i get teh niceer 19"...i would eventually still go for after market wheels...so why not save $1,400 ??

[mkoesel]

FWIW, I think the 335i is the better value, but I will most likely be buying an M3.

There are plenty of other (and cheaper) cars out there representing better value than the M3 also, but none that draws me in like the M3 does.

[BMWE90]

Dont forget to add markups in your calculation

[MTV]

Originally Posted by Rimola

i agree, but i was thinkin that even if i get teh niceer 19"...i would eventually still go for after market wheels...so why not save $1,400 ??

Really? I am in love with the 19's. I find they suit the car perfectly. But once again, it all comes down to personal preference!