[lsmkr01]

Just got a great new job and looking to upgrade to a new to me BMW in a month or so. I'm concidering a 2005 330ci ZHP, 2007 335i, and a few others. If you guys can give me your opinions that would be great. obviously the 335 is faster but is it worth an extra 15k over a ZHP?

[Brunotheboxer]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Just got a great new job and looking to upgrade to a new to me BMW in a month or so. I'm concidering a 2005 330ci ZHP, 2007 335i, and a few others. If you guys can give me your opinions that would be great. obviously the 335 is faster but is it worth an extra 15k over a ZHP?

i say its worth it. go for the 335.

[JackMac]

335. You know what forum this is, right? :-)

[DrDomer]

Do you want a new car? Do you want a car that (for sure) hasn't been abused? Do you want more HP, and the possibility of even more HP (Procede)? Do want a turbo engine? Are you comfortable buying a car with an engine type that is new?

There are lots things you need to decide, that we can't decide for you. I have a 335i. I wanted a new car. I wanted the HP. I'm getting the Procede. I wanted the looks of the coupe. Therefore, a 2005 330i ZHP wouldn't be my choice, but it may be a good choice for you.

[mesier1111]

Originally Posted by DrDomer

Do you want a new car? Do you want a car that (for sure) hasn't been abused? Do you want more HP, and the possibility of even more HP (Procede)? Do want a turbo engine? Are you comfortable buying a car with an engine type that is new?

There are lots things you need to decide, that we can't decide for you. I have a 335i. I wanted a new car. I wanted the HP. I'm getting the Procede. I wanted the looks of the coupe. Therefore, a 2005 330i ZHP wouldn't be my choice, but it may be a good choice for you.

+1

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Just got a great new job and looking to upgrade to a new to me BMW in a month or so. I'm concidering a 2005 330ci ZHP, 2007 335i, and a few others. If you guys can give me your opinions that would be great. obviously the 335 is faster but is it worth an extra 15k over a ZHP?

I would not even put the ZHP on the list. If you are considering a 335i then you can also consider an E46 M3. As for which one of those two is better - search - there are 100s of posts spanning dozens of thread.

I would also add M Z4 (both coupe and roadster) to your list if you do not need 4 seats.

[lsmkr01]

Im not concidering the M because it will be my daily driver. I know how great off a car the 335 is. My question was more along the lines of is it worth 15k more than the ZHP? Im planning on buying so i would lose alot of money with a brand new car. Im looking for someone who has driven both. Thanks for the comments

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Im not concidering the M because it will be my daily driver.

Well, everyone has their opinions on this, but I honestly cannot come up with a compelling reason why the ZHP makes a better daily driver than the M3.

[OC Guy]

I don't see why the M couldn't be a daily driver. Albiet the ride is a bit more harsh it's still better than most of the cars out there on the road.

[lsmkr01]

Im going to be putting mileage on the car and the maintainance cost as well as insurance is alot more with the M. Has anyone here driven both?????

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Im going to be putting mileage on the car and the maintainance cost as well as insurance is alot more with the M. Has anyone here driven both?????

I have a 330 and a M3. Insurance is $12 more a month on the M and no difference in maintenance since they are both still covered under the original 4/50. The M3 is a better daily driver than people give it credit, hell I drove it all winter. The only reason I'm getting rid of it now is the incredible deal I'm getting on the Corvette.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Im going to be putting mileage on the car and the maintainance cost as well as insurance is alot more with the M. Has anyone here driven both?????

Maintenance costs on my daily driven M3 are very low, FYI. Insurance is a wash vs. the wife's 335i

I've driven both, yes. The 335i absolutely buries the ZHP. However, the ZHP is definitely more crisp and obviously lighter. I'd still take the 335i in a heartbeat.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by matsarge

The only reason I'm getting rid of it now is the incredible deal I'm getting on the Corvette.

WTF? When did that happen?

But hey I can't blame you for that - if I could get a two seater the Vette would definitely be on the short list.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

WTF? When did that happen?

But hey I can't blame you for that - if I could get a two seater the Vette would definitely be on the short list.

End of January. It all happened pretty quick. Talked the dealer, worked out a killer price and the wife said "why not, we've got the 330 for the family". Damn I love her.

It's being built the week of 3/5 and due to be delivered about 10 days later.

[canucklion]

she is a keeper

both the vette and your wife

Originally Posted by matsarge

End of January. It all happened pretty quick. Talked the dealer, worked out a killer price and the wife said "why not, we've got the 330 for the family". Damn I love her.

It's being built the week of 3/5 and due to be delivered about 10 days later.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by matsarge

End of January. It all happened pretty quick. Talked the dealer, worked out a killer price and the wife said "why not, we've got the 330 for the family". Damn I love her.

It's being built the week of 3/5 and due to be delivered about 10 days later.

:rocks: Cool wife. Unfortunately with my situation, there are times when I just have to have room for the kids in my car. Good luck with the car though!

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread...

[SP330]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

why the ZHP makes a better daily driver than the M3.

Two words: Gas Mileage

Congrats to matsarge on the new Vette.

To The OP: The ZHP will be marginally more fun to drive than the 335, but the 335 makes up for that plus more in sheer power.

This being because the the ZHP is a post 2001 E46 which have the awful DBW and overboosted power steering, obviously carried over to the E9x.

Plus you can get a 335 brand spanking new. The only thing I'd buy used is an E30 M3.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SP330

Two words: Gas Mileage

Okay, true dat. But the thing is we are driving BMWs - we are already spoiling ourselves. Is gas mileage that much a factor? I can't remember the last time I really checked the mileage on my car, or even paid attention to the price of gas for that matter. Plus, he can probably get an M3 cheaper than a 335i anyway. Even if its only a grand or so, that'll cover the extra gas for a few years.

[lsmkr01]

So is the majority pushing toward a used m3 or 335i? I was under the impression the the M was very expensive to insure and maintain. I will be 23 in a couple months so im still young and insurance is usually a killer. I just really loved the alcantara interior in the ZHP. I found a beautiful low milage M for sale so it is a possibility. Keep the comments coming ,thanks

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

Just got a great new job and looking to upgrade to a new to me BMW in a month or so. I'm concidering a 2005 330ci ZHP, 2007 335i, and a few others. If you guys can give me your opinions that would be great. obviously the 335 is faster but is it worth an extra 15k over a ZHP?

I used to have a ZHP and it was a great car, and IMO it will become a collector car, easier/cheaper to maintain post warranty than a E46M3.

If you're going to buy and keep for 5+ yrs, get the ZHP (low miles of course) since most of the kinks have been worked out of the E46 by 2005, and there just isn't enough history on he 335 because it's just too new.

However, if you're going to put a lot of miles on the car, get the 335i. The longer wheelbase will be appreciated.

[DocRoss]

Originally Posted by matsarge

End of January. It all happened pretty quick. Talked the dealer, worked out a killer price and the wife said "why not, we've got the 330 for the family". Damn I love her.

It's being built the week of 3/5 and due to be delivered about 10 days later.

Z06?

[DocRoss]

Originally Posted by lsmkr01

So is the majority pushing toward a used m3 or 335i? I was under the impression the the M was very expensive to insure and maintain. I will be 23 in a couple months so im still young and insurance is usually a killer. I just really loved the alcantara interior in the ZHP. I found a beautiful low milage M for sale so it is a possibility. Keep the comments coming ,thanks

If it is a nice car, has what you want--get that used 335i. I got the 335i because I couldn't find the e46 M3 I wanted (started looking to late), and am patient enough to wait a couple of years for a new e92 M3.

Good luck, obviously nice cars either way--insurance would have been in the same ballpark for both. comes down to preference.