[Zap]

I'm thinking this posting may foster a lively discussion. I've had my e92 '07 335i Sport 6MT for almost three years now. It has been paid off a while, and is in great shape. 89k on the clock and all maintenance up to date. AFAIK, fully loaded save for PDC and Comfort Access. I installed the alarm myself. We have a second car that is almost identical, save for color and Comfort Access.

When I got the car, it was my first BMW and it was at the top end of my price range. I had joked about getting a convertible, but it was out of reach. I also had said maybe I'd upgrade to the M3 at some point.

I'm now contemplating on getting something a bit newer that has more of the features I'm missing (CA, Bluetooth streaming, updated electronics, convertible) as well as lower mileage since I don't drive a ton and would rather avoid some of the eventual maintenance cycle issues.

I'm curious to get opinions on the pros/cons of a few different choices from those who may have been down this road before. I'm looking for fully loaded and 6MT, so I know sometimes that makes certain (most?) models harder to locate.

- 335i vs 335is vs M3
- 3 series vs 1 series (1M / 135i / 135is)
- Options if I decide to mod in the future
- Pros/Cons of the convertible over the coupe
- Breakdown of model year changes over '10 - Present
- Value or lack thereof of CPO
- Dealer vs Private Party price difference / experience

I'd also be curious to know if anyone has any recent sale or trade-in values on my existing vehicle. We'll probably be keeping the other '07 335i for a while, as it gets less mileage now than it used to.

If it matters - I'd hope for this to be a longer-term purchase. But I get restless, and as an engineer I'm a feature-nut, so I may be having this discussion again in a few years when there's something I'd really like but is missing in the older cars. For that matter, I'd be curious to hear the pros/cons from those who trade up more often. Sometimes it ends up being a better value in the long run, between less depreciation and less maintenance issues.

Thanks for the input!

[Fundguy1]

- 335i vs 335is vs M3
- 3 series vs 1 series (1M / 135i / 135is)
- Options if I decide to mod in the future
- Pros/Cons of the convertible over the coupe
- Breakdown of model year changes over '10 - Present
- Value or lack thereof of CPO
- Dealer vs Private Party price difference / experience


Here's my take
335i 2007-2009 N54 most common, cheapest, easily modified
2007 some without oil cooler, little differences
2008 and on, oil cooler
2009 and on manual has 6 bolt flywheel instead of 8, improved Idrive

335i 2010-2012 N55 engine, facelift, narrower rear tire wells, second cheapest. Less easily modified for power
335is N54 engine, has a lot of upgrades that if you like them make it cheaper and easier than 335i and has dct available
M3 v8 engine, most built in upgrades, lsd, wider tire wells, beefed up suspension, most expensive, most expensive to modify

1 vs 3. Size. 1 is smaller, lighter, not as many mods available, cheaper, vert is a soft top. 3 is opposite of this.

Pros and cons of vert, cons heavier, more stuff to break, less trunk space, if you get rear ended you're probably totaled. Pros, top down baby!
2010- 2012 changes, got me
CPO or dealer vs private, I'd just get the best deal. As long as the warranty is intact on the problem areas or they've been addressed, who cares. Save the bucks, especially if you plan on modifying

I have seen 2008 335i e93 convertible. For me it's the perfect choice.
I can modify it to beat just about any of the others short of a half dozen M3s in the country and save tons of bucks, I don't have or want Idrive or dct. I've got the convertible, the wider wells, the more modifiable n54, and any of the other upgrades the others have I can bolt on if I want to like led taillights. To me, best bang for the buck.
The M3 is the best package if you don't want to modify but want solid performance, but there's nothing on an M3 that you can't meet or beat with any of the others except the v8 sound.

[GATORB8]

Coming from someone who just spent a year researching a car purchase (what my wife would call analysis paralysis), go drive the best example you can find of all three (and an S5 to remind you why you want a bimmer). Then narrow your search to the one that speaks to you.

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by Zap

I'm thinking this posting may foster a lively discussion. I've had my e92 '07 335i Sport 6MT for almost three years now. It has been paid off a while, and is in great shape. 89k on the clock and all maintenance up to date. AFAIK, fully loaded save for PDC and Comfort Access. I installed the alarm myself. We have a second car that is almost identical, save for color and Comfort Access.

When I got the car, it was my first BMW and it was at the top end of my price range. I had joked about getting a convertible, but it was out of reach. I also had said maybe I'd upgrade to the M3 at some point.

I'm now contemplating on getting something a bit newer that has more of the features I'm missing (CA, Bluetooth streaming, updated electronics, convertible) as well as lower mileage since I don't drive a ton and would rather avoid some of the eventual maintenance cycle issues.

I'm curious to get opinions on the pros/cons of a few different choices from those who may have been down this road before. I'm looking for fully loaded and 6MT, so I know sometimes that makes certain (most?) models harder to locate.

- 335i vs 335is vs M3
- 3 series vs 1 series (1M / 135i / 135is)
- Options if I decide to mod in the future
- Pros/Cons of the convertible over the coupe
- Breakdown of model year changes over '10 - Present
- Value or lack thereof of CPO
- Dealer vs Private Party price difference / experience

I'd also be curious to know if anyone has any recent sale or trade-in values on my existing vehicle. We'll probably be keeping the other '07 335i for a while, as it gets less mileage now than it used to.

If it matters - I'd hope for this to be a longer-term purchase. But I get restless, and as an engineer I'm a feature-nut, so I may be having this discussion again in a few years when there's something I'd really like but is missing in the older cars. For that matter, I'd be curious to hear the pros/cons from those who trade up more often. Sometimes it ends up being a better value in the long run, between less depreciation and less maintenance issues.

Thanks for the input!

Forget all above, get Z4 35i with n 54 and modd it

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

Coming from someone who just spent a year researching a car purchase (what my wife would call analysis paralysis), go drive the best example you can find of all three (and an S5 to remind you why you want a bimmer). Then narrow your search to the one that speaks to you.

then OP will end up buying no car

[fazman]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Forget all above, get Z4 35i with n 54 and modd it

Zap OP here is your answer... DONE

If you want the cons of a convertable... PM Dark_Knight_335

[SLOWER]

2010 cars have the N54 motor.

[Nitrousbird]

Originally Posted by GATORB8

and an S5 to remind you why you want a bimmer

Really? It didn't remind me why I wanted BMW. I nearly pulled the trigger on a '08 S5. Only reason I didn't was I could get an identically optioned/condition/mileage 335 for 8k less. So I did. S5 felt a little heavy and was underpowered compared to my (modded) N54, but overall a nice, solid car. Sounds WAY better than the wheezy BMW inline 6...

[Zap]

Well, I thought I should post a follow up. I recently sold my 2007 335i and ended up purchasing a 2009 M3 Convertible (manual, of course).

So far I have been incredibly happy. The CIC is a substantial improvement over the CCC. I'm sure there is a weight factor, but the feeling of open air and the convertible is incomparable. And the sound of the V8 - priceless.

Besides, we still have our other 335i - so it has been fun comparing the two as I've been driving both on and off. I definitely notice the various improvements from the upgrade to the M.

My only problem is I'm already back to making tweaks to the new car ... but I suppose that's how it goes.

[Vitalität]

This is the type of problems I wanna have. I must be doing something wrong with my life.

[M.Power]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

Really? It didn't remind me why I wanted BMW. I nearly pulled the trigger on a '08 S5. Only reason I didn't was I could get an identically optioned/condition/mileage 335 for 8k less. So I did. S5 felt a little heavy and was underpowered compared to my (modded) N54, but overall a nice, solid car. Sounds WAY better than the wheezy BMW inline 6...

I just drove an S5 and all it did was make me feel like my car was much faster and better in every way.