[pumaknight]

Hi all,

first off, just to say thanks for all the posts so far, have made for some very entertaining reading.

I decided it was time to stop lurking and start posting.

I am on the cusp of a BMW purchase to replace my Seat Leon Cupra FR. My wife already has the 325i SE ( just over a year old) and she loves it. So it is now my turn.

I have narrowed my choices down to either the 135i (test drive this weekend) or the 335i (test drove and it dropped my jaw to the floor - engine much?). Given my wife has the 3 series already, the drive would look a little his and hers....

So go on then, which would you have? I am sure I will have spec questions once I decide on the model, but would love to know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Michael H

[dxb335d]

Welcome to E90.

I would go for the 335i over the 135i personally. ALtho the 135i coupe is a cracker.




Carlos

[E92Fan]

I suppose the answer would be dependent on what your requirements are -

1) if you need to ferry passengers around in the back, then definitely the 335i. The 1er just has no space in the back for people with legs. Legless people, no problem...

2) if you spend much time on motorways, then again the 335i - the slightly longer wheelbase does make it more comfortable on a long journey. Although the 1er is a bit more chuckable along B-roads due to its smaller dimensions, the difference is marginal and to be honest the 3er handles well enough as standard anyway. The 1er is not much quicker than the 3er either, as although it's a smaller car, the difference in weight is only a few tens of kg. Don't be fooled by the 6pot brakes either - the technical setup may look good, but in practice they're not that great

3) if however you want something a little different, not bothered about carrying other people, and don't mind the stumpy looks (I'm 50/50 on the looks) then go for the 1er - it's cheaper to buy initially, and running costs will be the same.


Oh, and welcome to the forum

[KillDork]

I've driven both over extended periods, the interior, for one, is much nicer in the 3-series, I'd pick it anytime over the 1-series. Nothing looks better than a 335 coupe :-)

[- Paul -]

Firstly, welcome and as has already been said - if you need the space of a 3 series then get the 335i - If not, get the 135i - a little pocket rocket.

[mjh93sa]

Hello and welcome.

I think it's been pretty well covered now that you need to decide if you need the space of the three, the comfort of the three, or the fun factor of a little chuckable pocket rocket!

You could always get a 1-coupe and give that the wife so that you could have the 325i.

[booforty]

Welcome to this great forum!

I would take the 335i every time...

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by mjh93sa

Hello and welcome.

I think it's been pretty well covered now that you need to decide if you need the space of the three, the comfort of the three, or the fun factor of a little chuckable pocket rocket!

You could always get a 1-coupe and give that the wife so that you could have the 325i.

Welcome to the madhouse!

Was gonna post exactly the same as MJH!!

(Ps - what year is the Leon? Colour/spec, etc - the better half wants an FR - any pics you could post/email over?)

[pumaknight]

Hi again,

Thanks all for the warm welcome and comments - s'nice place here.

The idea of getting the 135 for the "wife" an me having the 325i was talked about....but she didn't spec the 3 very high both in content and engine (she loves it by the way - the 335i scared the bejesus out of her!!) - as such she is not sure she wants a 1 with that "mother of an engine". And in turn, I can see myself always wondering if I should be driving a better spec / power car, only to see her driving it :-) if we go the 1 route!

Of course the best solution would be for me to love the 1 and decision made, except the looks are not quite 3 class for me - it's not ugly you understand - but....what is with the bend in the middle??? Looks like the sub frame is bent.

Onto the Seat - it is a 54 Feb 2005 reg. Met black, everything as per the dealer spec of the FR at the time 41k on the clock, fsh and driven with car and love (no really!! - I am know to be gentle with cars - too much love for them) - great car, love it to bits. Can provide photos if wanted.

Actually the only reason I am moving on is this irrational teen desire to have the car I have always wanted with all the bits - no compromise, no worries!

Any other advice / comments gratefully received - I will let you know how I get on with the 1 test drive.

Thanks,
Michael H

[mjh93sa]

Originally Posted by pumaknight

... the only reason I am moving on is this irrational teen desire to have the car I have always wanted with all the bits - no compromise, no worries!
...

In which case you probably already know in your heart which you really want.

[pumaknight]

ah you are probably right....it is just that whole him and hers thing.....you know what I mean, the couple who live near you that have the same jackets, bikes and haircut...will i really be that much different?

[mjh93sa]

Just make sure that you don't get the same colour then.

You don't say if wife has an E90/1/2/3. You could always go for a slightly different body style as well.

[pumaknight]

true I didnt say did I...it is the E92 (new shape?) coupe - funny story really. We were out "shopping" for her new car, trying everything she wanted to try:
Audi A3 and A4 - nope, too VW.
VW Golf - nope, too boring.
Renault Clio and Megane - nope, sales man too irritating!!
Ford Fiesta and Focus - nope, how you geta 2.0 in a fiesta I do not know
Mercedes SLK and C coupe - nope, not ringing those bells.
Mini - ah now we are talking, she likes this alot - one extended test drive later and we are talking figures.

Of course I have seen the new 3 coupe in the BMW showroom next door and ask if I can go sit in it to see what my "new car" feels like. She reluctantly agrees but with the usual cavets of "don't talk to strangers in sales" and "don't buy it for gods sake".

Only problem is I convince her to have a sit down in the drivers seat and she likes it. One test drive later and I knew I was screwed. She bought it and my dreams of BMW household dominance were over

So the colour and a good body kit will make it different enough you think???

[mjh93sa]

Yeah, go for a sport and most people will think that it's completely different. I have heard it said that some people only worry about the colour of a car.

At the end of the day if it's what you want then get it. I have in the past had the same spec and colour car as my Father, it was what I wanted so I had it. They had different number plates, so what more do you need?

[Hotcoupe]

pumaknight
So the colour and a good body kit will make it different enough you think???

Yes on the colour - Sapphire Black - no need for a bodykit,just go M Sport with the 19" upgrade 225M's.

Go 335D - remap for the added fuel economy of course,ok the added ooomph and blistering performance is a drawback admittedly,but I'm sure you can live with that

Job done,thread over,good luck.

Welcome to the forum,Pumaknight,sanity in here is nothing but a hindrance!

[red-max]

Not sure what to add, I mostly agree with what others have said. Be sure to take an extended test drive and buy something that you will be happy to live with every day.

On the "his and hers" thing - I know what you mean, and I would caution you if you get the "same" car as your wife but with a much better spec, this may cause her to feel that she needs an upgrade or change. This happened to me, wife was quite happy with Mondeo 1.8 LX until I got a 2.0 Si as a company car, then she felt hers was the poor version of mine and we had to swap it out for something different.

If you definitely want a 3 Series, perhaps try to get something as different as possible from hers - if she's got the E92 Coupe SE, perhaps you could get the E90 (saloon) M Sport or even E91 (estate) M Sport in a very different colour?

BTW, if you do take a number of test drives, please post your thoughts. Although a lot of the choice is personal and subjective, it's still very interesting to read feedback from others.

P.S. The 335d is superb - if you're happy to live with an automatic.

[squeezebm]

Welcome


E92 335i M Sport Job Done

[Cafe.Racer]

Hi! I came from a Leon Cupra R, but not quite to a 335i

The 1 is growing on me, but I think it will always appear to be a "baby" BMW

re: His and Hers, I think that whatever you get if it has a BMW badge on it there will always be some of that, so I wouldn't worry about which model.

I'm biased on the E91 M-Sport, in Titanium (Saw a 335i this moring at Wholley edge and it was drop-dead AND a 335D this afternoon) but I would say any of the 3's over the 1, although (and I'm sure I'll get flamed) if you're not too careful with colours etc, the E90 can a little bit "old man" or somehow "same as" compared to the E91 and E93. I guess it's because there's (relatively) so many E90's around...

[SDRX]

Welcome to the forum

I would go for the E92 335 MSport. As somebody who was indoctrinated to petrol cars, I think a test drive of the 335d may throw another candidate in your shortlist. You can see the spec of mine elsewhere, but as always I wouldnt go crazy on extras.

The 1 series is very trendy car, but i find some of the styling too radical.

[mjh93sa]

Originally Posted by Cafe.Racer

...I'm biased on the E91 M-Sport, in Titanium...

You say the nicest things!

[pumaknight]

My wife said to me tonight that I can buy whatever I want without any consequences - oh dear, that can't be good

Thanks again for all the posts - concesus seems to be buy the 335i but the 135i is a really cool car!

Why is it that some decisions are too hard to make????

Can't wait for the test drive though - will post wht i think about it.


Michael H

[mjh93sa]

Which model are you thinking of getting? E90/1/2/3 ?