I’d still take a M3 over that…

Me too. It’s about handling, not just power and 0-60 times. Although I’d take an C32 AMG over either and pocket the difference (used).

Yeah but as great as the C32 is you can’t get a C32 in a manual.

I hate the way it looks inside and out. I’ll pass. RS4 all the way.

BMW REALLY raised the bar for performance in this segment. For many buyers, it’s horsepower that really matters (although one could argue that the propellor badge is all that’s necessary to lure buyers to showrooms).

The new M3’s gonna need a rocket up its arse to match that.

According to reports the new M3 will have a rocket with a rocket up its ass, so wait and see.

The new M3 is going to be a monster. Nothing will touch it in all around performance and looks in my opinion. The RS4 will be nice, but it’s going to be a tank (and $10-$15K more) with it’s AWD system. Give me RWD any day of the week (I live in SoCal by the way)
I am actually going to go test drive a 335i today, maybe order one, unfourtanatly they only have an auto demo car, but we’ll see how that does. Would never own one in Auto

Yeah, the 335i is that fast. I can vouch for that 0-60 time. I delivered one to a customer last Saturday.

The RS4’s interior is great, I’ve sat in one. The carbon fiber is really amazing.

Sweet. I would consider buying this car and saving the cash over the upcoming M3. Since it’s a turbo, there is going to be a large influx of mods that will become available in the next year or so.

Superb performance coupled to hideous appearance and pathetic interior design. Its time to un-bangle and un-runflat the BMW.

JTG, thats what I’m thinking. With a few mods, and intercooler, chip etc. You can probably pull close to 400Hp out of this motor with-out changing the internals. Check this out. http://www.e90fanatics.com
They have a report from a dyno run that says the motor might be putting 350 HP and 360lb torque to the crank. It is actually putting 300 LB Torque to THE ROAD. That’s power.

the RS4 for $74,000???? that’s a lot for money for a souped up A4….. The new M3 and C63 will beat it good, for a lot less money. The RS4 will be a 1-2 year car, just like the RS6….. It’s over priced and won’t sell….

thats it? thats not that much ya know.

pwned, how can you say “it’s about handling, not just power and 0-60 times” and then immediately discredit yourself by saying you’d take a used C32 over an M3, 335i, RS4, etc.? The only thing the C32 had going for it was power and 0-60 times. It only came in an automatic, and routinely finished in last place in performance enthusiast magazine comparison tests.

Incidentally, the new 335i pulls as much grip on the skidpad as the outgoing M3. So what you have is M3 performance, in a new car, with all the new features, and a higher level of comfort and day to day drivability, for $5-15K less than an M3. Not too shabby. It’ll be really interesting when the all wheel drive 335xi sedan and coupe come out in May and October of 2007…

The good thing with the 335i is that you have options: Sedan or coupe, auto or manual for both body types.

A resonably equipped one is ~$47k though….

Either car is beautiful.

Damn right Johnny the M3 will always be better than the 3 series. I don’t give a rat’s ass what they say M3 rules and always will. They should put a disclaimer in articles like this, “Should you be a die hard M3 fan don’t listen to us we don’t know **** and never will continue with your perfect point of view.” Or Disclaimer: article authors rarely if ever know anything about what they are saying so take their words with a grain of salt.

@ JRobUSC:
———-

have you really heard that the 335i will come as well with 4wd ? I live in MA and winters here are long and hard, lots of snow…this car with 4wd would be VERY interesting to me…

Wow. Great(!)

Al, the 335xi Sedan comes out first, in Spring 2007 I believe (I don’t have the dealer memo in front of me, but BMW confirmed in one that this car was coming). The 335xi Coupe comes out 4th quarter of 2007.

the new M3 will be too expensive

Skidpad results don’t mean much. There is no M diff on the 335 which means a lot of that power is up in smoke on a road course, where an M3 would likely trounce it.

This is just even better news for their customers.

The basic just over 100 bhp engine for the GTI can be boosted to over 130 bhp at the flywheel.

335xi production starts in March……..saw BMW’s production schedule, they are already taking orders.

You can also get an IS350 or a new G35, which are just as fast as the 335i, for even less. This article is pointless. The current M3 will be replaced in a year or so, what is everybody fussing about?

now the 335ix thats a different story it would probably be a better package overall compared to the new m3 where u can usefully use its power but then again wont be as fun without the m diff, probably wont look as good (not that the new e90 series are design masterpieces anyway) however it will be so much cheaper than the M and much more tuneable too with the turbo for litle outlay and can probably outdrag to new m3 when slightly tuned now thats gonna be embarassing for the new owners especially when a debadged 335 comes along side an m3. but hey, i wud take the new m3 anyday

Agreed ^^^^ BMW is still the standard for this segment… I said this months ago and people act like I was crazy… This car is Evander Holifield in his prime – “The Real Deal” Haters, hate.

Hmm… if this thing is 0-60 under 5, peeps might not spring the extra for the M-version.

Fer Christ’s sake Renton, Audi makes some killer cars and so does AMG. Quit hating.

and also, the reason why I prefer BMW over any other car brand is they’ve always been performance minded, agressive looks, the halo’s around the 2 headlights, tight steering wheel feel and terrific handling, i could go on really theres a lot of other reasons.

I dont like Mercedes because they dont have any manuals and a lot of them look so.. so.. gay?? i just dont have the vocabulary for their looks, the e-class i cant stand, the slr is automatic. but i do like the e55 amg,

i like audis but i could never prefer one over a BMW. the RS4 is an awesome car and all but I dont think bmw is gonna come out with something slower.

@ JRobUSC+Jedi:
——————–

Thanks to both of you for the info concerning the 335xi.
I will surely check one out when it will be available…

[...] [Source: Left Lane News] [...]

Yes, 335xi starts in March, why it starts after the winter is God’s own private mystery.

I had a 330xi and that thing was great in the snow. It also was way more fun than the Audi A4 3.0 Q that replaced it.

Stephen,

Are you kidding me? You are comparing the IS350 and the newly overrated G35 to the 335i..you must be out of your mind.. The 335i was dynoed at 275 WHP..The lexus and the infiniti with their overrated numbers cant even touch it..
BMW sets the bar period.. The rest follow (lexus, infiniti, etc)

BMW tends to be conservative in their power figures. The Japs tend to be optomistic about how much power they produce.

I’ll bet that twin-turbo is making more than published.

Renton, thats just what I like about their cars. And trust me theres much more to like about their cars then what I mentioned. I’m fully aware of everything else they do, but to be honest folks AMG just doesn’t hold a candle to M.

Renton, If you refer to my post earlier I mentioned this already.
Check out e90fanatics.com They have a great article about a dyno tested 335i. Check it out.

///M division has racing in the bloodlines.

Back in the day AMG was “the” Benz tuning shop. Mercedes bought it to do battle with the almighty ///M. It has been a good marketing move, but it does not hold a candle to the pedigree of BMW ///Motorsport.

It has more in common with Alpina than it does the ///M division.

I have an E46 M3 Convertible and i am honestly a little pissed the 335 wont be smokable by me… but I hear the new M3 wont be offerred in convertible trim anymore, which still leaves my car quite desirable? plus ++ i will turbocharge my e46 M3 and get about 450 hp out if it easy…. bye bye 335 do you guys agree?

finally the new M3 will have about 440 HP as is rumored, now turbocharge that and no 335 even modded will touch it nor an E46 M3 turboed….

yo Randall
im not hating on M3,but you can get HP out of 335 with a lot less money, more bang for your buck. going FI on M3 is at least a 10 k upgrade, then you need other supporting mods like BBK,transmisiion,rear end etc.aft all the mods, it will 80k easy for E46M3(90k? for E90M3) might as well save up and get a slightly used porsche 996TT.

My guess is the new M3 will “start” at $65-70K. If that’s in your price range it will be a great car. I’m poor though and can only afford the 335I.

Doug, 10K is all I need to get an E46 M3 to 450-475Hp. Supporting mods are not necessary… the car is capable enough to handle that extra power, mods are extra only if you want to track the car and maximize your power utility, but street wise, M3 stock should do well…. remember all we are really doing here is using he power for straight line accel, not running 24 hr lemans…. 335s beware!!! freaking wannabes….

It is, of course, no surprise that the 335i beats the M3 zero-to-fugly times to a ratio of roughly 100:1. Who the hell is this flaming ‘tard coming up with these ugly-ass car designs??? Sheesh! I guess all the car companies are having an “ugly-off” competition–the joke is on the consumer who thinks this crap looks nice.

-he who stacks pork