135i vs E46 M3?

[HiTempguy1]

From a daily driver perspective in Alberta? Which would you prefer and why?

This year I get to buy basically any vehicle I want under $50k. Being a cheap-ass, I don't mind used. I was super into the Golf-R and Focus RS, until I noticed how inexpensive the used BMW's are. Maintenance doesn't scare me as I DIY everything and have the resources to do so (sans bearing replacement on the E46 M3 or valvetrain adjustments which I would gladly pay for).

[killramos]

135i's are boosted which will help their performance greatly at this altitude. They are also much more modern inside and more common than 346 M3's for parts and repairs.

I think if you have to debate it just get the 135i, mostly you buy an M3 to have an M3.

All that being said if i had to choose used 135i or M3 i would buy the M3 any day.

Consider finding a 135is with a DCT.

[rage2]

There's a reason why E46 M3's are so cheap. Even if you do your own work, it gets up there in terms of parts costs. Vanos failures, gearbox problems (SMG even worse), subframe problems. It's a money pit.

[benyl]

E46 M3 is slow.

A 135i with a tune will be faster than the E90M3 and will feel as fast as a C63.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

My 135i wasn't bad at all for parts and upkeep but I sold it before it was completely off warranty.

[T-Dubbs]

i loved my old 135i
fast as hell when modded( i roasted a 400whp supercharged e46 m3 with downpipes and software,intake)
Modern looking interior, BUT it has an open diff.....
the back seat/trunk is super small (had to remove my back seats for two sets of golf clubs)

[GTS Jeff]

I've owned both and there are problems either way:

E46M3:

-quite unreliable as rage2 pointed out.
-even if you don't get the SMG (it's terrrrible) the manual is pretty bad too. Very rubbery and long throw shifts and long clutch.
-not fast enough to keep up with modern sports cars
-I sold this car because I was bleeding cash on it and the shifter really bugged me.

135i:

-the N54 will make you cry with how unreliable it is. This car is every bit a money pit that the M3 is.
-quite a bit of body roll, combined with poor e-diff makes it handle like a family car, not a sports car
-the sagging cow belly lines aren't especially attractive.
-what eventually made me sell the car was how it did a death wobble at WOT. A Cobb stage 1 tune was way too much power for the factory suspension to cope with.

Save your pennies for an M235i...

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by GTS Jeff
*snip*
Save your pennies for an M235i...

Very informative... and I appreciate the honesty and direct comparison!

But I hate the front end of the M235i I'm weird like that, I find the 135i extremely attractive. But I've always had a thing for odd cars.

[msommers]

What about a Lexus RC? Saw one of those in front of my place the other day, looked nice in person.

[benyl]

M3 also has a horrible steering ratio. Like driving a bus.

[never]

Originally posted by GTS Jeff
-what eventually made me sell the car was how it did a death wobble at WOT. A Cobb stage 1 tune was way too much power for the factory suspension to cope with.

That's odd, mine didn't ever do anything like that. More detail?

[killramos]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1


Very informative... and I appreciate the honesty and direct comparison!

But I hate the front end of the M235i I'm weird like that, I find the 135i extremely attractive. But I've always had a thing for odd cars.

Have you seen one in person?

I love my lights in particular

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by never


That's odd, mine didn't ever do anything like that. More detail?

All I can picture with his comments is the scene when Clarkson is driving the M135i hatchback and spun it and called it a "Stupid car"

[killramos]

Originally posted by Twin_Cam_Turbo


All I can picture with his comments is the scene when Clarkson is driving the M135i hatchback and spun it and called it a "Stupid car"

[gpomp]

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/the-af...gui-1593133171

[SkiBum5.0]

Rage2 mentioned all the issues but they should have all been addressed by now.

My vote is for the M3 because of that raspy goodness that motor makes. If the shifter is anything like the e90M3, just replace it with the M5 knob, which changes the feel entirely.

Whenever I see the 135 I picture a girl driving - just an opinion though.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1
From a daily driver perspective in Alberta? Which would you prefer and why?

This year I get to buy basically any vehicle I want under $50k. Being a cheap-ass, I don't mind used. I was super into the Golf-R and Focus RS, until I noticed how inexpensive the used BMW's are. Maintenance doesn't scare me as I DIY everything and have the resources to do so (sans bearing replacement on the E46 M3 or valvetrain adjustments which I would gladly pay for).

For what it's worth, I had 3 E90s, including a Dinan2 335i and none of them are as enjoyable to drive as the E46 330i I have now. My car is slow compared to modern cars but I like driving it. However, the big difference is that it's not a daily driver so maybe that's part of reason why.

[benyl]

Do you have the ZHP?

Way better steering rack on the E46 330 ZHP. I had a ZHP and an M3 and it the ZHP was a much more enjoyable drive.

[E46..sTyLez]

Originally posted by SkiBum5.0

Whenever I see the 135 I picture a girl driving - just an opinion though.

My thoughts exactly

I wouldn't want an E46 M3 either though, I'd probably just go with the male version of the 135...

[Aleks]

Originally posted by benyl
Do you have the ZHP?

Way better steering rack on the E46 330 ZHP. I had a ZHP and an M3 and it the ZHP was a much more enjoyable drive.

I do. Took forever to find an actual one, as there are a lot of M Sport ones that look like the zhp.