Anyone go from F30 335i into the F80 M3 (or M4)?

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Garmz

Went to drive one today f82.

The extra power is obvious. Handling is great too =)

But that exhaust at cold start... Is it supposed to be that loud. My my my that's going to wake up the neighborhood!

If I was buying my 335i it is a no-brainer the m3 is worth the upgrade.

When I optioned my 335i out it comes to 55k. At that point it makes sense to get into an m3 even if it means giving up some options on the 335i ( HUD) to get the m3 price down a bit

I had the same reaction when I test drove it. Even my "But I have a Corvette" dad was impressed.

[valentinbmw]

I don't know if it counts but i had a f36 435 gran coupe, and i just got an M3 f80 and the experience is totally diferent, is another car...

[vase330]

Originally Posted by Dinh335

I did as well, and contemplated hard, and felt guilty getting an M3 in some respects.

But it was so the right decision. Very different cars, and so much more passion in the M3.

I've realized the 335i was a very good car don't get me wrong, but M3, whole new league, worth it totally, and so happy i did it.

I still want to see the Tanzanite. I speced a tanzanite M4 but am undecided as of yet. Still looking at others. Tesla, MB C63s and Jaguar F-Type R are the ones am looking at. Test drove an M4 but unrealistic short distance and DCT was too finicky sinc I never drive one before. It was a waste so I discounted the test drive.

[paliknight]

Love my car but absolutely horrible DD

[m630]

Originally Posted by vase330

I still want to see the Tanzanite. I speced a tanzanite M4 but am undecided as of yet. Still looking at others. Tesla, MB C63s and Jaguar F-Type R are the ones am looking at. Test drove an M4 but unrealistic short distance and DCT was too finicky sinc I never drive one before. It was a waste so I discounted the test drive.

Tanzanite is beautiful in all light conditions what do you want to see, there are many pix posted of the many shades.

Originally Posted by paliknight

Love my car but absolutely horrible DD

Why? It's my DD and its amazing compared to my former 335i...

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by paliknight

Love my car but absolutely horrible DD

What makes it horrible? I'll never understand comments like this.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

What makes it horrible? I'll never understand comments like this.

Finding parking where no one would damage your car

[vase330]

Add flame throwers underneath the car South African style, only make it so they automatically go off at maybe 1/10th strength when approached while parked. Other cars will stay miles away from you.

When I park my Range Rover and think I might get door dinged, I put it at off-road height, and leave the deployable side steps deployed. Its funny how no one wants to park next to you when they see that. I don't know. It just works

[vase330]

Originally Posted by m630

Tanzanite is beautiful in all light conditions what do you want to see, there are many pix posted of the many shades.

...

I have come to learn these cars always look different in the fresh. Big difference sometimes you wonder if its even the same color you were looking at. Its hard to judge from just pictures. Unless you are telling me the M4 shows well

[jerivarola]

I had a 2013 335i estoril blue, beautiful fast car, love it from every angle..... until I bought the F80 ..... a complete different animal.... can´t compare, the M3 is way ahead.... and don´t forget that in my country a 335i costs 69K and a brand new M3 will go all the way up to 115K so almost twice the price, makes sense it to be more that twice the fun !!!!! Mine was second hand with 5,500 Kms for US$71K. good deal I think.
So every time I jump inside and push the trottle I got the big smile on my face and somehow feel like if I have 20 again !!!!!

[PhillyfaanM3]

I didn't come from a 335i, but did have a 2011 135i convertible w FBO's & Dinan Stage lll tune.

The financially responsible side of me can't justify it, but it helps that I don't have any other car payments.

But every time I get in the M3 the emotional side of says..."ahhh, that's why I got this car" the way it drives, feels, sounds! How getting out on a 2 hour back country drive in nice weather allows me to put any work or personal stress away & just experience the joy. The way I look at it is, this car replaces 2-3 therapy visits per month.

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by daMau

This is the exact dilemma I am facing, and your response is not what the fiscally responsible side of me wanted to hear. However, I change cars too often and part of me wants to be believe if that if had an M3, I could be content with it for 4-5yrs.

Originally Posted by /// M sa

I had a 2011 FBO 335 and the F8x is just a different animal.

I've been in the F80 for 4 years and over 70K miles (currently a 2018 with Competition Package and M Performance Exhaust). I literarily still look forward to driving it every single day - no joke. If you can afford it -the smiles it puts on your face on a daily basis are worth more than the "saved" money. Zero regrets.

[jmg]

I came from a 340i M Sport... it was a fine car, satisfyingly fast. But the F80 was like a shot of adrenalin. Complete night and day. I didn't realize that, besides just the power and torque, that the F80 could be THAT much of an improvement in driving dynamics over an F30. It handles so much better. Some F30 owners might balk at spending $20-30k more for "just" 100hp. It's so much more than just power.

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by jmg

I came from a 340i M Sport... it was a fine car, satisfyingly fast. But the F80 was like a shot of adrenalin. Complete night and day. I didn't realize that, besides just the power and torque, that the F80 could be THAT much of an improvement in driving dynamics over an F30. It handles so much better. Some F30 owners might balk at spending $20-30k more for "just" 100hp. It's so much more than just power.

I also just came from a 340i and joined the F80 ranks. While I’ve always had manual shift cars, the 340i was my first automatic car in 30+ years. The 8sp AT is an excellent transmission, but the DCT in the M3 is a phenomenal piece of engineering and way more fun to drive. At the expense of fuel economy, I shift mine with the paddles most of the time. I’m really enjoying the learning experience of matching speeds to the 7 gears and listening to the computer rev match when I drop down a few in order to accelerate out of a corner.

I’ve been an instructor on the track and I know how to drive a manual shift car fast in search of the perfect heel’n’toe double clutch downshift into 3rd gear in a full four wheel drift at speed around my favorite bend. I’m looking forward to finding a similar nirvana moment in the DCT-equipped M3! For those that deride the DCT, I say just pick up a second (or 3rd car) with a manual to feed your habit. It does not even have to be an expensive car—E30 or E36 or Miata or ??? will do fine. Then spend as much seat time as possible with your DCT and learn what makes it special. I’ll always keep at least 1 (or 5 ) manual shift cars in the garage, but the DCT M3 is quickly becoming my favorite!

[JamesMA]

Came from a 2013 performance optioned 335i M Sport / PPK / M Adaptive suspension M405 wheels etc. which I loved. Daily drove the 335i for 6 years. Great car, fast, and with MPE sounded good too, but definitely missing something starting with the lifeless steering. Suspention was a little loose too. They just got the driving part wrong for me as I had driven a stripper E46 325i 5MT for 10 years before this, that car just "felt" more like a BMW to me. I accepted this difference as a consequence of tech "progress" with computer / electric controlled everything.

After a week in the F80, I will never look back, some familiar things but the driving experience is completely different - everything that I felt to be a little off about F30 is fixed in the F80 ZCP. Steering and suspension are right where I want them to be. Only issue for some people is the exhaust sound, which sounds good at start but gets thin and even "crackles and pops" when you open her up. I can either fix that with an exhaust mod or live with it as it does not bother me. The overall experience in the F80 is just what I needed.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by JamesMA

After a week in the F80, I will never look back

I know what you mean. When I hear that someone say that the F8X is just a F30 with more power I shake my head. They have no idea. I almost envy them because they haven't been spoiled by an M car yet.

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by jmg

I know what you mean. When I hear that someone say that the F8X is just a F30 with more power I shake my head. They have no idea. I almost envy them because they haven't been spoiled by an M car yet.

Facts.

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by jmg

I know what you mean. When I hear that someone say that the F8X is just a F30 with more power I shake my head. They have no idea. I almost envy them because they haven't been spoiled by an M car yet.

Some of those people won't know the difference even driving it. Most people just don't care about driving.