135i vs 335i

[adc]

Originally Posted by angkor

It depends on what you want. From my perspective a 335 isn't a better car, it is a lessor car. It is slightly bigger and for me that is a very bad thing. If you want a car that is slightly better in every way but smaller then the 1 series is what you want. More space is the only thing going for the 3 series.

+1. Talking from experience too, I drive a 335i coupe.

The 3 coupe is very pretty IMO, but too big and heavy for me. It's got HUGE doors that are a nightmare in many parking lots, and to top it off mine hasn't been very reliable. What it's got major going for it from my perspective is speed, it's fun to tinker with and it allowed me to fulfill a life dream of driving the Nurburgring. So next year I'm looking forward to doing it all again in a 1 series. :wink:


OP: What does it matter what some colleague drives or thinks about your car? They aren't the ones making the car payments...

[ManMachine]

Well, simply by the specs etc., I was thinking that the 1 series must be a more fun car to drive. Until I saw the review in the Roundel, which evaluates the 135 on the track; understeer appears to be a big problem, and the longer 3 series is actually more balanced.

Style wise, the 3 coupe is a better looking car IMO - more classic coupe proportions, better lights front and back, and better side profile. 1 series interior is a bit awkward, 3 series interior a bit generic.

The fact that the actual selling price is actually very close to each other makes me think that the 3 series is a better value - plus, you get a $500 rebate through BMWCCA.

Trying to decide which car based on which one is more rare doesn't seem that valid - there are many cars on the road that are very lousy and don't sell well.

[GigEm93]

Originally Posted by ManMachine

Well, simply by the specs etc., I was thinking that the 1 series must be a more fun car to drive. Until I saw the review in the Roundel, which evaluates the 135 on the track; understeer appears to be a big problem, and the longer 3 series is actually more balanced.

Nothing a good sway bar can't fix.

[Turbomatic]

Originally Posted by BeamerDreamer

I am having some second thoughts about getting a 135i. Someone here in my office noticed I was on 1addicts.com and bimmerfest.com and he asked me what BMW I had. I told him I hadn't got one yet but was most likely going to get a 135i. He quickly scoffed at me and said "Why would you want to get one of those? Get a 3 series!". He has a 335i and at lunch he took me for a drive. So it got me thinking, would I be happy if I got the 135i?

Earlier today I posted in a thread about someone wondering if they should get the 128i over the 135i. I explained that if you could afford a 135i, you should go for it. I can afford a 335i. Should I take my own advice and get a 335i? Is it really that much better? If I get a 335i will I become some elitist jerk that looks down on anyone that drives any "lesser" car?

Fact is both 135i and 335i are not all that high class in the grand scheme of things.

I honestly don't like the way the 135 looks. Purely subjective and personal thing. I really love the way my 240sx looks over the 335 coupe even. You have to first be seriously honest to yourself about what you want in a car to decide this issue. If picking a car involve worrying about what others opinions are then you will never be happy.

I made my choice on the 335 because it looks ok, is a great daily driver (silent and plush compared to all my other cars) and gives me enough performance so I can play occasionally and enjoy myself. Its large and is heavy compared to my old cars but its a price you pay for luxury in my opinion.

Good luck in your decision and remember its your personal enjoyment of the car that is important.

[adc]

Originally Posted by ManMachine

Well, simply by the specs etc., I was thinking that the 1 series must be a more fun car to drive. Until I saw the review in the Roundel, which evaluates the 135 on the track; understeer appears to be a big problem, and the longer 3 series is actually more balanced.

If you ever consider taking the 135 or 335 to the track, you will need to ditch the runflats. At that point, just use a square setup on the 135i and it will understeer less than the 335i.

One other thing - in the track tests I've seen, the 135i turns better lap times despite the reports about understeer. So probably a nice tire swap should make it even faster than the 335, which is straddled with an extra problem that's very hard to overcome - 200 lbs of extra weight.

The fact that the actual selling price is actually very close to each other makes me think that the 3 series is a better value - plus, you get a $500 rebate through BMWCCA.

I've never really understood this argument. The price difference between the 2 coupes is around $4-5k even with the CCA rebate. That's 10-12% price difference - is that not significant??

All this after owning a 335 coupe mind you...

[jrc]

I still haven't found an objective, published head to head track test between the 135 and 335cpe (same track, tires, weather conditions, transmissions, driver etc) -- anyone else found one? Apart from anything else, I'd be disappointed if the 135 brakes didn't at least show some advantages (otherwise what's the point of the 6 pot front calipers?)

[adc]

Originally Posted by jrc

I still haven't found an objective, published head to head track test between the 135 and 335cpe (same track, tires, weather conditions, transmissions, driver etc) -- anyone else found one?

Ask and you shall receive:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=125908

Apart from anything else, I'd be disappointed if the 135 brakes didn't at least show some advantages (otherwise what's the point of the 6 pot front calipers?)

I don't think the brakes/calipers will make even the slightest difference. Here is why:
- The rotors are slightly smaller than the 335 ones, presumably the braking capacity is somewhat equal to the heavier 335.
- Multi-piston calipers are usually employed because the brake feel is better and remains more constant over time. Not necessarily because they brake harder. (Anectodal from 335 experiences at various tracks).
- The 335 stock pads seem to be at least as good, if not better than, the 135 stock pads.
- Both cars have brake fade compensation, meaning that as the pads fade the system automatically increases pressure to present a constant pedal feel (well at least up to a point). This masks to some degree any pedal feel differences you may feel in the 2 cars after hard lapping.

I've heard that the main reason for these brakes was their smaller footprint which would allow for narrower wheels up front - to fit the 1 fenders. I'm starting to believe it.


I think both cars need modifications in order to be tracked successfully, reliably and quickly. To my eyes, the big advantage of the 135i are the lighter weight and smaller purchase price, which leaves extra room for modification budget. And of course, the increased fun factor over the dull 335.

[uofmtiger]

Trying to decide which car based on which one is more rare doesn't seem that valid - there are many cars on the road that are very lousy and don't sell well.

If it was rare because it was a Yugo, then your argument would make sense. However, it is rare because of the limited supply in most areas. In Memphis, we had two convertibles on the lot (at least one of them did not have the sports package). They did not have any 128s or 135i coupes.

If they just sold lousy, they would be discounting the crap out of them like they are doing with the 3 series.

[atr_hugo]

adc - good write-up!! (I think the 335i folks don't have much to gripe about with that assessment up to the mention of 'dull' ; -)

[adc]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

adc - good write-up!! (I think the 335i folks don't have much to gripe about with that assessment up to the mention of 'dull' ; -)

Honestly, if she ain't sideways or in WOT attack mode she's the dullest car I've had in a long time... And if you do get her up to those kind of speeds, she floats and gets all flustered.

[buckwheat986]

Originally Posted by jrc

I still haven't found an objective, published head to head track test between the 135 and 335cpe (same track, tires, weather conditions, transmissions, driver etc) -- anyone else found one? Apart from anything else, I'd be disappointed if the 135 brakes didn't at least show some advantages (otherwise what's the point of the 6 pot front calipers?)

last month's roundel (july issue i believe) had the 135i on the watkins glen track an compared it to the 335i...

but not back to back as I recall...

[buckwheat986]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

adc - good write-up!! (I think the 335i folks don't have much to gripe about with that assessment up to the mention of 'dull' ; -)

its amazing that the 335i, a car that received such high praise when first on the market, is now downgraded to dull

man this industry moves fast

[damian]

it's all relative. the 335i was originally compared against other sport sedans/coupes with a similar weight/demographic/etc. There, it dominates.

[adc]

Originally Posted by damian

it's all relative. the 335i was originally compared against other sport sedans/coupes with a similar weight/demographic/etc. There, it dominates.

Agreed. Compared to my previous one, a 2003 330i ZHP the 335i is terminally dull. Fast as in sledgehammer fast, but heavy feeling and disconnected. Come to think of it, the 135i is not quite as live a wire as the ZHP was...

The only E9x instantiation that I like is the M3.

[BeamerDreamer]

It seems that almost everyone at e90post.com thinks the 135i is ugly and they argue that it's weight is not much different than the 335i.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162708

[BeamerDreamer]

I personally don't think the 335i offers anything more useful to me over the 135i. Adaptive cruise control and the DCT would have been nice but the ACC is pricey and I am sure if the DCT comes to the 335i it will be very pricey as well.

The 135i looks good to me and I think it's the right size. I don't need a bigger heavier car.

I would like to thank everyone for posting their thoughts in this thread. If I ever get tempted to buy a 335i before making my order for the 135i, I will come back and read this thread over again. The money I save will go toward my European vacation instead.

Now my problem is deciding which color for the exterior, interior and trim. I seem to change my mind on this every other day.

[HappyNDing]

Originally Posted by BeamerDreamer

It seems that almost everyone at e90post.com thinks the 135i is ugly and they argue that it's weight is not much different than the 335i.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162708

That's just human nature - most of the times people will defend their own decisions (in this case their decision of buying their respective cars). This thread is also an example as well; the 1 owners will agree that the 335i is bigger, heavier and therefore less of a driver's car. 3 series owners will then counter with by pointing out the awkward looks of the 135i, more value in the 335i for a little bit more money and etc.

But if you really, and I do mean REALLY, care about what people will say about your car then you might want to pass on the 135i. The 3 series has been successful for a long time and is BMW's bread and butter so it'll less likely draw negative criticism from the uninformed crowd.

I am also considering both currently but truthfully the 0.9% financing 3 series have right now is very tempting and I am leaning to the 335i side. However, if I were to order a 2009 to my specs - it'll most likely be a 135i. :biggrin:

[Garris]

Originally Posted by BeamerDreamer

It seems that almost everyone at e90post.com thinks the 135i is ugly and they argue that it's weight is not much different than the 335i.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162708

They're not necessarily wrong... I agree that the 335i is, by most automotive standards, more attractive than the 135i, but the 335i, despite its beauty, isn't what I'm personally looking to buy... It looks too boulevard cruiser, too GT for me... I always like the bulldogish, metal wrapped around mechanics look of previous 3 series and the 135i has that more for me, even if it isn't a classic beauty.

As for weight, I think even the biggest 1 booster believes that there is certainly room for work there...

[AlpineWhiteMan]

135 is faster and has better brakes...

[Thud]

Originally Posted by 1nnabe

But if you really, and I do mean REALLY, care about what people will say about your car then you might want to pass on the 135i. The 3 series has been successful for a long time and is BMW's bread and butter so it'll less likely draw negative criticism from the uninformed crowd.

I've gotten a lot of compliments on my 135... I still don't see any more of 'em on the road except mine, and at lunch 2 days ago somebody told me they were staring at my car in the parking lot because it was the first time they'd seen one in person.

Now as for a 3-series, well that's just about every 4th car around Atlanta.

[ManMachine]

On the cost side, from what I see - because of limited supply of the 1 series, you'll have much less room to negotiate. 3 series finance offer also make it a good deal.

Who knows, in the future BMW may start to limit the number of 3 series coming to the U.S.?

[Christos]

I think the 1996 318ti looks better than the 1 series!!!!!

Bring it on!!!!!