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2011 335i or BMW 328i

3.2K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  need4speed  
#1 · (Edited)
My parents are "forcing" me to get a more reliable car for when I start commuting to my internship each day this upcoming summer. With my 21st upcoming they are willing to go 50/50 with me on a car :D. For the past 5 years I've been driving a '99 A4 2.8 quattro and have loved it except for it aging on me.

I have been looking around for the past couple of weeks now and have found two options that I have an interest in. Both of these cars are out of state and ~2hours away which makes it difficult to try both (going to test drive both locally). :dunno:

Option #1:
2011 335i with M-sport in Le mans blue. Has 44k miles with a retail of 27k, not sure if CPO
Image


Option #2:
2011 328i coupe with M-sport in black. Has 29k miles with retail of 25k comes with CPO and 100k warranty
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I think option #2 is more realistic but I would love the 335. Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated!
 
#2 ·
You have framed the question well ............ so are you a realist or a lover?...
 
#5 ·
How well do you plan on the internship panning out? What will the income be after that. How far is the commute?

I LOVE my 335, very glad I went with it over the 328 (even though mine is a D) There is just some little piece of me that smiles at the ratio of 335: 328' s I see while driving knowing mine is a 335 :thumbup:
 
#9 ·
I LOVE my 335, very glad I went with it over the 328 (even though mine is a D) There is just some little piece of me that smiles at the ratio of 335: 328' s I see while driving knowing mine is a 335 :thumbup:
I see lots of 335s, but can't remember seeing an M Sport 335, pretty rare, they're usually Xi's around here.

And I've definitely never seen a 328i M Sport - I didn't know they existed til recently.

I'd probably take the 328i cause the power would be wasted around here, and the $5k in savings would free up money for an LSD, exhaust etc. Put a 3.46 LSD and Performance exhaust in the 328i and you'd have a very lively, fun, nice sounding car.
 
#11 ·
My parents are "forcing" me to get a more reliable car for when I start commuting to my internship each day this upcoming summer. With my 21st upcoming they are willing to go 50/50 with me on a car :D. For the past 5 years I've been driving a '99 A4 2.8 quattro and have loved it except for it aging on me.

I have been looking around for the past couple of weeks now and have found two options that I have an interest in. Both of these cars are out of state and ~2hours away which makes it difficult to try both (going to test drive both locally). :dunno:

Option #1:
2011 335i with M-sport in Le mans blue. Has 44k miles with a retail of 27k, not sure if CPO

Option #2:
2011 328i coupe with M-sport in black. Has 29k miles with retail of 25k comes with CPO and 100k warranty

I think option #2 is more realistic but I would love the 335. Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated!
We have both a 335i xDrive and 328i (non-xDrive), both 2011s, both manual transmission. I drive the 328i (the wife drives the 335i) and I prefer the 328i for two reasons:

1. It is 2WD and has the Sport Suspension, resulting in superior handling relative to the AWD coupled with the inherent non-sport suspension. (This comparison may not be relevant to your situation, but just throwing it out there)

2. The N52 throttle response is spectacular. Not that the N55 has a pile of turbo lag, but it's its enough to make rowing the 6MT less enjoyable. A throttle blip resulting in a smooth downshift is more easily achieved with the N52.

If you're rolling with an auto, I would guess the throttle response might not matter to you as much (or at all), though.

I enjoy driving the 335i a bunch (it's 'land you in jail' quick, of course), but for a commuter I like the 328i better, but only because of the N52 (it's butter smother, instant throttle response, inline six euphoria).

I can't imagine you'll be disappointed by either though...good luck and happy hunting!
 
#18 ·
2. The N52 throttle response is spectacular. Not that the N55 has a pile of turbo lag, but it's its enough to make rowing the 6MT less enjoyable. A throttle blip resulting in a smooth downshift is more easily achieved with the N52.

. . . but for a commuter I like the 328i better, but only because of the N52 (it's butter smother, instant throttle response, inline six euphoria).

I can't imagine you'll be disappointed by either though...good luck and happy hunting!
Finally, someone who commends the N52 manual when stacked against the heavier breathing sibling! :thumbup:

My experience with my MT 328i is exactly this - butter smooth and really wonderful throttle response. After I put the PE on it I almost had to re-learn the clutch a bit as it definitely added a kick to the throttle. Plus it just sounds better.

OP:
Regarding the esthetics -- E92 All the way! Still one of the best looking cars on the road.

I've not driven an E90 MT 335, but I have driven both an AT and 335d AT and to me the coupes and cabrios just have a different (read as more sporty) feel to them. If you don't need the room of a sedan go for the two door variant.

Had the E93 been a soft top, I would be driving an E92. The retractable top cabrio was just a nice bonus for me.

Whatever your decision, best of luck and welcome to the 'fest.
 
#16 ·
Some of the 2011's still had the ampless tweeterless stereo
You want to avoid that or be prepared to do 1k to 3k
in aftermarket stereo upgrades if you like stereo at all.
I believe the first half year of the the 2011's still had it.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=350502&d=1266451970
Very good point... both of our 2011s have had the xd600/6 amp swap using the Technic harness. If you end up with the 'HiFi' system it's a cinch and provides a nice improvement in sound.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the heads up! even though I doubt it could be worse than my current sound system that is half blown.

Good thing I am hearing impaired with a ruptured ear drum. :rolleyes: Having my fourth surgery done in four years tomorrow to try and fix this damn thing. Maybe if it works I might need to actually care how my audio sounds
 
#17 ·
Get the 328i....a beautiful car and a good price. I think the 335i is "only" about 1.5 seconds faster to 60, or something like that. Of course it's quicker in all stages but the 328i is a joy to drive.
 
#23 ·
I found the perfect loaded 2011 328i M Sport manual but my wife wouldn't let me buy it. :(

I think that'd be a great next car after the ZHP. I'd put an LSD and Performance Exhaust on it.
 
#25 ·
think its kind of pointless to modify a 328
You either like it the way it is or you should consider
something you could actually modify and make significantly better.
I disagree. 230 hp is more than enough to benefit from an LSD, and an inline six deserves a good exhaust. Would probably do Koni FSDs and non RFTs also. I wouldnt modify the engine. I could do all that for the cost of just the 335i price difference of $5k.