What would you do? 08 135i or 04 m3

[90Laser]

My Mom, she wants a new car . She currently has a 04 Trailblazer and hates it, shes looking into either a 08 135i or a 04 M3.

M3 has 7900 miles, 2year 100,000miles fulll warranty/Maintenance plan that covers EVERYthing excluding tires. Its Red with black interior, and is 6speed. Gets about 16-22mpg.

135 is brand new 4year 100,000 mile same deal on everything, but is auto and gets 18-26mpg.


We're trying to weigh the pro's and con's of each and I'm looking for outside help from a non-biased forum.

m3 Pros:
Resale Resale Resale
Its a M3
Stands out
Brand new car with only 7k
Rides nice
Bigger back seat
Handles better
More power

135 Pros:
Brand new
Bigger trunk
Better on gas
Navagation (she has a gps)
Doesn't yell "pull me over"
Insurance is a little cheaper

M3 Cons:
Gas
?
?
her son is going to steal it

135 Cons:
Vaule drops as soon as its titled
Everybody is going to have one
Small back seat
Only seats 4
Feels big


Any input would be awsome.


P.S. why doesn't my spell check work, I suck at grammar.

[boon94]

Originally Posted by 90Laser

My Mom, she wants a new car . She currently has a 04 Trailblazer and hates it,

So i guess a 9-7x is out of the question


I would personally choose a 1 series. just more practical... And if 300HP in that little car isnt enough.. well.. ur moms definitely unique

[KSpark]

I would go for the M3...I personally find the 1-series to be rather ugly and squished looking. The E46 M3, on the other hand, is one of the sexiest BMWs to date. 7900 miles on a 4 year old car is also ridiculously low.

[Colo]

I think it depends on if you can pay for the car.
As you said the M3 is costly on fuel and insurance (and maybe also buying price and maintenance), but if this is not a probelm for you than it should not be so difficult to choose

Personally i find that 135 sucks

[mohooba93]

the 135 to me just looks plain weird, but does have huge front brakes. i would get an m3, you should read the review between the old m3 and new the 135 on insideline.com

[brunp]

I looked at the 1-series and they are producing a limited number of them, compared to the 3-series (excluding M3 of course) so it isn't true that everyone will have em.

They say the newest M3 has a hard time keepin' ahead of the 135i. So, you might have better overall performance from the 135i in the grand scheme of things.

Which way would I go....the M3 for sure. Especially, if it is 4 years old, has 7K miles, you are covered for warranty for a bit and the fact that it is an M3, a premier brand/model.

Hands down....the M3 wins...without a doubt.....

Paul

[jwrussell]

If money is not the issue, this is the biggest no-brainer for me in the world. M3 without hesitation. In my eye, the 04 body style is better looking than the current style, so right there I'm already leaning, but the fact that I absolutely DROOL over M3s makes mine a completely biased response. I pick up a 2006 9-3 Aero convertible this weekend, but damned if I didn't try every way from Sunday to be able to afford a late model (2004-2006) M3 Vert. I just couldn't justify (nor afford) the extra $15K it would have taken to get a comparable car (mileage and warranty).

Best of luck!

[cjhutch]

Originally Posted by brunp

I looked at the 1-series and they are producing a limited number of them, compared to the 3-series (excluding M3 of course) so it isn't true that everyone will have em.

They say the newest M3 has a hard time keepin' ahead of the 135i. So, you might have better overall performance from the 135i in the grand scheme of things.

Which way would I go....the M3 for sure. Especially, if it is 4 years old, has 7K miles, you are covered for warranty for a bit and the fact that it is an M3, a premier brand/model.

Hands down....the M3 wins...without a doubt.....

Paul

Woah, who said that? The new M3 is a V8 with 100 more horsepower and a better torque curve than the E46 M3. The 135i cannot beat the E46 M3 stock for stock so how is it going to beat the new more powerful M3.

I had an E46 M3 with SMG and I loved the car once I had it tuned. Stock I hated the exhaust note and it didn't have enough torque for me. My car was not stock for very long and I bought it with 20k miles already on it, but while it was stock I did enjoy the ride and great handling. I would definitely go with the M3. There are early E46 M3's that still sell for $20K so you know resale won't be a problem.

[brunp]

Originally Posted by cjhutch

Woah, who said that? The new M3 is a V8 with 100 more horsepower and a better torque curve than the E46 M3. The 135i cannot beat the E46 M3 stock for stock so how is it going to beat the new more powerful M3.

I had an E46 M3 with SMG and I loved the car once I had it tuned. Stock I hated the exhaust note and it didn't have enough torque for me. My car was not stock for very long and I bought it with 20k miles already on it, but while it was stock I did enjoy the ride and great handling. I would definitely go with the M3. There are early E46 M3's that still sell for $20K so you know resale won't be a problem.

Well....135i vs. 335i: The 135i wins in the 0-60mph as both cars have the same engine. The 335i is heavier than the 135i.

The M3 still wins, but not by much due to the weight savings of the 135i.

These are the pertinent tech differences:


BMW 135i

HP: 300/5800rpm 414/8300rpm

Torque: 300/1400rpm

Weight: ~3200lb

0-62: 5.3 sec

Price: unofficial 33K

E92 M3 HP: 414/8300rpm295/3900rpm Weight: ~3600lb

0-62: 4.6 sec

Price: unofficial 62K




From numerous forums that I have been reading, the 5.3sec for the 135i is off. It is closer to 4.7 to 4.8 seconds in reality. So....the E92 M3 still is ahead, but not by much.




Paul

[KevinC]

Go for the M3, handling is amazing and there are so many potential add-on bits, and always a line of willing buyers.

If fuel cost is a real worry, neither car will be right.

[90Laser]

She put a down payments on the m3 today. Thanks for all the imput.

[touche6784]

I would go with the M3. With the way that BMW's design team is heading it will be the last good looking coupe for a while. I find the new M3 to be an abandonment to the I6 engine heritage of BMW in the 3 series. I would rather have seen an insane race tuned version of the 335 engine that could not easily be replicated by merely chipping the 335 engine.

[lowbudgethero]

well it comes down to which one is cheaper and which one your mom likes better for her commute

[Fast_Ed]

I have to go against the grain, if only to be different. I really want a 135i, mostly because I love the fact that BMW is offering a turbocharged engine in a somewhat small rwd car. I am a bit disappointed that it weighs so much (at least 3400 lbs if I remember correctly), but hey, I'm sure that chips will come along soon that could make a 135 blow and E46 m3 out of the water... It's a TURBO!!


Plus, I have heard bad things about those E46 I6's and their potential to destroy themselves. dunno what years this applies to. I personally prefer the way my Viggen never seems like it's trying hard when it boosts at the low RPM and flings itself down the road... Never much liked having to downshift to get a car up to a range where it starts to come alive... Havent driven an e46 but have driven an e36 m3, prelude, svt contour, etc where they need to be really revving to 'come alive..' granted, this problem is probably a bit less pronounced on the e46..


I know it's too late, but I still love to talk about this stuff...

[numbersix]

Edmunds just did a comparison test between their long term E46 M3, 335Ci, and 135i. The 135i and M3 tied.

A big factor is whether she plans on ever carrying 4 adults. The 135i is NOT sized to do so.

[JonV]

M 3 .......

[lowbudgethero]

0-60 of the new 135i is about the same as the new m3 according to road and track

0-60 4.8sec and 13.4@104mph

[Saab.Racing]

Get the M3 if you have the extra money. But the I series comes twin turbo'd but also cost $47k

How much is the M3 gonna run you?

[KSpark]

Originally Posted by JonV

M 3 .......

I raise your M3 with my:

///M3

[90Laser]

Originally Posted by Saab.Racing

Get the M3 if you have the extra money. But the I series comes twin turbo'd but also cost $47k

How much is the M3 gonna run you?

She got the m3 for 29 something with her trade. They wanted 39222, and the 135 was 45222. Shes now looking for something cheap to DD because my Dad won't let her have her Galant back .


Best part about this whole thing is when she goes on trips, until she gets a beater I get to trade her for the day.