duckJAI

Hey guys, need your opinion on the following.

I've been looking at the 2007 BMW 335i for a while after driving one (feels so damn good and smooth) and would probably JB4 tune it as well.

So we're looking at a BPU 2JZ-GTE vs JB4 tuned 2007 BMW 335i.

I have no huge power goals, so that isn't a main factor.

I'm looking at the following:
1) Maintenance
2) Reliability (I've heard the turbos suck on the 335i?)
3) Cost of parts
4) Fun factor
5) Handling
6) Sport + Luxury

PRO GS300:
-cost effective
-cheap upgrades
-maintenance cost minimal
-reliability
-low cost to have good fun
-cost 7k to drop in a 2JZ-GTE with BPU

CON GS300:
-feels old
-heavy *** car
-interior is inferior to the BMW
-can't handle as well as a BMW

PRO BMW
-looks great
-lots of aftermarket support
-handles like a dream
-minimal mods for big gains
-newer technology
-interior is better (seats, dash, etc etc)

CON BMW
-maintenance
-reliability
-recalls (fuel pump and turbos?)
-will cost 20-25k to get one
-slightly smaller interior space

What's everyone's take? Anyone have experience with the 335i?

LiLS

iTrader: (7)

335i all day

fuzzzz

iTrader: (19)

Probably 335i if you can afford it. GS is just inferior especially after all your pros and cons.

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

whole different price range bro lol.

but it depends on what you want. with 20k to put into a GS that would be a bad *** car.

with a 335i itll just be stock + your JB4.

dunno about the reliability on the 335 though.. both my coworkers who owns one had fuel pump problems... one of em had it 3 times and got it lemoned lawed away. now drives a M3

cschroder

apples and oranges....lets do an apples to apples comparason:


just buy an 06 gs430 and call it a day. same price range as the BMW...far superior car in reliability, value, interior, ect....plus when it is 15-20 years old it will still look current and still look good.... good thing with a lexus........you have to go back to the mid 90's to find a model that looks "old".

duckJAI

i know they are 2 different cars, but both can easily achieve the power goals i want.

one being a lot newer than the other.

the HPFP seems to be a big problem on the 335i tho.....

roccyGs400

iTrader: (11)

Screw the bmw..the money put into the Gs will make it a much more fun car and will be a lot more reliable then the bmw evere Will

puff

iTrader: (4)

It's not a fair comparison. Just because they can make the same power doesn't mean they're comparible. Two totally different cars that were built 10 years apart. That's night and day if you ask me.

NEbiker10

iTrader: (1)

German cars are fun...until you have to fix them...which is every other week.

Salil022

iTrader: (1)

335i if you want a fast car from factory, I don't agree with GS interior being inferior to BMW.
I have an 08 3 series in the family that i get to drive often and have 98 GS 400....2nd Gen GS interior (Car that is 10 yrs older than 3 series BMW) is far more superior (Interior feels much more high quality)

Seats, Panels, Carpet, Headliner, Electronics Feels much more superior to 3 or 5 Series Hands down.

Handling def. goes to BMW
Exterior is Subjective
Interior (2nd Gen GS > 3 Series all day)
Reliability (GS all the way) in Stock Form


Either way test drive both cars and make your decision....GL

99 GS3

iTrader: (14)

Maybe if BMW ever stops insisting on integrating that ugly *** Kidney Grille into every model ever freaking made I might glance at one on the road, otherwise all bimmers pretty look alike other than getting more rounded as time has passed.

I have a few friends that are into them, and they all are continually having either electrical problems or suspension problems on both newer models and old models. I guess it drives so good it's worth it, and the rest of the world assuming there is a jerk inside behind the wheel doesn't matter either..

So an 06 GS will still look 'current' in 20 years?! I doubt that very seriously. Will it still look Good~Yes, but Current~No..

Chumacher

335i will fall apart. Money pit in repairs. Buy a 3GS.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

After driving my friend's 07 3 series, I concluded that it felt smaller than a Corolla. It's tiny, the steering was like trying to turn a boulder off a cliff, and the interior was the cheapest crap I have seen on ANY car in a while.

4eign

bmw's look and drive good but are money pits as a few have mentioned. Once they break..they BREAK.

Co-worker has a 3series that has been taken in for s starter issues that cant seem to be fixed. My other friend had a 5series with the M package...sick lookn btw...but he just got rid of it cause he got fed up with payn so much $$ fixn it every other month.

DaSaNi

iTrader: (2)

+1 for the GS, i'd look in to 3rd gen GS if you dont like the interior of the 2nd gen due to a little aging.... but you'll be happy with toyota compare to bmw. There are aftermarket parts to tighten the suspension and the lexus will handle almost as bmw if u like that feeling :twocents: