Battle of the Bimmers: BMW M3 V BMW 135i V BMW 335i

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135i 335i Battles Beemers: BMW M3 Edmunds Edmunds' Inside Line Of The
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  • Added: 05-May-08

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=125265

Before you start sending us flaming e-mails complaining that a comparison between the 2008 Audi S5 and the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe is an obvious mismatch from the get-go, you should know a few things.

Our first full test of the $53,000, all-wheel-drive 2008 Audi S5 was a bit of a revelation. With a 354-horsepower version of Audi's direct-injection 4.2-liter V8 under its hood, the voluptuous Audi S5 ran a 13.3-second quarter-mile at 104 mph, just 0.1 second and 2 mph shy of the 420-hp 2007 Audi RS4 sedan. What's more, the S5's slalom speed is within a couple mph of the harsh-riding RS-spec sedan. "It ran a 13.3? With that kind of speed, who needs a $67,000 RS4?" we asked ourselves.

We believe so strongly in the 2008 Audi S5 that it earned our Inside Line's inaugural Editors' Choice Award.

So we acquired (hastily perhaps) another 2008 Audi S5 and set it against the new 2008 BMW M3 Coupe, a car now fortified with V8 power for the first time. Speed-reading the specifications sheets of these two cars, they seem like natural rivals: the 354-hp, all-wheel-drive 2008 Audi S5 measured against the 414-hp, rear-wheel-drive 2008 BMW M3.

But as it turns out, we gave the 2008 Audi S5 a bigger challenge than we had initially intended.

  1. Categories: Wheels & Wings
Comments on

Battle of the Bimmers: BMW M3 V BMW 135i V BMW 335i

15 Comments | Add Comment
  • E92 M3 VS. GTR-35 ...

    E92 M3 VS. GTR-35 skyline??? i dunno... skyline mybe :D:D lol M3 will cry.

    By dani1mac2ute [Affiliate User] 1225113189 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • 135I, and the 335I ...

    135I, and the 335I Don't have LSD. They use electronic braking to control tire spin. So you can get sideways in the M3 but not the 135, or 335. Give the 135 a good Diff, and a short shifter, super sweet car. Have yet to see to many problems with the turbos. Mainly the high pressure fuel pumps. Very expensive part, and labor to replace is not cheap. Would not recommend owning any newer BMW that is out of warranty. If you have the money for the repairs than why not? They are awesome cars.

    By williamsteidley [Affiliate User] 1224961929 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • i just shows how ...

    i just shows how good an m3 really is and i think the csl m3 will beat the 135i and 335i in absolutly everything

    By N1K1yoyo [Affiliate User] 1224707860 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I do think the ...

    I do think the turbos might cause problems in the future. I would just lease it but damn it's sexy.

    By lakers0829 [Affiliate User] 1224645322 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Thats an E46 M3 ...

    Thats an E46 M3 being compared with a E92 335i and the new 1335i.Not a fair comparison at all.Compare it with the new E92 M3.

    By Xiber1 [Affiliate User] 1224641247 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • m3 is more reliable ...

    m3 is more reliable than the 135i/335i imo. the m3 has a lot of small things go wrong with it (engine coils, random stereo rattling, etc.) but the 335i/135i's both have issues with the turboes which leads to biiiig time engine problems... i would never own a 335i/135i out of warranty.

    that said all 3 are nice cars and serve a different purpose. i had to chose between the 3 last month and went with the m3 because it is by far the most fun and exciting car i have ever driven.

    By mdom88 [Affiliate User] 1224487990 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Yeah the M3 is nice ...

    Yeah the M3 is nice but I hear it's unreliable.

    By automobileman08 [Affiliate User] 1224467652 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • The 135i is $40,000 ...

    The 135i is $40,000? Waay overpriced

    By TamiyaDude [Affiliate User] 1224457969 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • 135 is one ugly car ...

    135 is one ugly car. i dont care how fast it is, if it looks like a toyota.

    By rg0r [Affiliate User] 1224429476 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • If u stick the New ...

    If u stick the New E92 m3 it will kick all thier asses!

    By Ollie930 [Affiliate User] 1224192049 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • i would get the E46 ...

    i would get the E46 M3, only cause i can say
    "oh yeh, i have a BMW M3" to my friends, hahaha
    might actually get a 2nd hand one, but the AUS P licese rules says, NO PERFORMANCE 6 cylinder, or 8 cylinder +

    By kingofscrim [Affiliate User] 1223969653 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • 135i is the best ...

    135i is the best buy. Why? Because it is cheaper. In the long term, a used M3 will cost a lot more to maintain. The 335i is basically the 135i, just a bit bigger. All are good cars, but the 1 is just the best package

    By skbuoy [Affiliate User] 1223758965 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I think you're ...

    I think you're right. the 135i would be my car to choose. Driving is not about numbers it's about emotions. When I see a BMW 135 coupé every heartcell screams: "want have!" because it's so damn beautiful.

    I think it's a pity that you took the old M3, because the new one is a very emotional car, too.

    By SWPF2708 [Affiliate User] 1223726299 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • costs less for the ...

    costs less for the car, but what about maintenance? I would guess maintenance costs are a lot lower for a new 135i vs a used m3, no?

    By ns00 [Affiliate User] 1223689101 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I love and prefer ...

    I love and prefer my M3 but really, the 135i is not a bad looking car. For the money, I'm sure it's a good deal. What they didn't compare in this video is top end. That's where the M3 wins every time!!

    By rltoms [Affiliate User] 1223442044 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
15 Comments | Add Comment