Anyone thinking of a BMW 335i or holding out for a new M3?

Slight change of plans. I ended up ordering an M5.

Way different than what I expected, but a friend of mine has one and took me for a ride and when driving the car, it absolutely blew me away.

That combined with what they were willing to do on an M5 vs a 335 vs an M3 made it an easier choice than I imagined. The 335 was hitting $50k, and the M3 they said they were "getting 10-20k over sticker" for.

I told them I did NOT want the car before April 1st and optioned my way, I should be getting it around then.

Can't wait!

 

Congrats! The new M5 is monster car for the money.

 

Did you buy the 7-speed SMG or try the new 6-speed stick?

 

Congrats, killer car. Have you seen a frosty blue they have for the 5-series that looks like grigio alloy? I saw a 5 in Brookline in it. My recommendation if you're spec'ing the car out.

 

I don't know how EASILY they will hit 400HP. They are dynoing almost 300 at the wheels. I understand they already have some overheating issues. I think they could hit 330 rwhp pretty easily, but anything more I think will be expensive and potential unreliable.

I drove the 335i and the M3 back to back, it was the 335i was easily the better car. Much more fun. Didn't have to rev the crap out of it for it to go fast.

I would imagine the new M3 will be a monster.

 

My order is not set in stone - the dealer said that to get it around April 1st, the order will be "finalized" (i.e. I cant change it) around Xmas. But at this point, what I got was...

Alpine white exterior
Black leather inside with the aluminum trim
Heads up display
6-speed manual
Folding rear seat
Sirius radio

Options I did NOT get are:
Rear side airbags
"multifunction" adjustable seats
Comfort keyless acess
Rear heated seats
Window sunshade
HD Radio


Dunno what people think about the color but I saw one in white that (IMO) was stunning. My friend has the interlagos blue and I am quite tempted to change to that color. I also really like the indy red color, but I havent seen one in person. White also keeps clean well and doesnt show slight scratches, so it will keep looking good long term.

On options, I am very much on the fence about the comfort access... i feel it may be weird getting in the car and not needing/using a key, like I'd always be going to grab it or may just use the key anyway, so maybe a gimmick. Dont care about the rear airbags and heating - probably had people in the back of my 3'er a total of twice in 4 years. I am also very unsure about the active whatever seats. They are 2 grand... not sure if its worth it. Is it?

The other biggie is the tranny. Everyone raves about the SMG. I have driven a few cars with paddle shifters and in every case, I hated it - bar none. It seemed like a wannabe tranny - either be an auto or be a manual. The whole change gears with a button seemed unnatural to me. I like the additional control of being able to use the clutch to modulate power. But then in another thread I hear you cant turn off the traction control if you have the 6-speed. Not that I would often, but sometimes if you're in snow you need to turn that shiat off. If ya can't, well thats just dumb. I am very very unsure about SMG vs. 6-speed. I really need help on this one Everyone loves SMG but do they love it because it's that good or because they are used to autos and feel like Schumacher in their little wannabe racecar with SMG?

 

Mike- I had a paddle car in a new 355 GTS and did not like the transmission- it was rough, and made driving the car uninvolving. By contrast, the SMGII in the M3 is far smoother, can be adjusted in a number of different ways in seconds with a button, and once you get the hang of banging on it, you'll be amazed at how you can dig in, time your upshifts or downshifts to perfection, let the car 'blip' for you, and focus on the driving and braking. I cannot stand autoboxes, and like the SMG. I'm not a Schumacher wanna-be, I can tell you that while my preference in cars is invariably a stick, the SMG is wonderful, particularly for commuting.

 

Thanks for the info Bill. I think you've sold me. I was having a hard time getting reasonable feedback on the SMG. I was on Roadfly and 99% of the responses about SMG are kids saying how "ghey" it is to have a halfbreed manual or guys saying those who don't like SMG are idotic morons who like outdated tech - in other words, very few helpful responses. There was another guy, much like you, who said he always had preferred manuals and had hated all the button-shifting-autos that he had driven, but he LOVED his SMG. He said he did not like it much the first month, then kinda got used to it, then fell in love and would never go back. I'm that kind of guy too - if it really is GOOD, I know I will love it. If it's a gimmick, I know I will hate it. There was a car I drove - may have been the 335, that had paddles on the wheel. But all it did was actuate the automatic tranny shift, which seemed the worst of both worlds to me.

Bill, RE: the SMG... if you just want to take a brainless drive home after a long day of work, can the SMG function adequately as an automatic? How do you handle being on a hill, or stop-and-go traffic, or getting a reasonable start in the snow? Is there an SMG-primer online that explains it all?

Of course the dealer will not allow a test drive of an M5 or even an M3, so I'm SOL on trying it before buying it.

 

I don't know what the latest generation of software/hardware does, but the auto function basically sucks. No need to use it, though. It takes so little effort to blip a paddle for a shift that you'll be much happier doing it yourself- remember, I drive mine on the commute into NYC from the Northern suburbs- as brutal a commute as any- bumper to bumper crawling across the GW bridge- reputedly the busiest bridge in the world, then down a big sweeper, dodging slo-pokes in SUVs, and onto the West Side Hi-way, where the speed ranges from 0 to well over 80mph. Coming home is always worse- and that's after a day in the city- i never, ever had the need to go into auto. If you are crawling, leave it in first or second, no need to feather a foot clutch- put your foot on the brake when you need to and the car will disengage, and smoothly reengage. Yes, you will need to upshift and downshift at speeds beyond that, but, it really is almost unconscious.

Hills, no problem. In fact, if you pull on the downshift paddle while on the hill, before you accelerate, you won't drift backwards. Even without doing that, it is far easier to manage on a hill than a regular manual. (I learned to drive stick in an old Fiat 124 Sport in Pittsburgh, which is extremely hilly, and during the winter, quite trecherous to drive. So, I am not inexperienced at stick on hill problems).
In snow, I think the car is sort of ****ty- classic rear wheel drive squirreliness. Once you set the SMG to your liking and get used to it (the settings on mine determine how 'fast' the shift occurs- too fast and the car snaps into gear, too slow and it is not only boggy, but lethargic to drive- I leave mine on a setting of 4/5 (6- if you believe in launch control). The problem in snow isn't the tranny, it is the car itself. You need snow tires if you are going to drive it in the winter.

And, yes, I think I have seen some 'hints' on SMG usage somewhere, but, part of the fun is exploring it, and developing your technique, keeping in mind that there are some adjustments you can keep trying, at different experience intervals, as you get the hang of it.
I would hazard to guess that if you demo'd the car in 'auto' you would refuse to buy one with this type of transmission.
Btw, I still enjoy a conventional manual transmission, but the SMG is something I have learned to love on its own merit, not as a replacement, but as a separate, and quite enjoyable experience. It is also quite kick-ass if you are driving hard, for thrills.

Here's a link to a U-tube video that contains various SMGII demos: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5Emxu5HFllM&mode=related&search=

 

Congrats on the M5 Mike.

I actually just got back from speaking with a CA today about the 335. He made me a respectable offer and was anything but a pushy salesman. I plan on going back to him by the end of November to order.

I will be ordering:
Alpine White (great choice Mike)
Black Leather, although Saddle Brown is still in the running.
Aluminum
ZPP
ZSP
and of course Comfort Access

 

My two cents.

I drove the M3 SMG and it was HORRIBLE. I would never choose that transmission. Leaving it in full auto mode it was so bad I thought there was something wrong with it. The only thing I liked about it was rev-matching downshifts. I think it would be great for track driving, but I'd say skip it or at least try to drive one with it first.

I have been for a ride in an M5 on a racetrack and the SMG worked well there, but I never got to see how it was in full-auto. My thought is that if it was so great, why are owners or potential owners demanding 6-speed manuals?

Second, my wife wants to get one. How close are you guys getting to MSRP? When we looked a few months ago they were not budging on the price.

 

Most that I have talked to say they ranged from lukewarm to downright unimpressed with the SMG when they first tried it. Without fail, all I have heard from say they soon got to think it was OK, and after mastering it would never go back to anything else. Seems to be a trend so I'm sticking with it. I don't mind if SMG is not ideal in full auto because with a stick, there is no full-auto, so it can do all the stick can do, and more. Win/win

Regarding price - when you say budging - you mean how much below MSRP are customers getting or how much over? I will never pay over MSRP for a car. They played the "we've got a lot of folks that want them" game, but I was very up front that if they can't start the talks at sticker, I was wasting my time being there. They quickly got it through their heads I don't know how allocation works for BMW but I figure they made a decent chunk on me, and had I gone elsewhere it's one less check in their sold cars box, and since I was ordering it wasn't depriving them of an on-the-lot model that would go for >MSRP.

I have heard of some folks getting 4k off for 06's but nobody seems to be able to duplicate the deal. I think MSRP is about where it's at for the time being, especiallf if you want an 07 like I did.

 

you want deal? I can get you one.

 

I don't know if I can add much to what you've said, but I can certainly attest to the first part of your statement. I drove an M3 with an SMG and absolutely hated it. The shifts seemed really rough (not in auto mode) and the experience was quite uninspiring for me. I don't know what would happen with more seat time because I couldn't get out of that car fast enough. Maybe I'm just selling myself short, but I have no desire for an SMG vehicle in my garage.

 

Aren't you a lot attendent? How in the hell can you get him a deal?

BTW, Mike, sincere congrats on the car. All that hard work with your business is paying off!

 

No problem, go find a used M5 on a lot some where. They exist, and you CAN drive them.

 

Not anymore..

 

Thanks Clint, if you are ever up this way hit me up and we'll take it out for a beat-down

Business is good - the problem we have is that I dump 99% of our profits back in, so it seems like we are never making tons of money even though sales are going up fast. The flip side to that is we have a lot of equipment showing up all the time At some point we'll have all we want then I'll go buy that McLaren F1 I have wet dreams over.

 

I haven't found any 06's. As I understand, its an all new car for 06. I've driven the previous 400hp one, and I loved it - but everyone who has tried both loves the 06+ model way more.



Noah, thanks for the offer... the dealer is willing to do MSRP as well as a pretty generous ($2k above trade-in) on my 330i, so I am pretty happy. Unless we're taking a few grand difference its probably not worth it, but if you think its that much of a delta, let me know.

 

you mentioned before that you like indianapolis red. Well we have one with black interior for $81k. It was the owner of the dealership's demo car.

 

Ack! Sounds like a nice car but I'd never buy a "demo" (read: beat by the guy who knows he doesn't have to live with it)

How many miles on it? I want my M5 to have less than 10 on the odo when I pick 'er up

 

haha. This car wasn't beaten on. It has 8k on it.

 

What options? What's the sticker?

I'd be interested at $70k... dealers love to sell demos as "new" but its not Its a used car with 8k. Buck twenny five a mile baby!

 

I wasn't impressed with SMG until spending some time with it. Now I own an 03M3 Conv. with SMG and would never, I repeat NEVER consider owning a car with a conventional 6-speed unless it was purely a toy and never a daily driver and I've owned some good ones (s2000, nsx, both with great gearboxes). If you're buying a car to live with day in and day out you're making the right call with SMG. My .02 cents.

 

I disagree. In fact, there's a thread on the M5boards just for guys who wish they hadn't traded in their old M5s for their E60s. You should check it out.