Frankly, the M3 is going to have a much more raw and connected feel than the 335i. It IS a better drivers' car. It IS more fun. Period.

The 335i is a GT with the capability and tune-ability to be one hell of a car, but it will always be a GT. For a car that you would drive to work, drive your girlfriend/wife, and still have some occasional fun, the 335i is your best bet. The M3 will ALWAYS (barring a complete suspension overhaul on the 335i) be a car that can evoke a driving sensation that the 335i never could.

...and I own a 335i btw...

 

Regular 3 series will never be M cars. Ever.

 

The 335i, is about effortless acceleration....its a sporty luxury car.

The M3 requires you to work for acceleration, but the rewards are much greater. It is a sports car, IMO very few cars other than the E36 M3's can match the steering feel of the E46 M3.

 

e46 m3 all the way. there will always be a big difference between the feel of an ///m car over any regular 3 series no matter how much HP you can claim. Just my 2 cents. I own a E46m3 but have driven several 335's.

 

I agree, the M3 will be the better performance choice. Don't forget that the M3 has an LSD. Also with the price of E46 M3, you will save some money.

 

Interesting discussion. I've been driving the snot out of a 335 loaner for the past three days while my M3 Comp Pkg was at the dealer.

My $0.02:

335
+ Torque! This car accelerates effortlessly and can make commuting fun because you can short shift all day.
+ Much more comfortable around town.
+ New generation of cars means it looks more modern, has better tech (iDrive, much better stereo, etc.), lots of warranty, etc.
+ Much more tuning potential.
- DSC is very intrusive (perhaps the abundance of torque makes this more of an issue than in the M3).
- Nothing "special"; just blends in.
- Good handling car up to 80% of the M3's limits, then it just sucks.

E46 M3
+ Revs! This car goes like a hell once you get the revs up. You can make your commute feel like a ALMS race, if you want.
+ //M engineering makes it a great at more than going in a straight line (cornering, braking, etc.).
+ The //M mystique. Its an //M, and everyone knows it.
- Not as comfortable as the 335.
- Looks are getting dated.
- Horsepower inflation has and will continue to make the E46's performance less impressive.
- High age means your on your own from a maintenance standpoint.

 

When i test drove both the 335 and E46 M3 the LSD/suspension/brakes was the deal breaker.

I was not about to pay $70K for the e92 M3.

 

it's about time someone mentioned this! the M3 has an LSD, the 335 has an open diff. the 335 can be retrofitted with an LSD, but it's pretty damn expensive. if you get an earlier-year 335, the diff cover is bolted on and swapping the diff out is relatively simple. at some point, i don't know when, BMW started welding the pumpkins closed so now you have to replace the whole thing. it's pretty expensive - a few grand.

i've driven the 335, E46 M3 Competition Package (with SMG), and E92 M3. the 335 is an awesome street car, but is just that. if i were looking at the track, i'd get an E92 M3 and if i couldn't get one, i'd go with an E46.

 

The lack of a LSD plus ample torque probably explains the overly intrusive DSC on the 335.

 

335i + engine tuning + ///M pack + race suspensions + good loocking wheels and carbon fiber parts.

that's all.

 

Just my opinion from a guy who has 140k miles on an E39 M5 with a lot of Dinan stuff on it thats been shopping a replacement semi seriously for a few months:

335:

I like the exterior design, the interior is nice and updated as well. I felt that it did not handle very well, just didn't feel very buttoned down at all, and I was not a fan of the DSC. Nice and quiet though (which I actually did not like, the bark of the S62 in my M5 is awesome)

E46 M3:
Feels faster, more connected. Feels like a much lighter version of my M5 in the handling department. Engine is a jewel. Transmission sucks (I was expecting this, it seriously feels like the stick is from a truck, a short shifter is a must). Turns in super well and really communicative chassis. Felt like I could place it anywhere I wanted on the road within five minutes of driving it. Classic engine.

135i:
Felt like a kind of mutant between the two. Just as fast as either of the above. Handles WAAAAAY better than the 335. Interior didn't do much for me though, the one I drove stickered at 44k and just didn't feel like it, perhaps it had the wrong leather option, but lots of plastic. Again, DSC kind of sucked and not having an LSD was a bummer to me.

Overall, I figure that I don't need any more performance than the E46 as far as straightline goes, and the fun factor was infinitely higher for me. I could care less about exterior looks etc, as long as its handsome I'm fine with it. I happen to love the look of my M5 to this day.

Likely winner for me is the E46 M3, with an outside chance I get another E39 M5, there have been some good ones for sale at decent prices, but the M3 is easier to work on at home.

 

M3 for sporty, 335i for a more luxurious ride