[335iLondon]

Hi,

I have been pricing up my ideal list of mods for my 335i, and whilst I understand the responses may be bias, I wanted to understand your thoughts.

Total engine upgrades parts only - 4,733.27

Forge diverter valves, DMS remap, Upgraded Oil cooler, Upgraded intercooler, Dinan cold air intake.


Bakes - AP upgrade 1970.25


Suspension - 2093.89

Front tension strut / bush kit
Anti roll bar
Quaife
M3 strut brace + bush's


Exhaust - BMW performance - 1350

Wheels + Tires 1711, 843 respectively (BMW Performance 19"


A Grand total of £12,701.75 before labour for fitting!

I am thinking my 335 is worth 19k and to stick 12k ontop gets me into a very tidy '07 M3

Whilst I appreciate that is a pretty extensive list, I think after all of the above the 335i will be pretty close to M3 pace on track.

Anyway the floor is yours, dont hold back, honest opinions needed!

Cheers

[OdomPHD]

See, I'm going through the exact same dilemma now. Do I get those new wheels/exhaust/suspension/ etc or do I hold out for the F32?

Honestly, I see where your draw back is in that you don't care to spend 75% of the car's value on parts to make the car "better" yet get MAYBE 60% cash back on the parts. Honestly, if you plan to hold on to the 335 for another few years... decide if 12k is worth it. If you're waiting for the next body style (like me) the debate is over.

If you like normal aspired engines grab the M3 V8 while you can, and hold on for dear life because you'll never see a non turb V8 from BMW again (the new M5 does sound promising though...)

Another thing that factors in is how many miles do you have on your 335i and if it's 80-90k + I'd definately trade in for an M3 and do only minor upgrades. Not to mention every BMW owner who knows what the " i " and the "Exx" mean will be drooling over your new toy. Whereas a 335 will always be a 335, modded or no. That may just be my vanity speaking

Go with what you want and will like longest, you only live once and the wife can only complain for so long, so if you prefer to burn rubber with a modded 335 then go for it. Every BMW is a great BMW (maybe not that M3 pickup) so both choices are prime.

[Yahoo]

Total engine upgrades parts only - £1400
Evolve remap, AMS intercooler, Mr 5 intake (research on FI pages), catch can.


Bakes - Cool carbon pads & upgraded dimple/slotted disks - £500

Suspension - 2093.89

Front tension strut / bush kit
Anti roll bar
Quaife
M3 strut brace + bush's


Exhaust - AR catless DPs - £600

CSL Reps + Tires £1k, 843 respectively

Cut some corners for £6.5k makes it far more appealing imo

[doughboy]

It's never a sensible / cost effective thing to do and you'll never get it back on resale, but it feels great and if you enjoy it then thats all that matters!

[TurboBimmer]

My car's modded in a similar way to what you plan to do (you should add a nice set of coilovers ). And I can say that the car really feels awesome. The steering, the speed (faster that an M3 in a straight line, comparable if not faster on the track), the overall experience I don't look back in regret. You just "have" to keep the car for some years, as the modding is indeed quite expensive.

[Dr G13]

Short answer from me would be no way! Total waste of money quite literally.

You spend 12k tuning your 19k 335i, it will still be worth maybe a few grand over 19 if that. Not forgetting when time comes to sell you have virtually killed off 95% of potential buyers with such a extensive mod list.

I know this first hand because I dropped around 15k into my previous Evo 8. Stroked engine build, ported polished head, 280 cams, valves retainers the lot, then there was the ohlins suspension and twin plate clutches and the lost goes on.

When time did come to sell the car not out of need but out of boredom it was virtually impossible. Nobody wanted such a car, people got scared away. In the end it sold for frankly a few bob over trade price for the stock car, ie lost the 15k in full. However I kept the car for five years so didn't mind too much.

Was it worth it? No not at all unless your happy to burn the money and never see any of it again. I don't regret at all dropping all that money, but given the choice again, Lets say between my 335i and tuning it or upgrading to m3, I'd take the m every time.

Or maybe I'm just getting old and becoming very stingy?

[toxicnerve]

Out of interest, have you had an insurance quote with all those mods?

When I called about an M3 lip spoiler and a set of black grills (total cost of those two mods was under £200) I was quoted an extra premium of £176 and another £200 on my excess!

I called about strut-brace to be told the car wouldn't be insured!!!

[zltm089]

good mod list....

I don't kno which way i'd go too....

modded 335i or M3....

[335iLondon]

Too be honest, its all a bit theoretical at the moment.

I could chop in 335 and get an m3 tomorrow, and justify the expenses, but I know if i go modded route, then I will probably derive more please from tweaking and tuning to my taste with the added benefit of no finance, just do it as I can afford it.

Also another argument to throw out there....

Is there more respect to be had by modding your car to the (in your opinion) perfect iteration of the model?
Is there more satisfaction from this than simply splashing the cash on a more or less perfect track/everyday car (m3) straight off the bat.

Maybe a test drive in an M3 would be best LOL just to see what I am or am not missing.

Oh and RE insurance. No quote but Admiral seem pretty ok about mods, so long as they don't add HP - if they do then they want more money. (600 quid for DMS remap)

[josh laurence]

M3 for me! Alot better resale value and yes a modded 335 would be amazing but still not a M3

[jimmylad]

The curiosity may get the better of you reading between the lines (thats a great list of mods) that you may do it but once you have done it the novelty wears off fairly quickly & you will be left regretting it one day. Especially when you come to sell it.

Personally, I would just buy the M3 for the kudos it brings.

Makes a £300 remap seem fantastic value.


I suppose at the end of the day it comes down to money.

[Yahoo]

Originally Posted by josh laurence

M3 for me! Alot better resale value and yes a modded 335 would be amazing but still not a M3

Agreed - and that is coming from someone who has gone down the modding route. It's a shame that an e91 M3 isn't available, otherwise that would be sitting in my garage as I type.

Two further things to consider. In your position, I would consider investing in items that have a resale value and keep all of your original parts - aftermarket 335i parts will be in high demand over the next few years.

Secondly, remember that your modded 335i will still be significantly cheaper to run then an M3 (servicing, petrol and road tax). If this is predominantly a financial decision, you need to bear this in mind.

[gIzzE]

All I can deduce from even asking the question is you haven't driven an M3?
If you had you wouldn't be asking about modding your 335i imho, the M3 feels very special in a way even a modded to fuck 335i never will.

Take out the M3 for a proper test drive and then see what you think.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

Two further things to consider. In your position, I would consider investing in items that have a resale value and keep all of your original parts - aftermarket 335i parts will be in high demand over the next few years.

+1

When I come to sell mine it'll spend a few days at the indys being put all back to standard, suspension, diff, exhaust, brakes, intercooler the lot.

Then all the parts will get sold separately (on here probably) and the car can go to anyone then.

That's one advantage to piggyback tunes (JB3/4 etc) and 'bolt on' mods, you can just remove them and sell them on.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

Total engine upgrades parts only - £1400
Evolve remap, AMS intercooler, Mr 5 intake (research on FI pages), catch can.


Bakes - Cool carbon pads & upgraded dimple/slotted disks - £500

Suspension - 2093.89

Front tension strut / bush kit
Anti roll bar
Quaife
M3 strut brace + bush's


Exhaust - AR catless DPs - £600

CSL Reps + Tires £1k, 843 respectively

Cut some corners for £6.5k makes it far more appealing imo

I second this idea.

The Dinan CAI is not worth its money at all, just bling bling and you can get a similar CAI from STETT for one fifth of the price (if you want one). With a mild remap it's not even necessary at all IMO.

AP brakes are excellent, but you won't need them unless you track your car very often. Different brake pads (I'm also running the Cool Carbon ones), steel lines are sufficient IMO. You won't even need other discs really, unless you go for real two-piece rotors (available at HPAutowerks) or want to improve braking in the wet.

Would it be worth it? If you ask me the answer is yes, but it all depends on your priorities. It's correct that you'll probably not see the money you spent on it again when selling the car, but if you intend to keep it for a few years, the driving pleasure should be worth it.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[Mike in Hampshire]

Originally Posted by 335iLondon

Oh and RE insurance. No quote but Admiral seem pretty ok about mods, so long as they don't add HP - if they do then they want more money. (600 quid for DMS remap)

Really? That's odd - I'm with Admiral and my Evolve remap (+60 odd bhp) cost me a princely £46 with seven months of the year to run.

Maybe my advancing years (I'll be 50 soon, worse luck) plays a part?

Regarding mods.........mostly, its money you'll never really see again, in my opinion. Only you can judge if that is Ok.

I've spent around £6k on the car and I justify it to myself as follows:

1. I like modding, it's rewarding to mould the car the way you want it
2. I am treating myself, and why not......I deserve it
3. I'll keep the car for at least 2 more years (ha! we'll see!)
4. It stops me selling it and buying that £50k X5

Mike.

[dxb335d]

In reality, of course its not worth it. If you want to and you enjoy doing these things to your car, and you will keep it the next year or so...Then why not.

Alot of those items can be removed and sold to claw back some of the outlay, even better would be sourcing them used on Ebay and the like.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

In reality, of course its not worth it. If you want to and you enjoy doing these things to your car, and you will keep it the next year or so...Then why not.

Alot of those items can be removed and sold to claw back some of the outlay, even better would be sourcing them used on Ebay and the like.

*rubs eyes*

That's the most concise and sensible post you've ever written!

[335iLondon]

Thanks to you all for your input - it is genuinely valued.

I have decided to bite the bullet and get the DMS remap for starters and see how I like the power increase, and book in a test drive of an M3.

Strange to do both probably but hey 700 odd quid isnt massive in the scheme of things, and I would be able to swap out to an M3 for another 6months min, so will gets some use from remap.

Anyone ran the map on an otherwise standard car?
Am I likely to damage anything drastically in the next 6 months before I either delete the map and sell or commence with further upgrades?

[rsmallwo]

you seem to be doing what I was about to reccommend.

Just get a Remap and stop there! yes it won't be an M3 but it's 12k cheaper. It will still feel faster in a straight line than an M3 and will still sound better than my 335d.

The remap will make it feel faster and better than it is now and will feel well worth the money.

Would you honestly use the M3 as the track tool its made for? Or do you use it for some occasional fast road use and mostly motorway? if its the latter then a remap only is a no brainer.

Remap won't break anything in 6mths on a standard car, most people say take off the performance increase from total engine life....150k-200k down to so 115k-140k. Really rough figures here.....really rough.

[gIzzE]

I agree, that was my point above, there is absolutely no point trying to get a 335i to feel like an M3, enjoy it for what it is, albeit a little faster.

[RagingKileak]

I always try to buy parts second hand.

Sell for about the same when you strip them.

Matt