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

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.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Battle
• of
• the
• Beemers:
• BMW
• M3
• 135i
• 335i
• Edmunds
• Edmunds'
• Inside
• Line

[How2dostuff13]

Thumbs up for the 135i

[bmwandcadillacftw]

i love my 335i so much



[amcheung10]

@juancho939 my dad has the same 2002 e46 m3 and it faster than all of those cars but thats cuz he modified them and it only has 12k miles but yea i see ur point

[juancho939]

@amcheung10 yeah but the the E46 was like 5 years older than the 135i and the 335....plus the 300 HP range? that M3 has 356 BHP, that´s 49-50 more than the other two but they still managed to be faster....why? again, the M3 is older, much older

[amcheung10]

@juancho939 i think they chose the E46 m3 because it was in the 300HP range like the 335i and 135i

[amcheung10]

Really? 0-60 on the M3 is 5.4? Its tested as 4.6 but i guess u guys did it differently.... but still.... 5.4? wtf

[juancho939]

the M3 was an E46....if it were the E92 things would be different

[juancho939]

LOVE MY 135i !!!!!

[Dontakeitserionig]

at least use a 2006 m3.

[mistad77]

@VivaLaNick335 i have a 2012 135I with the M sport package.... this car is not only a head turner... it is a dream to drive. nimble and quick.... and it does well into the 150MPH range.

[VivaLaNick335]

i have an e93 right now, I WANT THE 135i SOOOO BAD

[ultramoo]

in my opinion:

135i - for younger boys/men (20-35yo) with a slightly less budget but still prefer some luxury

335i - for men (30-50+) with more cash to spare and want more features and comfort.

over all, both have speed, grunt, and that awesome feel when driving. Forget the specs, both cars are amazing. I love my 135i and enjoy driving it just for fun - not just to get from a to b - Maybe after 5 to 10 years I may upgrade to 335i when I have a bigger family.