[MayanRosales]

I currently drive a 2011 335i m sport with the n55 engine(currently 152k miles). While i love the car i am just ready for a new car/engine as i want to be able to tune a car that has more potential then the n55, aswell as i kinda rushed into this car and didnt get the engine/spec that i fully wanted. aswell as so much has gone wrong with this car that putting more money into it is not something i want to do. I have been looking at f8x m3/m4, f10 m5, or 540i as my next car(leaning towards the Ms) but these are currently out of my budget and would only be a viable option within the next year to year and half. I love the e92 generation cars and have the budget to sell my car and get a somewhat low mileage(80k) 335is in the spec i orginally wanted. Is the 335is worth it? how bad is the n54 really? should i just wait for a car?

[DrFerry]

Suggest instead you consider a 2016+ BMW M2.
.
https://www.carfax.com/Used-2016-BMW-M2_z150
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/WBS1H9C35HV888226
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/WBS1H9C58HV886925
.

[MayanRosales]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Suggest instead you consider a 2016+ BMW M2.
.
https://www.carfax.com/Used-2016-BMW-M2_z150
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/WBS1H9C35HV888226
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/WBS1H9C58HV886925
.

i LOVE the n55 m2 but for around the same price as a f8X i dont find it worth it for an n55. i understand that it is a drivers car tho, and i havent driven one yet so cant speak on it too much

[BlkGS]

Both engines are kinda shit. If you're already happy with the N55 from a reliability perspective, and you want the 335is, make yourself happy. It's two versions of the same hell. At least be in the version of hell that's the spec you wanted.

[MayanRosales]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Both engines are kinda shit. If you're already happy with the N55 from a reliability perspective, and you want the 335is, make yourself happy. It's two versions of the same hell. At least be in the version of hell that's the spec you wanted.

yea the n55 has been a hell for me, thats why im sceptical if the Is is even worth it

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by MayanRosales

yea the n55 has been a hell for me, thats why im sceptical if the Is is even worth it

A wise man once told me that regrets are the hardest most expensive issue to fix.

If your options are "keep an N55" or "buy an N54", both engines can and likely will have issues. Even if you've already gone through some of it on the N55, it'll just do it more. So you may as well get it in the car you want.

You're comparing two unreliable motors, and then talking about a handful of vastly more expensive vehicles "in a year". A bunch of which are also incredibly unreliable. IMO, the decision is easy, get what you want and enjoy the hell you're putting yourself through.

Worth it is all a question of what you value most. The 335is has the cool factor over a regular 335i. The one you're looking at is your dream spec. That doesn't come up often. Maybe it sucks and you find out you didn't really love the 335is as much as you thought you did. Or maybe it doesn't suck and your only regret is not doing it earlier. Most of it is gonna depend on your outlook on it.

I say if it's really your dream spec car, then absolutely do it.

[MayanRosales]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

A wise man once told me that regrets are the hardest most expensive issue to fix.

If your options are "keep an N55" or "buy an N54", both engines can and likely will have issues. Even if you've already gone through some of it on the N55, it'll just do it more. So you may as well get it in the car you want.

You're comparing two unreliable motors, and then talking about a handful of vastly more expensive vehicles "in a year". A bunch of which are also incredibly unreliable. IMO, the decision is easy, get what you want and enjoy the hell you're putting yourself through.

Worth it is all a question of what you value most. The 335is has the cool factor over a regular 335i. The one you're looking at is your dream spec. That doesn't come up often. Maybe it sucks and you find out you didn't really love the 335is as much as you thought you did. Or maybe it doesn't suck and your only regret is not doing it earlier. Most of it is gonna depend on your outlook on it.

I say if it's really your dream spec car, then absolutely do it.

I really like this perspective. thank you for help!

[pbonsalb]

I had an N54 (08 E61 535xi) for 10 years and still maintain it for the friend I gave it to. I did a lot of preventative maintenance on it — rod bearings, turbos and lines, water pump and thermostat, all fluids, suspension parts, etc. Mine was modded with only a JB4 since it was for my wife. I DIY, but labor would have been more than the parts, which were about $2500. I recommend a B58 car instead — highly tuneable.

An M would be even better. I had an E90 M3 for 10 years and it was fun and a bit exotic. Did the rod bearings on that as well. If you are a speed freak, a well modded 330/340 will beat it. The I6 turbo or twin turbo is easier to get substantially more power out of. My S65B40 was nicely modded but still probably would not have done better than about 116-117 mph in the quarter.

I changed to AWD a few years ago to put the power down under more circumstances. F90 M5 prices are coming down if you could go up on price. Mine is modded and probably a 135 mph car in the quarter.

[BlkGS]

One other thing I'm gonna mention. If your goal is "make power for little money", don't bother with these N5x BMWs. For what you're gonna spend in upkeep alone, you can get a supercharger kit for an LS, LT, or Coyote motor and make way more power, way more reliably, and be way faster. You can get into one of those for likely the same or less money as the 3 series, and destroy the 3 in every performance metric if you're in the US/Canada.

[ppointer]

For unimportant reasons I have a 2012 335i m-sport MT and a 2012 335is DCT. Both have no additional engine mods thus far, and probably never will. I like them both quite a lot.

Of all the cars I own, my favorite is the 335i, as it is the most fun to drive with the MT.

The 335is is a bit more raucous, as it has the performance exhaust direct from the factory. The way it comes tuned from BMW, it is the hyperactive brother to a regular 335i m-sport, whether MT or DCT. My wife doesn't enjoy driving it (and never drives the MT cars we own). The 335is definitely has more acceleration, as it has an over-boost function that the 335i does not have. I believe the 335is has better oil cooling, but that really isn't important to me because I don't drive the car that hard.

There were 3,000 of the 335is for all three years brought into the US, and it is a US-only car. Finding one with few modifications is really tough. If you really like the e92 like I do, then yes, the 335is is worth the up-charge over a regular 335i.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by ppointer

For unimportant reasons I have a 2012 335i m-sport MT and a 2012 335is DCT. Both have no additional engine mods thus far, and probably never will. I like them both quite a lot.

Of all the cars I own, my favorite is the 335i, as it is the most fun to drive with the MT.

The 335is is a bit more raucous, as it has the performance exhaust direct from the factory. The way it comes tuned from BMW, it is the hyperactive brother to a regular 335i m-sport, whether MT or DCT. My wife doesn't enjoy driving it (and never drives the MT cars we own). The 335is definitely has more acceleration, as it has an over-boost function that the 335i does not have. I believe the 335is has better oil cooling, but that really isn't important to me because I don't drive the car that hard.

There were 3,000 of the 335is for all three years brought into the US, and it is a US-only car. Finding one with few modifications is really tough. If you really like the e92 like I do, then yes, the 335is is worth the up-charge over a regular 335i.

I'm pretty sure the IS for the 335 is the same as the 135 and the corresponding PPK levels. The IS is just a port installed PPK Stage 2. This includes the DME tune for slighty more horsepower and torque along with some cooling hardware upgrades. The cooling hardware consists of a heavier duty radiator fan and an additional auxiliary radiator that's mounted in the front driver's side wheel well right behind the bumper vent grill.

I got the PPK2 kit and installed it in my 2013 135i. The only things that make my car not an IS are the wheels, performance exhaust and the small placard on the dash/external badging.

[tturedraider]

I’m going to give a different perspective. I’ve been a fan of the 335is. I like its coolness factor. But, I wouldn’t get an N54 if it was me. Obviously the F32 is a different beast than the E92, but the B58 is quite sublime and knowing it is out there (and having owned three of them) I could not be happy with an N54.

[pikkagtr]

The hydraulic rack on the e92 makes it worth it over a gen 1 M2 with the n55.
Id find a MT 335is over the DCT
The non M N55 doesn't even come with aa forged crank for crying out loud.

[brianeck]

I don't think its enough of a "jump" for you, and I agree with just about every other poster on the reliability. You also have to figure the IS's all get driven HARD, since that's what they are.

I'm gonna go out there and agree the B58 would be a wonderful upgrade for you. Plenty of factory power (a nice jump for you) but then once you tune even just a stage 1 the engine comes alive!

[MayanRosales]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

The hydraulic rack on the e92 makes it worth it over a gen 1 M2 with the n55.
Id find a MT 335is over the DCT
The non M N55 doesn't even come with aa forged crank for crying out loud.

i would love a MT car as i have never owned one, but wouldnt a MT on the 335is be pointless over a n54 335i as the main drive for it being the DCT with the n54? my plan for the n54 let alone any car i would get would be to modify it at some point. if i were to go the F8x route id rock it stock for a min then look into modding just to experience it first, but if i were to go n54 or b58 my plan would most likley be to go big single. thanks for the reply!

[pbonsalb]

DCT can be expensive to mod to hold the torque of a big single. The GS6-53 of the earlier manuals seems to hold better. At some point, BMW started using a lighter duty 6 speed — maybe GS6-45? — but I don’t know exactly what year that started or whether it has failed on highly modded cars.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by MayanRosales

i LOVE the n55 m2 but for around the same price as a f8X i dont find it worth it for an n55. i understand that it is a drivers car tho, and i havent driven one yet so cant speak on it too much

This is why I bought the F82 M4 a few years back instead of an F87 M2 OG.

For the same money, you got the better car with a nicer interior, and the S55 is a great engine.

A cheap BM3 tune to 500hp, and it was an incredible performance bargain.