Let us rejoice! WebRidesTV.com’s Shootout #4 is here, “Sibling Rivalry.” This shootout already has current and prospective BMW E92 M3 owners in a frenzy, as their tightey whiteys bunch up from our conclusion that an aftermarket tuned 335i is a better buy. Well, before your Fruit of the Loom gets any tighter around your sphincter, let us examine the facts. We can only squeeze in so much into the video, so let’s really delve into the numbers.

When we were considering vehicles to pit against the M3, many came to mind. The venerable Audi RS4 , the newcomer Lexus IS-F , and the overpowered (in our opinion) Mercedes C63 AMG . But really, how fun would it be to do the same thing everyone else is doing? So after much debate about the match up, our own Larry B and I came to the same conclusion - how about an aftermarket tuned 335i? And although there are plenty of tuning houses out there making obscene horsepower with the inline-6, we selected Dinan ’s stage 3. Sure, Dinan tends to be on the conservative side of the tuning spectrum, but a car needs to be reliable regardless of how much power it may make. Afterall, if you can’t drive your car because it’s constantly in the shop, that’s a deal killer for us.

Personally speaking, I have always loved the M3 - E30 with its bold fender flares and kick-ass performance (for its time); the E36 took a complete 180, with its under-the-radar looks; the E46 with its awesome on-track performance right out of the box. Certainly, the E92 M3 continues the tradition and I would certainly consider one if I was in the market for a performance coupe. With that being said, one can’t eliminate the 335i from consideration either, as boost is oh-so-sexy.

We calculated the bang-for-the-buck value based on completely bone stock models of each car. Since there has been so much debate about the price issue (since we compared bone stock to bone stock without any options), let’s take a look at the pricing structure of each vehicle equipped with popular options:

BMW M3 = $65,925
- Premium Package
- Technology Package
- 19″ Forged Wheels
- Gas Guzzler Tax
- Destination & Handling

BMW 335i + Dinan Stage 3 Package = $61,825
- Premium Package
- Sport Package
- Comfort Access System
- Navigation System
- 19″ Forged Wheels
- Destination & Handling

That’s a difference of $4,100 right off the bat, but when you account for the mark-up many dealers are charging for the M3, the difference becomes even bigger. And as the supply of 335i’s are plentiful at dealerships, you can acquire them for less than MSRP, which further widens the price gap between the M3 and the 335i.

Scorecard:
M3: 0
Dinan-prepped 335i: 1

So how efficient are each of the powerplants in delivering the goods?

BMW M3
- $159.24 per bhp
- $223.47 per ft-lbs

BMW 335i
- $206.03 per bhp
- $206.03 per ft-lbs

BMW 335i + Dinan Stage 3 Package
- $152.28 per bhp
- $134.40 per ft-lbs

With the addition of the Dinan goodies, the value proposition in terms of power output is vastly improved.

Scorecard:
M3: 0
Dinan-prepped 335i: 2

In terms of driving feel and performance, the script changes a bit as the M3 really shines. Although the Dinan-prepped 335i represents a vast improvement over the stock 335i, it still falls short of the M3.

- The M3 beat the Dinan-prepped 335i by an average of 4mph; peak velocity was 2mph faster for the V8
- The M3 was more crisp and responsive on the road course
- The Dinan-prepped 335i seemed to roll its front tires quite a bit through tight downhill turns at Horse Thief Mile; both cars were equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber, although the wider tread footprint of the 335i probably represented a penalty through greater rolling resistance
- The M3 provided excellent steering response, while the 335i felt a little lazy
- The M3 was better off the line that the 335i during the quarter mile, although the 335i’s peaky power graph would have afforded the inline-6 an advantage if the run was longer; this is evidenced by the higher trap speed at the quarter mile

Scorecard:
M3: 1
Dinan-prepped 335i: 2

In terms of the driver experience, the M3 represents a more refined package. Even though I’m 6′3″, I was still able to find a position that permitted the use of a helmet during some of the stunt driving I performed with Craig Standton. With that being said, I still believe Audi does a much better job with seats and seating position, better than even the Japanese automakers. The steering wheel in the M3 was thick and sturdy, which is nice especially for track duty. All buttons, including DSC and the dynamic suspension system were easy to find. And although I am no fan of the iDrive system, the iteration in the new M3 seemed much more intuitive and easier to navigate.

In the 335i, the driving position seemed really weird and I couldn’t get myself into a comfortable position. And forget about wearing a helmet inside the 335i. No matter how low I adjusted the seats, I seemed to sit in a weird position. This vehicle just didn’t seem like a car for anyone over 6 feet. Finally, we could not find a switch for DSC anywhere in the car. On the dash, under the dash, center console… we looked everywhere but it was a futile effort.

Scorecard:
M3: 2
Dinan-equipped 335i: 2

With gas prices rising almost on a daily basis, fuel economy can’t be something easily ignored. Sure, buyers of the M3 or Dinan-prepped 335i may not care now, but fuel prices are becoming hard to ignore.

The M3 is already hampered by lower city and highway mileage figures out of the box compared to the stock 335i. Even with the Dinan package, the modified 335i suffered very little fuel efficiency loss as long as the engine was kept out of decent boost range. So for most highway cruising duties and light city driving, the turbocharged engine rules over the naturally aspirated V8.

It would have been interesting if BMW pursued an evolution of the turbo inline-6 rather than a brand new V8 for the new M3. Imagine more displacement, a stout bottom end, bigger turbos and bigger boost. THAT would have been VERY interesting indeed. (GT-R twin-turbo V6 comes to mind, for some reason)

Scorecard:
M3: 2
Dinan-equipped 335i: 3

So there you have it. The Dinan-equipped 335i wins on value, power output and fuel efficiency. The M3 wins out on driving dynamics and sheer driver experience. At the end of the day, what you may considering purchasing really depends on your priorities. The M3 does offer an excellent package right out of the box, but the 335i offers something darn close (and something superlative for a little more turning and $). If you want 100% of the experience and major trackability, then buy the M3. If you want 95% of the experience and less track-inclined driving for major savings, then an aftermarket tuned 335i might be the choice for you.

Either way, you can’t go wrong.