Would you consider 135i or 335is as threats?
#26
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X3 and 2012 C coming soon
Yea 335i's are very dangerous to mess with when they have software however, they are not reliable at all. One of the first things to go is the fuel pump. I've got a couple of buddies with them. They're undeniably fast. But it is just a matter of time before you're in for warranty service. The best part is that BMW got smart. Depending on which year your 335 is, if something goes wrong and you take it in for warranty work they can find out if you've modified the ecu. That pretty much voids your warranty right there.
#27
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** Yes, if you could get one for less than $40K, good luck. In Chicago, they are running near $45 K and $55 or more for the 335 (new of course). Great cars no doubt and a very worthy competitior to the C32. The real questin for me is: Do you consider the current M3 a threat to the C32? (how about on a price per HP basis or HP per your acquisition cost basis?)
The C32 is still one of the best & unknown performance values out there. I like the fact that at 40 MPH , when I kick it, no one knows what lurks there. It is a true C class sleeper. In fact, I used to call the C class a "chicks car." No more!! I guess its all in how you look at it. The 335 and 135 are great cars no doubt, but for the $$, the C32 is a better "bang per buck" value. Plus, I know Benz parts and service are high. Ever seen what BMW gets and can you say bend over baby!!
Glenn
The C32 is still one of the best & unknown performance values out there. I like the fact that at 40 MPH , when I kick it, no one knows what lurks there. It is a true C class sleeper. In fact, I used to call the C class a "chicks car." No more!! I guess its all in how you look at it. The 335 and 135 are great cars no doubt, but for the $$, the C32 is a better "bang per buck" value. Plus, I know Benz parts and service are high. Ever seen what BMW gets and can you say bend over baby!!
Glenn
I know I will keep my C32 for years to come. WAY too much fun, on the raod, on the track, and even a night out on the town. Sorry, but the BMW's just don't do it for me anymore. Had them, liked them, but come on guys, they still are not a AMG.
See yeah
#28
If BMW had not turned the 1-Series into a bloated, heavy and expensive car I would've plunked down my $$ for one. Just 200 lbs less and a few grand less and I would have gotten serious about one. Now, I'll have to wait and see if they get the message from people like me and make the tii a stripped-down, lightweight version, possibly with a FI'd four-pot. Otherwise, it's just not worth it.
I always loved how quick the C32 is (especially once I had stage 2 and a Quaife on it). For the $$, it's very tough to beat the overall capabilities and refinement! However, I missed having something light and tossable. I solved that little problem by picking up a new toy this weekend:
I always loved how quick the C32 is (especially once I had stage 2 and a Quaife on it). For the $$, it's very tough to beat the overall capabilities and refinement! However, I missed having something light and tossable. I solved that little problem by picking up a new toy this weekend:
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C32 AMG
If BMW had not turned the 1-Series into a bloated, heavy and expensive car I would've plunked down my $$ for one. Just 200 lbs less and a few grand less and I would have gotten serious about one. Now, I'll have to wait and see if they get the message from people like me and make the tii a stripped-down, lightweight version, possibly with a FI'd four-pot. Otherwise, it's just not worth it.
I always loved how quick the C32 is (especially once I had stage 2 and a Quaife on it). For the $$, it's very tough to beat the overall capabilities and refinement! However, I missed having something light and tossable. I solved that little problem by picking up a new toy this weekend:
I always loved how quick the C32 is (especially once I had stage 2 and a Quaife on it). For the $$, it's very tough to beat the overall capabilities and refinement! However, I missed having something light and tossable. I solved that little problem by picking up a new toy this weekend:
#32
It's built for road racing, not autocross. However, I am monitoring it closely as the rims are 17" and the fenders are not rolled (nor do I intend to do so)! I've had it in some pretty strong steering angles, off-camber hard corner deceleration, etc and bumpy sections of road too and not heard a single rub - but autocross would be a more severe case.
#33
It's a 1991 chassis, but that's about where the old stops and the new begins. Try a 1999 24V DOHC M52 swap with S52 cams, converted to OBD1 (M50 manifold & parts, etc), 3:46LSD and a 2006 E46 M3 6-speed paint, interior, functional R134a AC, and tons more. I paid a pretty penny. Too embarrassed to say how much exactly, but try E30 M3 territory and you'd land in the ballpark. I don't like the old M3 - too boy racer for me - so this is perfect. Plus, I can have fun working on it myself!
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C32 AMG
It's a 1991 chassis, but that's about where the old stops and the new begins. Try a 1999 24V DOHC M52 swap with S52 cams, converted to OBD1 (M50 manifold & parts, etc), 3:46LSD and a 2006 E46 M3 6-speed paint, interior, functional R134a AC, and tons more. I paid a pretty penny. Too embarrassed to say how much exactly, but try E30 M3 territory and you'd land in the ballpark. I don't like the old M3 - too boy racer for me - so this is perfect. Plus, I can have fun working on it myself!
Post some performance numbers when you get to it.
Congrats again.
PS - the Henna one for sale is a looker.
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2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
It's a 1991 chassis, but that's about where the old stops and the new begins. Try a 1999 24V DOHC M52 swap with S52 cams, converted to OBD1 (M50 manifold & parts, etc), 3:46LSD and a 2006 E46 M3 6-speed paint, interior, functional R134a AC, and tons more. I paid a pretty penny. Too embarrassed to say how much exactly, but try E30 M3 territory and you'd land in the ballpark. I don't like the old M3 - too boy racer for me - so this is perfect. Plus, I can have fun working on it myself!
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white and whiter
135i is pig ugly and weighs more than you'd think. 335i is no threat unless modded Vishnu style. However, BMW have modified the ecu so it can't be chipped as easily now like the early build ones.
Lose your warranty either way and it's juts a garden variety car not an M or AMG.
Lose your warranty either way and it's juts a garden variety car not an M or AMG.
garden variety car with fuel pump problems... and uneven panel gap all around FTW!!
one of my friend's going through a lemon process for his AW 335 E92. and of course I drive it a lot. it'll give the stock 32 a good run for sure, but you can feel the 335 doesn't pull as well over 80mph. haven't driven any chipped one, but given it's a turboed car...sky's the limit until it blows.
Last edited by FrankW; 05-13-2008 at 07:27 PM.
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white and whiter
It's a 1991 chassis, but that's about where the old stops and the new begins. Try a 1999 24V DOHC M52 swap with S52 cams, converted to OBD1 (M50 manifold & parts, etc), 3:46LSD and a 2006 E46 M3 6-speed paint, interior, functional R134a AC, and tons more. I paid a pretty penny. Too embarrassed to say how much exactly, but try E30 M3 territory and you'd land in the ballpark. I don't like the old M3 - too boy racer for me - so this is perfect. Plus, I can have fun working on it myself!
e30 M3 clean ones are around $22-23k ish...am i in the ballpark?
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sounds like airplane
the warranty voiding software issues have already been solved!
coming from someone who owns neither- 335 seems more reliable, easier to tune and generally better than a C32
coming from someone who owns neither- 335 seems more reliable, easier to tune and generally better than a C32
#39
How do YOU know the 335 is better than the c 32 if you've owned neither. I've never been to the Moon so I really shouldn't comment on that either!!! Is this based entirely on your speculation or on the fact that you have a C43 and that gives you license to comment on a C32.
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C32 AMG
And you can get an E30 for $18K or so if you shop. Of course not with the extent of work M3eater's has.
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sounds like airplane
in no way did i state that i "know"
I do know that there are more faster 335s out there (particularly relative to their newness)- take a look around at the general level of knowledge and fast timeslips here vs. 335s on bimmerforums...
everything else is absolutely speculative and i have no more right to throw it out there than anyone else
how does owning one of the two cars make you better able to compare? seems to me it just makes you biased
I do know that there are more faster 335s out there (particularly relative to their newness)- take a look around at the general level of knowledge and fast timeslips here vs. 335s on bimmerforums...
everything else is absolutely speculative and i have no more right to throw it out there than anyone else
how does owning one of the two cars make you better able to compare? seems to me it just makes you biased
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
I'd be leery about adding more boost to a 135i via an ecu upgrade. I think that would have reliability ramifications, not to mention it would void the warranty.
As someone said, it's a credit that a car designed in 2001 is still highly competitive with a 2008 BMW, at about half the cost in today's dollars. Sure the C32 was more expensive new, but you have to look at what they cost now.
If I wanted a pure track car, I'd buy a 1997-98 E36 M3 for about 12k and be done with it. Track cars don't need brutal straight line performance.
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1992 Toyota Corolla, 1994 Chevy C1500, 2002 C32, 2012 Prius, 2013 Toyota Sienna
I live in Bayern near Munchen, Germany. You can get a brend new M3 for $60,000 fully loaded. There are fast BMW's here. I seen a sweet Audi yesterday......... RS something maybe. Now thats fast. I was going 140MPH and he flew by me like I was in on a bicycle. He had to have been going 180-190 MPH.
#45
You are correct. Mine is an M52B28 from a 1999 328is, with cams from an S52B32 (E36 M3). Combined with the OBD1 conversion, a 3.5" 540iMAF (or Euro HFM) and software, it ends up in S50 horsepower territory. The M52 and S52 share the same block, but the M52 has a smaller bore (2.8L displacement VS 3.2L). This makes my engine an ideal (arguably the best BMW I6) block for turbocharging, because you can run ridiculous amounts of boost (16-18lbs) without blowing it up . Or, you can run an ultra-conservative 6lbs boost and have zero/negligible affect on long-term reliability! This is where I'll likely be headed down the road.
Last edited by m3_eater; 05-14-2008 at 12:03 PM.
#46
As someone said, it's a credit that a car designed in 2001 is still highly competitive with a 2008 BMW, at about half the cost in today's dollars. Sure the C32 was more expensive new, but you have to look at what they cost now.
If I wanted a pure track car, I'd buy a 1997-98 E36 M3 for about 12k and be done with it. Track cars don't need brutal straight line performance.
If I wanted a pure track car, I'd buy a 1997-98 E36 M3 for about 12k and be done with it. Track cars don't need brutal straight line performance.
+1 on both counts. It's really hard to argue with the fantastic performance and profile per dollar that the C32 offers. Plus, the E36 M3 (with just a few inexpensive suspension mods & reinforcements) is one of the best possible starting points for a solid, reliable and fun track car.
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2003 C32 AMG, 2003 E39 M5
It was an RS6. If it was an older one (Few years old) it was a V8 450 HP TT and if it was new V10 TT 580 HP.
I live in Bayern near Munchen, Germany. You can get a brend new M3 for $60,000 fully loaded. There are fast BMW's here. I seen a sweet Audi yesterday......... RS something maybe. Now thats fast. I was going 140MPH and he flew by me like I was in on a bicycle. He had to have been going 180-190 MPH.
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1992 Toyota Corolla, 1994 Chevy C1500, 2002 C32, 2012 Prius, 2013 Toyota Sienna
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
Since you're still alive it obviously didn't kill 'ya with maintenance costs My '87 325is soured me on very old German cars after it ate about $12k in repair and upgrade costs over a two year span. But I suppose an E36 M3 at this stage could easily put you in the same boat. You may laugh but how about an '03-04 Focus SVT? Probably less than 10k and would be cheap to maintain.