[Tortfeasor STi]

I got a PM from a member here wanting me to do a comparison of my new car with my old car (my poor STi got stolen a few months back). I figured the rest of you might enjoy my write up as well. This is not designed to bash my old car, and this thread should not devolve into a flame war, just an honest discussion about these two cars that are BOTH dear to me. Enjoy:

"The two cars are very different in nature. The 335 does not feel as fast as my stage 2 STi 0-60, but then, on the highway and at highway speeds, the 335xi seems to pull harder. I am imagining its the extra torque from having the larger engine with twin turbos and a lower wind resistance from the sleeker body and no wing. As far as styling... the 335 (is much more attractive). Same goes for the interior and seats. Seriously, I can not stress to you how much nicer the 335xi is to sit in. Also all the features, amenities and what not are terrific. It makes the STi seem embarrassingly under-equipped considering its new found price point.

Another thing to consider is that my STi required me to upgrade my stereo, and I put in about 5 grand worth of ICE. The BMW comes with a 15 speaker stereo that sounds better then my amalgam of MB Quartz and JL Audio bits did in my STi. Now it does not hit as hard, and you stereo guys will know what I mean, but it is clearer and the sound stage is more precise. So not needing to upgrade is a 5 grand savings before you factor in the warranty.

Speaking of... The factory warranty includes ALL routine maintenance and rental cars (BMW gives you a BMW when yours has to stay overnight). So if something needs fixing it does not come out of my pocket. I paid to have this extended 2 extra years. Also they offer warranties against dings, against you messing up your wheels etc... So basically my only cost is initial purchase price and gasoline for the first 6 years, the rest is BMW's problem.

So in summation, stock vs. stage 2, the STi will be faster in the 1/4 and around a track, but the BMW is better in every other way. The difference came to be about $7,500 for a comparably equipped STI (08, with BBS Wheels), but that is not including the maintenance and stereo savings. If you calculate those in, my first brake job will cause the two cars to break even.

Worth noting, when Dinan makes a reflash for the new 08 ECU I will go from about 270 whp (wheel horse power, or about 340 crank, its under rated at 300 from the factory) to around 320 whp (or 385 crank horse power). Then the thing will be a mid 12 second car, and still be within warranty... So, I am pretty psyched about the car so far, and when the reflash comes through, I think I will fall for it all over again."

[KiTsuNe]

its a refined high class STI

[jph]

did you happen compare the 335xi to the 335i? just curious.


J.

[Tortfeasor STi]

Originally Posted by jph

did you happen compare the 335xi to the 335i? just curious.


J.

I drove both, but decided I needed the AWD. Unfortunately the testers they had at the dealership were all 4 door models and I bought the coupe so its not entirely apples to apples. What with the stability control in the cars they did not feel that different. The 335i is a little lower to the ground then the xi, but they both feel very tight around a turn. Also, the 335i is a tad lighter then the xi, so is a touch quicker from a roll. Really the only big difference is that when you turn traction control off, the 335i's lack of an LSD in the rear makes it a one wheel peeling monster. AWD in the 335xi helps control that.

[Tortfeasor STi]

Here are some pics:

[KiTsuNe]

its toooo shiney. OMG that picture makes me miss princeton. I lived there for 2 years. Small world Coffee ftw! can anyone tell me if that shop is still around? That and Teressa, believe thats a little italian restaurant

[Seppo]

^ Heh i lived in Princeton as well.

Nice write up Tort, pretty much what i expected though. How is the MPG?

[blindfold]

flash it to stage II with PROede and do another campparents, that way it will be more fair

[BobDigi5060]

Love the BMW.. Glad to see a AWD coupe for once

[stiman1]

how much does the dinan reflash go for?

Is it only a reflash, or are there parts to buy (exhaust etc)

pics look great, and good call on th xi

[Tortfeasor STi]

Originally Posted by blindfold

flash it to stage II with PROede and do another campparents, that way it will be more fair

There is an issue with the 08 programming, bmw changed it to make it more difficult to tune. So for now, most of the tuning options are for the 07 only. But it should not be long before they crack it and I can get a decent flash tuner or piggy back for the 08s. Besides, it only has 500 miles on it. I want to wait till its first oil change, when the engine is broken in, before tuning. Also, I want to make sure that whatever option I choose is either invisible to techs or, like the dinan flash, is covered by a warranty. The 335 has two main weaknesses, one is the fuel pump, the other is that the turbos can fail due to excessive heat (an issue once the car gets tuned). So I am going to let other people on e90 forums to be 08 guinea pigs and then benefit from their experiences. I know, its selfish, but then, its my new baby. But once the bugs are ironed out, I will be sporting a full complement of mods. As it stands right now, procede version 3 makes around 350 wheel horse power with no other mods. Ridiculous.

[Tortfeasor STi]

Originally Posted by stiman1

how much does the dinan reflash go for?

Is it only a reflash, or are there parts to buy (exhaust etc)

pics look great, and good call on th xi

This is gonna knock you over, but the dinan reflash is $2000 and only from an authorized tech. You don't even get a flash tuner like Cobb's access port. Meanwhile other plug and play solutions like SSTT Turbo Tuner are around $700, or the procede at $1500, but they are not covered by warranty, and BMW is pulling a Mitsubishi and refusing to cover fixes left and right. They are even going so far as to check sensor data to see if MAF and MAP signals match up with other signals to see if there was even a possibility of there being a piggy back. But there is a company developing a flash tuner with removable tunes like Cobb's that seems promising. It also includes self tuning capabilities, like cobb's street tuning software. But like I said, its not clear it will work with the new processor/programming. So when I need my first oil change and the engine is broken in, I will have to weigh my options and see what I want to do.

[Tortfeasor STi]

Originally Posted by BobDigi5060

Love the BMW.. Glad to see a AWD coupe for once

AWD, Coupe, available and in my price range made it unique on the market. Basically I was cross shopping this and the Audi S5. But the Audi dealers near me have the S5 on back order for almost a year and want 10 grand more then the 335xi coupe. So my decision was made for me by Audi.

[chargedvette02]

Very nice car, it just has the everybody and their brother effect.
You really think that 330 whp is going to get you into the mid 12's? Thats C5 Z06 range which put down about 360 whp. I would guess a z06 also weighs less than your 335XI; I guess the AWD will help you out.

I'm very curious to see what you actually run after your reflash.

Why no interior shots of that bad boy?

[Tortfeasor STi]

Originally Posted by chargedvette02

Very nice car, it just has the everybody and their brother effect.
You really think that 330 whp is going to get you into the mid 12's? Thats C5 Z06 range which put down about 360 whp. I would guess a z06 also weighs less than your 335XI; I guess the AWD will help you out.

I'm very curious to see what you actually run after your reflash.

Why no interior shots of that bad boy?

Times are courtesy of what others have run at the track on the BMW forums. I have not even run it stock yet. But it might be fun to head to Englishtown to set a baseline once its broken in. As far as interior shots, your wish is my command...






And how about an engine bay pic?

Funny thing is that the black leather interior looks almost grey in the pictures, its a lot darker in person.