depends on your needs, i got rid of mine cause we were using it for business and we want something bigger and more luxurious.. no regrets,I love it, this is basically my first BMW, the 335i i only drove for 700miles..LOL
the 335i is a great car, shifting, acceleration, handling perfect blend no complains, I think it's in the top of it's class..

 

I'd have to ask how long he plans to keep the car and how he sells his cars...I would suggest a 335 will perhaps be a more saleable car in the future if he sells it privately but if he always part exchanges his car for a newer one (particularly at a BMW dealership) then residual would make little difference.

I test drove a 335 then a 4 month old 530....would have gone with the 335 for a more interesting drive and the really good performance (if a little muted) but the financial's on the 530 were very very good, so that's what I have now.

I would take the 335....especially with that spec.

 

My son drives a 3'er and after driving his for an extended period of time I would never own one... not that it's a bad car it is a size thing for me. I'm 6'3" 210# and it is just too small

 

530, no doubt!

 

I sold my 06 550i 6 months ago and bought an e90 335i. I have to say I prefer the 335. It is faster, just as comfortable, and the handling is somewhere in between my 550 and e46 M3. The 335 is my favorite BMW to date. By the way, I am 6'4" and weight 185 lbs.

 

I had a 2007 335xi for one week and traded it for a 530xi. The reason....too small for me, and I am only 6 ft, 180lbs. It was so confining! $48K for that little thing?! I am slightly muscular (not a body builder) and the sport seats were way too narrow for my back. Even totally deflated, the side bolsters totally dug into my kidneys to where I could just not drive the car anymore. Now, compared to my current 530xi, it was totally different experience. The 335xi drove like a little rocket and cornered like it was on rals, more like my old 2000 Corvette. It was so much more fun to drive than my current 530xi, which I don't really consider much fun at all. It's like comparing apples and oranges...sport ride vs luxury ride. In the end, the 530 is a much better fit for my sized body and height, and I prefer a bigger car for the buck, however it just ain't so much fun to drive compared to the 335xi. If I didn't have the seat problems, I would have kept the 3. My next car will be a 535xi or 550i, or whatever they'll be calling it in 2 years. I plan on lowering my current xi with H&R sport springs and adding 19" VB-3 CSL wheels, staggered set-up, from Velocity Motoring. I might learn to like the 5 a lot more once I get all of that installed. Ihave to admit, when I'd see that little 335xi in my garage, I'd be thinking...."That's all I get for $48K?" The 530xi is a real, full-sized car in comparison.

So, in the end, it all depends on what you are looking for and what your needs are. Good luck.

 

Not sure if he is still considering the 2- but today after driving a 328 which is virtually the same other than the power-I would never buy a 3 series. It felt so small and cramped-just way too small for me. Also too common and looks to girly to me-everyone has a 3 series out there and the no-I drive and cheap interior are just the things that push it overboard.

I own a 530 and I admit its a turtle but still a lot of fun to drive and it is pure style and a lot of luxury to boot where as the 3 is purely performance. I guess it depends on the guy. I am single and 26 with no family yet prefer the 5-all personal pref

 

I would get the 335i, only in the coupe version, sedan is fugly. If you want speed, better handling, a light weight car, hit up the 335i. It would just be a lot more fun to drive, 300+hp. If you just want a people mover, bigger car, get the 530i. To my knowledge the 3 and 5 have the same interior materials, the fit and finish will look the same, as long as you get the leather, just a size difference. As for idrive, I could do with out it, sick of getting cpu updates, to many problems. I just wish bimmers were like the old days, they were more mechanical. They use to be the "Ultimate Driving Machines" and now they are the "Ultimate Driving Computers".

 

hey 2004 why are you driving a 5 series then??? You could have picked up a 330 I am sure instead of your 525 if you are that into power over everything else-or a 325 for that matter considering you like the 3 series-what the heck did you see in a 5 series-doesnt look like your a fan from your posts??

 

Sleepy, I am not sure if you knew this but BMW makes other great cars besides the 5 series. The original post was between a 530i and a 335i, I just think if you are looking for a quick car go with the 335i. As for my car, I traded in my heavily modded 2002 C320, a distantly quick car, not saying it was an AMG but quick. I have been doing a lot of traveling for business the last few years, so I wanted a bigger car that got good gas mileage, so I went with the 525i. I get over 600 miles to the tank on trips, very nice right now with the gas prices. I don't drive fast anymore; I got to many speeding tickets in high school and college. As far as the 2.5 motor it?s a great engine, it has a lot of heritage with BMW, they have had that engine for ever. My first car at 16yrs was a new white 325i (1995), and I thought is was a great car. I have always loved the 3 series and always will. I have seen you are so into modding your leaser for better 0-60 times, why didn't you get a 535i?