370 Z or 335 BMW Help
 

I am looking at a new 370 for $30,000, and a 2007 BMW 335 coupe with 30,000 miles for $28,000. As a former 300ZX owner, I really miss my Z, and was going to buy it vs the 335. I have read all the posts on the oil temp issue. I won't race the car. It will be my daily driver, and use it for weekend drives.

I was going to get the Z, but now I'm not sure. While there are a lot of posts on the problem, there are a lot of people driving Zs that don't seem to have an issue. I like the BMW as well. I have 2 now, and would replace one with the 335, but even though it is CPO, BMWs are expensive to maintain.

My question. Given I don't plan to really push the car, is the oil temp problem, really an issue for me? I live in Ohio, so except for a few hot days in the summer, we don't see really hot temps.

Oil temp is only an issue on the track. It can't be stated any clearer than that! :)

I've seen quite a few posts on the subject. Its only comes into play if your running a supercharger or Turbo set up. Possibly if you plan to track the car on a regular basis but if that's the case you can just add a cooler.

The 335 is a good car, friend of mine has a really nice one but I for one would take a new Z over a 30K mile BMW any day, that is of course if you do not need the back seat. 335's are nice but that's a couple years worth of miles for the average guy. You'll love the Z!

yeah i had a similar battle when i was purchasing my z. i've driven my friend's 335, and while i enjoyed it, it didn't give me that sports car feeling. imo, the z is more fun to drive. as far as the oil issue goes, i dont track my car (yet), but in my "spirited" driving that i do, i haven't seen any oil temp issues. we'll see how that goes during the warmer seasons in TX.

if practicality is an issue, then definitely go with the 335. be forwarned about issues with the 335 though. my friend's 335 has had to get the fuel pump replaced, along with the fuel injectors. it was covered under warranty, but that's a pain. once the unlimited warranty dries up, the maintenance will be $$, but since you already have a few beemers, you know that :)

I'd go with the Z with close to 0 miles over the 30,000+ mile 2 year old BMW. The Beemer may be more practical but if you were looking at practical you wouldn't have been looking at a Z.

I have a 335 and it's heavy, especially in tight cornering. 335's have fuel pump problems. The 370Z is lighter and has more HP.

well, i too had the same dilemma...... get 335 with low mileage and upgrade the turbo with dinan chip and oil cooler for about $5000 - you ll have 480 bhp..... plus back seats for practicality.....

i would say if you have kids, then go with 335..... i was trying to fit my shopping items in the trunk and i SUDDENLY realized that this is Z.... so no more shopping trips with my Z..

if this is your second car, or if you dont have kids, then go with Z - most definitely.....

for one thing, it would be cost effective in the long run for the maintenance cost... i am sure you know better

for 335, although it has CPO coverage of 6 yrs 100k, what are you going to do afterwards, unless you plan to replace it with another one....

I know - it is very tough decision.

before buying my 2010Z, i was actually shopping for a 335 coupe with very low mileage at a reasonable price..... but none of them matched my profile .........

as for the oil temp issue, it seems clear that it is not even an issue for a daily driver.....well, i do not have any problem yet.....

if you still have a hard time, then do a test drive for a Z with 6MT- i am it will change your perspective.... *^^*

Please, auto enthusiasts, it's "Bimmer" for the 335, as it has four wheels.

I love BMWs -- that is to say I have loved two of my own and admired many more. Until the 370, no car in the Japanese sphere could pull my attention away from even the lower-end BMWs. And make no mistake, a 335 is far from the low end of BMWs.

Fact is, though, the Z is simply more unique -- more of a lifestyle statement -- less of a brand name. Choose accordingly.

The BMW will garner a lot of envy and even disgust. Even though it's on par with Z pricing, for some reason, the BMW (particularly the 3ers) scream "living beyond his means" or "$30,000 millionaire" or "shallow jerk lemming following the crowd". It certainly doesn't look good to park such a brand of car at work if your employees didn't get the raises they felt they deserved.

With the Z, people will assume it is not as expensive, and that you are some kind of enthusiast. They'll gawk -- not out of envy, but more out of admiration. You will be accused of scratching a midlife itch. People will smile at your reckless abandon in getting a 2-seat car. Porsches and Bimmers will want to race you. Alot. The Z is seen as a good value, even though prices can kiss $48K in some models. Yet, it still retains a bit of everyman's sports car image. I think that's cool. My guys at work seem cool with it, too (and yes, they did get raises this year -- I made sure of that before I got the car).

For pure driving, they'll be fairly even, with a raucous nod going to the Z. For entertainment and sheer "look at me" power -- Z. For fun -- Z. For refinement and elegance -- BMW. For reliability it's a toss-up. For value retention -- BMW (my experience). For connection to the car -- Z. For usability -- BMW

Don't let the oil cooler thing deter you. These are great cars. Frankly, I don't think you could go wrong with either. The Z worked better for me, though.

Anyone with half a brain would put an oil cooler in a car that has forced induction, 370z or otherwise. That, along with an intercooler, should be considered "part of the package" :)

I'm in oklahoma, oil temps aren't an issue. I bought my Z last June and read about it being an issue on this forum - I went out and broke quite a few laws trying to get mine to get over 260F and get into limp mode. Couldn't get it there after 30 minutes.

Personally if someone is driving as hard as I was then (or harder), and gets it on limp mode without it being on a track, needs to do a few upgrades to their car (tires, suspension, brakes) and better yet, take a defensive driving course...a FEW times...before someone gets hurt.

dalparadise, well put.....*^^*

Those are 2 very different cars...

I have an 07 335i that I purchased last June, and seriously considered trading for the new Z. I had an 03 z "track" model when they first came out, and eventually found it lacking in power and ride quality. The new Z seems to have addressed these problems very well.
I probably would have traded for the 370, if I wasn't for the road noise the tires emitted . Long vacation drives with the wife was what kept me from the purchase.

There is very little the BMW cannot do very well. Though I do regret the purchase of an auto, Iv'e decided to keep the car none the less. Exhaust, JB3, and an intake is on the way. That should keep me happy for awhile.

I do resent the comment that owning a BMW is some sort of a status symbol. I purchased the car because I could finally afford a High performance rear wheel drive car that does it all.

I will however sell the car when CPO runs out.

Oil temp was only an issue for me before the first oil change. After that, even when pushing the car hard, I'm not even close to limp mode-worthy oil temps...

I'd tell you to test drive both but the bimmer is gonna ride better han the Z. But like someone said before 30K miles vs a BRAND NEW car is a no brainer. I can only think of 2 reasons why to go with the bmw over the Z. 1) its a factory turbo engine which is easier to make power for less money. 2) its much more practical than the Z. Other than when sitting in a 335i coupe next to new Z at a stop light, the Z is gonna get all the attention. And when the light turns green, bye bye expensive bimmer. :happydance: