B8 S4 vs E90 335i

[chanceparker]

As a previous long-time BMW owner (E36 M3, E46 sedan, E90 sedan), I have recently gone down the Audi path after moving to Colorado. I thought I would pass along my impressions of my 2007 335i vs. the 2012 S4 I just bought. Both are wonderful cars and you can't go wrong with either one, but they do have their distinct strengths.

First, the cars (I won't go into gory detail...both are loaded and comparably equipped):

Audi: 2012 S4 6-speed
-White with red/black interior and CF trim
-Prestige package and Sports Differential

BMW: 2007 335i 6-speed
-Grey with Terra interior and aluminum trim
-Sport package, cold weather package, etc.

335 strengths:
1. Steering: the RWD BMW simply has better, more alive feeling steering. The S4 steering is good, just a bit heavier and less precise IMO. This is likely an artifact of AWD, as I drove a 335 x-drive and noticed heavier, less precise steering as well.
2. Shifter: Frankly neither shifter is as good as, say, an S2000 but I thought the BMW shifter was a little bit better.
3. MPG: The S4 is a little thirstier, especially when you drive it like it's mean to be driven. My 335 would routinely get 28-29mpg on the highway. The S4 gets more like 25-26 mpg.
4. Engine sound: Frankly, both are too quiet from the factory but the 335 has a growl that the S4 does not. The S4 is really too quiet.

S4 strengths:
1. Interior: I know the buff books like to rag on the B8 interior as being dated, but I think that's just because they are used to it. To me, the S4 interior is simply better than the E90s. And the Red/Black...stunning.
2. Engine: Both are great engines, but I find the super-charged 3.0 in the Audi to be a bit more impressive. Very linear power delivery all the way to 7K, no lag, and very smooth.
3. Handling: My car has the sports differential and it is spectacular. It eliminates all the under-steer you associate with AWD Audis and simply rockets the car around corners. It almost feels like the faster you go, the tighter you can corner.
4. Back seat: This might not matter depending on how you use your car, but the Audi has a much better back seat for people to actually sit in.
5. "Tune-ability": Although the S4 reflashes are not cheap, it's a piece of cake to get 400+HP out of the Audi.

There you have it, my quick-and-dirty after owning both cars. Again, both are great cars and you can't go wrong with either one. But so far, I'm very impressed by the S4.

[MrFunk]

Yep
The rear seats in the 3 series (and 5 series for that matter) are horrible. Like sitting on a bench seat. I don't think the S4 rear seats are phenomenal by any means but compared to those I'd agree that they are much nicer.

[100Daily]

#3 should be under steer, not over steer. : )

Now get tuned!

[philsphan20]

Literally just did the same transition as you...except i got an '11 S4 (and i had an XI). Definitely agree w/ your assessment of the steering. I wish the S4 had some more stock growl to it like the BMW did, but that aside, absolutely in love with the S4

[saxon]

Coming from an e90 335I I can agree on most. The big fault if the bmw is reliability but as far as tuning I would say the n54 wins hands down, more power and cheaper to mod

[vwong]

1. Steering: the RWD BMW simply has better, more alive feeling steering. The S4 steering is good, just a bit heavier and less precise IMO. This is likely an artifact of AWD, as I drove a 335 x-drive and noticed heavier, less precise steering as well.

I find that complete opposite. To me, the 335i steering is heavier than the S4.

2. Shifter: Frankly neither shifter is as good as, say, an S2000 but I thought the BMW shifter was a little bit better.

Since you use S2000 as an example, I thought the S4 shifter is closer to that than the 335i. To me, the 335i shifter feels more notchy with some rubbery feel at times.

3. Handling: My car has the sports differential and it is spectacular. It eliminates all the over-steer you associate with AWD Audis and simply rockets the car around corners. It almost feels like the faster you go, the tighter you can corner.

I hope you meant "understeer" instead.

[raudiace4]

All my 335i buddies envy my S4, but they would never switch over. They love their turbos, and god some of them have hellishly fast cars.

[sea_shackF1]

It eliminates all the over-steer you associate with AWD Audis

You mean UNDER-steer.... right?

It makes me sad that Audi is toning down the S4's so much that they are compared to non M's like the 335. There was a time when it was a direct competitor to the M3 and it forced BMW to up it's game (which they did big time) with the V8 e9x. Now the S is of no consequence to BMW as far as the M3 is concerned and with no RS4 in the country there is not direct competitor. Yes we have the RS5, but judging by it's sales figures it's also toned down too much to worry BMW and the M3/4. The B7 RS4 had a much sharper edge than the B8 RS5 does so it was more of a direct competitor and they sold far more of them too. Don't get me wrong, the new S/RS are great cars, I just wish they would just focus a bite less on comfort than they are and put a sharper edge back on them. Those new to the brand may not really understand this, but those who have owned or driven older S/RS should. BTW, I have my flame suite on.

[chanceparker]

Yes, I meant under-steer. Fixed.

[Dr GP]

Made the same switch in 2010 and you are pretty much spot on. However, my 335i had a much nicer sounding interior than the stock s4 exhaust. Now I have a 2014 S4 with soundakator. Sounds better but wish the exhaust actually sounded that good. BTW, BMW has changed the steering in its newest 3/4 series cars. No one sems to like it very much. BTW, April edition of C$D di a comparison between the new 435i and a B8 S5(which is basically a 2 dr s4). S5 was a winer by a good margine. Significntly ahead of the BMW ib the handling and performance categories http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=951769

[sea_shackF1]

Significntly ahead of the BMW ib the handling and performance categories http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=951769

I love it. While non BMW people have been saying for years that C&D is in the bag for BMW, a BMW loses a comparo and all the BMW fanboys are all butt hurt and say C&D and the test is BS. It's great how there are some rational people in that thread that try to bring the fanboys back to reality, but some just ain't havin' it. Both companies make great cars throughout their model ranges, it comes down to personal preference and what best suits your particular needs at that time. You really can't go wrong with either or a MB for that matter.

[raudiace4]

Made the same switch in 2010 and you are pretty much spot on. However, my 335i had a much nicer sounding interior than the stock s4 exhaust. Now I have a 2014 S4 with soundakator. Sounds better but wish the exhaust actually sounded that good. BTW, BMW has changed the steering in its newest 3/4 series cars. No one sems to like it very much. BTW, April edition of C$D di a comparison between the new 435i and a B8 S5(which is basically a 2 dr s4). S5 was a winer by a good margine. Significntly ahead of the BMW ib the handling and performance categories http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=951769

Love seeing butt hurt blind bmw owners. We have some on this forum too (S4 best car ever made type).
Haven't driven the new 435 yet, but judging from peoples reaction I'm not expecting much.

[IanCH]

Love seeing butt hurt blind bmw owners. We have some on this forum too (S4 best car ever made type).
Haven't driven the new 435 yet, but judging from peoples reaction I'm not expecting much.

Loling so hard at the guy who is ripping on the S5 being slow and crappy when he has "14' 435xi 8AT - current best 1/4 mile 13.3@104 (Stock)" in his sig! little does he know....

[Mbrad]

I came from e90 335 xi to an B8.5 s4. The steering is not even close to comparable with the BMW crushing the S4. Even in dynamic the S4 feels like playing a video game while the BMW felt like a car planted to the pavement (I did have to get rid of the runflats to really enjoy the car though). The only reason I switched over was due to BMW going electric steering as well.

Engine, S4 ALL DAY. I know they are close in power and 0-60 times but the S4 just feels much more alive under throttle and has no lag. I do wish it was geared higher in 6th though, I only really need to pull hard up to about 4th and the BMW was about 1k lower on the tach than the S4 at highway cruising speeds.

Interior, S4 by a mile.

[raudiace4]

Loling so hard at the guy who is ripping on the S5 being slow and crappy when he has "14' 435xi 8AT - current best 1/4 mile 13.3@104 (Stock)" in his sig! little does he know....

I enjoyed the "60k vw" comment more than anything. Lol

[sea_shackF1]

I enjoyed the "60k vw" comment more than anything. Lol

The smackdown on that was much better though.

"Theyre both great cars. $60,000 VW? How about $60,000 Bugatti or $60,000 Lambo or $60,000 Porsche......."

[raudiace4]

The smackdown on that was much better though.

"Theyre both great cars. $60,000 VW? How about $60,000 Bugatti or $60,000 Lambo or $60,000 Porsche......."

Ahh yes that was hilarious. They really had no comeback for that.

[audistealth]

It's been a while since I've driven a 3-series, or whatever they are now. Maybe I'll give a new generation a test drive.

[JACKPAC]

Could never get passed the (prior to refresh) BMW interior that slopes away from the driver and that crappy push-out cup holder, for what that's worth.

[westwest888]

I find that complete opposite. To me, the 335i steering is heavier than the S4.

On the e90 platform, the steering was very heavy in parking lots. It was actually kind of floaty at 130 MPH. It's fixed so it's a compromise. Servotronic on the S4 makes it tight as a coiled garden hose in dynamic at any speed above parking lot, but there is a slightly artificial feel to it.

The new F30 steering is garbage. BMW lost their main competitive advantage, and then they put their first ever 2.0T gasoline in there and lost their other entry level advantage in the silky inline six.

[BoostEasy]

You're comparing a 2yr old car to an 7 yr old car?

The Audi makes more power? Was your 335 ever tuned?

The S4 is a physically larger car, closer to the F30 BMWs.

I'm surprised you left out the S4 has a bit more body roll but has a much better suspension for absorbing bumps compared to a 335xi (which hits bumps awfully hard with 18" or larger wheels). That's one of the major features that sold me on my S5. I was getting tired of the beating my 335 dished out on every pothole in CT.

[Dr GP]

I came from e90 335 xi to an B8.5 s4. The steering is not even close to comparable with the BMW crushing the S4. Even in dynamic the S4 feels like playing a video game while the BMW felt like a car planted to the pavement (I did have to get rid of the runflats to really enjoy the car though). The only reason I switched over was due to BMW going electric steering as well.

Engine, S4 ALL DAY. I know they are close in power and 0-60 times but the S4 just feels much more alive under throttle and has no lag. I do wish it was geared higher in 6th though, I only really need to pull hard up to about 4th and the BMW was about 1k lower on the tach than the S4 at highway cruising speeds.

Interior, S4 by a mile.

Yes, but the steering on your E90 is totally different than on the F30 BMWs and is now inferior to the s4/s5s Here is the problem. The new F30s are worse than the E90s. The B8s are predominantly the same as in 2010 when the narrowly beat the E90 335i in the C&D comparo. Now with minimal improvement, it dominates the f30.

[psmitty95]

Yes, but the steering on your E90 is totally different than on the F30 BMWs and is now inferior to the s4/s5s Here is the problem. The new F30s are worse than the E90s. The B8s are predominantly the same as in 2010 when the narrowly beat the E90 335i in the C&D comparo. Now with minimal improvement, it dominates the f30.

The OP wanted to compare an E90 not an F30. From what i've read that will hopefully change soon with the new M3/M4. Supposedly the electric steering in there is some of the best in all the cars today from the few people that have driven them.

You're comparing a 2yr old car to an 7 yr old car?

The Audi makes more power? Was your 335 ever tuned?

The S4 is a physically larger car, closer to the F30 BMWs.

I'm surprised you left out the S4 has a bit more body roll but has a much better suspension for absorbing bumps compared to a 335xi (which hits bumps awfully hard with 18" or larger wheels). That's one of the major features that sold me on my S5. I was getting tired of the beating my 335 dished out on every pothole in CT.

+1 it's hard to compare a 2 year old car to one that is 7 years old. Honestly i've driven and been in both and can honestly say I wouldn't trade my car for a B8 and my friend wouldn't trade his B8 for my car. They are just different cars for different people. I prefer a car with a ton of aftermarket options for tuning and cosmetics so I can really make it unique to myself and I think that is where the BMW wins. My friend with the B8 on the other hand, prefers a comfortable car that is sporty but he is more into the clean and minimal mod look so the B8 is his preference. The only thing I like marginally better about his car is the interior and the sound. I've been through 4 aftermarket exhausts and i'm still not satisfied although i'm a tough person to please in terms of that kind of stuff. If you're into the whole tuning scene though I think it really is no competition. You can literally throw on a $500 tune and $100 intake then throw in some E85 and have a car that makes around 400whp on a dyno or runs low 12's in the 1/4 mile. There are a ton of more things being developed but there have also been quite a few N54's over 700whp on a stock motor with large twin turbos or single turbos.

Anyways like I said honestly I think it comes down to what you want out of the car. I don't think there is a set car that is better than the other, it is simply personal preference.

[chanceparker]

Just for the record, my 335 wasn't 7 years old when I got it, it was also 2 years old. This wasn't intended to be the be-all-and-end-all, instrumented comparison. It is just my reaction to the 2 cars based on how I drive them. Use it for what it's worth.

I'm out.

[psmitty95]

Just for the record, my 335 wasn't 7 years old when I got it, it was also 2 years old. This wasn't intended to be the be-all-and-end-all, instrumented comparison. It is just my reaction to the 2 cars based on how I drive them. Use it for what it's worth.

I'm out.

That's fine but being that people are comparing it now you have to remember that the car is 7 years old now. By the way I just saw your post on E90post and that's good that you posted on both and got both perspectives. If you B8 guys are interested in seeing what people on e90post are saying here you go:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=953267