The nice thing about driving my car is that it has a tendency to turn heads in traffic...I've noticed it on a number of occasions and I have to admit..prior to getting mine I used to catch myself checking them out as they drove by...not so much other cars but more Bimmers...the reputation and the look just draw you to it.. :cool

Are you sure they are not checking out the driver, as in who is the *bleep* tailgating me, or who the heck is this *censored* weaving in/out of traffic, or who the heck is this #$%@ doing over 100mph :D.

(The above is a joke as I hope you've figured out. Enjoy your car and the attention it gets, I hope it is always the good kind of attention not the "oh $%^&# it's a :pullover").

I find heads turning with the top down because the hard top verts are still pretty rare.

With the top up, though no one really pays any attention because BMWs are all over the place over here.

The nice thing about driving my car is that it has a tendency to turn heads in traffic...I've noticed it on a number of occasions and I have to admit..prior to getting mine I used to catch myself checking them out as they drove by...not so much other cars but more Bimmers...the reputation and the look just draw you to it.. :cool


Hello "trek1500":

Indeed. One of the things I considered when purchasing it was the punanni factor. Not as good as my friend with the new Bentley who (despite being much older than me) managed to pick up a 23 year old bank teller last time we were in Taos for a board of directors meeting.

Hey, at my age, you take what you can get!

Just yesterday it caught the attention of a 20 something Blonde hottie...

I love my car :D

Hello "trek1500":

Indeed. One of the things I considered when purchasing it was the punanni factor. Not as good as my friend with the new Bentley who (despite being much older than me) managed to pick up a 23 year old bank teller last time we were in Taos for a board of directors meeting.

Hey, at my age, you take what you can get!

Pics of the bank teller?

Seriously, I think the coupes turn heads but doubt the sedans do. This should start a nice little war. :devillook

When I bought it I loved the way it drove but I thought it was kind of ugly, apparently girls for the most part like the way the E90 looks I get positive comments all the time.

The coupe is without a doubt far better looking though and they do turn more heads for sure. But, my E36 was a coupe and I knew I wanted a 4 door for my new car so I don't have any regrets about getting the sedan.

Hello "trek1500":

Indeed. One of the things I considered when purchasing it was the punanni factor. Not as good as my friend with the new Bentley who (despite being much older than me) managed to pick up a 23 year old bank teller last time we were in Taos for a board of directors meeting.

Hey, at my age, you take what you can get!
... and thank the heavens for those V pills ;).

Pics of the bank teller?

Seriously, I think the coupes turn heads but doubt the sedans do. This should start a nice little war. :devillook

I'm the happy owner of a 335xi...and I couldn't agree with you more. I don't think either get big head turns...but if you had to say which gets more it's definitely the coupe. My four door sedan is big on performance...a true sleeper and that's the way I want it.

I rented a convertible PT Cruiser once...(it was the only convertible they had and it was great weather where I traveled...so lighten up, it's not really my type of car!!), and I couldn't believe how many people came by and checked the car out when I was getting in and out of it...I was thinking, man, it's only a PT Cruiser...big deal, but it definitely had them looking...more so than my 335xi sedan!!

:stickoutt

The nice thing about driving my car is that it has a tendency to turn heads in traffic.....

Maybe, a few heads, but nothing like my 03 NSX. Seemed like every day, everywhere, all the time, at every fill up, constantly, people would comment, or wave, or look. I'd get the occasional, "nicer Ferrari" or "nice Vette", or "what kind of car is that?". It's the only car I regret selling.

Mine is a gray 4 door sedan, yes fast as bejezzus but a head turner it is not. It is a boring junior exec sedan. The coupes are much more head turners if they are in a extrovert color.

As far as I am concerned there are few BMW's that are head turners, as most of their worth etc. comes from under the skin.

BMWs are common here, and *really* common in North NJ where I grew up, so they were never about head-turning for me, just about an awesome car.

Although Bimmers are pretty common here, I enjoy seeing them on the road. It gives me a chance to "see" the car in action. Absolutely beautiful! :cool

Now the 70 Chevelle SS 396 I sold a couple of years ago got all kinds of attention...

not at all here. it is like driving a ford focus in the states.

not at all here. it is like driving a ford focus in the states.
I doubt it is like a focus, maybe more like an Impala, although I am not sure if that makes it sound better or worse :confused.

Apparently my 335i turns a lot of heads, but only when my girl is driving it and im not in the car. Then she has all kinds of horn dog teens in various sports cars hounding her. :mad

Clearly its time to put limo tint on my windows.

Just yesterday it caught the attention of a 20 something Blonde hottie...

I love my car :D

Bimmers are pretty common sedans around here. I don't think anyone really notices them.

I always 'check out' the car next to me, though. But, I could care less what kind of car it is...

I'm looking for that Blonde Hottie. :D

I guess it depends how common BMWs are, they are a dime a dozen out here. While I think my car is very good looking and that's one of the reasons I liked it, it's far from a "head turner."

Coming from my 350Z where people would follow me to tell me it was "awesome" this car has only gotten some attention from a kid at car wash who worked there, and a kid at a gas station, both who came over to me when I had my Z just to ask if it was the twin turbo version. I think that the amount of attention my Z got was pretty impressive considering out here in car land there's lots of every car.

The 335 is beautiful but understated.

What is the most head turning color?

What is the most head turning color?

Pink, I guarantee it!

Are you sure they are not checking out the driver, as in who is the *bleep* tailgating me, or who the heck is this *censored* weaving in/out of traffic, or who the heck is this #$%@ doing over 100mph :D.

(The above is a joke as I hope you've figured out. Enjoy your car and the attention it gets, I hope it is always the good kind of attention not the "oh $%^&# it's a :pullover").

Thanks! So far I've been lucky considering I really "enjoy" driving the car..if you know what I mean...but the RD helps..it's saved me on a couple of occasions...

What is the most head turning color?
Yellow, then Red.

My 335i sedan will turn a few heads but not at all like my E46 M3 did.

I generally agree with everyone here - the average sedan is NOT a head turner. The coupe in a bright color will get more attention.

If you want to turn heads - buy a Ferrari.

Not here in the affluent Howard County, MD. Bimmers are pretty much a dime a dozen.

Sure does here. The three times i filled up at the gas station, i had people looking at it. Not many 335i coupes where i am. I've only seen two in the last year.

Mine for sure does....

Are you sure they are not checking out the driver, as in who is the *bleep* tailgating me, or who the heck is this *censored* weaving in/out of traffic, or who the heck is this #$%@ doing over 100mph :D.

(The above is a joke as I hope you've figured out. Enjoy your car and the attention it gets, I hope it is always the good kind of attention not the "oh $%^&# it's a :pullover").

jajajaja, that is hilarious.

Ive noticed before, with the looks(not to mention the help from the xenons) of the car alone I got a lot of head turners... Well, I mean I still do.. But with the 162 sport wheels now, Ive never had so many people looking at me in a car, out of the 10 or so cars Ive owned in the last 7 years... This is the sexiest machine Ive ever driven, I could imagine a 6 or 7 series, I hope I can get into one of those in the future....

Around here BMWs are all over the place. You would need a 6 series to start turning heads as everyone has the 3 series and 5 series. The 7 is not a head turn. The coupes might get some more attention, but they don't really stick out enough to turn heads. There are too many high end cars around for people to be overly impressed with a 30-50k BMW. The new M3 will turn some heads for a year, then the head turning will fade. The same happened with the G35 and the Z. When they first came out, they were the new "hot" item, then after a year, everyone and their mother had one, so the hype was gone.

Mine will turn my head if I hold it at an angle and then stomp on the gas.


But seriously, sometimes people will look at my car right after I wash / wax it, as simply because it is the shiniest thing on the road for the two seconds before it is covered in salt and grime. Other than that, no -- BMWs are really, really, really common. :)

I live in Germany so the answer would be NO.

For those of us living in the states, I think BMW's reputation as well as the current trends mean this car - 3 series - is not a head turner. More people seem to be concerned with SUVs and 26 inch rims than performance/luxury sedans. For instance, I used to work with this girl who commented about the G35 we used to have; she drove a Toyota Highlander Limited. Guess who paid more for their car? She did. I know a married couple right now with a 2003 or so Escalade Truck and a 2007 Escalade ESV (the longest one). For some, they are ballin. For me, that is ridiculous and too expensive (payments + gas prices).
Another thing is many people don't understand the different level of service that could possibly go along with a luxury brand. There are people who would opt for Toyoya, Honda or Nissan before their respective luxury brands because they don't understand what they offer: luxury, (longer) warranty, loaners, etc.

Yeah...not so much. I think the only ones turning their heads are maybe fellow BMW enthusiasts. Other than that it's just one of the many fish in the sea.

Funny though...you can see the influence BMW has over other car companies...just the other day I was flipping through a magazine and saw an ad for a Nissan Altima..and looking at the side view of the body it appeared to me that the "Chris Bangle" influence was apparent throughout the design of the car...

It is true though that the 3 series is the benchmark for all other sports sedans..to me it's influence is pervasive...however..I still catch myself turing my head when I spot one even though I myself drive one..

They are what every car company strives for..balance, aesthetics..the whole package!

Yeah...not so much. I think the only ones turning their heads are maybe fellow BMW enthusiasts. Other than that it's just one of the many fish in the sea.
Enthusiasts will always be enthusiasts, while the general public will get their heads turned by any shiny brightly colored econobox.
That being said, my bright red e36 hatchback used to get much more attention than my current car, even after 10 years of service. That is one reason I opted for a stealthy color this time around, I'm so over wanting attention, which is usually the wrong kind anyway. I had cops chase me from miles behind and pace me for no obvious reason other than I had the car recently washed and shined!

Enthusiasts will always be enthusiasts, while the general public will get their heads turned by any shiny brightly colored econobox.
That being said, my bright red e36 hatchback used to get much more attention than my current car, even after 10 years of service. That is one reason I opted for a stealthy color this time around, I'm so over wanting attention, which is usually the wrong kind anyway. I had cops chase me from miles behind and pace me for no obvious reason other than I had the car recently washed and shined!

It's interesting your comment about cops "pacing" you...yesterday..on my way back home..there is this one stretch of road where I love to punch it as I'm sitting at the light..it's a nice straightaway...smooth and perfect for a quick 1/4 mile run...well..I'm sitting at the light..it's nighttime..I'm ready to rock and roll and just happened to look in my rearview mirror and noticed the word "sheriff" stenciled on the windshield of the car behind me..looking up further I see a rack of cherries and quickly realized that I had been singled out with the intention of fulfilling our county sheriff's monthly quota..whewwwww...good thing I noticed..although I had my RD on...he just happened to sneak up on me...maybe there had been reports of a sparkling grey 335i blasting down this stretch of road of late and he was "investigating..."

yes unwanted attention though

first two 13 or 14 yr old girls were waving at me to stop and give them a ride, and second a cop played hide and seek with me around where I live, I could always see him the block over pacing me, and than once I took a right

he went after me, stopped at a school to pick up my niece and he was there

sneaky piggies

I had cops chase me from miles behind and pace me for no obvious reason other than I had the car recently washed and shined!

I was driving spiritedly as usual a few weeks back, and all of a sudden I looked up and a cop seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and he was right on my tail. I was sure he saw me having fun and was going to pull me over.

I could see his partner on the laptop probably running my plate. He followed me, closely, for miles. The whole time I was ready for the flashing lights (and was driving by the book). After about ten minutes he turned off. I was surprised, I thought for sure I was going to be hassled.

Anyway, on the topic of turning heads, for sure there are a lot of bimmers around, but it's still nice when people check it out, either because it's shiny and black or because they just appreciate cars and know what BMWs are.

At the end of last summer I took mine on a road trip from Maryland down to Georgia and on to Oklahoma. (Heck of a trip, but the family is really spread out) It seemed like everywhere I went I was getting attention. Every time I stopped for gas at least one person was coming up to me asking about it. The coupes still aren't seen much away from the major cities and mine is montego blue with 19's, so it stands out probably a little more than most. I know they sure turn my head every time I see one. I asked a close friend to drive mine around the block just so I could see what it looked like in motion - beautiful!

Oh, and it's good to see mryakan is still on here harassing people!

From incoming traffic, yes. They must not see 4 halos coming towards them that much. Also whenever I'm on vacation in far out small towns.

If heads are turned, I assume it is to catch a glimpse of more of that neapolitan hotness. I have been known to give the ladies whiplash without a car. (sic, after I was complaining about immaturity on these boards. ;))

Definitely more attention in small towns. Rural PA or driving back to where I grew up, people will stop and look. Again in all seriousness though, sometimes I think they look to see the driver, and would for any shiny new expensive-looking car, and don't really care about the car itself too much. I'm sure you could have the same effect with even a newly washed Hyundai or even a G35 :stickoutt. Depends on where you go.

One of the nice things about driving a 3-Series is that it is very comfortable and relatively well performing, yet it still blends in with traffic and doesn't attract attention. My other car is a Lotus Elise, and I really hate the feeling of being stared at while driving it on the road. Turning heads isn't fun, in my opinion.

I didn't respond when this was first posted, because, I thought, it was just too easy. Well, since no one provided the punchline:

Not as good as my friend with the new Bentley who (despite being much older than me) managed to pick up a 23 year old bank teller last time we were in Taos for a board of directors meeting.


So, did your Bentley friend leave a deposit, or did he make a withdrawal instead? :stickoutt

One of the nice things about driving a 3-Series is that it is very comfortable and relatively well performing, yet it still blends in with traffic and doesn't attract attention. My other car is a Lotus Elise, and I really hate the feeling of being stared at while driving it on the road. Turning heads isn't fun, in my opinion.
I though the Elise was not sanctioned for road use in the US!

I though the Elise was not sanctioned for road use in the US!

In 2005, Lotus introduced the Federal Elise, which is a US model that is street-legal in the US. There are many thousands of Federal Elise/Exige cars in the US now. I'm honestly surprised you haven't seen them on the road. In fact, since Lotus stopped making the Esprit, the Elise/Exige is the only Lotus model sold in the US. Ebay has dozens of used Fed Elises. Low mile used ones in good shape can be had for under $30k now if you shop around. A real bargain for the performance. With no creature comforts at all, it's sort of the opposite of a BMW, which is why I think they make a good pair.

In 2005, Lotus introduced the Federal Elise, which is a US model that is street-legal in the US. There are many thousands of Federal Elise/Exige cars in the US now. I'm honestly surprised you haven't seen them on the road. In fact, since Lotus stopped making the Esprit, the Elise/Exige is the only Lotus model sold in the US. Ebay has dozens of used Fed Elises. Low mile used ones in good shape can be had for under $30k now if you shop around. A real bargain for the performance. With no creature comforts at all, it's sort of the opposite of a BMW, which is why I think they make a good pair.
We don't see many exotics here in Ottawa (I consider all Lotus cars as exotics FWIW), only a couple of Ferraris or a Lambo in the summer. Still even on recent trips to Montreal on the F1 weekend I didn't see any lotus, although there was abundance of exotics including a Porsche Carrera GT which I found to be the rarest.

One of the nice things about driving a 3-Series is that it is very comfortable and relatively well performing, yet it still blends in with traffic and doesn't attract attention. My other car is a Lotus Elise, and I really hate the feeling of being stared at while driving it on the road. Turning heads isn't fun, in my opinion.


Hello "JohnMor":

I did not know about the Lotus. Perhaps I will drive to Denver this weekend and give one a try.

Given no holds barred if I were to write a check for around 40K or so, for performance, which one, a used Lotus or a used M-Coupe?

Hello "JohnMor":

I did not know about the Lotus. Perhaps I will drive to Denver this weekend and give one a try.

Given no holds barred if I were to write a check for around 40K or so, for performance, which one, a used Lotus or a used M-Coupe?

Yikes. As a loyal BMW owner and a loyal Lotus owner, this question is very hard for me to answer. They are certainly very different cars, and it really depends on what you want to do with it.

The Lotus is a no-holds-barred performance machine. It is not a comfortable car by any means. Even the A/C works poorly. It doesn't even have power steering. That said, it's just about the best handling car you can buy. If you do track days, or would like to, the Elise/Exige is THE tool for carving it up. Even with only 190 hp (4cyl Toyota 2ZZ-GE from the Celica, retuned by Lotus) in the Elise, it will do 0-60 in the 4.x second range, although it does run out of steam up high. Acceleration above 130 mph is very weak, and it tops out at 150 mph. It only weighs about 1950 pounds. The chassis is made from bonded aluminum (the adhesive is actually VISIBLE in the footwell). The body is basically two pieces of thin fiberglass (the front "clam" and rear "clam"). There are no bumpers behind the fiberglass bodywork, so even a small tap can mean a whole new front or rear clam costing many thousands of dollars. The car is so low, it's invisible in the rearview mirror of cars in front of you, so with the delicate body work and ow roof line, parallel parking is absolutely out of the question. You have to drive it as if you're invisible to other drivers. It really is that low and small. They are very easy to total, even in a small accident. So there are disadvantages, but MY GOD, is it a fun car to drive if you can climb into it (very low roofline with a very high door sill). It takes a hardcore kind of person to use an Elise as a daily driver, but some people do it. It makes a better track car, or weekend canyon/mountain road carver. You will never feel more connected to the road - honestly - never. Also, be prepared for the attention is draws. In December, while doing holiday shopping at a local mall, I parked away from the other cars in the lot, with the only other car nearby being a Gallardo. I came out to find a group of teenagers gawking at my car, and ignoring the much more expensive Lambo.

Obviously many on this board are more familiar with the M-Coupe. It's a well performing car, great handling/power, and enough comfort to make fine daily driver. It compromises a bit in the raw performance category in order to give you a lot of things the Lotus doesn't have, like comfy seats, a nice sound system, available navigation/sat radio, well-working climate control, usable luggage space, cruise control, I could go on-an-on. The M-coupe, like all modern BMWs, is a marvel of modern automobile engineering technology. It's just an overall awesome and well-rounded car with a very strong engine. Much torquier than the Lotus, that's for sure. It will pull much harder from down low in the revs without having to wind it up to the stratosphere like the Lotus. I would say that the vast majority of people would prefer the M-Coupe.

It really depends on what you plan to use the car for. Do test drive the Lotus. It will certainly put a smile on your face - that I guarantee - and it just might talk to you in such a way that you simply have to own one. It did to me.

BTW, there are a good number of aftermarket performance options for the Lotus, including turbo and supercharger packages. A new supercharger for the Elise that greatly improves torque and power delivery costs $4,975 plus about $2k for delivery at a Lotus dealership.

The nice thing about driving my car is that it has a tendency to turn heads in traffic...I've noticed it on a number of occasions and I have to admit..prior to getting mine I used to catch myself checking them out as they drove by...not so much other cars but more Bimmers...the reputation and the look just draw you to it.. :cool

Mine always turns heads. I sometime wonder if the person knows me beause they are staring so hard. When an E92 goes by me, I stare at it too, even though I have the same car. The E92 is a work of art.

Y
The Lotus ... There are no bumpers behind the fiberglass bodywork, so even a small tap can mean a whole new front or rear clam costing many thousands of dollars.
How much is insurance on that car then :eek:.

I think my car turns plenty of heads. Actually I was cruising home from work the other day on the 605, and this younger girl (21ish) just about fell out of the car looking over at me!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l78/laforze/BMW%20335i/Picture212.jpg

Will only get better when I have the PSS9's installed this Mon.

Mine is a head turner!!! Mostly because of the color though -- an excellent blue! Most BMW in Texas are gray, black or white. So red and blue BMWs get a lot of attention. In fact, they had a hard time moving my car -- which is why I got such a good deal on it.

Hey I get plenty of looks too, but mine is a coupe, but exactly the same color as yours. I have a couple of questions: What color is your interior? Mine is the light beige that is really hard to keep clean, what do you use? Second, did you ever consider using a blueish tint instead of straight black? And final question, what type of rims are those... I am considering rims. Thanks!

It sure does, especially this morning at the gas station. I store my car in the winter and when the roads are clean, like today, i take it out to move the fluids. The car is showroom condition and to see any car in the Winter in show room condition makes a car stand out.

In addition to have a clean car, any BMW coupe is a rare site in my neck of the woods.

Nothing finer than looking at the beauty of a clean BMW. :redspot

taking E65s down to campus is pretty good at turning heads...

still waiting on my e90

Folks notice the coupes. IMO - the sedan has sedate looks and very common so not sure anyone notices them.

My car gets a lot of attention.
Many people have said things like "wow, nice car."
My car has also gotten keyed twice, a cigarette put out on it once, and gum thrown onto the hood of the car.
So there are a lot of jealous people too.
I wish it was legal to beat the shit out of people that damage your property.

My car has also gotten keyed twice, a cigarette put out on it once, and gum thrown onto the hood of the car.
.

Sorry to hear. That sucks and sours you on human decency. There are so many BMW (all models) around here that not sure anyone would think to key. Of course, in a different area of town that is not the case.

Sorry to hear. That sucks and sours you on human decency. There are so many BMW (all models) around here that not sure anyone would think to key. Of course, in a different area of town that is not the case.

That's terrible that someone would do something like that to someone else's property..years ago when I was driving a Mercedes 190E (red)..I only had it for about 2 weeks and stopped off at a grocery store to pickup a few things...spent less than 10 minutes in the store and came out to a large slash on my driver's side door...the feeling was sickening so I know how you must feel. these days I try to be more cautious but you never know..fortunately nothing has happened so far but friends of mine who drive Bimmers have had their emblems ripped off and other crazy things done....enough to make you want to drive a "beater" for those errands etc.. and save the Bimmer for pure driving pleasure..

I park my BMW as far away from other cars as possible now. Accept when there are nicer cars around, then I park next to them. I figure they wont screw with my car. :D

3 series...head turners?

no

I think my car turns plenty of heads. Actually I was cruising home from work the other day on the 605, and this younger girl (21ish) just about fell out of the car looking over at me!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l78/laforze/BMW%20335i/Picture212.jpg

Will only get better when I have the PSS9's installed this Mon.

Love those wheels.

Hey I get plenty of looks too, but mine is a coupe, but exactly the same color as yours. I have a couple of questions: What color is your interior? Mine is the light beige that is really hard to keep clean, what do you use? Second, did you ever consider using a blueish tint instead of straight black? And final question, what type of rims are those... I am considering rims. Thanks!

If you are talking about my car, the interior is that orangish tan color? Actually though, Just had the centers of the four seats aligned with a charcoal grey leather. I'll have to get pictures up shortly. As for the tint, I don't care for any colored tints. I generally think the don't look very good. That's just MHO.

As for the Rims, they are Beyerns Mesh rims. 19" 265/30 Rears, 19" 235/35 Fronts. Just installed the Bilstein PSS9 Coils, so as soon as they settle, I'll have some new shots up.

Hey I get plenty of looks too, but mine is a coupe, but exactly the same color as yours. I have a couple of questions: What color is your interior? Mine is the light beige that is really hard to keep clean, what do you use? Second, did you ever consider using a blueish tint instead of straight black? And final question, what type of rims are those... I am considering rims. Thanks!
Don't do blue tint. It's totally ricerish; we had a car come in with it yesterday. It looked terrible.

I think my car turns plenty of heads. Actually I was cruising home from work the other day on the 605, and this younger girl (21ish) just about fell out of the car looking over at me!



Will only get better when I have the PSS9's installed this Mon.

Blue def. gets more attention.

Love those wheels.

Cool wheels..are they custom?

Mine turns heads here near Madison Wisconsin. Not sure if it is because it is a coupe or because it is winter and most people drive beaters lol.