like the 3 series a lot but the only reason why I would never own one is because most of them are slow as piss besides the M3 or a chipped 335 which I cant afford lol.
Also, the new m3 is too heavy while the 335 seems to have 31523634543 r problems with the fuel pump. I've heard so many horror stories that im not sure i'd pick one.
the e46 m3 has to be the perfect 3 series but then again I could never buy one simply because id hate myself for changing my Z for it lol.
Most 335 HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) issues have been fixed since the last recall. Also, the warranty on the whole injection system is 10 years/160 000KMs... Other than that, there was, on the 2007 model, a recall on the waste gates which had a rattle (which basically only made them noisy, it didn't stop anything from working properly) and they were all replaced under warranty (new turbos). Other than that, the N54 is bullet proof. There are tons of N54s over 450 WHP on stock internals/turbos and have no issues at all. I have looked long before buying mine to make sure it wasn't unreliable and in one year of ownership (and over 35,000 KMs) nothing has gone wrong on me even tough I'm not stock. I don't know what horror stories you have heard but even if, let's say, the fuel pump would give up on you, in most cases it results into a "limp mode" and you can still drive the car. I don't see no horrors here? No one EVER paid out of their pockets to get a fuel injection related issue fixed by BMW either. It also comes in gradually (longer cranks) so you can go ahead and replace it BEFORE it goes into limp.
That aside, have you looked into the E90 330, if the N54 really scares you? N/A 254BHP, straight 6 cyl... Pretty nice engine and with a few mods here and there you can get to 270 BHP (Euro Spec version has 270 BHP stock), only 30 less than a stock 335.
No trying to defend my car but it's annoying to read stuff like that because it's far from reality. My conclusion, from everything that I have read about the HPFP so far is that this engine doesn't like Ethanol at all. We had a law that forced oil companies to have at least 5 to 15% of renewable content sold in gas, therefore Ethanol. It is a lot worse in the USA because they have at LEAST 10%+ of Ethanol in their fuels (whereas 5 to 10% in Canada). A lot of people that put V-Power in their cars have had a lot less issues with theirs because it contains no Ethanol. And this doesn't stop to cars, a lot of other domains are also trying to avoid Ethanol mixed fuel as well.
That's what "Flex-Fuel" badges are on new cars for. They require different fuel lines, tanks and fuel pumps.