330i vs 335i

[adycav]

dibbly_dobbler said:

If you want a manual take the 330i if you want an auto take the 335

You might not have a choice - manual 335i tourings (and saloons for that matter) are very hard to find.

This isn't an issue if you are buying a brand new one of course.

A space grey 335i M-Sport manual touring with black leather and sun protection glass would be nice if you are speccing a new one...

[NoelWatson]

adycav said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

If you want a manual take the 330i if you want an auto take the 335

You might not have a choice - manual 335i tourings (and saloons for that matter) are very hard to find.

This isn't an issue if you are buying a brand new one of course.

A space grey 335i M-Sport manual touring with black leather and sun protection glass would be nice if you are speccing a new one...

I almost changed my spec to the 335 but was told it would be best to order MSport with it if I did, and the ride is bad enough as it is.

[JNW1]

NoelWatson said:

adycav said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

If you want a manual take the 330i if you want an auto take the 335

You might not have a choice - manual 335i tourings (and saloons for that matter) are very hard to find.

This isn't an issue if you are buying a brand new one of course.

A space grey 335i M-Sport manual touring with black leather and sun protection glass would be nice if you are speccing a new one...

I almost changed my spec to the 335 but was told it would be best to order MSport with it if I did, and the ride is bad enough as it is.

Might be wrong but I thought all 335's came with sport suspension as standard. I drove an SE coupe not long after they came out and to be honest the ride seemed ok to me (and that was on the optional 19" alloys which I assume were fitted with the dreaded run flat tyres!).

[NoelWatson]

JNW1 said:

NoelWatson said:

adycav said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

If you want a manual take the 330i if you want an auto take the 335

You might not have a choice - manual 335i tourings (and saloons for that matter) are very hard to find.

This isn't an issue if you are buying a brand new one of course.

A space grey 335i M-Sport manual touring with black leather and sun protection glass would be nice if you are speccing a new one...

I almost changed my spec to the 335 but was told it would be best to order MSport with it if I did, and the ride is bad enough as it is.

Might be wrong but I thought all 335's came with sport suspension as standard. I drove an SE coupe not long after they came out and to be honest the ride seemed ok to me (and that was on the optional 19" alloys which I assume were fitted with the dreaded run flat tyres!).

Apparently not. M Sport suspension is £265 according to website. I got our 330 on the base suspension and wheels and the ride is far worse than my NSX. Very tempted to get rid of the damn runflats at some point.

[JNW1]

NoelWatson said:

JNW1 said:

NoelWatson said:

adycav said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

If you want a manual take the 330i if you want an auto take the 335

You might not have a choice - manual 335i tourings (and saloons for that matter) are very hard to find.

This isn't an issue if you are buying a brand new one of course.

A space grey 335i M-Sport manual touring with black leather and sun protection glass would be nice if you are speccing a new one...

I almost changed my spec to the 335 but was told it would be best to order MSport with it if I did, and the ride is bad enough as it is.

Might be wrong but I thought all 335's came with sport suspension as standard. I drove an SE coupe not long after they came out and to be honest the ride seemed ok to me (and that was on the optional 19" alloys which I assume were fitted with the dreaded run flat tyres!).

Apparently not. M Sport suspension is £265 according to website. I got our 330 on the base suspension and wheels and the ride is far worse than my NSX. Very tempted to get rid of the damn runflats at some point.

Sorry, my mistake! When I was looking at the 335i it was a coupe and on those sports suspension is standard on the SE as well as the Sport; however, you're quite right, that's not the case with the touring!

Never had a chance to drive an NSX but suspect it sets the bar at a pretty high level when it comes to handling/roadholding/ride!

[dxb335d]

JNW1 said:

NoelWatson said:

JNW1 said:

standard 335i's are in the low 12's for 0-100mph

Why are BMW only rating them at ~300bhp? Low 12's is Cayman quick which would imply more like 350bhp

Good question! From odd reports I've read 335i's if anything tend to make a bit more than the quoted figure so perhaps just over 300bhp is a bit conservative on BMW's part? The most recent road test I've seen was in the February 2009 issue of Evo and they got a manual to 100mph in 12.2 seconds; BMW Car achieved 12.5 seconds with a standard car and that dropped to 11.7 seconds for a car remapped by Evolve (which was giving around 360bhp). A cynic may say that BMW is deliberately making sure its press cars are "good examples" and therefore potentially unrepresentative of what an owner would buy but to be honest I don't think they'd do that.

Must have a try in one of these new 330i's though! The performance/economy combination looks pretty impressive and in touring form (which was what the OP was talking about) it's 85kg lighter than the 335i - not insignificant and presumably due mainly to the different engines?

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

[JNW1]

dxb335d said:

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

Are you therefore suggesting that BMW do in fact provide unusually good examples to the press?!

[matt uk]

JNW1 said:

dxb335d said:

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

Are you therefore suggesting that BMW do in fact provide unusually good examples to the press?!

I would be far more surprised if any manufacturer didn't

[JNW1]

matt uk said:

JNW1 said:

dxb335d said:

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

Are you therefore suggesting that BMW do in fact provide unusually good examples to the press?!

I would be far more surprised if any manufacturer didn't

And there was me thinking that sort of thing went out years ago! Can see that something like a 335i (and indeed any turbo car) would be easy to tweak but surprised BMW would feel the need to do it; after all, how many owners would be able to tell their car was "only" capable of doing 0-100mph in 13 seconds as opposed to 12?!

[Trixman]

Yep, I would believe they do it, hence the point of the magazines taking 3 examples (standard, press car and tuned). Think the temptation of a few more psi here and there is too great for them to resist.

Which is why I ended up with the 335 also. Scope for easy gains if you want it by adding a comfortable map to up the pressure a bit. Lots of people prefer the free revving 330 engine. We should feel lucky, the Americans only get a choice of a few engines (but then again they save a fortune when buying new)

[AB]

dxb335d said:

Yes there are 335i Tourings.


The 335i engine debuted in Setember 2006. What a cracking engine. Because the way this forums seems to be, you will now get a million people telling you the 330i is sportier and better and more involving. I cant agree at all. The 335i is superb and much faster.

Go test them both and make your own decision.

Only advice I will give is ignore this poster. He'll have you in a 335d.

[AB]

dxb335d said:

JNW1 said:

NoelWatson said:

JNW1 said:

standard 335i's are in the low 12's for 0-100mph

Why are BMW only rating them at ~300bhp? Low 12's is Cayman quick which would imply more like 350bhp

Good question! From odd reports I've read 335i's if anything tend to make a bit more than the quoted figure so perhaps just over 300bhp is a bit conservative on BMW's part? The most recent road test I've seen was in the February 2009 issue of Evo and they got a manual to 100mph in 12.2 seconds; BMW Car achieved 12.5 seconds with a standard car and that dropped to 11.7 seconds for a car remapped by Evolve (which was giving around 360bhp). A cynic may say that BMW is deliberately making sure its press cars are "good examples" and therefore potentially unrepresentative of what an owner would buy but to be honest I don't think they'd do that.

Must have a try in one of these new 330i's though! The performance/economy combination looks pretty impressive and in touring form (which was what the OP was talking about) it's 85kg lighter than the 335i - not insignificant and presumably due mainly to the different engines?

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

Im glad I logged on, was finding it hard to sleep. SNORE.

[dxb335d]

AB said:

dxb335d said:

JNW1 said:

NoelWatson said:

JNW1 said:

standard 335i's are in the low 12's for 0-100mph

Why are BMW only rating them at ~300bhp? Low 12's is Cayman quick which would imply more like 350bhp

Good question! From odd reports I've read 335i's if anything tend to make a bit more than the quoted figure so perhaps just over 300bhp is a bit conservative on BMW's part? The most recent road test I've seen was in the February 2009 issue of Evo and they got a manual to 100mph in 12.2 seconds; BMW Car achieved 12.5 seconds with a standard car and that dropped to 11.7 seconds for a car remapped by Evolve (which was giving around 360bhp). A cynic may say that BMW is deliberately making sure its press cars are "good examples" and therefore potentially unrepresentative of what an owner would buy but to be honest I don't think they'd do that.

Must have a try in one of these new 330i's though! The performance/economy combination looks pretty impressive and in touring form (which was what the OP was talking about) it's 85kg lighter than the 335i - not insignificant and presumably due mainly to the different engines?

Press cars did 12 secs 0-100. Non press cars have done 13's secs 0-100.

Im glad I logged on, was finding it hard to sleep. SNORE.

Alex leave it out. I aint talking 335d. Grow up.

Oh and pay Nicola back the money you owe her.

Edited by dxb335d on Wednesday 4th February 13:47

[adycav]

dxb335d said:

Oh and pay Nicola back the money you owe her.