RE: BMW 435d xDrive: PH Carpool

RE: BMW 435d xDrive: PH Carpool

Monday 8th February 2016

BMW 435d xDrive: PH Carpool

All the car you ever need? This PHer would say so



Name: Kevin Warner
Car: BMW 435d xDrive
Owned since: Jan 2014 (ordered as the first in the country)
Previously owned: Ford Escort Mk2 RS 2000, Triumph Stag, Fiat 130 Coupe, Datsun 260Z, Lamborghini Jarama S, Lamborghini Espada 111 x 3, De Tomaso Mangusta / Pantera L, Fiat Dino 2.0, Alfa Montreal x 2, Coombes Jaguar MkII, Ferrari 365GT4 / 365GTC4, Ferrari 550 Maranello, Ford Escort Mk3 van X 3 (RS Turbo conversions), Audi A6 2.5 TDI x 2, Audi RS2, BMW E46 3 Series 3.0Cd, BMW E92 335d Coupe, BMW E92 330d Coupe, (present: Maserati GranTurismo 4.2, BMW X5 40d, KTM 450 EXC, Suzuki Hayabusa)

Why I bought it:
"There are faster cars, there are more economical cars, but nothing this fast is this economical!"

What I wish I'd known:
"That other interior colour options were coming soon."

Limited choice of colours when Kevin specced this
Limited choice of colours when Kevin specced this
Things I love:
"The comfort (on 18-inch wheels at least), the economy (an average of 49.3mpg over the first 16,000 miles), the room for a coupe - it's larger in the back than a 6 Series - and the rear seats go down so I can fit a bicycle in. Best of all is its outright pace; even taking economy out of the equation I would take the 435d over an M3/M4 as I adore the phenomenal torque from 1,000rpm, overtaking in eighth is so easy, smooth and quiet. As standard it's a very quick car - 4.7 seconds to 62! - and much quicker than my GranTurismo on the road. This one has a medium upgrade to 540lb ft, giving it 5lb ft more than a third-gen Viper.

"I much prefer it over my last 335d (remapped and delimited it peaked at 176.6 mph on an Autobahn) as it rides so much better, has more performance, returns 10 more miles to the gallon and has two more gears. I would recommend the adaptive dampers but not the adaptive headlights as they are a tad slow to react to other traffic. I tried an Alpina D3 but on balance the 435d has it. The Harman Kardon stereo is fabulous and well worth the extra. Its party trick is popping out of roundabouts in the wet."

See here for more detail on all that power
See here for more detail on all that power
Things I hate:
"The choice of exterior and interior colours is VERY limited. There should be a choice of two- or four-wheel drive as well as a manual option. The tank is too small as well; even though it offers a 600-mile range that's 100 miles down on my last E92 330d. The leather quality is below standard and the paint is getting better over recent BMWs but is still not great."

Costs:
"No extra costs to date; the first service is due at around 24,000 miles."

Where I've been:
"One run down to the French Alps in the snow and one run down to Budapest. 1,111 miles non-stop, fast through Germany and sticking to the limits all the way, two up plus baggage and 47.7mpg - happy days!

What's next?
"The car I crave - listen up BMW! - is a 450d, as we all know the tri-turbo diesel can deliver 500hp and 700lb ft. Please build it. Or a Maserati Alfieri."


Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!



Author
Discussion

Blackbird425

Original Poster:

1,884 posts

104 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
1,111 miles non-stop pretty good going with a 600 mile range.

Lovely car though.

-crookedtail-

1,558 posts

189 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
The economy is quite something actually isn't it, when you look at the performance too!

I was only thinking yesterday of a *35d as I got around 300 miles from 45 Litres in my 9-3 2.8T, my car is a dinosaur in comparison, a lovely petrol dinosaur but still, this is impressive! hehe

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I thought BMW would paint a car any colour you wanted (as long as you're willing to pay for it)?

BMRuss

1,547 posts

189 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Wish my F30 335D would return that sort of economy, it's not even close (37.1) over 21k miles.

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I came very close to getting a 435d GC but opted for a 640d GC instead. The X-Drive of the 435d was very nearly the clincher as it, along with prolific performance made it a hugely desirable real-world option.

As for the 450d....I've had my 640d tweaked by AC Schnitzer which brings 50d power and performance (and suspension modifications to boot). Stick that on the 435d and it would be truly amazing.


Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
With the last version the 335i hybrid gave mid 40s average and had the much sweeter 340ish bhp turbo petrol straight six, if list price wasn't an issue and you were doing a lot of stop start traffic where the hybrid will run almost all electric, I don't see the 335d being the one to go for though not sure you can get it in four series form and not something easily tuned.

NJC0607

13 posts

136 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I have this exact car, as my daily driver - albeit with some tasty upgrades as well..
M sport suspension, M brakes, M wheels, M steering, H&R lowering springs (makes it look and handle WAY better than stock) a healthy power hike, and a few other special bits to make it handle and go better... in estoril blue, with ivory leather it looks fantastic.

for me, this is the ultimate diesel... 4WD,its got a lower CofG than anything else in its class (or above) its 30mm lower and wider than the 3 series, looks way better IMO.
and, as you say, nearly 50mpg and it goes like stink..
on track it was quicker than my mates Porsche Cayman S 3.4,... which is gob smacking for a diesel ! people are genuinely shocked at how good it is...
from a standing start with launch control I left a 400hp Evo and lots of other so called "fast" cars..

30,000 miles in and it has been faultless. only needed 1 set of tyres and 1 set of brake pads. astonishing.
the 450d would be bonkers !

aston addict

418 posts

157 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
agree with original poster comment about the quality of the interior leather - on my old E46 330ci sport the leather was not good quality and think it's gone downhill even more - I don't think an upgrade to the leather is offered, just different colours of Dakota leather...

Feels more like plastic than leather. Even the man-made stuff in Mercs is better quality

dlockhart

434 posts

171 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Is that ipad by the gear stick a result of a modification? it isn't clear from the article (or I am blind)

stuartrav

49 posts

211 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
My F30 330d is averaging under 33mpg and that's mainly with the wife driving it sedately.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
aston addict said:
Feels more like plastic than leather. Even the man-made stuff in Mercs is better quality
The standard leather in BMWs has long been pretty grotty looking, but the current stuff looks like British Leyland vinyl. I think I'd rather have cloth, I suspect they overcharge massively to upgrade to decent leather?

offshoreeddy

349 posts

140 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
aston addict said:
Feels more like plastic than leather. Even the man-made stuff in Mercs is better quality
The "leather" in my E Class Coupe was 'Artico' leather ... vinyl more like, absolute ste. Couldn't wait to be rid of it, dreadful car all round. My current 330d is absolutely leagues ahead in quality imho.

PistonBroker

2,406 posts

225 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
dlockhart said:
Is that ipad by the gear stick a result of a modification? it isn't clear from the article (or I am blind)
Agreed. Not clear.

I presume something to do with the remap?

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Probably just an OBD dongle talking to the ECU and tablet. My phone fires up a screen very much like that when I start the engine in my car. smile

aston addict

418 posts

157 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I don't think it's even possible to upgrade the leather - at least in the US? I was on the US configurator last night and it only gave you the option to change the colour / stitching, not the type. Maybe it's different in the UK.

Agree that a nice suede / velour / cloth combo would be better! I think it started going downhill when they made leather standard, it used to be a very expensive option in the past, but now it seems every model comes with it so they massively cheapened the leather as a result.


C7 JFW

1,205 posts

218 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
NJC0607 said:
I have this exact car, as my daily driver - albeit with some tasty upgrades as well..
M sport suspension, M brakes, M wheels, M steering, H&R lowering springs (makes it look and handle WAY better than stock) a healthy power hike, and a few other special bits to make it handle and go better... in estoril blue, with ivory leather it looks fantastic.

for me, this is the ultimate diesel... 4WD,its got a lower CofG than anything else in its class (or above) its 30mm lower and wider than the 3 series, looks way better IMO.
and, as you say, nearly 50mpg and it goes like stink..
on track it was quicker than my mates Porsche Cayman S 3.4,... which is gob smacking for a diesel ! people are genuinely shocked at how good it is...
from a standing start with launch control I left a 400hp Evo and lots of other so called "fast" cars..

30,000 miles in and it has been faultless. only needed 1 set of tyres and 1 set of brake pads. astonishing.
the 450d would be bonkers !
Now we're getting somewhere. A diesel 3 series leaves a 400bhp Evo?! Wow.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Do any cars in this class actually use real (as opposed to bicast) leather?

HJMS123

988 posts

132 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
kambites said:
Do any cars in this class actually use real (as opposed to bicast) leather?
I think audi are the only ones who offer this upgrade ... for a cost which is in well into four figures

rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Wish my F30 335D would return that sort of economy, it's not even close (37.1) over 21k miles.

Id like to the ask if the OP used the OBC to check the mpg or brimmed the car at every fill and used maths to work it out?
I've been driving what is, on paper, one of THE most economical cars on sale today and my average wasn't much better, although my current car, a Skoda Octavia 2.0 tdi 150 DSG which I've had for 3 weeks and 330 miles has averaged 50.1mpg albeit in shortish runs
My current journey, as I write this, has resulted in 50.1 and that was doing an imitation of Morgan Freeman in 'Driving Miss Daisy'...
Back to subject, I love the BMW 3/4 series, swmbo most recently having a 320d mSport Touring, and this post has only strengthened my resolve to get her another (330d xDrive Touring would be ideal)
I suspect many will dismiss the OPs car as being a dirty diesel but having driven one, the ability to cover ground in a fast and economical manner (with the benefits of that extra traction when going gets a bit iffish) appeals, especially in a colour that we at work called 'grey porridge' or 'bank robbers car' colours rather than the more shouty colours (if you get my drift; a colour that blends in...)
With regards to the interior, I've iften wondered why we get hung up on the quality or not of leather, my preference whether a car is a premium or sport type is alcantara; cool in summer and warmer to the feel in winter.
After all, the Throne upon which our Queen sits, isn't leather, so if it's good enough for her not to have leather, then it's good enough for me... (And I agree the Throne isn't alcantara either, but you get my drift......)



Edited by rtz62 on Monday 8th February 15:19

silentbrown

8,793 posts

115 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
AFAICT Dakota leather *is* probably 'pigmented' leather, not bicast. But it's heavily treated and coated to add an artificial grain.

I'm not aware of *any* cars in this class that use bicast leathers. MB Artico is wholly manmade.

http://www.leathermasteruk.com/index_leather_types...