F31 335d M possible purchase

[Hunky Dory]

Welshbeef said:

I'm in the 85-90% going to go for it at the moment and likely to throw even more options in on it - this will be a very long term keeper 5-7 years for myself and then the wife for at least the same again (well that would be the theory)


Colour seems to be the challenge

I love estriol blue
Wife not so keen she likes the grey so much more - a stealthy look not shouts out about performance


Spec she really isn't keen on pano roof thinks its too much money plus she wouldn't want it open at all when in the car - glare hurts her eyes. .


Thoughts on colour?

I think your wife has the right idea

[Welshbeef]

Hunky Dory said:

I think your wife has the right idea

Like that a lot.

Agreed grey it is.


Though the 335i v 335d....2 split exhausts rwd m suspension. Hmm

What are your thoughts about the 335i ? Is it auto? Pros cons mpg and how fast is it.

[JNW1]

Welshbeef said:

Thoughts on colour?

I like Estoril Blue and if I was ordering an M135i that's the colour I'd choose (I think!). However, I'm not convinced it looks quite right on the larger cars (3 and 4-Series) as it seems to look a bit, err, cheap; therefore, for me I think it would be Mineral Grey with black leather (classy but understated). I don't agree with your missus re the panoramic roof though; lifts the cabin no end IMO and there's always a blind for the odd occasions the sun's really strong and you can't stand the glare!

[Welshbeef]

On the M Performance Plus pack does it give you vented rear discs or just larger solids?

[gizlaroc]

The blue is nice, but only for a couple of years, grey is easily the best colour on these.

I hated the Pano roof on my 535d, totally pointless thing, and no way I would have paid extra for it.

I also think the beige interior is really nice on these too, makes it feel a lot more expensive than the black, there was one in cooper in grey with beige with black grain wood and it looked lovely, they said as soon as they had that in everyone was speccing it over black.

[Wills2]

They will be vented all round, but not drilled IIRC.

[JNW1]

gizlaroc said:

I hated the Pano roof on my 535d, totally pointless thing, and no way I would have paid extra for it.

I also think the beige interior is really nice on these too, makes it feel a lot more expensive than the black, there was one in cooper in grey with beige with black grain wood and it looked lovely, they said as soon as they had that in everyone was speccing it over black.

Interesting, what did you hate about the Pano roof? For me it gives you the option of more light in the cabin when you want it but you can shut it out when you don't. All very much a personal thing, though; I hate houses that have small windows and feel dark inside but some people find them cosy - each to their own I suppose!

I get what you mean about the beige interior but what puts me off is you also get beige carpets (including in the load area in the F31) and that doesn't strike me as very practical. For some reason BMW don't offer the Oyster leather with black carpets on the 3-Series but that would probably be my first choice interior if they did; the closest appears to be one of the options from their exclusive range but that's another £1.2k!

[Mustard]

From July production oyster/black will be on the M sport replacing Venetian beige..... If you want beige you better order quick!

[JNW1]

Mustard said:

From July production oyster/black will be on the M sport replacing Venetian beige..... If you want beige you better order quick!

Or hold off a bit if you want Oyster/black; thanks for the heads-up!

[JNW1]

Welshbeef said:

Though the 335i v 335d....2 split exhausts rwd m suspension. Hmm

What are your thoughts about the 335i ? Is it auto? Pros cons mpg and how fast is it.

Just some observations following a couple of test drives at my local dealer yesterday. I'm interested in an F31 335i but apparently they're as common as rocking horse droppings and hence the chances of a test drive seem limited. Anyway, I'm thinking I'd like much of what's included in the Sport Plus Pack except I'm nervous about the affect of the 19" wheels on ride quality (my E92 335i has them and the ride could be better in my view). The local dealer had a 330d saloon with said Sport Plus Pack (which apparently would drive pretty much the same as a Touring) and also a 435i auto which would give the chance to see what that engine/gearbox combination was like (my 335i is a manual).

So, out in the 330d first and the ride seems very supple (certainly better at low speeds than my 335i); however, up the pace on a backroad and it all starts to get a bit loose and floaty for my taste. However, a decent machine overall and I thought the engine/gearbox combination worked very well; the engine seemed smoother than the previous 330d I'd driven albeit still not to the standard of the 335i.

Get out of the 330d to get in the 435i and it's only then that I notice the 330d was an X-Drive; "does that mean it hasn't got sports suspension?" I ask the salesman but he and a colleague he calls across both assure me it has. I express my doubts but enough of the chat and let's have a go in this 435i. It turns out that that's also running on 19" wheels and within 20 yards you can tell it's noticeably firmer than the 330d; across the same backroad at speed it feels much more planted but at low speed the ride quality is similar to my 335i (so ok but not great). Strangely, the auto also feels more jerky than with the 330d although the salesman says the newness of the car (less than 100 miles) could explain that.

Back in showroom we establish that the 330d didn't have sports suspension which leads me to think that on an X-Drive I'd opt for adaptive suspension so I could firm things up slightly when trying to go quickly on a give and take road. I'd probably also opt for adaptive on a RWD M-Sport fitted with the 19" wheels to soften the ride at low speed; whether a RWD M-Sport on the standard 18" wheels would benefit from it I don't know but given it's "only" £515 extra it's a box I'd be tempted to tick as it's peanuts in the grand scheme of things on a £40k car.

All interesting food for thought but then I get in my car to drive home and within a couple of minutes I'm wondering why on earth I'd spend £20k on top of that to buy something that doesn't really feel much different. The answer is because I'd like the extra doors and practicality of the Touring but given my car's high-spec with only 34k miles on the clock it really would be a wrench to spend so much money to end-up with something that's more practical but in most other ways no better. I'm now thinking that the way forward may be to persuade my other half to drive something bigger than her Astra, chop that in for an estate and me keep the 335i; any constructive suggestions/alternatives welcome!!

[gizlaroc]

JNW1 said:

Interesting, what did you hate about the Pano roof? For me it gives you the option of more light in the cabin when you want it but you can shut it out when you don't. All very much a personal thing, though; I hate houses that have small windows and feel dark inside but some people find them cosy - each to their own I suppose!

I get what you mean about the beige interior but what puts me off is you also get beige carpets (including in the load area in the F31) and that doesn't strike me as very practical. For some reason BMW don't offer the Oyster leather with black carpets on the 3-Series but that would probably be my first choice interior if they did; the closest appears to be one of the options from their exclusive range but that's another £1.2k!

I just didn't see the point of it, during the day just didn't like having it open, and then it started to get an annoying vibration that BMW took 3 attempts to sort out, and it was only just 2 years old. In the end the whole lot came out and everything apart from the glass itself was replaced.


I had oyster in my 335i and it was nice, but starting to like the all beige interiors again, to me that makes an interior feel lighter and more spacious than than a pano roof.

[Hunky Dory]

Welshbeef said:

Hunky Dory said:

I think your wife has the right idea

Like that a lot.

Agreed grey it is.


Though the 335i v 335d....2 split exhausts rwd m suspension. Hmm

What are your thoughts about the 335i ? Is it auto? Pros cons mpg and how fast is it.

It's fantastic, I love it. But it's not without flaws.

Pro's:
The engine. Lovely sound, very strong under acceleration. Feels more powerful than the numbers suggest, almost like it's running quite under-stressed, maybe suggesting headroom for tuning…?
The auto box is brilliant, 90% of the time (see con's!)

Interior spec and design is very nice. I know this is subjective, but I've driven a few cars over the last six months from £20k list to near £100k and the 3'er is the nicest all round interior package so far IMO. It’s a bit subdued, for sure, but everything you touch and press feels thoroughly well engineered and solid. Possibly agree with the above ref beige interior being classier, but just not practical for me with a dog and child and another (child) on the way!

Rear tailgate being electric and with split window is nice,

Compromise of performance vs economy is spot on for me. I was torn between an S4 and 335. The S4 sounded better and went quicker, but when driving around town was getting less than 25mpg and the car was always straining at the leash to be thrashed again. I just think it would have been tiring to live with long term. And the interior was very cheap compared to BMW.

HK stereo and adaptive headlamps are brilliant

This is nothing to do with the 335, but the M laptimer app is a great laugh (and a scary insight into the info a car is logging about your driving)


Con's
Not loud enough inside. Having driven an M135i, I'd actually rather mine had the same synthesised in cabin sounds. And I never thought I'd say that about "fake engine sounds"!

Brakes (not the upgraded ones on mine). They stop well and have pretty good feel, but they can fade when braking hard. There's no hiding mass of the car, ultimately and in terms of handling it’s obviously no sports car.

I chose the 18”s. The 19”s on the roads I drive on were just to harsh and actually made me occasionally feel not fully in control and too aware of it being a big bus when trying to enjoy myself.

Auto box. My first one and it troubles me daily. For most of the time, it's brilliant. Driving around at reasonable pace and below is perfect. It's when I'm looking for a bit of fun I still struggle with it. It's not as engaging as a manual, I just feel disconnected. The trouble is, I knew this would be the case and didn't think it would matter. After all, how many times do you really give it a good thrash and want to be really "in the moment"...? As it turns out, although I don't often thrash it (it's too quick for that anyway) on those rare occasions, the connection you get from a manual is a massive part of that enjoyment. I hadn’t realised quite how much of apart and you only really miss it when it's not there.

Case in point, I recently drove a new Golf Gti with manual box, quickly. Bottom line was that, for that drive, I enjoyed it more than my car. I know everyone is going auto and it would be a nightmare trying to sell a manual 335i when the time comes, but this has taught me a very important lesson: By the spec you want.

It also gives this strange sensation when braking hard into a corner. As you shift down, the box seems to give a very brief freewheeling feel as it drops into the next lower gear. I’m not sure if this is standard for auto’s or not, but it is slightly unnerving at times and I guess illustrates how heavy the car is. Only when braking hard in conjunction with liberal downshifts do you stop really quick. Maybe the uprated brakes would resolve this feeling, or maybe the gearbox calibration isn’t ideally suited for that type of driving. I’ve driven the ZF auto in a few cars now and it’ amazing how different it feels from one to the next!

All that said, it's an absolutely great car and I wouldn't change it for any other single car that I can think of and don’t regret buying it one bit.

But don't count on 37mpg average. Despite the fact it managed over 40mpg on a recent motorway run, I would say if you expect 32mpg, you won't be disappointed.

[Welshbeef]

Hunky Dory a great post


The one I tested had the M performance pack so the "better" brakes I tried them hard a number of times and had no issues with them more than up to the job of slowing me down.


I remember the brakes in my old E 90 330d they were very very good so sharp and strong - I'd drive quite a few different cars similar power but always remember the brakes and steering feeling were in a vastly superior league( sound insulation though was much worse).

[jimbop1]

Estoril blue with opal white interior. Opal white is an idividual colour but I think it looks stunning....

[gizlaroc]

Funny you say about the beige with kids and a dog. That is the reason I prefer the lighter colours, black carpets and plastic trim shows up all the dirt and dust so badly, the lighter materials hide it far better.

I also found the oyster leather the easiest to stay on top off, you see a mark and you wipe it off.

I would have black again, but find it too much of a chore.

Our old ML is beige interior and I never clean it, maybe 4 times a year inside, and that has done 19000 miles this year so not like it is not getting used.
The 535d was black and I had to clean it at least every month or it looked very tatty.

[gizlaroc]

This was the E Class' grey leather and carpet after 110k miles, with a toddler and a Weimaraner.....





Don't write off lighter interiors because you think they are harder to look after, they are definitely not.

[pieter964]

Just a thought on colour; if you are planning to keep it for a number of years, you might want to consider individual or Special Request (not sure of available in UK though). I went for SR Carbon Black on an Individual Merino Black interior as mine is a long term car too. Lovely colour in the sun, but not the easiest to maintain.

Gone for the 335i with an MPPK (now 326ps/450nm) because the mileage (wife's daily) does not justify a diesel, and I really love the sound of it. Did not drive a 335d yet, but I'm sure it's an impressive daily.

Edited by pieter964 on Monday 12th May 07:00

[Welshbeef]

So an update have added quite a few more options....

List ended up being c£52k hardly no option box ticked..
Discount took it down to c£40k
13k pa over a 4 year PCP
GFV £16k
4.9% apr
£503pcm
£6k down.

Very tempted

[Osinjak]

Welshbeef said:

So an update have added quite a few more options....

List ended up being c£52k hardly no option box ticked..
Discount took it down to c£40k
13k pa over a 4 year PCP
GFV £16k
4.9% apr
£503pcm
£6k down.

Very tempted

it's a nice car - really - but £500 a month for a 3 Series? Ouch!

[Wills2]

I'd just spec the "essentials" myself pro media/heated seats/Harman kardon and perhaps the roof and keep the cost down you'll still have all the performance, getting silly with the options doesn't always give you a better car.