335d/435d or 535d

335d/435d or 535d

Author
Discussion

apotts

254 posts

206 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Yes, I think BMW have made 2 mistakes:

  • Assuming that xdrive owners want tall and soft "semi off road" suspension - clearly not so for the typical UK 335d M Sport buyer - and forcing this lot on the 335d.
  • Fitting electric steering to all these cars.

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
335d said:
Wills2 said:
535d or 640d knock the 335/435 into a cocked hat, no comparison in terms of interior and refinement.



I don't think many 335d/435d owners would dispute that the 535d and 640d feel better made and quieter. If I wanted a motorway barge, I would have gone that way as well. 90% of my driving is on winding country roads though, and for a sense of driving enjoyment there is absolutely no contest.
I would say that the performance of the 335d xdrive on winding back roads is the disappointing thing about the car.


335d

758 posts

117 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
apotts said:
Yes, I think BMW have made 2 mistakes:

  • Assuming that xdrive owners want tall and soft "semi off road" suspension - clearly not so for the typical UK 335d M Sport buyer - and forcing this lot on the 335d.
  • Fitting electric steering to all these cars.
Something we can agree on!

The suspension was a mistake in my view. It is only marginally higher, but the softness doesn't work well with that power. Adaptive dampers help, but don't solve it. When the springs were changed and I took it for its first spirited drive, I came close to accidentally clipping a grass verge on the apex of a left hand bend. The turn-in has changed dramatically - no more weight shifting, it just changes direction near instantly. It is actually a lot of fun and I find myself taking the long way home, which I didn't really do before the springs were changed.

The electric steering still lacks feel of course, and there isn't much we can do about that. I quite like the way it weights up in Sport mode, but opinion seems quite divided on this.

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
apotts said:
  • Fitting electric steering to all these cars.
yes the steering on the 640d is about as communicative as a new born baby and I was only talking to my father in law about it over the weekend about how bad it is and I don't like it much at all, I also didn't like it in the most recent 3 series either.

335d

758 posts

117 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
I would say that the performance of the 335d xdrive on winding back roads is the disappointing thing about the car.
Before changing the springs, I would agree. Certainly not afterwards though.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
335d said:
Before changing the springs, I would agree. Certainly not afterwards though.
Spot on ,I was so dissapointed with my 330d Luxury .....including sliding all over the seat ,thank god I looked at recaros and found i was too big otherwise i was up for ruining the interior ,
However since getting the AC Suspension not only does it ride on rails and is now fun but because I no longer slide around or go forward when the car nose dived on braking my seat is now comfortable,

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
I would say that the performance of the 335d xdrive on winding back roads is the disappointing thing about the car.
Wills ,youve spent a lot of money on this car so as a forum mate im suggesting you have a big think about getting A C Schnitzer springs,the difference is amazing ,really is. They have tie ups with a lot of BMW dealers who will do them or go to rossiters as a day out which I did,Lorcan the head honcho does them there for £650 and hes a good guy as well.

On another Forum there is a Mr Knowall and he was saying all they are are branded Bilsteins this is nonsense ,Bilstein makes them yes but to ACs specifications....and if BMW say any warranty work is null and void because the fault is the springs they sort it out for you.

Lorcan does a lot of Xdrive 3/5 series because many owners arent happy.



drmark

4,794 posts

185 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
I am a bit confused by the criticism of the Xdrive MSport cars. I have just taken delivery of one and I wonder whether BMW has addressed this in the 2015 cars. My ride height looks identical to a 330d (but I measured using fingers on tyre so may be 5mm out) and I have no noticeable dive on braking, under steer is marginal and it handles well on back roads for a car of its type.

It has MSport adaptive suspension and Plus pack (as most do).

And before I get flamed for being an old fart, I like my cars to handle and have plenty of decent handlers to compare it to (from a GT3 to 968 race car). Mind you, I wouldn't be the first to have all the gear and no idea smile

PS just to be clear it wouldn't see which way a Porsche went, but for a 1700kg estate I am quite impressed. Much better than my F11 with the full adaptive set up.

Edited by drmark on Wednesday 11th February 18:31

Mattt

16,661 posts

217 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
I'm with you Drmark, with adaptive suspension it's fine for a 5 door heavy saloon. It's no sports car but I didn't expect it to be.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Drmark ....... M sport adaptive suspension is the key here.....if you dont have that ......

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
smashy said:
Wills ,youve spent a lot of money on this car so as a forum mate im suggesting you have a big think about getting A C Schnitzer springs,the difference is amazing ,really is. They have tie ups with a lot of BMW dealers who will do them or go to rossiters as a day out which I did,Lorcan the head honcho does them there for £650 and hes a good guy as well.

On another Forum there is a Mr Knowall and he was saying all they are are branded Bilsteins this is nonsense ,Bilstein makes them yes but to ACs specifications....and if BMW say any warranty work is null and void because the fault is the springs they sort it out for you.

Lorcan does a lot of Xdrive 3/5 series because many owners arent happy.
Hi Smashy, I have a plan! I pick it up on the 1st of March.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
Hi Smashy, I have a plan! I pick it up on the 1st of March.
Lucky boy ...tell us when you feel like it!!

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
smashy said:
Wills2 said:
Hi Smashy, I have a plan! I pick it up on the 1st of March.
Lucky boy ...tell us when you feel like it!!
oops sorry, M5.



tighnamara

2,186 posts

152 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
335d said:
My local BMW dealer fitted them for me at a cost of £650. Some have paid just £500 from a non BMW garage, but I prefer to have everything done at BMW to avoid a buck passing situation. One key reason for choosing ACS, apart from the many positive reports, is that they offer a warranty which dovetails with the existing BMW warranty. In other words, should BMW decide that something is not covered because of the springs, ACS will cover it, or agree with BMW how it should be divided between them.

They work exceptionally well with xDrive and adaptive. Not only does the handling improve a great deal, with better turn in, but so much less weight shifting goes on under acceleration and breaking. The fact that it does this with virtually no impact on the ride suggests to me that BMW got the original springs wrong. The car is so much more composed on the Comfort setting, that there is less need to switch to Sport. Sport is very impressive though.

I use a summer set and a winter set of tyres, so I probably have another season before I have worn out my original Bridgestone Potenza runflats, which are probably the least good of the standard fit tyres. I will fit Michelin Pilot Super Sport non runflats next, as used on the M3, I believe. They offer better ride and handling according to those who have done this. I will be keeping winter runflats though, as not too keen on dark hard shoulders!

If you head over to the F30Post UK forum, there must be 20-30 there who have fitted ACS springs if you want a broader view, but it seems we all have very similar opinions.

ACS fitters including BMW dealers http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/where-to-order-4-w....
Thanks for the detailed reply, will be contacting my dealer in the next few days.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
oops sorry, M5.

Oh blimey...nice.... I saw one the other day on the M4 ....it was in some special blue colour the "presence" of the beast was fantastic,


Edited by smashy on Wednesday 11th February 21:59


Edited by smashy on Wednesday 11th February 22:00

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
smashy said:
h blimey...nice.... I saw one the other day on the M4 ....it was in some special blue colour the "presence" of the beast was fantastic,
I've gone a bit overboard in my reaction to the 335d! Looking forward to it.

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
I've gone a bit overboard in my reaction to the 335d! Looking forward to it.
I bet !!

EDITED ..had to go on the hunt ,this was it ....Frozen Blue...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLGR9hyQG4

Dryce

310 posts

131 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
the steering on the 640d is about as communicative as a new born baby
That's a bit of an insult to a new born baby.

The steering on the 640d makes a joke of the idea that BMW are drivers' cars.

It's the worst thing about living with the car IMO.

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
Dryce said:
cerb4.5lee said:
the steering on the 640d is about as communicative as a new born baby
That's a bit of an insult to a new born baby.

The steering on the 640d makes a joke of the idea that BMW are drivers' cars.

It's the worst thing about living with the car IMO.
Agree the steering is just lousy and it is the worst I have ever experienced and I wasn't a massive fan of the electric steering on our previous TTS but the 640d manages to be even worse which is saying something and as you say it underlines the direction BMW are going in sadly.

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
smashy said:
h blimey...nice.... I saw one the other day on the M4 ....it was in some special blue colour the "presence" of the beast was fantastic,
I've gone a bit overboard in my reaction to the 335d! Looking forward to it.
Did exactly the same - drove my brothers F31 335xd, went to dealer to look at ordering one for the wife, ended up doing a deal on F10 M5 for me! Factory order due third week of March - I am pretty fking excited