E92 335d vs 330d

[Mazdarese]

I'm seriously considering an E92 335d for my next car. 40mpg & 280bhp, a decent spec, and I believe a good steer, it seems hard to beat.

However, browsing the classifieds shows that a 3-year old 335d is often £2000-£3000 more expensive than an equivalent specification 330d. Is that justified? I believe the only difference is that the 335d is twin-turbo and thus a bit more powerful (~40bhp). Oh, and a tailpipe either side rather than twins on the left

So I'm thinking why not just get an E92 330d, and if I want more power then get a remap? Then I saw the 325d, which I believe is still the same engine but with a different tune producing less power?

No matter how hard I try to do less I've been consistently doing 20k miles a year for the last 5 years, and in my current car (Mazda 6 MPS) this has cost me nearly £5000 in fuel alone. That, plus the fact I rarely get to enjoy the car to it's full potential (commuting during the week is ste, always have a passenger at weekends), has made me think it's time to change, and I'd like an Auto.

Any thoughts?

[Mazdarese]

Thanks for the replies.

edo said:

Go for the 335d. I had one, and it was a great car. Having said that, the newer 330d isnt far behind. What sort of budget are you thinking? try and get the later LCi (udpated car) with the newer HDD based nav, it is streets ahead in ease of use etc.

There will be lots of idots along shortly talking about re-mapped etc. Please just ignore them.

I'm thinking between £15k-£20k. I've noticed a few of the LCi cars on BMW's Used Car locator, but I think they're out of budget. I just can't see how the difference between the 330d and the 335d is worth that couple of grand..

Kickstart68 said:

Hi

Not sure if you are used to petrol or diesel cars. If petrol then see if you can get a long test drive in the diesel to see if you like the way they produce power. Personally I don't, but plenty do.

I did drive a 330d a couple of months ago. A nice car to drive but a bit plasticy on the inside. Engine was good with decent power throughout the rev range. Not sporty though and for fun it wouldn't appeal to me, but for cruising down the motorway it would be pleasant. One car we have is an X Type Jaguar and the BMW diesel engines power curve would suit than nicely, better than the petrol 2.5 V6.

All the best

Keith

I've had both diesel and petrol cars in the past. Agreed that the power delivery of a standard diesel can be laggy, but I think the modern ones are better. That, and coupled with the 335d being a twin turbo and an automatic gearbox, I think it might work well.

[Mazdarese]

You make some good points, Gents. If the 335d is only going to return low 30's then I might as well have a look at a 335i. I'm going to try and organise a couple of test drives this weekend.

I have never driven a BMW diesel so I might hate it, or I might completely love it.

I'll be back!

[Mazdarese]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's more like it for the diesel. My current commute is 28 miles motorway, 10 miles a/b roads each day, so if I could average 40mpg on a typical day I'd be very happy.

RobM77 said:

Do definitely drive both the 335i and 335d. See my long post above for the reasons why.

Yep, read that with interest Rob. Thanks.

[Mazdarese]

Sam.F said:

My dad used to have a 335d coupe, in SE spec it had great q-car quality - awesome fun destroying the usual Audis etc on motorway sliproads as it basically looked like a 320i apart from the tailpipes.

Pros - stonking performance, particularly for A-road overtaking, 40mpg at sensible speeds on the motorway.

Cons - not really a sporty drive, I wasn't keen on the driving position.

Bearing that in mind the 335d sounds an ideal car for the OP

I'm starting to realise that I actually spend 90% of my time behind the wheel commuting rather than driving. My 'sporty driving' consists of a cheeky switch-off of the ESP when exiting damp junctions now and then, and that's it. I can live without that.

[Mazdarese]

jonah35 said:

how about a 320d which does 69mpg and is quick enough.

trouble is nowadays even a 318i will do well over a ton quickly on the motorways - what is the point in performance, you will still be doing 70ish mpg

cheaper to insure, cheaper to fuel, cheaper to tax, cheaper to buy.

I understand what you're saying, but I just know that if I got a 320d I'd always be yearning after the 335x

I test drove a 335i yesterday and it was brilliant. Perfect in every way, the dealer even did me a great deal part-ex. I went home to contemplate and someone else bought it that day. FFS.

So now I'm going to view this 335d.

[Mazdarese]

Well, the 335D I drove yesterday was a brilliant drive. It only had 7 miles of fuel left so I couldn't really stretch it's legs, but from the short trip I took in it I was well impressed. That particular car wasn't the one for me, but I'm pretty sure I want a D over an I.

The search continues!

[Mazdarese]

stuart-b said:

I managed to get ~12/13mpg from a Z4 35si in Germany, which I think is the same engine has the 335i (3.0 twin turbo), I'm not sure you could do that with the diesel?

Great engine though.

No doubt it's a great engine, but I think it would suit a manual gearbox better. I want an auto really, and the diesel is perfect with that gearbox. Plus the increased MPG of course.

[Mazdarese]

Fox- said:

Mazdarese said:

Well, the 335D I drove yesterday was a brilliant drive. It only had 7 miles of fuel left so I couldn't really stretch it's legs, but from the short trip I took in it I was well impressed. That particular car wasn't the one for me, but I'm pretty sure I want a D over an I.

Did you drive the I?

I did, on Saturday morning. I loved it, it was the right price and the guy even gave me a good price on my MPS as part-ex. The only negative was that it was an SE but still had a great spec. Anyway, I came home to mull it over and had a little snooze, woke up to a phone call and it was the guy from the dealership telling me someone had just bought it from a colleague.

I was gutted as I'm was 90% sure I was going to sign up for it.

But, I've just walked in from work and there's a voicemail from him saying that it might still be available as the potential purchaser might have problems getting finance!

What to do?!

It's £3k cheaper than the equivalent D's I'm considering!

[Mazdarese]

edo said:

ah, the old "sold, but other guy can't get finance so it is available again" gag....

I did think it sounded a bit suss. Is that a common ploy?

[Mazdarese]

CraigyMc said:

Mazdarese said:

edo said:

ah, the old "sold, but other guy can't get finance so it is available again" gag....

I did think it sounded a bit suss. Is that a common ploy?

Do you have to ask?

This is the first time I've purchased a car from a dealer, so I'm a bit green as to their 'tactics'. Thanks for the heads-up though.

[Mazdarese]

edo said:

To be fair it genuinely happened with a Cayenne I was helping a mate to buy, but this sort of ploy is sometime used yes.

Along with the other usual "we have 3 people coming from miles away", and other such similar tactics to make you pressured into putting down a deposit etc.

Just keep clam and don't be rushed or pressured - especially as you arent buying something that rare...

Cheers Edo. I won't be pressured into anything, in fact if they tried the "3 people" trick it would put me right off dealing with them full stop.

I'm going to view a 335d on Saturday in Coventry.

I'm in quite a quandary. I can get an 07 plate 335i SE with 36k miles for £16950 with 2 years warranty, with £5k part-ex on mine. This 335d in Coventry (57 plate) is £20k, 54k miles, M-Sport, but he'll only give me £4k for mine. Running costs (fuel and tax) will be £2500 more in the petrol over 3 years.

Both have good spec with the Pro Sat Nav, Bluetooth etc. On the face of it, the 335i seems like a cracking deal.

[Mazdarese]

don'tbesilly said:

Schermerhorn said:

You will struggle to get 40mpg out of a 335D.

Really, I can manage it relatively easily, and based on the OP's daily commute I see no reason why he couldn't either.

I based all my calculations on 30mpg for the petrol and 37mpg for the diesel.

RobM77 said:

I bought my '07 320d with 54k on the clock. Do so in the knowledge of what the mileage will be when you sell it! I realise mine will be around that magic 100k figure where the phone never rings...

Both cars will drive very differently. Make sure you drive both on typical roads and I expect you'll make your decision based purely on that, regardless of the mpg difference.

Cheers Rob. The 'd' I drove on Sunday was running on fumes so I didn't get chance to drive it properly, but I'll make sure I get a good drive of the one in Coventry on Saturday. I need to keep this car for around 3 years, so I understand that it'll probably also be at the 100k miles mark when I come to sell it. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, probably by part-exing for something else.

sday12 said:

335d is auto only, which IMHO ruins it.

Get a 330d and chip it, as for the twin exhaust, I've got 4 on my Z3MC so it more than makes up for it!

I want an auto, and to be honest with so much low-down torque I think the 335d is made for a decent auto box?

[Mazdarese]

joe_90 said:

Mazdarese said:

This is the first time I've purchased a car from a dealer, so I'm a bit green as to their 'tactics'. Thanks for the heads-up though.

Go in, tell them what its worth to you, they will prob say no. Then say the offer stands till the weekend and walk away.. You will prob get a phone call.

I'm kind of doing that with the 335i SE. The dealer rang me last night at 5:30 and left me a voicemail but I've not got back to him yet.

I am very tempted if we can shake on the £5k for mine and two years warranty.

[Mazdarese]

edo said:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156_...

335i SE £16,990

Registered February 2007
18,612 miles
Automatic
Registration LS56XBD
Exterior colour: Black Sapphire
Interior: Cream Beige Dakota leather

Yeah, I noticed that one a few days ago and it's been awaiting pictures since. It's the same spec and price as the one near me, but with a much lower mileage and arguably a better colour combo. I'll give them a call and get them to send me over the PDF.

[Mazdarese]

frosted said:

I saw a Convertible 335i msport on 2008 plate with 55k for 12999 at cargiant , bodywork was far from perfect but nothing a good polish wouldn't get out . Are they twin turbo or single turbo ?

Edited by frosted on Wednesday 26th October 10:54

Link? A coupe in that spec BMW AUC would be about £18k. The 335i with the N54 engine is twin-turbo, the newer 335i's are single twin-scroll turbo.

RobM77 said:

was an auto box ok then?

Auto box is preferred

[Mazdarese]

edo said:

frosted said:

The cheapest one is 15k http://www.cargiant.co.uk/pda/detail.asp?id=525477...

I'm not sure if that link will work , I will try and find the old one , I posted it on here somewhere

Car Giant.

I'm OOOOT.

Yeah, I'd be a bit reluctant to buy from them. I'm keen to stick with a BMW AUC.

I've just spoken with BMW regarding the black one above and he's going to take some snaps and email them over to me now. I like idea of the cream beige interior, just hope it's not got those horrid faux wood dash inserts.

[Mazdarese]

edo said:

Mazdarese said:

edo said:

frosted said:

The cheapest one is 15k http://www.cargiant.co.uk/pda/detail.asp?id=525477...

I'm not sure if that link will work , I will try and find the old one , I posted it on here somewhere

Car Giant.

I'm OOOOT.

Yeah, I'd be a bit reluctant to buy from them. I'm keen to stick with a BMW AUC.

I've just spoken with BMW regarding the black one above and he's going to take some snaps and email them over to me now. I like idea of the cream beige interior, just hope it's not got those horrid faux wood dash inserts.

Nope "Black trim. high-gloss"

Post 'em up.

Ace. Soon as I get them I'll post them up

[Mazdarese]

don'tbesilly said:

Mazdarese said:

edo said:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156_...

335i SE £16,990

Registered February 2007
18,612 miles
Automatic
Registration LS56XBD
Exterior colour: Black Sapphire
Interior: Cream Beige Dakota leather

Yeah, I noticed that one a few days ago and it's been awaiting pictures since. It's the same spec and price as the one near me, but with a much lower mileage and arguably a better colour combo. I'll give them a call and get them to send me over the PDF.

That's a lot of car for very reasonable money.
Nicely specced,low miler.
Iyrs warranty from BMW as well,that would be a very,very serious contender for me personally.
Get the pics up once you've bought it.

I'd hope they'd match the deal I've been offered elsewhere which included 2 years warranty

[Mazdarese]

The black one is sold