335d/435d or 535d

[Wills2]

JNW1 said:

+1

Having done about 7k miles in my F31 335d my feeling is that although it's a very nice car the fuel economy advantage over the petrol equivalent isn't really enough to compensate for the inferior refinement; perhaps I'm just not doing enough long runs to get the benefit from the diesel but personally if I was looking at a new F31 now I would without doubt wait a month or two and order a 340i. If you want a significant improvement in economy and range over the petrol I agree you probably need to be in a 320d!

I got the 335d to see what all the fuss was about and to be fair it ain't all of that if I'm honest. It seems to offer a middle ground between a 320d and M3 but for me fails to hit the high notes that the others do so well.

It doesn't have a stand out feature so it fails to satisfy IMHO.

[breadvan]

Hate to bang on about my car, but I went through a very similar process to the OP when I changed my CLS Shooting Brake at Xmas.

I really wanted a high end BMW diesel and after settling on and driving a D3 and 335d back to back I could easily justify the extra cost of the Alpina.

I say that after spending an entire afternoon in my dealers bashing out a great deal on a stock 335d only to walk away after cutting the test drive short, expecting it to be 'nearly' as good as the Alpina, but it wasn't. A bit awkward......

So many of the quibbles in this thread are addressed (basic architecture aside), including performance v economy; 'specialness'; handling; noise; RWD; size, etc

And by the time you add ACS suspension, Akrapovic exhaust and a re-map to your 335d, it's not that much more......

Please please please try for yourself, its the best diesel in this sector by a mile and might just be what the OP is looking for. IMHO.

[smashy]

breadvan said:

Hate to bang on about my car, but I went through a very similar process to the OP when I changed my CLS Shooting Brake at Xmas.

I really wanted a high end BMW diesel and after settling on and driving a D3 and 335d back to back I could easily justify the extra cost of the Alpina.

I say that after spending an entire afternoon in my dealers bashing out a great deal on a stock 335d only to walk away after cutting the test drive short, expecting it to be 'nearly' as good as the Alpina, but it wasn't. A bit awkward......

So many of the quibbles in this thread are addressed (basic architecture aside), including performance v economy; 'specialness'; handling; noise; RWD; size, etc

And by the time you add ACS suspension, Akrapovic exhaust and a re-map to your 335d, it's not that much more......

Please please please try for yourself, its the best diesel in this sector by a mile and might just be what the OP is looking for. IMHO.

Breadvan first of all let me say im an Alpina fanatic...... however I put to you that the cost difference of a new one is surely an awful lot.No Dealer contribution and no "BMW NEW Car " finance rates either plus my insurance was 50% more ........... love to be proved wrong mind

Edited by smashy on Wednesday 18th February 23:04

[Mr Tidy]

Hello, this is PH not Tractors Weekly!
Surely if you have the budget for a car like this mpg/BIK/Road Fund Licence is not an issue - get a 550i or 650i, or if you want to try to save the planet a 535i or 640i.

[ZX10R NIN]

breadvan said:

Hate to bang on about my car, but I went through a very similar process to the OP when I changed my CLS Shooting Brake at Xmas.

I really wanted a high end BMW diesel and after settling on and driving a D3 and 335d back to back I could easily justify the extra cost of the Alpina.

I say that after spending an entire afternoon in my dealers bashing out a great deal on a stock 335d only to walk away after cutting the test drive short, expecting it to be 'nearly' as good as the Alpina, but it wasn't. A bit awkward......

So many of the quibbles in this thread are addressed (basic architecture aside), including performance v economy; 'specialness'; handling; noise; RWD; size, etc

And by the time you add ACS suspension, Akrapovic exhaust and a re-map to your 335d, it's not that much more......

Please please please try for yourself, its the best diesel in this sector by a mile and might just be what the OP is looking for. IMHO.

The D3 rocks it feels a bit more special inside drives great & even manags a half decent Exhaust note, had ours since the begining of Jan & it's a great car

[Mr Tidy]

ZX10R NIN said:

The D3 rocks it feels a bit more special inside drives great & even manags a half decent Exhaust note, had ours since the begining of Jan & it's a great car

B*****r, it is Tractors Weekly, in disguise.......?

Is a 335i that bad!

[ZX10R NIN]

Mr Tidy said:

B*****r, it is Tractors Weekly, in disguise.......?

Is a 335i that bad!

No a 335i isn't a bad car I don't remember anyone saying otherwise or mentioning it, but when given the option to buy a highly spec'd 335d or spend a bit more to get a 2000 mile ex demo D3 the 335d didn't get a look in it's a better drive nicer inside faster & a whole lot rarer.

By the way no need to name call because you don't agree with the car I decided to get, by the way you do realise the OP was talking about diesels 335d/435d or 535d

Also if I had the choice of a B3 or 335i I wouldn't be buying the later

[rallycross]

This thread is for the diesel loving penny pinching motorists who have long since forgotten the joy of a free revving petrol engine - so no point mentioning how nice a 335i petrol engine is here!



I'm off to burn some super unleaded and enjoy the snarl of a BMW straight 6 at 7,000 rpm ! (I can live with av 27 mpg)

🏁

[ZX10R NIN]

rallycross said:

This thread is for the diesel loving penny pinching motorists who have long since forgotten the joy of a free revving petrol engine - so no point mentioning how nice a 335i petrol engine is here!



I'm off to burn some super unleaded and enjoy the snarl of a BMW straight 6 at 7,000 rpm ! (I can live with av 27 mpg)

??

Good for you I'll join you with 6.2/4.7 litres of Mercedes/Maserati's finest V8's bellowing away(just because someone has a diesel doesn't mean they don't own a petrol) saving those pennies means I can have 20mpg cars.

You want to talk about free reving how about 13500rpm 196bhp at the rear tyre & a real engine note (no speakers here) I look forward to your reply.

[breadvan]

rallycross said:

This thread is for the diesel loving penny pinching motorists who have long since forgotten the joy of a free revving petrol engine - so no point mentioning how nice a 335i petrol engine is here!



I'm off to burn some super unleaded and enjoy the snarl of a BMW straight 6 at 7,000 rpm ! (I can live with av 27 mpg)

??

Such a high mpg suggests you drive like my grandpa, ever considered a diesel?

[breadvan]

smashy said:

breadvan said:

Hate to bang on about my car, but I went through a very similar process to the OP when I changed my CLS Shooting Brake at Xmas.

I really wanted a high end BMW diesel and after settling on and driving a D3 and 335d back to back I could easily justify the extra cost of the Alpina.

I say that after spending an entire afternoon in my dealers bashing out a great deal on a stock 335d only to walk away after cutting the test drive short, expecting it to be 'nearly' as good as the Alpina, but it wasn't. A bit awkward......

So many of the quibbles in this thread are addressed (basic architecture aside), including performance v economy; 'specialness'; handling; noise; RWD; size, etc

And by the time you add ACS suspension, Akrapovic exhaust and a re-map to your 335d, it's not that much more......

Please please please try for yourself, its the best diesel in this sector by a mile and might just be what the OP is looking for. IMHO.

Breadvan first of all let me say im an Alpina fanatic...... however I put to you that the cost difference of a new one is surely an awful lot.No Dealer contribution and no "BMW NEW Car " finance rates either plus my insurance was 50% more ........... love to be proved wrong mind

Yes it is much more, but it is worth it. I was suggesting if the OP is thinking about a 535d, then consider downsizing and buying a D3.

Regarding the deal, it's not something I'll discuss here but you're right, £10K discount just isn't on the table but funding outside of BMW is easy and competitive and for me the insurance was no different to my CLS.

I guess the cost effectiveness will ultimately come down to residuals and I'm confident to have put my money where my mouth is.

[Welshbeef]

breadvan said:

Yes it is much more, but it is worth it. I was suggesting if the OP is thinking about a 535d, then consider downsizing and buying a D3.

Regarding the deal, it's not something I'll discuss here but you're right, £10K discount just isn't on the table but funding outside of BMW is easy and competitive and for me the insurance was no different to my CLS.

I guess the cost effectiveness will ultimately come down to residuals and I'm confident to have put my money where my mouth is.

D5 didn't tickle your fancy? Or a LHD M550d - Hartage mapped to nearly 500bhp

1. wetmypantsfromdervpower

[ZX10R NIN]

breadvan said:

Yes it is much more, but it is worth it. I was suggesting if the OP is thinking about a 535d, then consider downsizing and buying a D3.

Regarding the deal, it's not something I'll discuss here but you're right, £10K discount just isn't on the table but funding outside of BMW is easy and competitive and for me the insurance was no different to my CLS.

I guess the cost effectiveness will ultimately come down to residuals and I'm confident to have put my money where my mouth is.

We went for the Alpina because for the OH it was the better car, as for the residuals due to their rarity over the long term they seem to hold their money better we'll be keeping this for at least four years at which point we'll find out plus with them only making around 2000 cars per year it's not like there will be loads of them for sale.

[breadvan]

Welshbeef said:

breadvan said:

Yes it is much more, but it is worth it. I was suggesting if the OP is thinking about a 535d, then consider downsizing and buying a D3.

Regarding the deal, it's not something I'll discuss here but you're right, £10K discount just isn't on the table but funding outside of BMW is easy and competitive and for me the insurance was no different to my CLS.

I guess the cost effectiveness will ultimately come down to residuals and I'm confident to have put my money where my mouth is.

D5 didn't tickle your fancy? Or a LHD M550d - Hartage mapped to nearly 500bhp

1. wetmypantsfromdervpower

M550d - now you're talking, if only RHD. D5 great but wanted to rekindle my youth, mid-life crisis an' all.

[Welshbeef]

breadvan said:

M550d - now you're talking, if only RHD. D5 great but wanted to rekindle my youth, mid-life crisis an' all.

M550d Remapped too .

I don't think LHD is really that much of an issue when you have 500bhp

[Diderot]

rallycross said:

This thread is for the diesel loving penny pinching motorists who have long since forgotten the joy of a free revving petrol engine - so no point mentioning how nice a 335i petrol engine is here!



I'm off to burn some super unleaded and enjoy the snarl of a BMW straight 6 at 7,000 rpm ! (I can live with av 27 mpg)

??

I don't have a 335i or a 640d, but do have a 635d and an M135i, so the 6 is a little down on power compared to the new X35d and X40d engines.

635d has to be one of the best cars I've owned and the diesel really does suit the GT thing. I think this engine's great strength is being able to get 37-38mpg without really thinking about it, 550+ miles on a tank and still sit at 85 on the mway. I've had 44 on a long run sitting at 70ish and when pressing on in a committed fashion on interesting A roads, 31-32 mpg is just silly. I love the fact that you can get down to Cornwall and back on one tank. When I had my 07 XKR a few years back, same driving (85ish) would have seen me at 23 mpg and 220ish out of a tank; on a blat mid teens (I have seen single figures once or twice too) for not much more usable performance (ok the noise was much better, but I do like the relative quiet of the 6, but I'm probably just getting old).

The M135i (auto) is an interesting case in point. Most I've ever got out of that in Eco pro whilst I was running it in was 38.7 mpg - but that was literally sitting at 60 and tickling the throttle. Now it's averaging 25ish mpg which is fine and we tend to just use that for shorter journeys anyway. It's a great engine, but apart from the noise (which we know is canned) and the 1k ish extra revs, it feels pretty similar power delivery wise to the 6, except the 6 has much better throttle response.

As a petrolhead, there's very little wrong with 400+ lb/ft of torque, whether it's in an XKR or a 635d. Only slight fly in the ointment is traction in the winter, so for me, if BMW made a 640d x drive or better still a 650d x drive, I'd jump at that.

[tjlees]

rallycross said:

This thread is for the diesel loving penny pinching motorists who have long since forgotten the joy of a free revving petrol engine - so no point mentioning how nice a 335i petrol engine is here!



I'm off to burn some super unleaded and enjoy the snarl of a BMW straight 6 at 7,000 rpm ! (I can live with av 27 mpg)

??

Only thing is a 335d would easily out drag a 335i by half a second and that's before you've chipped it to 378 horses. As others have said here I want my petrol burnt in a V8, V10 or V12 configuration. x35d provides some economy combined with lots of performance over the 25k year I do.

For the remaining 3k in a petrol driven car I usually achieve at best 14.7mpg but the noise, handling and performance are to die for

[Jobbo]

Having just picked up a 535i Touring yesterday, I was wondering how economical it would really be. I got 24mpg long term average out of my previous 545i Tourings, so 25 was my realistic expectation.

Rather surprised this frosty morning to get an indicated 28.4mpg on the drive to the station. I was getting a real 29mpg out of my Merc C350 CDI on the same journey. BMW computers have been fairly accurate in my experience but even taking 0.5mpg off, it's 0.1mpg cheaper to fuel the 535i.

Admittedly the 530d would probably be better still, but driving home through Snowdonia yesterday I was certain I'd made the right choice. Not sure whether it's so clear cut in the 3-series with the 35i being RWD and the 35d 4wd.

[Fox-]

Jobbo said:

Having just picked up a 535i Touring yesterday, I was wondering how economical it would really be. I got 24mpg long term average out of my previous 545i Tourings, so 25 was my realistic expectation.

Rather surprised this frosty morning to get an indicated 28.4mpg on the drive to the station. I was getting a real 29mpg out of my Merc C350 CDI on the same journey. BMW computers have been fairly accurate in my experience but even taking 0.5mpg off, it's 0.1mpg cheaper to fuel the 535i.

Admittedly the 530d would probably be better still, but driving home through Snowdonia yesterday I was certain I'd made the right choice. Not sure whether it's so clear cut in the 3-series with the 35i being RWD and the 35d 4wd.

Wow, nice. There can't be many of these around - is this the one that was advertised at the dealer in Northern Ireland? Were they open to negotiation?

[julian64]

anyone worked out how to use the gearbox in these cars.

I'm quite frustrated that there doesn't actually seem to be a manual mode. not even in sport+ dsc off with the gearlever set in manual