Why does a 320d feel much lighter to drive than a 335d??

[Leicesterdave]

I'm sure the engine is lighter but it feels massively lighter to drive!

My 335d is at the dealer for some paint issues and they've given me a 320d as a loaner.

320d does everything brilliantly- except for the 4 pot soundtrack. It's quick enough- can't say I'd ever want one as the 335d feels that bit more special but I have to say feels heavier up front- any reason or is it really that the engine is much heavier??

[RobM77]

Leicesterdave said:

I'm sure the engine is lighter but it feels massively lighter to drive!

My 335d is at the dealer for some paint issues and they've given me a 320d as a loaner.

320d does everything brilliantly- except for the 4 pot soundtrack. It's quick enough- can't say I'd ever want one as the 335d feels that bit more special but I have to say feels heavier up front- any reason or is it really that the engine is much heavier??

Simple answer: it's a lot lighter.

F30 320D SE: 1420kg https://www.parkers.co.uk/bmw/3-series/saloon-2012...

F30 330D SE: 1540kg https://www.parkers.co.uk/bmw/3-series/saloon-2012...

E90 335d: 1570kg https://www.auto-data.net/en/bmw-3er-coupe-e92-335...

Most of those differences are over the nose (engine and gearbox), although most 335ds will have bigger wheels and tyres, so there's that too. With the nose weight, every time you corner you have to convince that weight to change direction, so you really feel it.

It's either end of a compromise between straight line performance and handling.

I frequently get laughed at on here for fitting my bog standard 320d with Birds suspension, but to be honest I see it as a logical choice for handling compared to a 330/335d.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 12th October 12:00

[blue_haddock]

4 pot engine rather than a 6 pot would equate to a fair difference in weight plus normally a 320 will be a lower spec than the 335 so mayne a bit of weight saving there too.

is the 335d x drive? as that would weigh more too.

[Leicesterdave]

Ah!

I guess the fact mine is touring won't be helping either.

You'd have thought with the additional shove the 335d has it just wouldn't 'feel' as heavy somehow. But it clearly does!

[RobM77]

Leicesterdave said:

Ah!

I guess the fact mine is touring won't be helping either.

You'd have thought with the additional shove the 335d has it just wouldn't 'feel' as heavy somehow. But it clearly does!

Oh gosh, yes, Touring adds around 75kg (more than I weigh!).

If you're comparing a 320d saloon with a 335d Touring, you could be looking at well over 200kg difference, which is like having a motorbike and me onboard...

[Limpet]

If you look under the bonnet of the 320d, the "fresh air" from the two missing cylinders is way ahead of the front axle line. The four cylinder engine is stuffed right back in the engine bay in the same way the six is, but being much shorter, it's weight doesn't extend beyond the front wheels.

I still rate my 320ds (I've had two) as some of the best all rounders I've owned. It's just a shame the engine sounds and feels so rough. We have the same engine in a MINI Clubman, albeit mounted transversely, and it's much more refined from inside the car again, I suspect, because it's not stuffed right back against the bulkhead as it is in RWD installations.

[Leicesterdave]

Yes my 335d is a touring with Xdrive.

For me this has very much been an eye opener! Weight savings make a massive difference! I would say that but I still rate my 335d has a lovely thing- it's a great all rounder!

[anonymous-user]

Leicesterdave said:

I'm sure the engine is lighter but it feels massively lighter to drive!

My 335d is at the dealer for some paint issues and they've given me a 320d as a loaner.

320d does everything brilliantly- except for the 4 pot soundtrack. It's quick enough- can't say I'd ever want one as the 335d feels that bit more special but I have to say feels heavier up front- any reason or is it really that the engine is much heavier??

I used to lambast the 320d, then I drove one. It’s all the car you need IMO as a daily. I had the Birds setup
on my 130, it’d make perfect sense on a 320d

[Pica-Pica]

blue_haddock said:

4 pot engine rather than a 6 pot would equate to a fair difference in weight plus normally a 320 will be a lower spec than the 335 so mayne a bit of weight saving there too.

is the 335d x drive? as that would weigh more too.

Is the 335d xdrive.

[RobM77]

Leicesterdave said:

Yes my 335d is a touring with Xdrive.

X Drive adds about as much as Touring again.

Leicesterdave said:

For me this has very much been an eye opener! Weight savings make a massive difference! I would say that but I still rate my 335d has a lovely thing- it's a great all rounder!

Absolutely, yes; it irritates me how so many PHers seem so dismissing of this. Across the range it does make an enormous difference to how they drive.

Each car its place - for me, mostly driving down winding country roads at 50-60mph, I don't use acceleration very much at all, but 'use' handling constantly, so the lighter car is a natural choice. For straighter roads with traffic lights, roundabouts etc, or a heavy trailer to tow, a car more like your 335d is better suited. That said, I do tow a 1420kg covered trailer the size of a small caravan with my 320d and it manages ok. In that sense, it's the best all rounder I've owned, and the only car I've owned twice back to back.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 12th October 12:17

[Leicesterdave]

I spend most days on motorways but do regulary go to France to see family as well as Poland to see hers....

In truth though- once again- a 320d would have been sufficient but I bought the 335d because I wanted it. Simple as!

[RobM77]

Leicesterdave said:

I spend most days on motorways but do regulary go to France to see family as well as Poland to see hers....

In truth though- once again- a 320d would have been sufficient but I bought the 335d because I wanted it. Simple as!

All cars are a compromise, and you need to find which compromise works best for you. The 320d isn't perfect, it just fits my usage best.

[anonymous-user]

Waiting for the usual anti BMW morons to chime in....

[Triumph Man]

Limpet said:

If you look under the bonnet of the 320d, the "fresh air" from the two missing cylinders is way ahead of the front axle line. The four cylinder engine is stuffed right back in the engine bay in the same way the six is, but being much shorter, it's weight doesn't extend beyond the front wheels.

I still rate my 320ds (I've had two) as some of the best all rounders I've owned. It's just a shame the engine sounds and feels so rough. We have the same engine in a MINI Clubman, albeit mounted transversely, and it's much more refined from inside the car again, I suspect, because it's not stuffed right back against the bulkhead as it is in RWD installations.

Conversely it always makes me chuckle when I see the engine bay of an E34 518i - the little 4 cylinder there is shoved out in front so the front lines through with that of the 6 cylinder cars - you can see most of the gearbox from the engine bay!

[anonymous-user]

Completely agree. I ran the four-pot Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo for a while and it was a lovely handling thing, the 330d was definitely nose-heavy by comparison.

My current Golf R estate is an insanely good all-rounder, but if I could change one thing it would be to take a couple of hundred kg out of it. But then it wouldn't be 4WD, and would probably be a hatchback, so it would be a Leon Cupra R which wouldn't be as useful or as well suited for my current driving.

It's always a compromise somewhere.

[sr.guiri]

I'm sure a million people have already said this: "Because it is".

[WCZ]

the tradeoff is more than worth it, the 335d has a nice amount of power imo.
worth getting remapped though esp with yours being a touring

[RobM77]

Triumph Man said:

Conversely it always makes me chuckle when I see the engine bay of an E34 518i - the little 4 cylinder there is shoved out in front so the front lines through with that of the 6 cylinder cars - you can see most of the gearbox from the engine bay!

That's interesting. What's the reason for this difference with the 3? I'm guessing the 5's engine bay is bigger, but can the engine not just remain back up against the bulkhead with even more space in front of it compared to the 3? Or does that not permit things like X Drive to work on some cars?

[Pica-Pica]

Triumph Man said:

Limpet said:

If you look under the bonnet of the 320d, the "fresh air" from the two missing cylinders is way ahead of the front axle line. The four cylinder engine is stuffed right back in the engine bay in the same way the six is, but being much shorter, it's weight doesn't extend beyond the front wheels.

I still rate my 320ds (I've had two) as some of the best all rounders I've owned. It's just a shame the engine sounds and feels so rough. We have the same engine in a MINI Clubman, albeit mounted transversely, and it's much more refined from inside the car again, I suspect, because it's not stuffed right back against the bulkhead as it is in RWD installations.

Conversely it always makes me chuckle when I see the engine bay of an E34 518i - the little 4 cylinder there is shoved out in front so the front lines through with that of the 6 cylinder cars - you can see most of the gearbox from the engine bay!

Just go to an old car fair, and look inside, say, a Morris minor. You could almost stand inside, on either side of the engine.

[steve-5snwi]

The 320d is quick but just misses out on the mid range shove, for me the 330d is the perfect diesel, quicker than a 320d but smoother and more refined than the 335d, however you would be much better off with a 328i, trim and interior is the same regardless on M Sports.