F31 330d vs 335d vs RWD vs XDrive vs pre or post LCI

[SlowV6]

Hi All,

I have recently asked about G31 530d vs 540i and also about G01 X3 30d so apologies for another set of questions. For various reasons (mainly an expensive kitchen!) the budget I am comfortable with spending has decreased a bit from £20k. Ideally I'd like under £17k. So I think G01's are out and G31's are too big. I previously wanted 550L boot (for daughters uni runs mainly) but I have a roof box so figured I can just put that on twice a year..

So plugging that all in brings F31's back into play given I want an estate with a straight 6 3.0d and the ZF8. We still have our leggy old E91 330d, have enjoyed that and an F31 330d RWD Euro6 appeals in MSport spec. Questions I have are:

1) Is the LCI significantly better? The N57 appears unchanged between pre and post facelift. As I mentioned must be a euro6.
2) Do I really want a 335d? I don't think so as I don't want Xdrive. The 330d is no slouch at 0-60 in 5.8secs. What do people who have owned/driven both think?

Spec wise I am not massively fussy but would insist on this as a minimum:

Harmon Kardon
foldy mirrors (why are these an option!!)
Xenons/LEDs
403M wheels.
Pro Nav.

This one looks nice. I am not not normally a fan of the Stormtrooper look but this looks good to me.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602169...

Welcome any thoughts. Thank you

[Wills2]

I had a 2015 335d xdrive MS (new at the time) and for me it was the worst BMW I've had, down to the fact that it handled like a boat plus the interior (dakota leather) was awful, I had test driven a 330d touring s drive before with the m sport cloth and wished I'd got one of those much better.

[danb79]

SlowV6 said:

Hi All,

I have recently asked about G31 530d vs 540i and also about G01 X3 30d so apologies for another set of questions. For various reasons (mainly an expensive kitchen!) the budget I am comfortable with spending has decreased a bit from £20k. Ideally I'd like under £17k. So I think G01's are out and G31's are too big. I previously wanted 550L boot (for daughters uni runs mainly) but I have a roof box so figured I can just put that on twice a year..

So plugging that all in brings F31's back into play given I want an estate with a straight 6 3.0d and the ZF8. We still have our leggy old E91 330d, have enjoyed that and an F31 330d RWD Euro6 appeals in MSport spec. Questions I have are:

1) Is the LCI significantly better? The N57 appears unchanged between pre and post facelift. As I mentioned must be a euro6.
2) Do I really want a 335d? I don't think so as I don't want Xdrive. The 330d is no slouch at 0-60 in 5.8secs. What do people who have owned/driven both think?

Spec wise I am not massively fussy but would insist on this as a minimum:

Harmon Kardon
foldy mirrors (why are these an option!!)
Xenons/LEDs
403M wheels.
Pro Nav.

This one looks nice. I am not not normally a fan of the Stormtrooper look but this looks good to me.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602169...

Welcome any thoughts. Thank you

When I was test driving F31s back in Nov & Dec 2022 I test drove RWD 330d vs xDrive 330d, RWD 320d vis xDrive 320d and came to the same conclusion (for me) that I didn't need xDrive nor did I want it. Quite boaty it's on softer suspension and you also have in mind that tyres are more expensive as you have to stick to the OE spec, ideally Star rated (but a lot out there running non Star tyres with zero issues), plus you've got the transfer case to think of, as well as diff, as well as the ZF8 and as well as the engine etc

I couldn't find a 330d that I liked; too high miles, too basic spec etc and (no offence intended) a bit like the one you've linked to, a bit too worn inside and needed a thorough deep clean etc (I am quite particular about car cleanliness)

I settled on a 325d M Sport F31, last of the pre LCi cars; very well spec'd and in very good condition with decent SH and a few BMW recalls sorted

We still have it, it's still a superb car; I did a full suspension overhaul Jan 2024 as it was due it and it made a superb difference (rides & handles better then OEM M Sport; less jarring and crashy). I run 18s on it as 19s are just too firm for our local roads, semi-rural, but surrounded by country lanes and single track roads etc that do not get taken care of

My suggestion would be test drive both; if you live semi rural, or in the hills etc, then xDrive does make sense, more so in Autumn/Winter etc and even more so with a winter set of wheels and tyres - but other than that; RWD is best stuck to IMO; a lot less to go wrong / worry about and you can run tyre sizes you want without the risk of the car going mental at you 9ie I run 235/45/18s all round rather than the factory 225/45s, which are a bit stretched on an 18x8 rim)

They are excellent cars; a really good size with a rear load area that can take a lot once the seats are down etc; they fold nigh on flat too which is great

You do need to ensure you get one with solid SH, paperwork/invoices to show maintenance and regular oil & filter changes; do not just rely on the iDrive

And, for me, at a minimum, you want: Brembo blue brakes (370/345mm discs), HK stereo, powerfold mirrors, pro-nav, heated seats, xenons (do not get halogens, they're utter crap) and if you're not too tall, memory seats (manual seats go much lower and suit better if you're tall)

This is ours on its winter Style 397s with Goodyear all season tyres all round:



This is it on its summer 18" 405Ms with Goodyear Assym 6 tyres (now sold) and I'll get another set of 18s soon enough for new summer tyres:

[Pica-Pica]

I have a 66 plate F30 335d, since new. So x-drive and LCI. It does not drive like a boat, I understand LCI fixed that. The x-drive is especially useful coming out of wet roundabouts. On one occasion, I was pulling out of a gravel side road onto a main road, and had to get out quickly. As I put my foot down, then, without any fuss or drama, the front wheels gripped and pulled the car out and in the right direction, with the steering wheel spinning back in my hands as it found the true course to take. There was no slipping or scrabbling of the tyres at all. It was my mistake to get caught out, but the car sorted my situation out admirably.

I bought it pre regd at 9 miles. It was Euro6 and just before the luxury VED tax came in. Just over 9 years old, on 67k miles. Half of that in the first 3 years. No issues at all. I use Shell diesel, but it does respond well to the higher cetane level in BP Ultimate diesel. I have had it serviced to the BMW schedule.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

I ve had 3s and 5s in every flavour and living in rural southwest Britain I d always go x drive.

Edited by Billy_Whizzzz on Saturday 28th February 21:13

[Leithen]

I have a 17 335D Touring MSport etc etc.

Bought it new. Can t bring myself to sell it. It ll break into the hundred thousands soon. Feels like it could do that many times over.

Don t entirely understand how it passes all the emissions tests without needing ad blue. Great economy. Run it on all season tyres and identical rims all round despite having the original M Sport ones with Pirelli s.

At some point I might get some Birds suspension fitted and the CarPlay upgraded so it is full screen.

[andyvtr]

My previous car was very similar to the one you posted for sale above. Overall a fantastic car, never really put a foot wrong. Only reason I ended up selling was the front wings started to bubble and rust, so keep an eye on those areas when viewing. Mine had 120k miles on it when I sold it.

[Alpinaguy]

DO NOT get a 335d made before the lci 2018 when they changed most of the suspension . I just cannot believe someone signed it off. I have a 335d 2018 and I love it just do not know what else I want to drive ever. I had a 330d 2014 and that engine is great , its more nothing then turbo kicks in as opposed to linear power from the 335d but if you had not driven both you would never be dissapointed. But this 335d engine is something else.

A story, about a month after I had bought my new 330d Luxury which had the 335d se suspension without x drive. I could not stand it anymore took it up to Rossiters to put their AC Schnitzer springs and shocks on.Going up there was this 5 mile stretch of country road myself and my partner were bouncing off the seat like the drivers in Ice Road Truckers,we were laughing our head off. Coming back got to that same road ,stopped and said to my partner here is the test ,I could have cried suspension totally planted.

When I had to change my car through ULEZ I was offeed the 335d I didnt fancy testing it as I knew the suspension could be a massive issue. Sat in it at the dealership said to my partner I will know within 50 yards if this is any good drove off then hard on break ,in the 330d Luxury the car would have leapt forward with me off the seat ,this one didnt.

[Pica-Pica]

Alpinaguy said:

DO NOT get a 335d made before the lci 2018 when they changed most of the suspension . I just cannot believe someone signed it off. I have a 335d 2018 and I love it just do not know what else I want to drive ever. I had a 330d 2014 and that engine is great , its more nothing then turbo kicks in as opposed to linear power from the 335d but if you had not driven both you would never be dissapointed. But this 335d engine is something else.

A story, about a month after I had bought my new 330d Luxury which had the 335d se suspension without x drive. I could not stand it anymore took it up to Rossiters to put their AC Schnitzer springs and shocks on.Going up there was this 5 mile stretch of country road myself and my partner were bouncing off the seat like the drivers in Ice Road Truckers,we were laughing our head off. Coming back got to that same road ,stopped and said to my partner here is the test ,I could have cried suspension totally planted.

When I had to change my car through ULEZ I was offeed the 335d I didnt fancy testing it as I knew the suspension could be a massive issue. Sat in it at the dealership said to my partner I will know within 50 yards if this is any good drove off then hard on break ,in the 330d Luxury the car would have leapt forward with me off the seat ,this one didnt.

LCI was in 2016 MY.

[mmm-five]

Pica-Pica said:

LCI was in 2016 MY.

Mine's a 2016 LCI 335xD Touring...but I think there were 3 different suspension set-ups available at the time (as there was on the pre-LCI albeit with different parts) - standard (on SE/luxury), M-Sport and Adaptive (aka EDC) - and any of them could be past their best and performing poorly on any individual car due to how it's been treated/maintained.

Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 4th March 11:55

[SlowV6]

Thanks all for the suspension education :-) I am aiming for RWD 330d LCI M-Sport. Happy to sacrifice the extra performance for reduced complexity and nicer stance (IMHO). I have seen a nice 2018 Shadow Edition, which is at top of allowed budget but looks great and I'm worth it. If he hasn't sold it by CoP Friday I plan to go and see it Saturday.

[Alpinaguy]

SlowV6 said:

Thanks all for the suspension education :-) I am aiming for RWD 330d LCI M-Sport. Happy to sacrifice the extra performance for reduced complexity and nicer stance (IMHO). I have seen a nice 2018 Shadow Edition, which is at top of allowed budget but looks great and I'm worth it. If he hasn't sold it by CoP Friday I plan to go and see it Saturday.

You will be amazed re the mpg 100 miles up the M1 mostly middle lane av 61 mpg in comfort which is normal not eco pro which is pointless actually. Per per mpg this has to be the best engine out there. 5

[Alpinaguy]

SlowV6 said:

Thanks all for the suspension education :-) I am aiming for RWD 330d LCI M-Sport. Happy to sacrifice the extra performance for reduced complexity and nicer stance (IMHO). I have seen a nice 2018 Shadow Edition, which is at top of allowed budget but looks great and I'm worth it. If he hasn't sold it by CoP Friday I plan to go and see it Saturday.

You will be amazed re the mpg 110 miles up the M1 mostly middle lane to leicester averaged 61 mpg in comfort which is normal not eco pro which is pointless actually. Power/mpg has to be the best engine out there. 50/52 mpg on long motorway journeys is the norm my 335d proably 46 mpg. My 120d was around 47mpg probably because at 70 mph it was at 2000 rpm the 330d and 335d 1500 rpm.

[Pica-Pica]

Alpinaguy said:

SlowV6 said:

Thanks all for the suspension education :-) I am aiming for RWD 330d LCI M-Sport. Happy to sacrifice the extra performance for reduced complexity and nicer stance (IMHO). I have seen a nice 2018 Shadow Edition, which is at top of allowed budget but looks great and I'm worth it. If he hasn't sold it by CoP Friday I plan to go and see it Saturday.

You will be amazed re the mpg 110 miles up the M1 mostly middle lane to leicester averaged 61 mpg in comfort which is normal not eco pro which is pointless actually. Power/mpg has to be the best engine out there. 50/52 mpg on long motorway journeys is the norm my 335d proably 46 mpg. My 120d was around 47mpg probably because at 70 mph it was at 2000 rpm the 330d and 335d 1500 rpm.

The last time there was a fuel shortage, I kept tto the inside lane, so 56 to 60 mph.. my 335d achieved 620 mile range, so somewhere between 56 and 60mpg.
(By calculation using the gear ratios 1500 rpm is 66 mph in a 335d. Minimal rpm before changing down is 1250 to 1300, so 57-ish mph)

[Alpinaguy]

Amazing figures. I have not got those figures in my 335d

Actually I do a trip round Cornwall every year about 650/700 miles.

Done this twice in my 120d both times 44 mpg
Three times in my 330d 45mpg 45 mpg 46mpg
Three times in my 335d 44 mpg 45 mpg 45 mpg

However overall I reckon my 335d is about 10% less than my 330d.

[Leithen]

Algarve to Central Scotland on my own a few years ago. Remarkably easy, just effortlessly demolished the miles.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Wow I get about 34mpg av from my G31 530d (x drive, granted). What am I doing wrong?!

[Leithen]

Cruise control! Mine is X-Drive too. The 3 Series is just smaller and lighter I suspect.

After having belted through 1900 miles at relatively high speeds, I got a puncture in one of the rears near home a few weeks later. I both cursed and then thank my luck - it wasn’t a nail or anything similar - the inside of the tyre had worn through….



Check your alignment!

[mmm-five]

Alpinaguy said:

Amazing figures. I have not got those figures in my 335d

Actually I do a trip round Cornwall every year about 650/700 miles.

Done this twice in my 120d both times 44 mpg
Three times in my 330d 45mpg 45 mpg 46mpg
Three times in my 335d 44 mpg 45 mpg 45 mpg

However overall I reckon my 335d is about 10% less than my 330d.

My 335xD is returning about 10% less than my 320D...but I put that down to the way I drive more than the car's efficiency

Overall it's been averaging about 45mpg (over 7,000 miles, 50/50 between urban/motorway).

Goes down to as low as 37mpg on a day out in Wales, Peak District, Scotland, Dales, etc., or in stop-start city traffic, or 55mpg on a 200+ mile long run (usually Liverpool to London, Liverpool to Cornwall, Liverpool to Fort William, Liverpool to Folkestone to Nurburg).

Best in the 320D was about 1100km to a tank (55L required to fill it up, so 56mpg) whilst cruising around Germany visiting BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Loh Collection, etc.

The 335D maxed out at about 1000km (so about 51mpg) the last time I went to Germany...and both trips involved similar number of hours at a steady 130kph/80mph...with a couple of vmax runs and twisty road elements.

If I'm taking my Kernowyon friend, then I'll fill up with Tesco Momentum in Launceston and then drive all the way to the 'Ring on one before filling up again (unless we stop for lunch somewhere, and then I'll fill up for convenience).

Strangely, I can never seem to match those economy figures on the Liverpool to London commute (get about the same on the Liverpool to Cornwall trip though).

I don't find the cruise control that good at maintaining speeds/gears and it seems to prefer straining at 1100rpm to go up an incline than change down and use the higher torque available...and it will brake going downhill when I'd just let it pick up a few MPH myself.

Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 5th March 11:47