RE: Driven: BMW 335i

[Jem1]

Riggers, what's the pretend slippy dif like, can you get the arse out?

[iain_thornton]

I'm really not a BMW fan usually (I make exceptions for the right ones) but I have to say I like this. It's the first BMW interior I can ever remember seeing that I actually like, for instance.

[j123]

Riggers,
Don't be put off by the small number of posters on your thread. I believe that its hard for piston heads to read and comment about their historically favorite sports sedan- in this case we're talking about over 30 years of loyalty to the 3 series, in the light in which you show it. But honesty is the only way to report. j

[Olf]

What's going on with that fuel consumption? My 545i will give 28 to 30 on a long trip with a few enjoyment bursts and that's 8 years old!

[CliveM]

Olf said:

What's going on with that fuel consumption? My 545i will give 28 to 30 on a long trip with a few enjoyment bursts and that's 8 years old!

Hahaha - always good to be reminded that the test mpg figures quoted are rubbish. It's only what we get on the road that counts and if you get c30mpg from a 545i, does the extra real world 20mpg (for example) REALLY matter that much?

Even if you do 12K miles a year it doesn't add up to all that much, certainly not when the person choosing the engine is someone who is happy to spend £40K+ on a new car with all the associated depreciation.

Edited by CliveM on Friday 17th February 10:43

[E38Ross]

iain_thornton said:

I'm really not a BMW fan usually (I make exceptions for the right ones) but I have to say I like this. It's the first BMW interior I can ever remember seeing that I actually like, for instance.

Have you seen the interior on the new 6 series?

Ivory leather, black top dash with piano black or aluminium trim. Absolutely stunning. I think it's one of the nicest interiors around in any car at the moment.

[andrewpg]

Noise matters. BMW straight six engines make nice noise. Electric cars and 4cyls don't - fact.
One of the best noises I have heard recently was a Z4 sDrive35i accelerating hard.
And for that reason I hope they carry on making Straight 6 BMW's.

[vsonix]

angusc43 said:

Luca Brasi said:

article said:

It pains me to say this, but the Twinpower six is feeling a bit old these days. Its four-cylinder petrol and diesel brethren are so efficient, and sufficiently powerful, as to make the big six almost an irrelevance, especially on a long trip like this, where even a perfectly respectable 28-and-a-bit mpg just seems a bit too thirsty.

Very sad to read this on PH. More cylinders = better (imo). And 28mpg seems perfectly reasonable to me. I had a quick go in a brand new 328i at my local dealer last week, yes it's quick and drives like a BMW should but I'd take a 335i over a dull 4-pot turbo any day.

Thank god there are still a lot BMs with proper engines available in the classifieds.

"Unless you really crave that six-cylinder yowl, it's hard to make a convincing logical case for the 335i."

But that IS the case, surely.

I'd also be keen to find out what the real-world difference would be when it came to economy with a fully-laden car, or towing or similar applications. From experience with older BMWs the 6-pots often seemed thirsty compared to the 4bangers but then that all changes with a couple of passengers and a full boot.

[hotmelt]

DJ_AS said:

steve_n said:

I'd rather have hydraulic and 2mpg less any day but the emissions regulations seem to be strangling anything conducive to fun.

Electric power steering is a big dissapointment in every car I've driven thats equipped with it and a real step-backwards in terms of driver enjoyment. Perhaps things will improve with time as engineers understand how to tune the systems better.

I agree, and also less sporty manufacturer like Peugeot has left hydraulic steering in 508 because of feel, so why BMW had to switch to it? It was important critic of Bovingdton in Evo too. And, off course, turbo-ed six-cylinder is much less attractive than non-aspirated Bmw straight-six, so I fully understand test conclusion.

[davepoth]

hotmelt said:

I agree, and also less sporty manufacturer like Peugeot has left hydraulic steering in 508 because of feel, so why BMW had to switch to it? It was important critic of Bovingdton in Evo too. And, off course, turbo-ed six-cylinder is much less attractive than non-aspirated Bmw straight-six, so I fully understand test conclusion.

Manufacturer CO2 numbers are for the range as a whole, and Peugeot's average numbers are amongst the lowest in the business because so many of their sold cars are three cylinder econoboxes with sub 100g/km emissions. They can afford to push the boat out a little carbon-wise on their upmarket stuff assuming it doesn't pop across any important tax breaks; it's an interesting development.