335D Touring-Any good?
Discussion
I have been looking at the heavily discounted/nearly new ones of these for a while
Huge specs and big discounts to mid thirties seem to be fairly common.
Plenty of power, 4WD, lots of toys-what is the downside?
Is anyone running one of these at the moment or recently-feedback greatfully received
Thx
Huge specs and big discounts to mid thirties seem to be fairly common.
Plenty of power, 4WD, lots of toys-what is the downside?
Is anyone running one of these at the moment or recently-feedback greatfully received
Thx
On phone, sorry for brevity
Run from new for 9 months
Just big enough for family holls with two teenagers
Takes big dog in back but no luggage
Engine defines it and is stunning
50mpg on motorway, 45 pushing your luck and I get 42 overall but don't commute
Pre face-lift (LCI) slagged for being soft but mines pretty good and much more compliant than an M sport 330 from years ago
Pro nav is pretty but routing shocking
It lifts interior but isn't worth 800 quid, however it helps GFV on finance so man maths prob make it necessary
Standard speakers crap and cabin materials of lower quality than a 2002 car, in my opinion at least
You can go gadget crazy but if you sell or PCP/lease at 2-3y they will make it a stupidly bad purchase
Mines leased at just over 300 a month
The recent 40k tax thing would put this lot higher now
Would I buy one afterwards??
Honestly don't know, it's all the car I need but the diesel thing is a minor nag for me and I wouldn't get near my deal again
To be honest I'd prob look at a 340 wagon, they're looking to take a real bath at a year old
There's a very partisan UK board on the bimmer forums who have a lot of experience but do tend to only discuss the positives, posts discussing depreciation usually get buried!
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?...
Cheers
Edit: extended storage is a modest extra cost and should really be standard on the touring. I sincerely wouldn't consider one without it
Run from new for 9 months
Just big enough for family holls with two teenagers
Takes big dog in back but no luggage
Engine defines it and is stunning
50mpg on motorway, 45 pushing your luck and I get 42 overall but don't commute
Pre face-lift (LCI) slagged for being soft but mines pretty good and much more compliant than an M sport 330 from years ago
Pro nav is pretty but routing shocking
It lifts interior but isn't worth 800 quid, however it helps GFV on finance so man maths prob make it necessary
Standard speakers crap and cabin materials of lower quality than a 2002 car, in my opinion at least
You can go gadget crazy but if you sell or PCP/lease at 2-3y they will make it a stupidly bad purchase
Mines leased at just over 300 a month
The recent 40k tax thing would put this lot higher now
Would I buy one afterwards??
Honestly don't know, it's all the car I need but the diesel thing is a minor nag for me and I wouldn't get near my deal again
To be honest I'd prob look at a 340 wagon, they're looking to take a real bath at a year old
There's a very partisan UK board on the bimmer forums who have a lot of experience but do tend to only discuss the positives, posts discussing depreciation usually get buried!
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?...
Cheers
Edit: extended storage is a modest extra cost and should really be standard on the touring. I sincerely wouldn't consider one without it
Edited by numtumfutunch on Wednesday 9th August 18:10
I swapped my 640GC for a 2016 335d tourer a few months ago, the engine and gearbox are a great combination, they don't handle too well on the standard suspension, have just fitted Birds upgraded to mine which improves things no end.
If you need a practical, swift economical car it ticks most boxes.
If you need a practical, swift economical car it ticks most boxes.
As mentioned, the downside is the suspension, which is on the soft side. Quite a few of us have had AC Schnitzer springs fitted which makes a significant improvement. I still think it's a great car, having had mine (a saloon) for just over 3 years.
The interior does feel a little cheaper than Audi's equivalent, but the overall package is very good and with the current levels of discount it seems a relative bargain.
The interior does feel a little cheaper than Audi's equivalent, but the overall package is very good and with the current levels of discount it seems a relative bargain.
I recently looked at upgrading the wife's 320d tourer to a 335d tourer
I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
Earthdweller said:
I recently looked at upgrading the wife's 320d tourer to a 335d tourer
I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
You've missed the point I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
34k built to order
I have had quite a few 320d loan cars. It doesn't feel sluggish but the gulf between it and the 335d is huge. In terms of sound, the 6 cylinder engine is a great deal smoother than the 4 cylinder 20d, which limproves the entire car.
I wouldn't pay £55k (M3 money) for one though (!) but thankfully you don't have to. As stated, mid 30s after discount for a reasonable spec model is easily possible, and at that price it seems decent value.
I wouldn't pay £55k (M3 money) for one though (!) but thankfully you don't have to. As stated, mid 30s after discount for a reasonable spec model is easily possible, and at that price it seems decent value.
Earthdweller said:
I recently looked at upgrading the wife's 320d tourer to a 335d tourer
I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
That's quite sad that you think a 320d is 'quick'.I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it .. it was a little posher inside but not really for 55k car
It sounded like the 320d .. drove like the 320d .. ok it accelarated quite a bit quicker
But for me I couldn't see the point of the change
The 320d is a quick economical car .. the 335d is more of the former and less of the latter for lots more money
I think it's quite sad that you think a car that does 0-60 in 7 seconds and has a top speed of 140mph is slow !
My first car was a Morris minor which I don't think would even do 60 mph now that was slow
The car I looked at was 55k list discounted down to 35k
The point I was making is that it is not sufficiently different from a 320d to make me upgrade
My first car was a Morris minor which I don't think would even do 60 mph
now that was slow The car I looked at was 55k list discounted down to 35k
The point I was making is that it is not sufficiently different from a 320d to make me upgrade
Had one on loan over a long weekend and it was OK - plenty of go but low speed around town etc the diesel did 'clatter' more than I would want which put me off. Probably not a massive deal for most people but coming from only owning petrol cars it was a deal breaker for me. I'll happily take the extra fuel cost to be in a petrol. Interior was good quality in our eyes, but the space was a bit tight for us, another point reinforcing our choice of the 535i tourer.
Daaaveee said:
Had one on loan over a long weekend and it was OK - plenty of go but low speed around town etc the diesel did 'clatter' more than I would want which put me off. Probably not a massive deal for most people but coming from only owning petrol cars it was a deal breaker for me. I'll happily take the extra fuel cost to be in a petrol. Interior was good quality in our eyes, but the space was a bit tight for us, another point reinforcing our choice of the 535i tourer.
The low speed (below 20) stuff around town is where you know it's a diesel, as you say. I live in a rural place and rarely drive into cities, or in slow traffic, so I am rarely aware of it. For the vast majority of my driving, you wouldn't be able to tell it was diesel, except for the effortless low end shove. I can appreciate why a 6 cylinder petrol would be preferable for urban driving though.Having had a long line of large-engined petrols, including 3 V8 BMWs, I used to dislike diesel engines. For me that changed with the introduction of the ZF8 gearbox - it is so much better than the previous generation 6 speed gearboxes, and it can seamlessly deal with the weakness of the diesel engine - the narrow rev range.
ack0 said:
I have been looking at the heavily discounted/nearly new ones of these for a while
Huge specs and big discounts to mid thirties seem to be fairly common.
Plenty of power, 4WD, lots of toys-what is the downside?
Is anyone running one of these at the moment or recently-feedback greatfully received
Thx
My F31 335d (pre-LCI) is just coming-up 3 years old and has covered 42k miles; overall it's certainly a good car but if I was choosing again now I'd go 340i without hesitation. Huge specs and big discounts to mid thirties seem to be fairly common.
Plenty of power, 4WD, lots of toys-what is the downside?
Is anyone running one of these at the moment or recently-feedback greatfully received
Thx
Why? Well, despite one or two other posts on this thread, personally I've not found the mpg to be that fantastic; my overall average across those 42k miles (measured accurately as opposed to off the trip) is 38mpg and I've never got anywhere near the 50mpg some people claim - to get that I'd be driving so sedately as to render a 335d utterly pointless!
Secondly, engine refinement is simply not as good as the 6-pot petrol. Yes it's fine cruising on motorways but on start-up and with lighter throttle openings in (say) stop/start traffic you're under no illusion it's a diesel; a very good diesel without a doubt but just not as nice to sit behind as the petrol equivalent IMO.
Finally, I'd echo the comments on the chassis. Being pre-LCI mine is probably worse than the latest model but even with adaptive suspension in sport mode in my view it's a bit soft for press-on work on a twisty road. As other have said, ACS springs apparently help quite significantly and an LCI car is no doubt an improvement anyway; however, no marks from me for whoever decided to fit all X-Drives with SE suspension!
So in summary I'd say the F31 335d is a very good car but I'd only buy one if you want or need X-Drive; if you don't get a 340i!
ack0 said:
Perhaps I will try both the petrol and diesel before buying
Certainly worth trying the 340i along with the 335d, but the one you prefer may depend on whether you are used to petrol or diesel.I haven't tried the newer 40i engine, but was not particularly impressed with the 35i which it replaced. It just lacks urgency after driving a 35d, unless you are really hammering the 35i. Perhaps I need to spend a bit longer with one to get back in the habit of using the entire rev range.
Interested to hear what you decide on. They're both good cars.
I had a 330d xDrive Touring for three years before switching to my current M235i Convertible.
The 3.0L diesel sits in 8th for most of any steady journey, including quite steep hills. In comparison, the 3.0L petrol even with the turbo changes gear more. So if you do a lot of motorway and autoroute journeys, the diesel is very relaxing. I went or this primarily because I was doing a lot of long business trips. but when I changed jobs and switched to using the train more, I moved to the petrol as it's a great engine for fun and is still OK on longer drives.
Sports auto is absolutely the right transmission for the diesel - no point at all in having a diesel manual. The auto changes are almost unnoticeable. For a petrol 340i I'd still go for the Sports auto but I can see why someone might opt for a manual.
I had the full panoramic sunroof and this absolutely transforms the interior - makes it look much brighter, especially in the winter. It's great for rear seat passengers as it makes the rear much less claustrophobic on a long journey. The glass is tinted and was never a problem in the summer.
Like any Touring, the roof rails mean you can carry a ton of stuff on the roof if you need the extra space e.g. my son used to borrow it for surfing trips to Cornwall, carrying three surfboards, no problem.
I had 17" wheels, which were comfortable, but it could have carried 18" for a bit more agility and still be a comfortable ride. I wouldn't have gone 19" or more. This on standard SE suspension - I'd agree it's somewhat 'floaty'. Fine for me doing lots of long drives, but I would opt for adaptive suspension if I wanted something more dynamic, or Sports Suspension.
I'm a fan of xDrive - like most AWD systems, it makes the handling much more 'neutral' (in a good way) and with all that torque on tap it made the handling nice and predictable. But it's not as much fun as a RWD. Again, doing lots of business miles, predictable was fine by me.
Although you can fit two bicycles inside without dismantling them, I wouldn't want to carry them this way (just too awkward and couldnlt carry any luggage) - a towbar-mounted carrier would be preferable.
The 3.0L diesel sits in 8th for most of any steady journey, including quite steep hills. In comparison, the 3.0L petrol even with the turbo changes gear more. So if you do a lot of motorway and autoroute journeys, the diesel is very relaxing. I went or this primarily because I was doing a lot of long business trips. but when I changed jobs and switched to using the train more, I moved to the petrol as it's a great engine for fun and is still OK on longer drives.
Sports auto is absolutely the right transmission for the diesel - no point at all in having a diesel manual. The auto changes are almost unnoticeable. For a petrol 340i I'd still go for the Sports auto but I can see why someone might opt for a manual.
I had the full panoramic sunroof and this absolutely transforms the interior - makes it look much brighter, especially in the winter. It's great for rear seat passengers as it makes the rear much less claustrophobic on a long journey. The glass is tinted and was never a problem in the summer.
Like any Touring, the roof rails mean you can carry a ton of stuff on the roof if you need the extra space e.g. my son used to borrow it for surfing trips to Cornwall, carrying three surfboards, no problem.
I had 17" wheels, which were comfortable, but it could have carried 18" for a bit more agility and still be a comfortable ride. I wouldn't have gone 19" or more. This on standard SE suspension - I'd agree it's somewhat 'floaty'. Fine for me doing lots of long drives, but I would opt for adaptive suspension if I wanted something more dynamic, or Sports Suspension.
I'm a fan of xDrive - like most AWD systems, it makes the handling much more 'neutral' (in a good way) and with all that torque on tap it made the handling nice and predictable. But it's not as much fun as a RWD. Again, doing lots of business miles, predictable was fine by me.
Although you can fit two bicycles inside without dismantling them, I wouldn't want to carry them this way (just too awkward and couldnlt carry any luggage) - a towbar-mounted carrier would be preferable.
Edited by msej449 on Thursday 10th August 21:21
I had a 330d MSport F31 then an lci 335d touring.
The 335d was way ahead of the 330d in all areas (it had adaptive). The handling and ride were very very good.
Very fast. Very economical. On any numerical basis it was great and my wife loved it.
I found after 18 months I had to have a sports car or a different car.
The 335d is superb and I disagree re the idea that the handling etc is not good enough. It is however just not very involving. I have not driven a 340 but that might be a better bet.
I am not an Audi fan but my friends A4 3.0d seemed nicer.
Maybe it's my age but most modern family cars just seem a bit uninvolving. Get a 320d and a Caterham/Elise.
Also......the depreciation on the 335d was more savage than any car I've had.
The 335d was way ahead of the 330d in all areas (it had adaptive). The handling and ride were very very good.
Very fast. Very economical. On any numerical basis it was great and my wife loved it.
I found after 18 months I had to have a sports car or a different car.
The 335d is superb and I disagree re the idea that the handling etc is not good enough. It is however just not very involving. I have not driven a 340 but that might be a better bet.
I am not an Audi fan but my friends A4 3.0d seemed nicer.
Maybe it's my age but most modern family cars just seem a bit uninvolving. Get a 320d and a Caterham/Elise.
Also......the depreciation on the 335d was more savage than any car I've had.
Till135 said:
Also......the depreciation on the 335d was more savage than any car I've had.
Which depends entirely on how much you paid for it Last summer I was offered PCP deals with a GFV of 18k at 3 years with 10k miles per annum
Whilst I have no idea how much most people pay I'd have to suspect the majority do not pay 34k and it's probably closer to the sticker 44k possibly with a small sweetener and a bunch of flowers so call it 41k
I'm generalising here, most on this site would have performed due diligence before a car sale
So at 3y a PHer would have broadly paid 16k to run their 335d whilst Joe Public would have paid 23k
Quite a difference
Further assumptions that GFV has probably been eroded and has been set such that you will not have any equity at term but I've offset this by totally omitting interest payments!
Of note is that the bmw configurator used to freely give you an accurate GFV but this is no longer accessible without creating an online account
Cheers
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