F31 - 440i or 335d dilemma
Discussion
Hi All
Taking aside the usage/mileage requirements of a petrol or diesel in terms of what is better suited or what I prefer driving, I'd like to ask for opinions please
Given the diesel scaremongering, dropping diesel sales do you think a 440i would be a better proposition than a 335d?
My line of thinking is that in the next year or two when I come to sell it then it might be more desirable to buyers/easier to sell? Plus it's a rarer car as most F31 seem to be some form of Derv propulsion.
I'm a cash buyer so this is a consideration over the 'monthlies'
Thanks for the input
Taking aside the usage/mileage requirements of a petrol or diesel in terms of what is better suited or what I prefer driving, I'd like to ask for opinions please
Given the diesel scaremongering, dropping diesel sales do you think a 440i would be a better proposition than a 335d?
My line of thinking is that in the next year or two when I come to sell it then it might be more desirable to buyers/easier to sell? Plus it's a rarer car as most F31 seem to be some form of Derv propulsion.
I'm a cash buyer so this is a consideration over the 'monthlies'
Thanks for the input
This is a killer question,im over on babybmw trying to manmath judge motorway mpg in a new M240i.......I have a 330d a fantastic engine power/mpg I do around 500 miles a week.
The bmw salesman said nothing will change for diesel for years,well that young fella was talking BS ...In london right now you are getting hit even on Euro 6 some boroughs 50% premium on CPZs westminster 300% more for parking again euro 6 or not . This has to filter down to other cities anytime soon , if your paying cash and have no Guaranteed final value I think its a big risk the depreciation could be massive couldnt it. Plus the mpg margin in a 335d Xdrive is less than a 330d S drive so id go Petrol in your shoes.Plus do you really need xdrive? No good in the snow with runflats anyway plus.all your getting really is floatier suspension and more fuel as heavy kit but guess you could beat me in a traffic light burn out
.
The bmw salesman said nothing will change for diesel for years,well that young fella was talking BS ...In london right now you are getting hit even on Euro 6 some boroughs 50% premium on CPZs westminster 300% more for parking again euro 6 or not . This has to filter down to other cities anytime soon , if your paying cash and have no Guaranteed final value I think its a big risk the depreciation could be massive couldnt it. Plus the mpg margin in a 335d Xdrive is less than a 330d S drive so id go Petrol in your shoes.Plus do you really need xdrive? No good in the snow with runflats anyway plus.all your getting really is floatier suspension and more fuel as heavy kit but guess you could beat me in a traffic light burn out
. Edited by smashy on Wednesday 22 November 13:20
lord trumpton said:
Hi All
Given the diesel scaremongering, dropping diesel sales do you think a 440i would be a better proposition than a 335d?
In terms of the scaremongering, we have just had the Budget and can see it has been exactly that. There is no change at all for existing diesel cars - fuel duty frozen and no change to VED. Given the diesel scaremongering, dropping diesel sales do you think a 440i would be a better proposition than a 335d?
For cars registered after April 2018 the first year rate goes up by one band. If I as buying right now, I would try and use the depressed state of the diesel market to pick up a bargain, before people work out that their fears have been unjustified and prices have been overly depressed.
I imagine that we will see more urban taxation for diesel though, so if you live in London or a major city, that might be a concern.
In terms of whether to go for a 40i or 35d - time to take both for an extended test drive
Lord trumpton 're your 440i.....20 minutes ago I have just come back from a kia dealership in Brentford west London.I went to look at the kia stinger top of the range model and I am blown away what a fantastic looking car it gets nothing but rave reviews.It really has the wow factor. Sat with the salesman and the pcp figures sadly don't add up for me it's over 3 years only with no help but as a cash buyer that you are it would be cheaper than a 440i.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHECK THAT CAR OUT.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHECK THAT CAR OUT.
Thanks for the replies and opinions chaps
Just to correct a mistake - the choice is between an F31 340i or F31 335d!
Sorry about that.
My gut feeling seems to chime with others too then.
The thing is that I prefer the drive of a 335d as the torque is so right for daily driving. The 340i seems to be pretty punchy all the same though.
My daily driving is town stuff/school runs with a vary rare motorway blast so in reality the 335d is not suited anyway.
I feel that touring versions are more in demand in the used market due to people like me who have children but still want something a bit spicy when those times with no passengers arise. So my man thinking thinks an F31 340i is going to be worth a chunk more in the coming years
Re the Kia stinger, it's something I'm not too struck on really but thanks for the suggestion
Just to correct a mistake - the choice is between an F31 340i or F31 335d!
Sorry about that.
My gut feeling seems to chime with others too then.
The thing is that I prefer the drive of a 335d as the torque is so right for daily driving. The 340i seems to be pretty punchy all the same though.
My daily driving is town stuff/school runs with a vary rare motorway blast so in reality the 335d is not suited anyway.
I feel that touring versions are more in demand in the used market due to people like me who have children but still want something a bit spicy when those times with no passengers arise. So my man thinking thinks an F31 340i is going to be worth a chunk more in the coming years
Re the Kia stinger, it's something I'm not too struck on really but thanks for the suggestion
smashy said:
Lord trumpton 're your 440i.....20 minutes ago I have just come back from a kia dealership in Brentford west London.I went to look at the kia stinger top of the range model and I am blown away what a fantastic looking car it gets nothing but rave reviews.It really has the wow factor. Sat with the salesman and the pcp figures sadly don't add up for me it's over 3 years only with no help but as a cash buyer that you are it would be cheaper than a 440i.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHECK THAT CAR OUT.
engineered by former M Division guy, so it says here YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHECK THAT CAR OUT.
https://youtu.be/aLlBGVVVaDM
I have a 340i at the moment and had a 330d xdrive before it. The 340 goes back in a couple of weeks and rather than extend (or find another) I've gone 335d X drive this time.
It is difficult to get the power down in the 340, any damp.or grease and you end up sat there not moving whilst the dash flashes at you. In the old 330 with X drive you could nail it and it wouldn't break traction.
I also found the xdrive to be better when fast cornering. I appreciate this is a different view than the tests state - I just find it more balanced.
The 340 sounds great though - sport mode and using the paddles needs the windows down!
It is difficult to get the power down in the 340, any damp.or grease and you end up sat there not moving whilst the dash flashes at you. In the old 330 with X drive you could nail it and it wouldn't break traction.
I also found the xdrive to be better when fast cornering. I appreciate this is a different view than the tests state - I just find it more balanced.
The 340 sounds great though - sport mode and using the paddles needs the windows down!
NorthDave said:
It is difficult to get the power down in the 340, any damp.or grease and you end up sat there not moving whilst the dash flashes at you. In the old 330 with X drive you could nail it and it wouldn't break traction.
L
Has it got Michelin pilot super sports?L
Amazed at how much traction these find in the damp on the M135
40i does sound great.
But economy isn't so hot, and the rwd only means it's a fair weather only tool if you want to deploy all the grunt at reasonable road speeds (up to 70mph)
335d xd on the other hand. I gave mine full beans on a damp cold road from a standstill holding on the brake with some rpm the other day and it just went. No hiccup, holdup, flashing lights, just pure go.
But then there was a whole lot less drama too.
And the gearbox is annoyingly revvy in sport for a diesel.
For me personally, as a cash used car buyer, an f31 petrol just wouldn't appeal.
An f30 is already a barge, an f31 is pure family barge, so awd and diesel waft go hand in hand.
Now if the morons at BMW woke up and offered a 340i xd msport for the uk!
But economy isn't so hot, and the rwd only means it's a fair weather only tool if you want to deploy all the grunt at reasonable road speeds (up to 70mph)
335d xd on the other hand. I gave mine full beans on a damp cold road from a standstill holding on the brake with some rpm the other day and it just went. No hiccup, holdup, flashing lights, just pure go.
But then there was a whole lot less drama too.
And the gearbox is annoyingly revvy in sport for a diesel.
For me personally, as a cash used car buyer, an f31 petrol just wouldn't appeal.
An f30 is already a barge, an f31 is pure family barge, so awd and diesel waft go hand in hand.
Now if the morons at BMW woke up and offered a 340i xd msport for the uk!
I think you answered your own question with the 'mostly town driving and school run duties' part - petrol all the way.
Otherwise if you were doing mostly motorway driving, 100+ miles in a day five days a week, the 335d would become the more attractive option. The only tricky bit to work out is if the money you saved on fuel would be greater or less than the depreciation.
My experience of derv BMWs is limited to owning a late-model E46 330d (remapped!) - I liked driving it in in Southern France more than the UK. In France I live in a small village with a 30km drive to the nearest big town. The roads are straight, the surface smooth and the traffic light, fuel consumption rarely dropped below 45mpg. Plus, being a very agricultural area, diesel is about 20% cheaper than E10 or 95 octane fuel, and 97-99 is hard to come by and about 20% more expensive again.
Whereas here in the UK I live fairly close to the city centre, most of the roads are twisty and there's a large amount of congestion - even motorway runs would see fuel consumption more like 35-37mpg due to more frequent changes in speed thanks to heavy traffic. Round the town, fuel consumption not a whole load better than my 2.8 petrol E36. Combine that with the fact the price of diesel is higher than petrol and the argument for running a petrol car over diesel is more attractive.
Otherwise if you were doing mostly motorway driving, 100+ miles in a day five days a week, the 335d would become the more attractive option. The only tricky bit to work out is if the money you saved on fuel would be greater or less than the depreciation.
My experience of derv BMWs is limited to owning a late-model E46 330d (remapped!) - I liked driving it in in Southern France more than the UK. In France I live in a small village with a 30km drive to the nearest big town. The roads are straight, the surface smooth and the traffic light, fuel consumption rarely dropped below 45mpg. Plus, being a very agricultural area, diesel is about 20% cheaper than E10 or 95 octane fuel, and 97-99 is hard to come by and about 20% more expensive again.
Whereas here in the UK I live fairly close to the city centre, most of the roads are twisty and there's a large amount of congestion - even motorway runs would see fuel consumption more like 35-37mpg due to more frequent changes in speed thanks to heavy traffic. Round the town, fuel consumption not a whole load better than my 2.8 petrol E36. Combine that with the fact the price of diesel is higher than petrol and the argument for running a petrol car over diesel is more attractive.
The car I'm looking to buy is this one
https://www.halliwelljones.co.uk/bmw/approved-used...
It was pre reg in April by BMW UK and has been bought and offered for sale at my local stealer. Its only got 20 miles on the clock.
Seems to have enough spec for my needs and given the list when new price was 44k then it's not a bad price.
What do you think of the spec and price?
https://www.halliwelljones.co.uk/bmw/approved-used...
It was pre reg in April by BMW UK and has been bought and offered for sale at my local stealer. Its only got 20 miles on the clock.
Seems to have enough spec for my needs and given the list when new price was 44k then it's not a bad price.
What do you think of the spec and price?
Mike335i said:
Absolutely go petrol and RWD. With good tyres you'll have no traction issues even in the wettest of conditions unless you are really provoking it. Certainly not a 'fair weather tool'.
B58 engine sounds better too.
So it'll do 4.8s to 60mph in the cold and wet?B58 engine sounds better too.
In practice the 340i won't be able to use all it's power ever under 60mph in the wet.
1st, 2nd and 3rd will be traction limited at full throttle I'm sure.
The point is an f31 340i will not be anywhere near as desirable used in years to come, imo, vs a 335d.
They're family cars, not sports cars.
I'd absolutely go for safety and better performance more of the time (like exiting a rainy junction in the dark and knowingly it'll go, not big down with tcs) for my family.
If it's a sporty car for me I won't be buying an estate one.
If they did xdrive petrol ones it'd be a different story.
Why we're the Audi RS models so popular? Fast avants with awd.
BMW doing a fast avant awd diesel is a perfect combo that no one else does.
It will be way more desirable for buyers down the line imo.
Mr Whippy said:
Mike335i said:
Absolutely go petrol and RWD. With good tyres you'll have no traction issues even in the wettest of conditions unless you are really provoking it. Certainly not a 'fair weather tool'.
B58 engine sounds better too.
So it'll do 4.8s to 60mph in the cold and wet?B58 engine sounds better too.
In practice the 340i won't be able to use all it's power ever under 60mph in the wet.
1st, 2nd and 3rd will be traction limited at full throttle I'm sure.
The point is an f31 340i will not be anywhere near as desirable used in years to come, imo, vs a 335d.
They're family cars, not sports cars.
I'd absolutely go for safety and better performance more of the time (like exiting a rainy junction in the dark and knowingly it'll go, not big down with tcs) for my family.
If it's a sporty car for me I won't be buying an estate one.
If they did xdrive petrol ones it'd be a different story.
Why we're the Audi RS models so popular? Fast avants with awd.
BMW doing a fast avant awd diesel is a perfect combo that no one else does.
It will be way more desirable for buyers down the line imo.
I'm not sure about the 35d being worth way more though - the fact is there are lots more for sale and the public opinion on derv is souring.
The dealer I'm potentially buying from also has a few F31 35d in similar spec and price. I told him my feelings about depreciation and he agreed. He commented there has been a reduced demand for the 35d much to the annoyance of their used car sales manager having four or five in stock.
Wether the whole thing will blow over then I'm not sure but at the moment it does seem derv is on the ropes.
Mr Whippy said:
Mike335i said:
Absolutely go petrol and RWD. With good tyres you'll have no traction issues even in the wettest of conditions unless you are really provoking it. Certainly not a 'fair weather tool'.
B58 engine sounds better too.
So it'll do 4.8s to 60mph in the cold and wet?B58 engine sounds better too.
In practice the 340i won't be able to use all it's power ever under 60mph in the wet.
1st, 2nd and 3rd will be traction limited at full throttle I'm sure.
The point is an f31 340i will not be anywhere near as desirable used in years to come, imo, vs a 335d.
They're family cars, not sports cars.
I'd absolutely go for safety and better performance more of the time (like exiting a rainy junction in the dark and knowingly it'll go, not big down with tcs) for my family.
If it's a sporty car for me I won't be buying an estate one.
If they did xdrive petrol ones it'd be a different story.
Why we're the Audi RS models so popular? Fast avants with awd.
BMW doing a fast avant awd diesel is a perfect combo that no one else does.
It will be way more desirable for buyers down the line imo.
Audi RS models are popular because they are the best Audi's and are a desirable brand for many. They are fast in a straight line and have loads of grip.
I think the problem is the 'using all of its power in the wet'. If you are worried about the safety of you family when pulling out of junctions, maybe address the driving style and drive to the conditions?
I don't have any trouble getting the power down in my car.
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