Discussion
I bought this car 2 weeks ago and have already done 800 miles. I replaced my 996 targa for this car. I was obviously aprehensive about this change. I can tell you that this has been a fantastic move. BMW 3351 is probably one of the best car that I have driven. It is as fast as the Targa but much more practical and better to drive. I love it. Any one with similar or disimilar views about this car?
If there is 'no comparison' between the two, in your opinion, then by definition these are 2 totally different cars.
So why are you surprised someone bought 'a totally different car'?
Actually, the 335d does just about everything the 335i does, including the outright performance. There is nothing between them hardly, but the diesel has a big advantage in torque.
Both great engines at the end of the day.
So why are you surprised someone bought 'a totally different car'?
Actually, the 335d does just about everything the 335i does, including the outright performance. There is nothing between them hardly, but the diesel has a big advantage in torque.
Both great engines at the end of the day.
Beemer-5 said:
If there is 'no comparison' between the two, in your opinion, then by definition these are 2 totally different cars.
So why are you surprised someone bought 'a totally different car'?
Actually, the 335d does just about everything the 335i does, including the outright performance. There is nothing between them hardly, but the diesel has a big advantage in torque.
Both great engines at the end of the day.
So why are you surprised someone bought 'a totally different car'?
Actually, the 335d does just about everything the 335i does, including the outright performance. There is nothing between them hardly, but the diesel has a big advantage in torque.
Both great engines at the end of the day.
Plus DMS can the take the 335d up to 336 bhp and 500+ lb ft if you wish for about a grand. They claim this takes the 0-60 sprint down to about 5.2
Beemer-5 said:
Actually, the 335d does just about everything the 335i does, including the outright performance. There is nothing between them hardly, but the diesel has a big advantage in torque.
Ah, torque, that old red herring. A simple peak torque figure is meaningless, it's the spread of torque that's of note. If you compare the peak power of either vehicle, it illustrates the point. The 335i produces 306bhp at 5800 revs. The 335d makes 286bhp (7% less) at 4400 revs (25% less). Power is the product of torque and engine speed, so the 335d turns with more force but does so less quickly. Whilst the engine of the 335i may turn with less force, it turns more quickly and thus it can have shorter gearing but produce the same speed. Which means it's easier for the engine to turn the transmission and thus less torque is required to produce a given tractive effort at the tyre.
And the difference between 5.7 seconds to 62.5mph and 6.1 seconds is actually a real gap. It's the difference between a Boxster S and a Crossfire, which from experience I can assure you is quite significant.
steve z said:
Plus DMS can the take the 335d up to 336 bhp and 500+ lb ft if you wish for about a grand. They claim this takes the 0-60 sprint down to about 5.2
I think 5.2 might be a little optimistic, that's a quick as an E46 M3. Not sure the fuel efficiency savings would be retained in that event.
Andrew, technically i wouldn't argue with your piece about power and torque.
I have an M3 CSL which thrives on revs and is a genuinely quick car but my last car, a mapped 535d, was also extremely fast as a road car. But in a different way.
A 335d, remapped to 340 bhp and 510 lbs-ft, is going to be very rapid, regardless of how high it revs or otherwise.
Like my 535d, it will often get the better of a theoretically quicker car, due to the instant hit of shove, almost zero lag and acceleration in any gear.
I have an M3 CSL which thrives on revs and is a genuinely quick car but my last car, a mapped 535d, was also extremely fast as a road car. But in a different way.
A 335d, remapped to 340 bhp and 510 lbs-ft, is going to be very rapid, regardless of how high it revs or otherwise.
Like my 535d, it will often get the better of a theoretically quicker car, due to the instant hit of shove, almost zero lag and acceleration in any gear.
For many people, yes. The derv will be better. For others, no, they will want the petrol-style ooomph.
I am not sure i would ever bother with the 335i, it is neither one thing nor another.
Now many people will see it as being the perfect compromise between outright performance and everyday usability. I can understand why they would too.
But I tend to think that if i wanted something less frenetic and rev-happy than my current main car, the M3 CSL, i would take the 335d and re-map it.
My 535d was close to being the best all-round car in the world, the 335d has more power, more torque, a lighter updated engine, is lighter overall and handles and stops better. I can see it being an exceptional all-rounder.
I am not sure i would ever bother with the 335i, it is neither one thing nor another.
Now many people will see it as being the perfect compromise between outright performance and everyday usability. I can understand why they would too.
But I tend to think that if i wanted something less frenetic and rev-happy than my current main car, the M3 CSL, i would take the 335d and re-map it.
My 535d was close to being the best all-round car in the world, the 335d has more power, more torque, a lighter updated engine, is lighter overall and handles and stops better. I can see it being an exceptional all-rounder.
The only thing that let the derv down is the sound at tickoever! Get past that and its a no brainer really.
Im a complete petrolhead when it comes to my cars and would not normally give a diesel the light of day, however the BMW twin turbo 3.0 diesel engine is in another league to ordinary dervs.
I have a DMS'd 535d and with its almost inter-gallictic gearing pulls like a train from tickoever without lag all the way to the 5000rpm red line no matter what gear, doesnt matter which one. In fact it doesnt really need more than 2 gears, forwards and backwards!
To put this performance into perspective, I had a small game of cat and mouse on a rural NSL road the other day. My wife, who is not renowned for her driving skills, was driving the 535d and I was travelling behind in my manual transmission Aston DB7 Vantage (6.0 V12 420 bhp).
I had to use all the performance of the Aston (read keep it in a low gear and rag the nuts off it) just to keep in touch, as for getting past, there would be no chance, at least not under about 140 mph!
On confronting the wife afterwards, she said she wasnt really trying and wasnt even using kickdown!
Im a complete petrolhead when it comes to my cars and would not normally give a diesel the light of day, however the BMW twin turbo 3.0 diesel engine is in another league to ordinary dervs.
I have a DMS'd 535d and with its almost inter-gallictic gearing pulls like a train from tickoever without lag all the way to the 5000rpm red line no matter what gear, doesnt matter which one. In fact it doesnt really need more than 2 gears, forwards and backwards!
To put this performance into perspective, I had a small game of cat and mouse on a rural NSL road the other day. My wife, who is not renowned for her driving skills, was driving the 535d and I was travelling behind in my manual transmission Aston DB7 Vantage (6.0 V12 420 bhp).
I had to use all the performance of the Aston (read keep it in a low gear and rag the nuts off it) just to keep in touch, as for getting past, there would be no chance, at least not under about 140 mph!
On confronting the wife afterwards, she said she wasnt really trying and wasnt even using kickdown!
aeroresh said:
The only thing that let the derv down is the sound at tickoever! Get past that and its a no brainer really.
Im a complete petrolhead when it comes to my cars and would not normally give a diesel the light of day, however the BMW twin turbo 3.0 diesel engine is in another league to ordinary dervs.
I have a DMS'd 535d and with its almost inter-gallictic gearing pulls like a train from tickoever without lag all the way to the 5000rpm red line no matter what gear, doesnt matter which one. In fact it doesnt really need more than 2 gears, forwards and backwards!
To put this performance into perspective, I had a small game of cat and mouse on a rural NSL road the other day. My wife, who is not renowned for her driving skills, was driving the 535d and I was travelling behind in my manual transmission Aston DB7 Vantage (6.0 V12 420 bhp).
I had to use all the performance of the Aston (read keep it in a low gear and rag the nuts off it) just to keep in touch, as for getting past, there would be no chance, at least not under about 140 mph!
On confronting the wife afterwards, she said she wasnt really trying and wasnt even using kickdown!
Im a complete petrolhead when it comes to my cars and would not normally give a diesel the light of day, however the BMW twin turbo 3.0 diesel engine is in another league to ordinary dervs.
I have a DMS'd 535d and with its almost inter-gallictic gearing pulls like a train from tickoever without lag all the way to the 5000rpm red line no matter what gear, doesnt matter which one. In fact it doesnt really need more than 2 gears, forwards and backwards!
To put this performance into perspective, I had a small game of cat and mouse on a rural NSL road the other day. My wife, who is not renowned for her driving skills, was driving the 535d and I was travelling behind in my manual transmission Aston DB7 Vantage (6.0 V12 420 bhp).
I had to use all the performance of the Aston (read keep it in a low gear and rag the nuts off it) just to keep in touch, as for getting past, there would be no chance, at least not under about 140 mph!
On confronting the wife afterwards, she said she wasnt really trying and wasnt even using kickdown!
An excellent comparison.
I had a 535D M-Sport (DMS) for the early part of this year & thought it to be an awesome vehicle & if i'd had a £ for every time a dispatched Ricer had mouthed the words "it's a feckin diesel" i could have probably bought another one (please not i do exagerate slightly).
My downfall was a shiny blue E60 M5 that caught my eye whilst looking at new Mini's for my dear wife as like most i'd always shunned diesels & admitted to being a petrolhead. The M5 won the battle & i switched back to the flammable stuff, however with my monthly mileage going up very quickly i may soon depart from my M5 & going back to a 535d or 335d is defo on my radar. Of course i'd only consider the move if DMS were instructed to tinker with her.
w8pmc said:
An excellent comparison.
I had a 535D M-Sport (DMS) for the early part of this year & thought it to be an awesome vehicle & if i'd had a £ for every time a dispatched Ricer had mouthed the words "it's a feckin diesel" i could have probably bought another one (please not i do exagerate slightly).
My downfall was a shiny blue E60 M5 that caught my eye whilst looking at new Mini's for my dear wife as like most i'd always shunned diesels & admitted to being a petrolhead. The M5 won the battle & i switched back to the flammable stuff, however with my monthly mileage going up very quickly i may soon depart from my M5 & going back to a 535d or 335d is defo on my radar. Of course i'd only consider the move if DMS were instructed to tinker with her.
My MD went from 535d to M5 to the 335d (just got it last week. Its getting DMS'd next week. He's dissapointed though. The 335 is quick but it is very boring after 25k miles with 5.0L V10. Also, the handling and traction is a let down after an M Car. I guess most cars would be after owning an M5...
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