335 Coupe M Sport

[Mr DG]

Hi everyone I currently drive a auto 530 M Sport. Fantastic car, plenty of power, comfortable and so far faultless. But for some reason it doesn't excite so i've been showing a bit of interest in a 57 plate 335 Coupe M Sport. First impressions are that the car suits me down to the ground. Following a motorcycle accident in August 2010 I now have no use in my right arm. Simple things that most people wouldn't give a second thought to are quite important to me. Like the position of the ignition and start button. In my 5 series its in the conventional position on the right hand side of the steering column where as in the 3 series its on the left hand side. The main difference on the 3 is the addition of the paddle shift for the auto gearbox. I test drove the car and couldn't believe how much more enjoyable the experience was being able to drop down a couple of gears when i wanted to and fly past anything. I know that eventually I'll probably drive the car in auto most of the time but it was nice to have the option if I wanted to have a bit of a play on my favourite set of bends. On the test drive the car performed perfectly, as you'd expect from an opc but is there any thing I should know about the auto 335 engine with paddle shift. As long as I don't get any horror stories from you guys I should have a deal done by the end of the week
Looking forward to hearing from you all
Thanks in advance.
Dean

[SBN]

I have a 3 series touring, but my mate has just got a 335i coupe and is loving every minute of it. Buy it, you wont regret it..!

[CypherP]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I instantly thought that too. Surely, by DVLA standards, this would be grounds to revoke your licence, if you don't have the use of both arms to control the vehicle correctly? Bit of a tangent, sorry, just intrigued as to how this is possible?

[The Stiglet]

CypherP said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I instantly thought that too. Surely, by DVLA standards, this would be grounds to revoke your licence, if you don't have the use of both arms to control the vehicle correctly? Bit of a tangent, sorry, just intrigued as to how this is possible?

Sorry to join the bandwagon here OP but how do you intend to use the paddle shifters? Right goes up a gear, left goes down a gear. At least, it did on our E92 335d...

[JNW1]

The Stiglet said:

Sorry to join the bandwagon here OP but how do you intend to use the paddle shifters? Right goes up a gear, left goes down a gear. At least, it did on our E92 335d...

Nope, until the facelift in around spring 2010 either paddle could be used to change both up and down (push forward to change up, pull back to change down if memory serves me right). However, more recent cars have the same arrangement as the DCT system on the M3 which is as you describe (i.e. pull back the left paddle to change down, pull back the right paddle to change up).

[The Stiglet]

JNW1 said:

Nope, until the facelift in around spring 2010 either paddle could be used to change both up and down (push forward to change up, pull back to change down if memory serves me right). However, more recent cars have the same arrangement as the DCT system on the M3 which is as you describe (i.e. pull back the left paddle to change down, pull back the right paddle to change up).

You're absolutely right! I suppose it was just so intuitive that I never thought about doing it any other way after I learnt to push forward to downshift on the left hand and pull towards on the right hand for the upshift. We had it in the family since 2007 and only sold it 3 weeks ago with around 85,000 miles on it and by then I've quite clearly forgotten that you can do both. (I really had to think about it for this thread!)

[Fox-]

I bought one in June.

The engine has significant reliability issues so it is absolutely essential you buy one with BMW warranty and maintain it throughout your ownership. It is a fantastic engine delivering a rare mix of astounding performance yet reasonable economy at 30mpg combined.

iDrive is fantastic if you get a post September 08 build car, it's fairly mediocre if you don't.

The ride is absolutely apalling, but the car handles very well. Road noise at motorway speeds can get instrusive. The level of interior quality is superficially good but sadly suffers from creaks/rattles/etc and numerous other 'cheap' shortcuts (Like wipers you can feel pulsing through the brake pedal at the traffic lights).

Fast and fun yet lacked the deeply satisfying, refined yet sporting feel I got from my 530i Sport.

So I sold it a few months ago.

[Fox-]

It's not the brake drying feature, no. Just the vibration from the motor. You can del it through the other pedals too

[The Stiglet]

Fox- said:

It's not the brake drying feature, no. Just the vibration from the motor. You can del it through the other pedals too

I noticed this as well.

Funny how we both like our E39's better eh, Fox?

[Mr DG]

Thanks for the rePlies everyone. You've defiantly given me something to think about. The car I'm thinking of is a 57 plate petrol that does have the paddles the allow upshift and down shift on both sides. As far as driving with one arm, the car is modified with an infra red key pad attached to a steering wheel ball that allows me control of lights, indicators, wipers and horn. So far I've had no problems and I'm only thinking of changing to get me into a smaller car as 90% of the time I'm in it on my own, plus I like the idea of having more control over the gear box.
As far as future problems does any one have any idea how much I may have to pay when the dealers 12 months warranty expires to keep the car covered ?. I don't really want any massive bills if I can avoid them. And do I need to have a main dealer service to keep in line with any warranty ?

[Evz]

I used to work for BMW, they are a great car, just problems with coils, injectors and plugs. With the age it should have had the lot done! Another thing is the waste gates on the turbo's have a tendancy to rattle/vibrate on idle or immediatly after closing. This is a job which involves removal of the turbo's which isn't the easiest of jobs and repairing the units! But then again this should have been done! FRM modules play up which bassicaly controls everything in /on the car from the shoulder down, telltail sign is the car telling u bulbs are out but they work fine visually or rapid indicator flashing! One thing i would insist on is a remap!!!!! The car will be an absolute weapon!

[Crackie]

I've had my 335i (E92 SE) for 12 months today ~ so far I would say
PROS - quick, discreet, progressive chassis, practical, comfortable when not on run flats, quite rapid in the mid-range when mapped
CONS - Thirsty around town, fuel injection system's unreliable reputation, ride is poor on run flats, interior materials and build not up to E46 standards.

imho 335s benefit from winter tyres far more than most and the the major controls ( steering, clutch and gearbox ) are lighter than ideal.

Overall

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 15th December 09:51