2016 BMW335D GT
Discussion
Inspired by the hate for the A4 Ultra I thought it best to vent my spleen about one of the dullest cars I ever had the displeasure to drive. I got a cracking lease deal on it for 2 years and despite going back in February I can give anyone thinking about buying one of these a steer (hopefully away).
It was the first new car I had so imagine my disappointment when I first tried to fling this thing around a corner. I mean it sits on stilts, you can see that but Christ it really rolls and not like a French car that just keeps on gripping. Changing direction whilst pressing on or hugging a roundabout is a scary thing - onlookers are probably concerned for your safety too. I read somewhere afterwards that all the 4WD versions get SE suspension which sounds right.
Keen eyes will spot I am a long time lurker which means I have been brainwashed into the 335d engine being a technical marvel. It's a f
king tractor, a noisy tractor. The missus has a 2.0d MINI which sounds 100x better. Endless torque that can only be deployed in a straight line is a good party trick. It's also worth revving out but I couldn't live with that row for long.
That cracking deal meant I didn't do a lot of research on the car. Naively I thought all decent motors these days come with a DSG, well they don't. The box in this 'GT' came with a lazy arse slushbox that would sneak up on you in a tight blind turn and change up a gear. Manual mode improved things a bit so I resorted to paddles when approaching junctions that demanded a quick getaway. Sport mode annoyed that engine again. The Eco mode is clever all autos ought to have this, it cleverly disengages the clutch when coming off the throttle. There's a centre joy in freewheeling past cars at 85mph with 650rpm on the clock.
Brakes - there aren't any. It's just endless amounts of fade. They sell a M upgrade to them. A colleague paid for it, they're crap too.
I didn't rate the 4wd system either. Based on the state of the front tyres, which were replaced at 15k, and the back which were still going strong at 21k when handed back it's clearly front biased. I found it very easy to upset the traction control from a standing start on anything other than a perfect surface. Bit crap really. Always felt a lot of understeer as a result unlike the 2 audi quattros, current is S4 Avant, which feel balanced through a corner on the throttle.
I can't not mention the stereo I mean I could barely hear it. It had the weakest bass on a standard setup I have heard for a while. It manages to make 5 live sound bad. It's pants. If you are looking at one of these joy suckers as your next steed look for upgraded audio.
I will try and finish on the pluses.
The boot is bloody cavernous. Rear legroom is huge, carries 4 in wallowing comfort.
Idrive is good very good. Sat nav the same.
It's hard to get less than 40mpg, I tried a lot.
So that's it. I have had a lot of cars over the years. Never been inspired to write a review but this thing was so utterly boring to drive I feel a duty to steer any of you away from it, if the looks alone didn't do that job. If you dont car for driving and want a quick, ugly, commodius family wagon get yourself one of these.
Enjoying the S4 but likely to hold onto that for more than 2 years.
It was the first new car I had so imagine my disappointment when I first tried to fling this thing around a corner. I mean it sits on stilts, you can see that but Christ it really rolls and not like a French car that just keeps on gripping. Changing direction whilst pressing on or hugging a roundabout is a scary thing - onlookers are probably concerned for your safety too. I read somewhere afterwards that all the 4WD versions get SE suspension which sounds right.
Keen eyes will spot I am a long time lurker which means I have been brainwashed into the 335d engine being a technical marvel. It's a f
king tractor, a noisy tractor. The missus has a 2.0d MINI which sounds 100x better. Endless torque that can only be deployed in a straight line is a good party trick. It's also worth revving out but I couldn't live with that row for long. That cracking deal meant I didn't do a lot of research on the car. Naively I thought all decent motors these days come with a DSG, well they don't. The box in this 'GT' came with a lazy arse slushbox that would sneak up on you in a tight blind turn and change up a gear. Manual mode improved things a bit so I resorted to paddles when approaching junctions that demanded a quick getaway. Sport mode annoyed that engine again. The Eco mode is clever all autos ought to have this, it cleverly disengages the clutch when coming off the throttle. There's a centre joy in freewheeling past cars at 85mph with 650rpm on the clock.
Brakes - there aren't any. It's just endless amounts of fade. They sell a M upgrade to them. A colleague paid for it, they're crap too.
I didn't rate the 4wd system either. Based on the state of the front tyres, which were replaced at 15k, and the back which were still going strong at 21k when handed back it's clearly front biased. I found it very easy to upset the traction control from a standing start on anything other than a perfect surface. Bit crap really. Always felt a lot of understeer as a result unlike the 2 audi quattros, current is S4 Avant, which feel balanced through a corner on the throttle.
I can't not mention the stereo I mean I could barely hear it. It had the weakest bass on a standard setup I have heard for a while. It manages to make 5 live sound bad. It's pants. If you are looking at one of these joy suckers as your next steed look for upgraded audio.
I will try and finish on the pluses.
The boot is bloody cavernous. Rear legroom is huge, carries 4 in wallowing comfort.
Idrive is good very good. Sat nav the same.
It's hard to get less than 40mpg, I tried a lot.
So that's it. I have had a lot of cars over the years. Never been inspired to write a review but this thing was so utterly boring to drive I feel a duty to steer any of you away from it, if the looks alone didn't do that job. If you dont car for driving and want a quick, ugly, commodius family wagon get yourself one of these.
Enjoying the S4 but likely to hold onto that for more than 2 years.
Not a surprising review and I'm not sure what you were expecting given you ordered a diesel, a lardy GT and missed too many key options.
Only item I really disagree on are the M Sport brakes. They're excellent on my 440i for road work, but will fade badly after 2-3 laps on any track, and the M Sport brakes are a huge improvement over the stock brakes.
As diesels go for the money it's impossible to beat for performance, but even a 435d is deeply flawed with the awful SE suspension as standard.
I had a 640d with the same engine and it was very boring, kept it for 2 years and now have a 440i Coupe with MPPSK (M Power, Performance and Sound Kit - 360bhp remap and switchable exhaust) and it's epic.
Only item I really disagree on are the M Sport brakes. They're excellent on my 440i for road work, but will fade badly after 2-3 laps on any track, and the M Sport brakes are a huge improvement over the stock brakes.
As diesels go for the money it's impossible to beat for performance, but even a 435d is deeply flawed with the awful SE suspension as standard.
I had a 640d with the same engine and it was very boring, kept it for 2 years and now have a 440i Coupe with MPPSK (M Power, Performance and Sound Kit - 360bhp remap and switchable exhaust) and it's epic.
moffat said:
Only item I really disagree on are the M Sport brakes. They're excellent on my 440i for road work, but will fade badly after 2-3 laps on any track, and the M Sport brakes are a huge improvement over the stock brakes.
+1 I've driven both and our current 335d has the M sport brakes which I find excellent and much better than the standard ones.I agree with a lot of what you've said though, but it depends on your expectations. Despite the high praise they tend to receive, they're not 'fun' cars to drive, both my wife and I find our little 1.4 Leon FR a more enjoyable car to drive than our 335d. It feels so light, agile and sharp in comparison, and it's always refreshing to drive a petrol engine again after a long time driving any diesel. The 335d is excellent for a diesel barge, as long as that's what you expect from it.
I'm struggling to see why you'd put up with a diesel to do that mileage, particularly given the excellent N55 / B58 engines in that range
The GT is also the shopper of the range and not at all setup to handle. I've only driven a 320d GT loan car and that was enough. At the next service, I took a Mini One instead
.
Having driven most of the F30 series, base diesels to M4s, they all feel like a step back in terms of driver focus, compared to earlier models,
Hopefully the next model will restore some of the fun factor.
The GT is also the shopper of the range and not at all setup to handle. I've only driven a 320d GT loan car and that was enough. At the next service, I took a Mini One instead
.Having driven most of the F30 series, base diesels to M4s, they all feel like a step back in terms of driver focus, compared to earlier models,
Hopefully the next model will restore some of the fun factor.
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