Decided on a f31 but can’t decide which one 330d/335d

[mattuk89]

Hi, currently got a Jaguar XF 2.2 saloon and whilst it’s a nice car, with a 3 month old and a dog, I’ve decided I need to go back to estate, the jags boot is huge, but awkward for a pushchair and other baby things which fills it very quickly, plus the dogs not allowed on the leather so he is missing out on lots of family days out.

I’m not getting a 4 cylinder as I had a f10 520d a few years ago, and the 2.2 in the jag has really put me of, so it’s either going to be a 330d or 335d, I just can’t decide if the 335d is worth the extra, the car will be financed so the difference isn’t much, at all really, less than 40 a month if Im comparing the 2 cars I like.

I’ve read about the XDrive suspension problems will I really notice it, I won’t be driving the car on the limits as most of the time I’ll just be driving to work or with my daughter in the car.

Spec wise the cars are pretty much identical, apart from the 330d has adaptive lights which I know are very good from my f10, but I could live without, and also it has electric seats, which is very odd a 335d that listed at over 40k doesn’t, but oh well.

Also as the 330d has the visibility package I see on the advert it has the puddle lights on the door handles, I’m assuming that’s part of the visibility package or do all f31s have it?

Car before the jag was an b8.5 s4 avant, which I still regret getting rid off, but had too due too the fuel costs, have considered a 335i but they are very rare, and 340i are just out of budget.

So go on, talk me into a 330d or 335d

Edit

I have driven a 330d in f30 guise and thought it was very good, I obviously need to test both, but as they are both very far from me, I thought I would let you lot talk me into one which I’ll test.

Have thought about a f11 but already had a f10 as mentioned, and I’m not sure if I like the looks as much, although I know it will be a lot nicer place to be in.

Edited by mattuk89 on Wednesday 28th November 08:25

[p1stonhead]

335d is heavier and xdrive only, therefore go 330d.

330d is plenty fast enough.

[cerb4.5lee]

p1stonhead said:

335d is heavier and xdrive only, therefore go 330d.

330d is plenty fast enough.

This is the way I'd go too.

[Welshbeef]

OR

F11 535d
Similar price but will have loads more options and is a vastly nicer /quality cabin than the 3. A bit like the 6 is a step on from the 5.


I was heart set on a 335d/another 330d but then stumbled across the 535d ....

[Ninja59]

Be aware BMW if you do not get adaptive LED headlights actually downgrade the lumen output on the "normal" LED headlights so that they do not need the headlight washers.

There is far more to it than just on the face of it headlight washers and adaptive bits.

Having driven an F30 with standard LED and adaptive (as well as adaptive on my 6) then the standard LED headlights were sh*t. End of.

[Manmoths]

With the F Series I'd go 330d, too.

I went for a mint E91 335d as I still wanted RWD and Touring.

[Welshbeef]

What about the 340i?/335i?

[stewart rix]

Our family car is now a 335d touring having changed from a 330d touring; both M-Sport. The current standard X-drive suspension is softer than the sport - not a bad thing for normal driving, and in fact does a reasonable job of cushioning potholes compared to the former. Real-world MPG is very similar, with our long term average of 42mpg from a mixture of school runs, shopping and motorway commuting. Difference is power is noticeable, but both a more than adequate - driving on that wave of torque is also addictive...... Standard LED headlights are OK (just) - I loved the adaptive lights on our 330d (where the full beam wraps the outside of a vehicle in front). Anyway, we went for the latter on the basis that we found a great deal on a 6mth old car, with the right spec for us, for the same price as a similar 330d. You takes your choice......

[Chris Hinds]

Drove both when I bought mine in 2014 and chose a 330d... the 335d wasn’t enough better/different to be worth a bugger outlay up front. 75k later I don’t regret the choice

[Welshbeef]

Chris Hinds said:

Drove both when I bought mine in 2014 and chose a 330d... the 335d wasn’t enough better/different to be worth a bugger outlay up front. 75k later I don’t regret the choice

Have you PPK’d the 330d?

[smashy]

Make sure if you get that 35d it has adaptive suspension , otherwise you will get the SE suspension even if the car is called an M sport and you need to keep away although if this is a new car the latest SE suspension seems better on forums but I still wouldnt ...adaptive is such a low cost for its benefits

[mattuk89]

Thanks for all the comments, drove a 330d today, was a perfectly good car and I would of happily bought it, but there was just something telling me not too, I just know when I see a 35d I would of regretted it, the same as my jag and not getting the S model.

Anyway I phoned up a dealer a bit further away this afternoon, he offered me a £500 more for my P/X, and the monthly’s come in at 30 quid less than the 330d, put a deposit down and going to view on sat, car sounds perfect though, so as long as it drives alright and all checks out, I’ll be coming home in it.

Don’t really feel like I’m going to miss rwd, 75% of my cars have been rwd, with the one I enjoyed driving the most being the s4, cant beat the all weather performance, I’ll budget changing the springs if I really don’t get on with the soft suspension, It all depends on the test drive now, but it’s got to be a very bad handling car to put me off, and I don’t see how it could be.

Regarding the 335i/340i, no 335is up for sale that I fancy, and 340i, just out of budget, and regarding the f11, I’ve had an f10 and whilst it was a lovely car and place to be, I just don’t need they much space at the moment.

[smashy]

Matt when you take that 35d car out for a test drive if it hasnt got adaptive, make sure you get a feel for what happens when you come up to a roundabout and brake ,does the cars nose come down forcing you to grip the seat with your body as you slide forward. Also try and get on a motorway and and see what you make of the floaty feeling.If its an LCI model from 2015 it may feel better than my 2014

[Eddieslofart]

330d touring x drive thing here, put near 40 k on it this year, suspension is fine, lights are fine, its all fine.

Its just a mobile office, that does everything it needs. The difference between a 330 tractor and a 335 tractor is negligble in the real world, and no tractor is going to raise your pulse.

[HARTLEYHARE1]

Bought a 335xdrive from the factory to my spec and cannot fault anything

Fuel, suspension and comfort is for me perfect and the power still keeps me smiling

Drive both but feel extra safe with xdrive

[mattuk89]

smashy said:

Matt when you take that 35d car out for a test drive if it hasnt got adaptive, make sure you get a feel for what happens when you come up to a roundabout and brake ,does the cars nose come down forcing you to grip the seat with your body as you slide forward. Also try and get on a motorway and and see what you make of the floaty feeling.If its an LCI model from 2015 it may feel better than my 2014

The car doesn’t have adaptive, I really can’t imagine it’s going to be that bad surely, car is 15 plate so pre lci, I’ll wait and see on Saturday, I know it won’t handle like the s4 did, which to be fair was a little bit understeery, but I’m sure I’ll be satisfied.

Eddieslofart said:

330d touring x drive thing here, put near 40 k on it this year, suspension is fine, lights are fine, its all fine.

Its just a mobile office, that does everything it needs. The difference between a 330 tractor and a 335 tractor is negligble in the real world, and no tractor is going to raise your pulse.

Thanks, someone who isnt just against the XDrive.

All I need is a economic, brisk estate which can ferry around my 3 month old daughter, the dog and whatever else I chuck at it, 313bhp will make it more interesting than a 4pot.

[anonymous-user]

I had 330d and it was good at everything, but boring after a while. Sold it after 9k.

[p1stonhead]

Adaptive is one of the best options on mine imo. Comfort mode is really really nice. Way better than my previous E91 SE. And sport mode is quite firm. I didn’t think I’d be able to tell the difference too much but it’s massive IMO

[Pica-Pica]

mattuk89 said:

smashy said:

Matt when you take that 35d car out for a test drive if it hasnt got adaptive, make sure you get a feel for what happens when you come up to a roundabout and brake ,does the cars nose come down forcing you to grip the seat with your body as you slide forward. Also try and get on a motorway and and see what you make of the floaty feeling.If its an LCI model from 2015 it may feel better than my 2014

The car doesn’t have adaptive, I really can’t imagine it’s going to be that bad surely, car is 15 plate so pre lci, I’ll wait and see on Saturday, I know it won’t handle like the s4 did, which to be fair was a little bit understeery, but I’m sure I’ll be satisfied.

Eddieslofart said:

330d touring x drive thing here, put near 40 k on it this year, suspension is fine, lights are fine, its all fine.

Its just a mobile office, that does everything it needs. The difference between a 330 tractor and a 335 tractor is negligble in the real world, and no tractor is going to raise your pulse.

Thanks, someone who isnt just against the XDrive.

All I need is a economic, brisk estate which can ferry around my 3 month old daughter, the dog and whatever else I chuck at it, 313bhp will make it more interesting than a 4pot.

I have an F30 335d saloon, (2016 LCI) no adaptive, and it DOES NOT dive on braking, nor do you slide. In two years, I have done two emergency stops, very quick stops and no drama at all (m sport brakes). Not floaty at all. X drive is fine, felt more planted than a lighter petrol RWD BMW. The X Drive is great when coming out quickly from a sticky side road. I believe that the extra power and torque over the 330d is worth it, too.

[smashy]

LCI from sept 15 if its a 65 plate it will be a lot better....my 2014 330d Luxury had se suspension and it was laughable ,in 25 years of never worrying about any suspension while driving new middle of the road company cars I had to change it after a few weeks it drove me mad.