RE: AC Schnitzer 335d Touring (F31) | PH Auction Block
RE: AC Schnitzer 335d Touring (F31) | PH Auction Block
Wednesday 5th March 2025

AC Schnitzer 335d Touring (F31) | PH Auction Block

A straight-six 3 Series wagon is already a great fast estate - this one gets Schnitzer goodies on top


We all like to play the game of choosing one car for every scenario; not least because it’s the car buying predicament most of us face, but also it requires some proper thought and consideration. Nothing demonstrates what a knowledgeable car nerd you are like suggesting something that ticks all the boxes. Or very nearly all of them, at least. 

For a few days - until the PH auction ends on March 18th - there’s no need to search for anything else. We have the perfect do-it-all car available to bid on. Because this isn’t just a BMW 335d, which would be an obvious (if slightly predictable) choice; it’s a 335d overhauled to the tune of £10k by AC Schnitzer, with some other upgrades alongside, to really cement its status as one vehicle for every occasion. 

You want fast? Of course. While mechanically unchanged bar a transmission reflash, a 335d of this era was still 313hp and 465lb ft strong, and therefore plenty rapid enough for the UK. And that’s of course without any fettling - the mapped 335d thread is legendary for good reason, some of it partly to do with how much headroom is in a BMW diesel. 

For usability on top, this 335d is xDrive, as all of them were. But that suitability for every day extends further with the AC Schnitzer car, as it boasts infotainment from a later model, meaning CarPlay and a larger screen. So those you need to ferry around will be happy as well. But we haven’t forgotten about fun, either; while very cool cars, the more powerful F3x 3 and 4 Series weren’t blessed with the best suspension setup in the world, which is where companies like AC Schnitzer came in. Its ACS3 Sport spring and damper kit should deliver a much cleverer ride and handling balance. 

Furthermore, for a sprinkle of exclusivity and desirability on top, this particular 335d was once AC Schnitzer’s demo vehicle, which can’t be said about very many old BMWs. Add to that the red leather seats from an M3 and it’s clear this isn’t just another diesel 3 Series. That’s all the car you might ever need; here’s a 335d you’re really going to want.

This Beige Champagne Quartz Metallic beauty has been with the current owner since 2021, with 70,000 miles recorded, a good service history and a fault-free MOT until June. We meant what we said about ticking all the boxes. Certainly nothing like the Schnitzer will be up for sale anytime soon. Expect a good few bids on this one come Tuesday…


See the full listing

Author
Discussion

Maccmike8

Original Poster:

1,603 posts

83 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Wrong wheel and interior colour, wheels easily fixed and could live with the red because as a package, its pretty near perfect.

Bladedancer

1,458 posts

225 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
No info on gearbox or Xdrive fluid changes and a report from CBS.
I change oil/filters in my 335d at least once a year (10k miles tops) and I'd never allow it to be serviced according to CBS - that thing will tell you your oil is good for 20k miles.
By 70k miles both gearbox and all diffs should have had a fluid change.

CG2020UK

2,953 posts

69 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Good set of all weather tyres on that and it’s a smashing daily driver!

Normally not a fan of red leather interiors but this looks really well.

Water Fairy

6,585 posts

184 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Bladedancer said:
No info on gearbox or Xdrive fluid changes and a report from CBS.
I change oil/filters in my 335d at least once a year (10k miles tops) and I'd never allow it to be serviced according to CBS - that thing will tell you your oil is good for 20k miles.
By 70k miles both gearbox and all diffs should have had a fluid change.
This, and it's £500 just for the gearbox service. Well, it was on our X3 with the same engine/running gear. My original indy said the gearbox didn't need servicing, so I changed indys!

cerb4.5lee

44,475 posts

209 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
I think this will make a cracking all rounder for sure. I love that it has the full leather dash, but I'm not completely convinced by the red interior though. However it is nice that it is different to the usual black in fairness.

Terminator X

20,543 posts

233 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
335d all the car you ever need. Mapped ones even better wink

TX.

wistec1

794 posts

70 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Proper car but let down by that grotesque red interior.

evil.edna

306 posts

99 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
335d all the car you ever need. Mapped ones even better wink

TX.
Don't forget the handling can also be massively improved by folding down the rear seats........

evil.edna

306 posts

99 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
335d all the car you ever need. Mapped ones even better wink

TX.
Don't forget the handling can also be massively improved by folding down the rear seats........

Chestrockwell

2,947 posts

186 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Lovely car with the much needed lowering springs for the x drive models as they sit too high, I even like the interior, black leather is just too boring and dark.

I had a 430d for nearly 3 years and that thing properly shifted, it even sounded nice and returned good mpg, I never drove a 35d but I have no doubt this will keep up with M3's considering the suspension is sorted

Robmarriott

2,969 posts

187 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Water Fairy said:
Bladedancer said:
No info on gearbox or Xdrive fluid changes and a report from CBS.
I change oil/filters in my 335d at least once a year (10k miles tops) and I'd never allow it to be serviced according to CBS - that thing will tell you your oil is good for 20k miles.
By 70k miles both gearbox and all diffs should have had a fluid change.
This, and it's £500 just for the gearbox service. Well, it was on our X3 with the same engine/running gear. My original indy said the gearbox didn't need servicing, so I changed indys!
This has an 8HP70, the same as Waitey’s Alpina D3 which has done over 313,000 miles with the original gearbox oil. The ‘lack of a service’ wouldn’t put me off here.

disco666

672 posts

175 months

Wednesday 5th March 2025
quotequote all
Don't they do a petrol version?
Now that may well be the only car you ever need.

NGK210

4,963 posts

174 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
Hmm, could be a useful tool.
[Looks at pics of interior…]
yikes

andy43

13,174 posts

283 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
I think that interior is fantastic. Crayon stitching, alcantara wheel and accents and the red leather really lifts it. Lose the MPerformance logo on the dash please - a bit too desperate.

smilo996

3,819 posts

199 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
Cannot argue with the mechanicals. the exterior is much too accountant and the interior made from discarded leather of a German heavy metal band. Red and black, so 90's.

macron

13,298 posts

195 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
The seats aren't even originals, this is just a chavved bitsa.

No wonder there's no price...

J4CKO

46,821 posts

229 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
Was looking at these recently but didnt want another BMW, but that is quite nice, all the car you could ever need really.

And the interior, I think that photos often make interiors look weird or at the least dont do them justice in a lot of cases. Are they hard to photograph, is it duff cameras and the filters or whatever ? Suspect that looks fine in person but looks quite weird in the photos, BMW probably wouldnt make it (ok they have some howlers) if it was that bad.

I remember going to see my Merc CLS, pictures made the grey interior look like a cheap 80s leather jacket, in person it makes a lot more sense, you can see the grain, smell the leather and feel the quality.

Thats about the colours and whatever, condition is easier to spot, like those cloth seats with water marks and those that are falling to bits.


AmyRichardson

1,972 posts

71 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
I can see why he's selling; not a very diesel-y usage profile since 2022!

It says a lot about what's available that my Aurotrader meandering keep coming back to 3s/4s of this generation; modest size (1.82w - choosing a car that fits comfortably in 2.4m is entirely possible!), practical enough, 6-pot, dynamically okay (and offer lots of opportunities for improvement), 8HP 'box. Sadly it's not a combo that can be widely had anymore weeping

Would like petrol 6' though; same issues as this guy.

9k rpm

614 posts

239 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
Had one of these (non ACS) was very rapid but dull.

I’d hope the updated suspension will make it a bit more engaging. Anyone know if you can tweak the xdrive to be a bit more rear biased?

muppet42

415 posts

234 months

Thursday 6th March 2025
quotequote all
I don't actually mind the interior...

I also think the Individual spec, colour combo is really nice and understated with those alloys, I would ditch the skirt decals though. I'm also not convinced on diesel despite the rep these have, I'd much rather go for the petrol option, especially with the B58 340i.