F10 M5 to 335d xdrive..?

[Z4MCSL]

So I'm toying with ditching my M5 (and probably my megane too) and getting a more practical less, expensive car as I have new addition to the family plus I want some spare change.

I'm looking at 335d xdrive..needs to be euro 6

Am aware they remap reaaaallly well but probably sticking to stock and buying BMW approved as I appreciate the reassurance



Any thoughts, opinions, ideas?

I feel like the right 335d may feel like an upgrade in terms of tech if not in speed and comfort

Other options are

Octavia VRS
Saab 2.8 V6
V70 T5 t6 R etc
Golf R estate

At the other end of the scale I wonder whether I should just forget performance cars for now (I still have my Clio 182 andy wife has a nice car) and get something super frugal whilst saving up for something more special in a few years

Help me

[tallpaul26]

Why 335d instead of 340i?

[Z4MCSL]

Cheaper

[Z4MCSL]

Also the Mpg is appealing

[Belle427]

I would pick the BMW out of the cars you listed but only you can decide if its right for you.
You may decide its all the car you will ever need in the real world, a reputable remap would put it on another level really if thats an option.
May not be the most exciting choice but a good one.

[E63eeeeee...]

Based on experience of running an F10 550i for a while and driving a number of 2016-2019 3/4 series while it was broken, I'd say that I don't remember much in the way of a step up tech-wise. Really the next meaningful step up from a well-equipped F10 is CarPlay/AA, and I don't know when the 3 series got that or if any of those would be in budget, I'm sure you can retrofit if not. As I think you expect, they were a step down in terms of comfort and just being a nice place to sit. That said, I think it's widely accepted that if you want the best diesel version of a car in that class it's the 335d, it's just a very good car. I do have the engine in my 640d and it's very good at what it does, it's pretty close to the high water mark of performance diesel engines and even stock it's plenty fast enough 99% of the time. You'll miss the M5 occasionally though. Sometimes I'll do whole journeys in the 640d without wishing I was in the E63, particularly the bits that involve petrol stations, but there are also times when you do feel that sensibleness compromise more strongly.

[keo]

Z4MCSL said:

Also the Mpg is appealing

How many miles do you do?

[mmm-five]

Well, I've recently traded in my pre-LCI 2015 F31 320D M-Sport Touring for a cosmetically identical 2016 LCI F31 335xD M-Sport Touring.

Didn't want to go too much newer due to the risk of having first generation AdBlue or hybrid tech, but the LCI version meant much better iDrive and LED headlights (although the earlier car's xenons were great too).

The extra power (about 120hp & 180lbft) and is addictive, but does mean MPG is down about 10% over the 320D...so more like 50mpg on a steady long run vs 56mpg. Both were auto, so a bit lower fuel economy than the manual can get, but just effortless to make progress on long runs.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

I think you’ll find the 335d swift but boring. I have a G31 530d xx drive and honestly, wished I’d gone EV as faster, torquier, cheaper to run and no more unengaging.

[Discombobulate]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

I think you’ll find the 335d swift but boring. I have a G31 530d xx drive and honestly, wished I’d gone EV as faster, torquier, cheaper to run and no more unengaging.

Very good all round car but, as you say, while swift mine felt boring.

[Chris_i8]

Discombobulate said:

Very good all round car but, as you say, while swift mine felt boring.

Agreed, a good all rounder - real world rolling performance was v.brisk but was a dull drive, competent but dull.

The other half has a 330d currently and on the few times I've driven it actually prefer the way that drives to the 35d.

I'd definitely go and drive one, ideally on roads you know well / use often and form an opinion from there.

Cheers,

Chris

[Pedro25]

Discombobulate said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

I think you’ll find the 335d swift but boring. I have a G31 530d xx drive and honestly, wished I’d gone EV as faster, torquier, cheaper to run and no more unengaging.

Very good all round car but, as you say, while swift mine felt boring.

I’ve got the same 530d x drive, great car on long journeys, swift as stated, comfortable and responds well. Returns fantastic mpg on long runs. Serviced more than needed and it’s never out a foot wrong.

[Chris Peacock]

Chris_i8 said:

Discombobulate said:

Very good all round car but, as you say, while swift mine felt boring.

Agreed, a good all rounder - real world rolling performance was v.brisk but was a dull drive, competent but dull.

The other half has a 330d currently and on the few times I've driven it actually prefer the way that drives to the 35d.

I'd definitely go and drive one, ideally on roads you know well / use often and form an opinion from there.

Cheers,

Chris

I've had several 35ds and they are fantastic cars but the 30d is often said to be the sweet spot - still plenty of performance but has the proper M sport suspension, available in RWD which also makes it lighter.

[Vee]

My wife had a 330d, followed by a 435d, at the same time I had a cheap lease 335d.
The 330d (non x drive) was actually a nicer drive. Smoother engine, nicer power delivery and seemed absorb bumps better, even on 19" wheels.

Spec makes a big difference on these, the 335d I had was fine but no extras, after 2 years I was happy to hand it back.

[sam greenock]

Z4MCSL said:

So I'm toying with ditching my M5 (and probably my megane too) and getting a more practical less, expensive car as I have new addition to the family plus I want some spare change.

I'm looking at 335d xdrive..needs to be euro 6

Am aware they remap reaaaallly well but probably sticking to stock and buying BMW approved as I appreciate the reassurance

...........

Any thoughts, opinions, ideas?

I feel like the right 335d may feel like an upgrade in terms of tech if not in speed and comfort


Help me

I've done almost exactly this- went from a leased 2014 F10 M5 to a 2016 435d x-drive Sport convertible again leased ( both from same BMW dealer in Brighton)


I never really regretted it, obviously both quite different in many ways but acceleration on 435d was impressive, not quite M5 standards but easily good enough. It was a tad more economical to run than the M5 mind you - but I drove both back and forward to Edinburgh weekly - round trip of 160 miles - with no complaints about comfort, speed, experience whatsoever

[Z4MCSL]

Thanks Sam that's super helpful

How about ride comfort, my M5 is just the most comfortable thing to drive around in and so I'm hesitant to step away from a 5 so even looking at 530d x drive estates instead now

Also been looking at 440i gran coupes

[Stick Legs]

Not an M5 but we owned a F31 320d X-Drive 2017 LCi (very well specced Sport) and an F10 530d M-Sport 2016 LCi at the same time.

Ignoring engines and just focusing on the interior and 'feel' of the car.

The 3 Series felt as nice in 90% of areas as the 5 series did.
The 3 Series had the i-Drive pro or whatever it is called with the wider flat top controller, as did the 5, but the 5 just manged to integrate it all a but better and had the better info in the instrument binnacle compared to the 3.

The 3 Series had softer leather and extended leather, and this went a long way to making it feel as nice as the 5.

If the 3 had been a 335d X-Drive it would have probably been my preferred car out of the two, despite the F10 530d being brilliant in so many ways, its just a better size.

You won't really know until you drive one, but I can't imagine giving up the urge of the M5 once accustomed to it. I drove an F10 M5 and it just felt like a dam's worth of power in reserve!

[Boxster5]

We had a 2019 430d xdrive gran coupe bought at 8 months old from a main dealer in Surrey during COVID - £48k list, ours for £28k!
Bought it for my wife when I took partial retirement as our main car.
Absolutely brilliant car which I would have kept forever - practical, good looking, well specced, quick, well built & economical (38mpg overall).
Unfortunately my wife has joint problems and struggled to get in and out of it (mainly down to the wide door bins making the opening that bit narrower especially in tight spots) - so we’ve now gone down the SUV route but it wouldn’t have been my choice (I still have my 718 Boxster!)

[sam greenock]

Z4MCSL said:

Thanks Sam that's super helpful

How about ride comfort, my M5 is just the most comfortable thing to drive around in and so I'm hesitant to step away from a 5 so even looking at 530d x drive estates instead now

Also been looking at 440i gran coupes

Th suspension on my M5 could be "tuned" better than the 435dx. With hindsight, I'd venture that the M5 was more comfortable all round - to be fair though, the 435dx was absolutely fine.
Despite being a convertible it never felt overly heavy, but it did feel heavier than M5 at times,

I would have both again but the M5 is ahead if it came to a choice between the two

[Wills2]

I did the reverse back in 2015, went from an F31 335d to and LCI F10 M5, on every single level the M5 was vastly superior to the 335d (MPG aside) I understand the need sometimes to down grade I recently did the same but unless there is that need I wouldn't do it.