335i Touring from VW R36...
Discussion
Evening all!
My current daily is a Passat R36 estate which is undoubtedly a keeper and an excellent one at that, but I recently had my head turned by yet another impossibly attractive bit of Q car goodness in the shape of an E91 which recently sold nearby.
Annoyingly I didn’t get the opportunity to go for a look at it so I’m here to ask how these things drive. Anybody have one with experiences they’d like to share, good and bad?
The thought of rear wheel drive as well as the possibility of a manual too is becoming all too tempting
My current daily is a Passat R36 estate which is undoubtedly a keeper and an excellent one at that, but I recently had my head turned by yet another impossibly attractive bit of Q car goodness in the shape of an E91 which recently sold nearby.
Annoyingly I didn’t get the opportunity to go for a look at it so I’m here to ask how these things drive. Anybody have one with experiences they’d like to share, good and bad?
The thought of rear wheel drive as well as the possibility of a manual too is becoming all too tempting
Osinjak said:
FWIW I used to have a 335d E91 that felt positively dangerous in comparison to the inert F31 335d that I bought afterwards. On a spirited drive you really could get the hoop to twitch, it was surprisingly good fun. I imagine with a manual 335i that it would be even more fun, much would depend on your testicular fortitude of course..
It’s phrases such as positively dangerous that I was hoping would be thrown about 
I nearly got smoked by a 335d on a Ducati Monster joining a motorway some years ago, was only then had I opened my eyes to the power of diesels and their turbos. Just didn’t open my wallet for one
Osinjak said:
Aye, it didn't half shift but there wasn't a whole lot of noise about it. I remember chucking it about on some back roads in Norfolk one time, surprised me and my passengers about how twitchy you could get it. At the end of the day though it still felt slightly stupid taking a diesel out for a hoon.
A hoon is a hoon 
RFC1 said:
I have had my 2007 E91 335I M sport manual for nearly 2 1/2 years now. Its simply a wonderful car , the engine is fantastic and pulls from so low down in any gear it is hard to imagine its turboed......Faster than you could really ever want in real world terms. And i have had plenty to compare .
Love it.
Good to know, thanks RFC1!Love it.
Mr Tidy said:
I had to laugh when I read that as I bought an E91 325i early last year, and even as a replacement for an E46 325ti it felt like you had to rev it towards the red-line to get any decent progress!
So earlier this year I started looking for a 330i, but E91's were hard to find, sold quickly and were much more expensive. So I talked myself into an E90 330i that had the split/fold rear seats! It's just so much more responsive. While I suppose a 335i would be even better I'd rather avoid having a daily that performed better than the Z4 Coupe that is my fun car. (All of mine also manual).
One interesting thing I read about the E9* models is that the LCI models don't have the cooling function for the cup-holder in the central armrest that pre-LCIs had.
While I realise mine isn't a 335i, if you'd like to sample a 330i "teepot" I'm in the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire border area.
Thanks so much Mr T, might be in touch in the new year then So earlier this year I started looking for a 330i, but E91's were hard to find, sold quickly and were much more expensive. So I talked myself into an E90 330i that had the split/fold rear seats! It's just so much more responsive. While I suppose a 335i would be even better I'd rather avoid having a daily that performed better than the Z4 Coupe that is my fun car. (All of mine also manual).
One interesting thing I read about the E9* models is that the LCI models don't have the cooling function for the cup-holder in the central armrest that pre-LCIs had.
While I realise mine isn't a 335i, if you'd like to sample a 330i "teepot" I'm in the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire border area.
joe1145 said:
I have an E91 335i Manual.
It is a lovely car, the N54 engine is fantastic, and the torque is monstrous from low down. Really is a very fast car, and very practical. I would go for a manual if you can, while the box is a bit notchy (like most BMWs), once warmed up it's not to bad, and the throw is quite good (could be shorter), and it feels nice and direct. I don't think the touring ever got the DCT box so if you go for auto you are stuck with the slushbox which isn't the fastest.
The clutch is heavy, and the steering is too, there is a bit of feel but not huge amounts, still better than any electric system i've used.
Due to the low down torque, you do need to put good tyres on these, I've found the PS4 to be the best. You have to be a bit restrained in the corners in the wet, but you can choose to grip or slide, I don't think I've ever had a slide when I wasn't intending to. I've found the traction control is also very good, and when in DTC mode it does let you get a bit sideways and brings it back in if you go a bit too far.
Really a brilliant car for everyday, practical and a lot of fun to drive, especially on a lovely twisty road, on a sunny day.
The only potential downsides I can see is the E91 will be a lot smaller than the Passat, and the potential lack of grip.
No idea what I will replace mine with, I wish BMW did an M3 estate, as an F31 estate would amazing.
Thanks Joe. You’re right in saying the smaller size might be a downside, but I can’t quite agree with lack of grip being so! It is a lovely car, the N54 engine is fantastic, and the torque is monstrous from low down. Really is a very fast car, and very practical. I would go for a manual if you can, while the box is a bit notchy (like most BMWs), once warmed up it's not to bad, and the throw is quite good (could be shorter), and it feels nice and direct. I don't think the touring ever got the DCT box so if you go for auto you are stuck with the slushbox which isn't the fastest.
The clutch is heavy, and the steering is too, there is a bit of feel but not huge amounts, still better than any electric system i've used.
Due to the low down torque, you do need to put good tyres on these, I've found the PS4 to be the best. You have to be a bit restrained in the corners in the wet, but you can choose to grip or slide, I don't think I've ever had a slide when I wasn't intending to. I've found the traction control is also very good, and when in DTC mode it does let you get a bit sideways and brings it back in if you go a bit too far.
Really a brilliant car for everyday, practical and a lot of fun to drive, especially on a lovely twisty road, on a sunny day.
The only potential downsides I can see is the E91 will be a lot smaller than the Passat, and the potential lack of grip.
No idea what I will replace mine with, I wish BMW did an M3 estate, as an F31 estate would amazing.
I happen to be on the same Michelin’s - quality tyre.
I imagine the steering to feel equally heavy. Relative to today’s standards at least.
Thanks again for the input Joe. My eyes are peeled for one to crop up!
Sir_Dave said:
This one looks fantastic, great price as well i think: https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/2009-bmw-e9...
Thank you Dave!
Morning all
There’s a 335i on at the mo with a 5 year gap in MOT history (‘14-‘19) with 20 odd thousand miles put on in that time, no export market on HPI, and was with the same owner the entire time.
Second (current) owner doesn’t know why this was, assuming the first owner hadn’t forgot for four years whats the most likely explanation? My guess would be moved to Northern Ireland? Not a deal breaker for me albeit a slight red flag.
There’s a 335i on at the mo with a 5 year gap in MOT history (‘14-‘19) with 20 odd thousand miles put on in that time, no export market on HPI, and was with the same owner the entire time.
Second (current) owner doesn’t know why this was, assuming the first owner hadn’t forgot for four years whats the most likely explanation? My guess would be moved to Northern Ireland? Not a deal breaker for me albeit a slight red flag.
RUSSELLM said:
Does the service history and repair receipts look genuine, or are they missing for Four years too ?
A print out from the BMW dealer detailing regular visits up until 2014, and then nothing. It’s a bit weird but admittedly I’ll be buying/not buying on condition anyway. Just thought one of your good selves might have a possible thought as to why
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