The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I know-I know....another BMW thread, but I know there are not only quite a few Bimmer enthusiast but also several diesel owners.

Anyhow, after a brief on-line love affair with the 335is I have come back to earth a bit and begun looking at the 335d. From all indications of the reviews and forums this thing has a very loyal fanbase (even more so than just the standard BMW guys).

I really want a heavy but solid auto that I can hold onto for many years and the 335d might just check all of the boxes off the list.

*Sporty-425lbs of torque-need I say more?

*Comfortable-Very high quality materials on the interior, albeit maybe considered boring. However a no-nonsense cabin with high quality leather and wood grain with a couple of convenience features is all I am interested in.

*Economical-Upwards of 38 mpg on the highway and mid 20's in the city. thats some serious coin being saved over a standard 335i which requires premium. I have never been one to put much emphasis on emisions, but with little to no trade off in performance I am can consider myself green. (Not may of us in Texas)

*Price-there is no way to get around the premiums charged for german autos, but with some diligence there are big savings to be had. Ideally I would like to do European Delivery which would cut off 10%+ of the MSRP. The current $3500 EcoCredit from BMW brings the saving to over $10,000 off MSRP. not bad for a deal shopper like myself.

*Cost to Own-Maintenance is covered for the first 4 years 50,000 miles, and i already mentioned the fuel cost savings. This high powered sports sedan might be cheaper to operate than a Ford Taurus when it is all said and done.

Anyhow, obviously I am sold on the thing, but I would like to hear some experiences of The BSource community.

If the cost of fuel (ALL fuel!) wasn't so high here in the UK I'd have a 335d Coupé in a heartbeat. They're only just a fraction slower than an M3, but with reasonable running and servicing costs, and they have more torque than you'll ever need. The twin turbos ensuring constant power and acceleration, and with the right interior trim combination they needn't be boring inside at all. Unfortunately if you're buying used, you'll find that most BMW owners who buy from new seem to see in black and white, because 95% seem to go for the most boring interior options available! Black leather and brushed silver trim seems to abound. *yawn*

The only issue for me (as I said above) is running costs here in the UK, as you only get economy that that's similar to a 2l or 2.5l petrol-engine from the 335d..... but with almost-M3 performance. Not a bad trade off, but considering it cost me £80 GBP to fill up my 320d last night, fuel economy is a serious consideration over here these days.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Although my BMW enthusiast days are long over (ended by no. 4, an early 90s brand new 735i that probably had the craziest electronics ever installed in a car, no matter which brand), I´ll chime in. As you say you want to hold on to your new car for years, the current 3 series is nearing the end of its lifecycle, with a new model announced for mid 2012 ?

I'm not a diesel engine fan but every rule has its exceptions and the 335d is it.

Here is an ad destined for the US:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/05/28/new-v ... -bmw-335d/


As you correctly said there is a big difference in economy between the diesel and gasoline models:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/02/09/cheap ... e-version/


As for long term results you might want to consult these two reports that are pretty informative:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/01/03/the-d ... nd-review/

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/06/04/bmw-3 ... nd-review/

Do note however, that the free maintenance of 4 years or 50'000 miles (we get 3 years or 65'000 miles in Europe) although interesting is a marketing thing as you'll only be able to do an Inspection I and, if you're lucky, maybe an Inspection II. All liquids and the tires are excluded though.


Provided you're looking at the saloon, as WatchFred said, the current E90 3 series saloon will be discontinued, probably in October. The new model, of which you can see two reports here

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/05/04/first ... ies-sedan/

http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/02/14/previ ... -3-series/

will be presented most probably at the American Motor show in January 2012 or at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012 at the latest. So, if you want to keep your BMW for some time, you have two choices:

- buy the E90 model and lose some money when you'll want to resell it
- wait for the F30 model coming up soon

The latter may have its advantages with all the new technology and improvements the new model will have. It will most probably have the 300 hp engine actually in use in the 5 and 7 series, in place of the current 286 hp unit. The way the twin scroll turbos work is a marvel of Bavarian technology. The smaller turbo works in lower revs, while the bigger one takes over in higher revs as soon as the engine electronics and the adaptive drive gearbox feel you need more power.

The current engine won this award

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/01/15/bmw-a ... el-engine/


However, the 335d being top of the range you might have to wait until at least mid-2012 to get one, especially if you're in Texas, because base and mid range models are produced first. If you want something other than black/silver/grey with black/silver/grey interior which make the bulk of the models produced and are really dull, as D8 said, you might have to wait a bit longer too because not all colors are available from the start of production nor are all interiors. Although Alpine-white, a favorite for the US market, should be available from the start.

As for European delivery, it is something that I would recommend. Except the money savings, you'll get a guided tour of the Munich factory, where part of the 3 series are produced, the BMW Museum (all courtesy of BMW) and you'll take delivery of your car at BMW Welt.

More info here:

http://www.bmw-welt.com/web_rb/bmw-welt ... rview.html

Hope that helped.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

I expect to order new and therefore get the specs as I like then (Saddle Brown/Light wood). I guess boring is the wrong word to use....maybe clean might be more appropriate. As long as the materials are nice and well made I think a simple interior would be a plus. Its all in the details. I am looking at base models plus a couple of modern comforts (Key & Shade), so no newfangled Navigation or other electronics to go crazy on me.



I dont have any problem buying the outgoing body style as it looks great as is and will still look good for lots of years. The resell value is something I think will be made up by the economical nature of the D. Plus I can feel cool at the starbucks for being green. I am interested in a base model the only difference is the body style. All the electronic upgrades are unfortunately seriously expensive.

What really matters to me is what is under the hood and the current model has alot of potential to be a very fun sporty sedan for a long time. For a car I hope to own for the better part of my 30's the 335d in the current form is just perfect.



This is a real bummer. Being new to the brand I really thought this was a big selling point. I was under the impression at least oil changes would be covered. Hell my 06 cadillac CTS is now $70+ to get changed, so that would really add up in maintenance expense savings. I am no handy man so I really liked the idea of just using a service center for everything. Thanks for the insight.



I fully expect to fully utilize the ED experience if given the chance. See the tours and get my first chance to visit overseas. That being said I am a true American xenophobe and new things weird me out, so I would be making it a shorter trip, and stay within the immediate area.

The savings off USMSRP are pretty legit, but it all goes out the door if you take a two week vacation driving all over the place.