[Greg330]

Its fapping quick!!

In real world driving you honestly don't need anything quicker!

I went out with a couple of friends last night, one in an M6 and the other in an M3 CS.

The comparison with the CS was the most interesting. Mid range the 335 eats it, I can imagine the CS will be quicker on track or on a demanding stretch of road but I think that gap will be reduced with a decent suspension set up on the E92....

Final thought on my new purchase....

I hope I keep hold of my licence long enough to make the most of it!

[Soootylad]

I used to have a 335 back in 07 and I agree, in the real world you really don't need any more beef...

Saying that, the 330D I've got now is pretty damn quick and I could say the same... fast enough for me

[Guvernator]

I've often thought that around 300bhp is perfect for road driving and the 335i just happens to have that number. It's enough to make exciting progress without diving too far into the "oh sh*it, this is too fast" region. The pick up and mid range shove from the twin turbo setup is also fantastic and makes overtaking a breeze.

The only slight dissapointment for me is that in standard form, it seems to run out of puff a little, near the top of the rev range but apparently a quick remap sorts that out too.

[nicktyler]

Remap FTW!!

[dopper99]

If it keeps up with an M3 maybe it's remapped. Have you driven another 335d?
Edit: just realised its a 335i not a 335d

[dxb335d]

Yeah standard one is not as quick as an E46 M3. Also M3's need a hard driver to work them well. Otherwise they can easily be not using the full potential.

335i & 335d are very pokey, due to the accessible torque through the rev-range.

Standard 335i & 335d do 0-100mph in very low 13's. That is the same as a poorly driven E46 M3!

Well driven M3 is in the mid 11's. I've had a re-mapped 335d and that was a quick car!! Quicker than my current M3!

[zltm089]

mid range power is fcukin brilliant on the 335i......from 2k to 5k ...you can really feel the torque and power ....but it does get a bit flat at the top end...and it needs a "lil" firmer suspension with normal tyres IMO...

[BIGTIME]

My E92 M3 pulls much better than my 335i when both in the correct gear. As the salesman told me when driving the M3 'put it in a lower gear than you would have in the 335'. This is more fun and a piece of piss to achieve with the dct box.

I drove my mates E46 M3 and it did feel slower than my 335i. Probably not the case though as the 335 has more torque.

[dxb335d]

Bigtime is right, E46 & E92 M3's need to be in the right gear ready to have it's neck wrung to be anywhere near quick.

Half throttle and the 335's are f***ed off down the road!

[p1tse]

i would like to try the 335i

owing a 535d it's quick, but i miss the petrol electric throttle response

[The_Bear_Yid]

...but not the petrols fuel consumption!

I know 35d's are thirsty, but they'll still be getting 10mpg more than the petrol equivalent.

Man I want/need a 35 in my life. Whether it be petrol or diesel.

[SteveC]

Perhaps with the new crop of Überdiesel M cars.....

M-cars in general are very quick but require some serious revving to give their best. M motors are specifically built to rev and there's a thrill in winding one out to its redline....however, you can't drive like that all the time and in everyday motoring will live around 3-4K revs, where its fairly flat and needs a quick down shift to shake itself awake.

Diesels on the other hand typically sit around 2-2.5k, the fatest part of their 'talk' band and simply leap off the mark when asked. A lazily driven 330d will outperform a similarly driven M3 every time in the overtaking stakes.

I hate automatics but I could well imagine that the quickest, most thrilling would be an M3 DCT for its lightening quick downshifts.

Where the 'M' cars truly come into their own vs. the 'D' and 'i' cars is in the handling department. The M car limits are a lot higher and their on-limit characteristics a lot more predictable. For example, hit a ripple or sudden dip in the road on the exit to a 'fast' B road bend and you could well be trying to catch a non-M whereas the M will typically just shake its head and leave the scene with your heart still beating in your chest, albeit a little faster.

The new 'M' triple-turbo diesels may be a different kettle of fish. Monstrously quick in everyday driving, they may also offer improved handling through better brakes and suspension set-ups.

I always said that in today's World an 'M' diesel would be an interesting proposition and I still feel one could provide an entertaining mix. Of course winding out a diesel is nothing like the 8.5k banshee shriek of an M car, but the instant supercar level thrust from virtually any revs plus M car handling may well compensate in terms of both everyday driveability and those special 'track' days.

For me, I would not get up early on a Sunday morning to drive a 'd' nor look forward to full day m'way trip in an 'M' car. The latest tri-turbo 'Ms' may change that.

[phil200tdi]

It is funny how accustomed you become to more power.

When I first drove my 335i it felt very quick. Much quicker than my previous Merc C320cdi (circa 270bhp and 440lb/ft).

Now that I've got a few mods (450bhp ish/500lb/ft), when i put it on the standard map it just feels slow! The more you have the more you want.

I now have a problem of what do I replace it with! Another N54/N55 most probably - Z4 sdrive 35i maybe....

[nicktyler]

I just love the feel of a turbo'd car. Especially when it is mapped.

The potential for big improvment at little cost/modification is much higher on the 335i than the M3. You only need to spend a few £££'s to get the 335 to M3 power. Of course handling is another question.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by nicktyler

I just love the feel of a turbo'd car. Especially when it is mapped.

The potential for big improvment at little cost/modification is much higher on the 335i than the M3. You only need to spend a few £££'s to get the 335 to M3 power. Of course handling is another question.

Oh mate, I totally agree with that. I'm a proper boost junkie. What you don't get with the 335's is an M/// diff and suspension and rack etc etc.

[BIGTIME]

Or the sound of a screaming V8

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by BIGTIME

Or the sound of a screaming V8

Or the sound of a screaming straight six