[dxb335d]

14.1 vs 13.9 and 97-101 means 335d wins!

[SO8]

335d feels sooooo linear. LCI 330d may be ultimately slower to 100 ... though not to 60 ... but it just feels more involving IMO. I could have bought either - just got the one that felt more fun to me.

Having had a car that was 0-100mph in 10.5 seconds I know that 60-100 isn't everything as you hardly ever use it (abroad). It is amusing to just keep accelerating beyond 60 and lose whatever is hanging on ... but how often does that happen. If I wanted that extra I would have got a 335i.

[Titanflux]

Thanks everyone for your comments. About 50/50 - maybe 60/40 in favour of the 335d.

I drove both back to back this morning. Decent test drives on identical routes. My thoughts are:

Love the low-down power delivery of the 335d. A bit jerky from a stop, bit thats me being used to 4cyl latterly. It is just effortless (to lose your license) and side-by-side the 330d needs a lot more work at slow to medium speeds.

The 335d just felt tighter, more grippy, and more engaging. It reminded me of driving an M3 GTP coupe on a track day last year.

Steering felt a LOT heavier in the 335d than my current 520d (which has EPS and servotronic anyway), and I noticed it in the 335d but not at all in the 330d.

The 335d seemed to have generally more road noise, maybe some is deflected engine noise - despite both cars being identical other than the engine.

The 335d I like is 2k more expensive, but is 3.5k less than book price for a dealer. The 330d is 2k under book. When I calculate the depreciation, it will be less with the 335d and more-or-less makes up for the purchase price difference.

The 330d has visibility pack, otherwise both have prof media pack, heated seats, etc.

Decisions, decisions. My F10 520d felt wooly, sloppy, gruff and slow after all that - though silent on the road noise as ever.

[gangzoom]

Imagine your self in your 330 and a 335 pulls up next to you at the lights....would you be forever kicking your self that you didn't go for a 335???

At the end of the day it's your money and you spend it how you like. For me an M3 currently seems like a total waste of money for something which is only marginally faster than a well tuned 335....but I will always want one over my 335i, so yes 330i might be marginally slower than a 335 but if I owned one I will always be looking to upgrade to a 335..... after all I think it's human nature to strive to better yourself all the time...my next car will be a F10 M5

[JLR1969]

For me it would depend on how many miles I did each year. Up to 10k then 335d, over that then the 330d.

I did buy a 320d for business use as the economy was amazing and after the remap the performance was much improved.

If I had to buy my own car again for business it would be the 330d as it has effortless performance improved economy verses the older engine and with an auto would be about perfect.

If I wanted more power i would get it mapped.

Good luck with the decision.

Sometimes though it's better to let your head rule your heart.

[MRD]

There's no question about it. 335d will always be faster, more linear but less economical. When buying a diesel, mpg might be an important issue... Or maybe not! And if not, go for 335d!
I got myself a 330d because I just think it makes more sense overall. On my budget, managed to get a well equipped LCI model. Get good mpg out of it and it's still pretty fast.

[lesfinnie]

Buy a 335d and spend your money how you want it's no ones business what you do with it.

[dopper99]

I've been looking over on Youtube at these acceleration shots of both 330d LCI and 335d. I've actually timed them (sad I know) and they come out pretty much identical on 0-60 and 0-100.
I guess after 100mph the 335d will probably start to leave the 330d - but - who really cares? How often do you drive more than 100mph risking your licence?
We probably spend 98% of the time only driving between 0mph and around 80-90mph.

[kaishang]

The two cars you are thinking of are pretty similar in price. Personally, I'd go for whichever has the colour/options you like and forget about 330d vs 335d debate.

330d starts to run out of puff above about 120mph. It will still go to 150mph, but you need a lot of road to get there. But you don't go fast that often......

Of more concern for day-to-day driving is the 330d turbo is off boost below about 1700rpm, which does make a difference for slow speed city driving. I use DS on the transmission a lot when accelerating into roundabouts to overcome this.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by dopper99

I've been looking over on Youtube at these acceleration shots of both 330d LCI and 335d. I've actually timed them (sad I know) and they come out pretty much identical on 0-60 and 0-100.
I guess after 100mph the 335d will probably start to leave the 330d - but - who really cares? How often do you drive more than 100mph risking your licence?
We probably spend 98% of the time only driving between 0mph and around 80-90mph.

one passing the 1/4 at over 100mph and the other 96-97mph says there is a large differEnce in the 0-10. Time.

[jonl1983]

Originally Posted by ram33

i cant get close to mpg like that. i seem to avg about 29. checked the coolant temp and seems ok

what year is yours? there were a few changes to MPG and emissions in the later cars. I don't heavily accelerate all the time or harsh braking.

to the OP: For me it would always have to be a 35d. I will get another this year and hopefully they will bring out a 340d next year and I'll get one of those. If you can afford both why not go for the best? It sounds to me like your head is trying to justify the purchase, you said yourself about the purchase costs and depreciation. If this is the case go with your heart and buy the 35d, you won't be disappointed, i feel you may be if you purchase the 330d and you start seeing loads of 35d's around!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

one passing the 1/4 at over 100mph and the other 96-97mph says there is a large differEnce in the 0-10. Time.

Yes, that's what I would of thought too.

[MRD]

Well, all stats are available. We don't have to look at particular videos on youtube, of cars we don't know, to realize the 335d is a faster car.

Apparently, only on the 0-80mph they are the same. To any other speed the 335d will be quicker, either marginally (0-50mph with a 0.1s difference) or considerably (3.5s when 0-125mph).

Of course, in the real world, during 90% of driving, there won't be much difference. Having a a 335d and a 330d side by side and having them race off a traffic light, the 335d would be 0.2s faster in the first 1/4mile.

Are these differences and a nice 335d badge worth the extra cost and lower mpg? For some people, for sure. But only you have the answer!

Source: ZePerfs

[MRD]

If anyone could explain to me why they'd be the same to 0-80mph, I'd appreciate it. Don't get it...

Well... with other reason than wrong numbers... That one I can guess.

[kaishang]

You cannot get those dragstrip 1/4 mile times in a suburban traffic light race because you are limited by rear wheel traction and DSC intervention. You need to switch DSC fully off and brake boost (ie press the accelerator to spool up the turbo while holding the car on the brakes) to get those times - it was me that did the 14.1 seconds at Santa Pod in a 330d, which was faster than a 335d on that particular day.

In real world driving below 120mph I think there is minimal difference because you never use 100% throttle.

Ohhh ohhh ohhh, back to the M-sport vs SE debate One of the reasons I didn't get a 335d was BMW discontinued the 335d SE leaving only the M-sport. I didn't want to pay a £2000 premium for the engine then pay another £2.5k premium for M-sport which I didn't want!

It wasn't the money. I just wanted the beige and wood interior

[dxb335d]

0.2 secs over the 1/4 is 2 car lenghts.

I'm the 335d which in standard trim did the 13.9@101mph in 2007..

Most standard 335d trap 100-101mph compared 96-97mph for the 330d!!
That's a BIG differEnce.

Originally Posted by MRD

Well, all stats are available. We don't have to look at particular videos on youtube, of cars we don't know, to realize the 335d is a faster car.

Apparently, only on the 0-80mph they are the same. To any other speed the 335d will be quicker, either marginally (0-50mph with a 0.1s difference) or considerably (3.5s when 0-125mph).

Of course, in the real world, during 90% of driving, there won't be much difference. Having a a 335d and a 330d side by side and having them race off a traffic light, the 335d would be 0.2s faster in the first 1/4mile.

Are these differences and a nice 335d badge worth the extra cost and lower mpg? For some people, for sure. But only you have the answer!

Source: ZePerfs

[dopper99]

These sort of debates make quite interesting reading all in all ....At the end of the day we all like slightly different things in a car, which makes lots of interesting debates on here such as:

petrol vs diesel
manual vs auto
330d vs 335d
335d vs 335i
saloon vs coupe vs vert vs touring
run flats vs non-run flats

etc... etc....


each to their own, but...... they have one thing in common - its a pretty good car underneath, which ever 3 series you choose.

[SO8]

Originally Posted by dopper99

each to their own, but...... they have one thing in common - its a pretty good car underneath, which ever 3 series you choose.

Totally agree ... no 3 series is bad

[V330d]

I bought a new 330d msport e91 with all the boxes ticked!!

I could have went for a 335d but I couldn't bring myself to buy an OLD engine!! If the new engine had been fitted to the e9_ 3 series then I would have bought that.

As for the 330d its hard to beat its lovely growl and its nearly fast enough!!! and its impossible to do less than 40 mpg

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by V330d

I bought a new 330d msport e91 with all the boxes ticked!!

I could have went for a 335d but I couldn't bring myself to buy an OLD engine!! If the new engine had been fitted to the e9_ 3 series then I would have bought that.

As for the 330d its hard to beat its lovely growl and its nearly fast enough!!! and its impossible to do less than 40 mpg

You're the first person I've seen on here mention the 'old' engine thing.... I felt exactly the same!

[TMP]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

You're the first person I've seen on here mention the 'old' engine thing.... I felt exactly the same!

Hope you guys have pre-ordered a F30 then...

[SO8]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

You're the first person I've seen on here mention the 'old' engine thing.... I felt exactly the same!

Ditto ... forgot about that ! I felt with the LCI 330d I was getting the newest engine and technology at the time.