[gangzoom]

It's now been nearly 3 years to the day when I waved goodbye to the 350Z and hello to the 335i

A few reliability grumblings last few months but a quick spirited drive still has me laughing out loud like a school kid

Decided to work out the true cost of ownership including mods, repair, servicing, insurance, depreciation, fuel for 15,000 miles at 24mpg 135 per liter. Bought the car with a lump sum, so no finance costs.

Total cost of ownership All in works out as £760/month, depreciation is biggest single cost and accounts for 1/3 of the cost, with mods accounting for the second biggest cosy. I estimate running costs will halve in the next 3 years since deprecation will be less (relative rate will be same but absolute value is almost half), and I've stopped modding

Given the performance on offer and just how much money I've wasted on mods I was actually reasonably happy with the total cost of ownership....

Though having said that doing the same calculations for our 2.2 diesel Civic, it has only cost us £360/month all in (fuel/servicing/tyres all included), so roughly 50% of the cost but 250% more millage/use. Maybe the wife is right and 335 is just a total waste of money!!

I could have reduced the ownership costs by about £200/months if I has kept the car stock, and in reality the only two mods I would say is 100% essential is the Quaife LSD and Birds B3 suspension, everything else Procede/Downpipes/Intercooler/Brakes/CIC upgrade/Alpina speakers makes the car more enjoyable but I could happily live without. However I doubt I would be so happy with the car if I had kept it stock, and given depreciation is the biggest cost, by keeping the 335 and modding I've actually saved money compared to PX the 335 for newer car and taking a bigger hit on depreciation (man maths at its best)

So even after 3 years of ownership I cannot see my self getting rid of the 335 for a long while yet. The new M3 did catch my attention, but after reading the early reviews I really don't think it's worth spending £40k+ over my 335 to get into one.

I would happily say the 335 is the best car I've owned by a long way, 380bhp+, 40mpg possible long runs, RWD, comfortable, plenty of gadgets, and discrete. It's not a cheap car to own/run but worth every penny. Having access to a really good local independent means I also don't have to deal with BMW dealers when the thing breaks has been a life saver. Now looking forwards to another 3 years of happy motoring (though hopefully cheaper)

[bazz780]

Lovely looking car mate and good man maths

Obviously cost of ownership reduces if you stop spending and keep longer

[Kerr]

I've had mine since 2010 and haven't spend much at all. I didn't mod it, depreciation hasn't been bad, servicing fine and only a couple of small petty bills. I also average 28MPG.

Even counting all road tax and paying my warranty, I came up with £580 per month. The only thing I'm missing is insurance which varies too wildly. I'm just over £200 now.

Sounds more than i thought.

£215 is petrol alone per month. You could save £75 per month driving a 45MPG diesel. Not enough of a saving for me.

Strangely also £215 per month depreciation. Most people don't factor depreciation in. They've got a monthly limit for finance and costs are separate.

Expensive cars have expensive costs. I'd bet most people spend as much running 2.0 hot hatches for the same as I have the 335i.

It's not as if I've done it on the cheap. I always buy quality parts and servicing has been done at a BMW main dealer.

[E92Dan]

If you don't do many miles then a diesel won't save you much

[phil200tdi]

With the price differential on 2yo cars I'd say if you do less than 15000 miles per year it's not worth buying the diesel..

My next car will be another petrol, either an m135i or a 550i..

[gangzoom]

Finding a replacement for the 335 is going to be hard.

Needs to have similar power levels, so 350ish, but bigger and more economical. Have no interest in getting a diesel, one diesel in the household is more than enough

The only thing that can deliver better performance + more significantly more economy is the Tesla S. Hopefully in a few years time they would have depreciated enough to make one a viable option...In the mean time I'll 'make do' with the 335

[RS Grant]

40mpg.... how, tell me your secret!!

I've got a Birds fitted Hartge ECU upgrade, no idea if this is known to be rich as hell or not, but driving like a complete granny I'm getting c25mpg... if I push on, even slightly, I'm getting mid-late teens.


Cheers,
Grant

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by RS Grant

40mpg.... how, tell me your secret!!

I've got a Birds fitted Hartge ECU upgrade, no idea if this is known to be rich as hell or not, but driving like a complete granny I'm getting c25mpg... if I push on, even slightly, I'm getting mid-late teens.


Cheers,
Grant

I can get really high 30s on a run.

You just need to stay smooth rather than on and off the power all the time like many people seem to do even on a motorway.

Sitting at 70-75mph with the cruise on should see higher 30s.

Quite a few guys have managed 40mpg.

[RS Grant]

Originally Posted by Kerr

I can get really high 30s on a run.

You just need to stay smooth rather than on and off the power all the time like many people seem to do even on a motorway.

Sitting at 70-75mph with the cruise on should see higher 30s.

Quite a few guys have managed 40mpg.

Christ, I don't think I've ever seen 30's from the car, even sitting at 75-80 on cruise control for an extended period.. granted I've only had it a wee while, but I've done quite a lot of varied driving in it already.

Example; I drove from St Andrews to Dundee on Saturday night and I reset the trip/MPG figures after refilling with a fresh tank of V-Power before leaving. I drove steadily between 40-55mph the whole way on very quiet sweeping roads and I averaged 25.5mpg.

Sorry to turn this into an MPG discussion OP... saw my opportunity to target a higher number of 335i owners and seized it!!


Cheers,
Grant

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by RS Grant

Christ, I don't think I've ever seen 30's from the car, even sitting at 75-80 on cruise control for an extended period.. granted I've only had it a wee while, but I've done quite a lot of varied driving in it already.

Example; I drove from St Andrews to Dundee on Saturday night and I reset the trip/MPG figures after refilling with a fresh tank of V-Power before leaving. I drove steadily between 40-55mph the whole way on very quiet sweeping roads and I averaged 25.5mpg.

Sorry to turn this into an MPG discussion OP... saw my opportunity to target a higher number of 335i owners and seized it!!


Cheers,
Grant

I did Inverness back to Aberdeen last week and did 37.6mpg. Obviously 60mph most of the way but a few towns to navigate.

This weekend Aberdeen to Livingston I got the exact same. Obviously had to navigate through Dundee.

28mpg is my average overall.

When just commuting you don't need to take a N54 up the Rev range. You can easily potter around at very low revs to keep up with traffic. Mine often suggests shift up at around 1700-1800rpm.

St Andrews to Dundee is a pretty easy road too. I used to stay in St Andrews. It is just a short trip though.

[RS Grant]

Originally Posted by Kerr

I did Inverness back to Aberdeen last week and did 37.6mpg. Obviously 60mph most of the way but a few towns to navigate.

This weekend Aberdeen to Livingston I got the exact same. Obviously had to navigate through Dundee.

28mpg is my average overall.

When just commuting you don't need to take a N54 up the Rev range. You can easily potter around at very low revs to keep up with traffic. Mine often suggests shift up at around 1700-1800rpm.

St Andrews to Dundee is a pretty easy road too. I used to stay in St Andrews. It is just a short trip though.

Mine is the TS N55 but I don't think it should be quite so bad on fuel compared to the TT N54 and my automatic gearbox shifts at around 1700rpm too.

I am seriously considering having the Hartge map overwritten with a custom remap.... because my average across a tank just now is 16-17mpg at the moment. Which is quite a bit less than I was expecting from the car and I'm not giving it a hard time either, that is commuting only. On a run, it would seem I'm around 12mpg shy of the figures that you lads are seeing.


Cheers,
Grant

[KM79]

Good to see some fellow Scotsmen here,I'm from Dundee.

[gangzoom]

40mpg is with cruise control set to 55-60, and very little to no traffic. My long term average is 24mpg. A 'sprited' drive will see <20 mpg.

But our 335 only does about 5000 miles a year, so I don't know why I even bother keeping an eye on the mpg.

[phil200tdi]

Originally Posted by RS Grant

Mine is the TS N55 but I don't think it should be quite so bad on fuel compared to the TT N54 and my automatic gearbox shifts at around 1700rpm too.

I am seriously considering either having the Hartge map removed/overwritten with a custom remap.... because my average across a tank just now is 16-17mpg at the moment. Which is quite a bit less than I was expecting from the car and I'm not giving it a hard time either, that is commuting only. On a run, it would seem I'm around 12mpg shy of the figures that you lads are seeing.


Cheers,
Grant

I'd say your map is over fuelling.

It's an easy way of getting power.. I ran the Bms back end race flash with my jb4 for a while and got similarly poor numbers. Now running a custom wedge performance back end flash map and the economy is very good. I'm running circa 460bhp but getting 32mpg on a run.. Mines manual though which plays a big part too.

The 335i is designed to run lean whilst cruising.

[lolololol]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

I'd say your map is over fuelling.

It's an easy way of getting power.. I ran the Bms back end race flash with my jb4 for a while and got similarly poor numbers. Now running a custom wedge performance back end flash map and the economy is very good. I'm running circa 460bhp but getting 32mpg on a run.. Mines manual though which plays a big part too.

The 335i is designed to run lean whilst cruising.

That Wedge flash makes all the difference doesn't it !!

Apparently Ken uses better fuel scaler than Terry. My car doesn't smell of petrol anymore.

However some of the mpg's on this thread are dreamland for me - if you want the power then you pays for the fuel !!!

[phil200tdi]

Yes it's awesome.

The wedge flash is more bespoke, Terry played it safe.. I can't believe more people aren't going for the free remaps though...

[Jdouglas10]

So over 3 years youve spent and lost on the value £27,360!! that is crazy. you must have too much money lol, what am i letting myself in for

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by Jdouglas10

So over 3 years youve spent and lost on the value £27,360!! that is crazy. you must have too much money lol, what am i letting myself in for

Yeaph...even without mods that figure comes to £17k+

But I bought my 335 when it was relatively new so deprecation was a big factor, also my original budget was for a 2-3 year old E90 M3, but my wife said a clear NO to that, so the purchase price of the 335 was actually a lot lower than what I was already to spend on a car...hence the cash left over was spent on mods.

But yes £27k spend/lost on a car over 3 years is madness when you think about it, but am lucky enough to be in a position to take that hit financially, and I would do it all again tomorrow....It's an expansive hobby, but you only live once

[djgandy]

What mods do you have that you spent 10k on?

[gangzoom]

Not quite 10k but pretty close, cannot work out exact figures because I sourced various bits and had them fitted at different times with servicing items etc.....am sure you can source/fit bits for cheaper but roughly I've spent

LSD 2k
Birds suspension, anti-roll bars, M3 subframe bushes - 1.5k
Ar design high flow cats / evolve Intercooler - 1.5k
Procede/JB 4 tune (tried both now have Procede) - 500
EBC brakes pads/Discs + baided lines - 750
CIC mod + Alpina speakers - 1k
Pure300di + extra aerial - 250
19inch wheels + various air intakes - 1k

None of the items are that expensive by themselves but they all add up, still the car is much better as an result

[djgandy]

Well the diff is a decent chunk. I'd love to do the CIC, but for me I just think wait and buy a car with it as factory, and get DCT while I am at it.

[Inq]

Originally Posted by KrisM79

Good to see some fellow Scotsmen here,I'm from Dundee.

Who knew there were so many! Ayr here.

I dunno who is getting 40 mpg... In this car I can't get above 35 from Ayr to Edinburgh.