Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 



335 models lead new 3 Series charge. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

335 models lead new 3 Series charge
BMW has further expanded the 3 Series range, with a new 325d variant and 335d and 335i options on all body styles.

   



<< earlier review     later review >>

Reviews homepage -> BMW reviews

#02#Since the latest generation BMW 3 Series was launched in 2005 we've managed to get behind the wheel of many of the models on offer, including the 320i/320d, the 330i and a 325i Touring. Last month we briefly tested the new 3 Series Coupé in both 325i and 335i flavours. Just when you think there couldn't be any more room for further derivatives, BMW goes and makes the 325d and 335d and just for good measure allows Touring buyers to specify the 335i model too. We spent a day driving some of the new options.

First up was a couple of hours at the wheel of a 335d Coupé, equipped with BMW's excellent new six-speed automatic gearbox. I last experienced this engine when driving the mighty 535d Touring. Though based on the regular 3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine that powers the 330d (amongst others), the extra '5' on the designation indicates the presence of twin sequential turbochargers. The result on paper is 286bhp and a peak torque figure of 428lb.ft available from 1750rpm to 2250rpm. Numbers, as ever, only tell part of the story.

The BMW 335d is as quick a car as anybody could ask for; and I don't just mean on the motorway or on your way to the supermarket. In those situations, the 335d glides along comfortably, with plenty of low-rev torque and virtually zero turbo lag thanks to a smaller turbocharger operating under these conditions. Once you leave the confines of town and ask for a little more from the engine the 335d really comes alive. It is nothing short of rapid. The claimed performance figures are impressive enough (0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph), but the clichéd 'real-world' performance is simply scintillating.

Dawdling traffic is dispatched without needing to downchange, but if you really need to up the pace then you just drop a cog and use more of the rev range. This is when the larger turbocharger takes over and you'll find that this diesel is one that revs keenly. In comparison to the 335i, it is a more relaxed drive, but no less engaging when you want it to be. I drove the 335d back-to-back with a 335i, both equipped with the automatic 'box with steering wheel-mounted gearchange paddles. On the same twisting B-road I found myself changing gears less in the diesel. #p##02# Not that it is not a chore to change gears in the 335i. The engine emits a distinctive bark and you'll be only too glad to extend it to the rev limiter. Pushed to the limit, the 335i is naturally the quicker car, with an explosive top end, but the 335d is not at all far behind.

Either car has the ability to thrill the enthusiastic driver on a favourite piece of road. The 3 Series chassis is still a class leader in terms of rewarding its driver without scaring those that don't really care that it has rear-wheel drive. Both the 335 models have ample torque to provoke rear-led slides if the mood takes you, though there really is an incredible amount of mechanical grip available and the stability and traction electronics are quick acting and unobtrusive.

Private car buyers will not necessarily always choose the equivalent diesel model over a similarly-specced petrol car, not unless fuel consumption is an absolute priority. The 335d Coupé uses 37.7mpg on the Combined Cycle, where as the 335i version uses 28.6mpg. Company car buyers will be just as interested in the car's CO2 emissions for taxation purposes and this is where the 335d scores high, with 200g/km against the 335i's 235g/km. Depending on your priorities, it shouldn't be too difficult to work out which car is more economically viable taking into consideration the list price differences too.

Though there was no time to try the new 325d model, it promises to be a good seller, slotting between the ubiquitous 320d and the more performance-orientated 330d. For £27,310 you get a refined six-cylinder turbodiesel with 197bhp and up to 295lb.ft of torque. Combined Cycle economy is 44.1mpg and the all-important CO2 emissions figure is just 171g/km. Yet another option to choose from. #p##08#
BMW 3 Series UK range overview

3 Series saloons:
- BMW 318d ES saloon: £22,810
- BMW 318i ES saloon: £20,465
- BMW 320d ES saloon: £23,955
- BMW 320i ES saloon: £22,095
- BMW 318d SE saloon: £23,840
- BMW 318i SE saloon: £21,495
- BMW 320d SE saloon: £24,985
- BMW 320i SE saloon: £23,125
- BMW 325d SE saloon: £27,310
- BMW 325i SE saloon: £25,840
- BMW 330d SE saloon: £29,720
- BMW 330i SE saloon: £29,170
- BMW 335d SE saloon: £32,995
- BMW 335i SE saloon: £30,940
- BMW 318d M Sport saloon: £26,130
- BMW 318i M Sport saloon: £23,785
- BMW 320d M Sport saloon: £27,275
- BMW 320i M Sport saloon: £25,415
- BMW 325d M Sport saloon: £30,040
- BMW 325i M Sport saloon: £28,570
- BMW 330d M Sport saloon: £32,450
- BMW 330i M Sport saloon: £31,900
- BMW 335d M Sport saloon: £35,735
- BMW 335i M Sport saloon: £33,750

3 Series Tourings:
- BMW 318d ES Touring: £24,015
- BMW 318i ES Touring: £21,645
- BMW 320d ES Touring: £25,135
- BMW 320i ES Touring: £23,275
- BMW 318d SE Touring: £25,045
- BMW 318i SE Touring: £22,675
- BMW 320d SE Touring: £26,165
- BMW 320i SE Touring: £24,305
- BMW 325d SE Touring: £28,490
- BMW 325i SE Touring: £27,020
- BMW 330d SE Touring: £30,890
- BMW 330i SE Touring: £30,340
- BMW 335d SE Touring: £34,165
- BMW 335i SE Touring: £32,110
- BMW 318d M Sport Touring: £27,335
- BMW 318i M Sport Touring: £24,965
- BMW 320d M Sport Touring: £28,455
- BMW 320i M Sport Touring: £26,595
- BMW 325d M Sport Touring: £31,220
- BMW 325i M Sport Touring: £29,750
- BMW 330d M Sport Touring: £33,620
- BMW 330i M Sport Touring: £33,070
- BMW 335d M Sport Touring: £36,905
- BMW 335i M Sport Touring: £34,920

3 Series Coupés:
- BMW 325i SE Coupé: £28,090
- BMW 330d SE Coupé: £31,840
- BMW 330i SE Coupé: £31,290
- BMW 335d SE Coupé: £35,475
- BMW 335i SE Coupé: £33,420

Shane O' Donoghue - 27 Oct 2006



  www.bmw.co.uk    - BMW road tests
- BMW news
- 3 Series images

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by James Jenkins.



2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe. Image by BMW.
 

2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series Touring. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series saloon. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series saloon. Image by BMW.
 

2007 BMW 3 Series saloon. Image by BMW.
 

2006 BMW 3 Series Coupe. Image by BMW.
 






 

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©