[movietub]

Hi all,

What a very sad day! Just 30 minutes ago I watched by 330d (F31) get driven away for the last time!!

It has been an absolutely fantastic car. 50k faultless miles and has appealed on every level. To be honest, it probably is about as perfect as an all rounder can be, if you take power, fun and prestige into the mix (otherwise the perfect car is probably something like golf TDi..)

So obviously I'm now a desolate wreck and the only cure is to get another one. I would be happy to go for the identical car and tick the same option boxes. But I'm naturally tempted to move onwards and upwards to the 335d. Not least as I live at the top of a hill that is never gritted when it snows.

So my questions are:

1) If anyone has driven both current 330d and 335d please let me know as much as you can.

2) xDrive - I love the feel of RWD. In the xDrive does it feel RWD most of the time and does the purity of RWD steering remain under normal driving? I appreciate that if you push grip limits it will divert a lot to the front and it will inevitably feel different at that point. Which is fine if it keeps me out of a ditch, but in day to day driving I don't really want to be reminded there is torque running through front axles.

3) Obvious question - speed difference. I see the headline figures suggest its as quick to 60 as a V8 Audi R8. But in the real world does it feel faster enough than the 330 to justify the difference?

The wildcard option is a used v8 M3, which I used to argue was the best all round car you could buy. The problem is that whilst the diesel is nowhere near as pure or capable, it is capable enough to now replace the the M3 as the 'all cars to all people' solution. So it's hard to justify going to an old M3 for the same cost as leasing a brand new 335d.

[teaston]

Hi mate, you're probably best asking this in the UK forum:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=412

This is the unofficial U.S. forum, and they don't even have the 330d or 335d there.

[stormlv]

I haven't driven one back to back, but having the 435xd I guess I could venture some guesses.

Off the line, the 335/435xd definitely is faster:
330d : 5.6 sec
330xd: 5.3 sec
335xd: 4.8 sec

You probably won't feel the difference between a 330d and the 330xd, but I bet you'll feel the difference between the 330d and 335xd. (it's almost 1 sec).

Another advantage of the 335xd is obviously having two turbos, which was intended to reduce turbo lag and increase throttle response.
That's why they have 3 turbos on the M550xd
Lastly, you can take the engine through a tune, to somewhere around the 360hp/700Nm mark

The sensation that the torque you get with the 335xd is addicting

That said, for the 330d there's the MPPK from BMW, which takes it closer to the 335xd.
On the 330d you can also put the LSD, which until now, I don't think you can put on any xdrive model.

I personally love how the xDrive feels, and you can definitely make it push its ass out

A lot of high performance cars have AWD and even BMW is thinking on getting an xDrive M5 out...

I suppose a lot of people here will think this is a sacrilege, as much as some prefer manual vs auto

But, I think that unless you're on a track, you won't feel annoyed by the AWD.

[movietub]

Originally Posted by teaston

Hi mate, you're probably best asking this in the UK forum:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=412

This is the unofficial U.S. forum, and they don't even have the 330d or 335d there.

My mistake! I see some replies are coming through anyway but if I don't get the feedback I need I'll re-post.

Thanks for pointing it out

[movietub]

Originally Posted by stormlv

I haven't driven one back to back, but having the 435xd I guess I could venture some guesses.

Off the line, the 335/435xd definitely is faster:
330d : 5.6 sec
330xd: 5.3 sec
335xd: 4.8 sec

You probably won't feel the difference between a 330d and the 330xd, but I bet you'll feel the difference between the 330d and 335xd. (it's almost 1 sec).

Another advantage of the 335xd is obviously having two turbos, which was intended to reduce turbo lag and increase throttle response.
That's why they have 3 turbos on the M550xd
Lastly, you can take the engine through a tune, to somewhere around the 360hp/700Nm mark

The sensation that the torque you get with the 335xd is addicting

That said, for the 330d there's the MPPK from BMW, which takes it closer to the 335xd.
On the 330d you can also put the LSD, which until now, I don't think you can put on any xdrive model.

I personally love how the xDrive feels, and you can definitely make it push its ass out

A lot of high performance cars have AWD and even BMW is thinking on getting an xDrive M5 out...

I suppose a lot of people here will think this is a sacrilege, as much as some prefer manual vs auto

But, I think that unless you're on a track, you won't feel annoyed by the AWD.

Thanks for all the info. I would expect the 435d is a relatively good comparison.

So you don't notice torque grabbing at the front wheels to often? That's probably one of my only concerns about 335.

Do you know how much BMW charge for PPK kit and install on 3/430d?

I see you're in Geneva - I'll be out there in a couple of weeks building JLR stand for the Auto show! And that drift in the snow video you posted looks suspiciously like a BMW press demo driver showing the hacks how good xDrive is!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by movietub

My mistake! I see some replies are coming through anyway but if I don't get the feedback I need I'll re-post.

Thanks for pointing it out

I would repost tbh.

Also we are far nicer

Oh and no trannys there

[movietub]

Ok - all good points!

I re-posted here: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...5#post17329445

Cheers

Originally Posted by Brigand

I would repost tbh.

Also we are far nicer

Oh and no trannys there

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by movietub

Thanks for all the info. I would expect the 435d is a relatively good comparison.

So you don't notice torque grabbing at the front wheels to often? That's probably one of my only concerns about 335.

Do you know how much BMW charge for PPK kit and install on 3/430d?

I see you're in Geneva - I'll be out there in a couple of weeks building JLR stand for the Auto show! And that drift in the snow video you posted looks suspiciously like a BMW press demo driver showing the hacks how good xDrive is!

I never noticed torque steer on my car.

In Switzerland the PPK is ~2k CHF, but ymmv based on the country of purchase.
Hehe, nice!

I'll pass by the stand then, PM me with details if you wanna meet

BTW, not that you asked, but the 435xd is efficient as well (all highway) :

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Brigand

I would repost tbh.

Also we are far nicer

Oh and no trannys there

Riiiiiigggghttttttt