Road Test: BMW 335i Coupe

Review by Feann Torr - 24/Apr/2008

The BMW 3 Series is under pressure - 8.5 pounds per square inch to be exact. The BMW 335i is the first of a new generation of petrol-powered BMWs to use turbocharging, which keeps fuel usage acceptable while giving drivers a massive boost in power.

BMW has changed the face of the 3 Series Coupe forever by bolting a pair of low-pressure turbochargers to the venerable 3.0-litre inline six, much to the delight of fans.

So successful is the new turbo 6-cylinder engine that BMW has developed a twin turbo V8 engine that will be used in upcoming vehicles such as the X6 SUV and next generation BMW 5 Series, the latter expected in 2010.

It could also be argued that BMW's 3 Series is under another kind of pressure, what with Audi's introduction of the A5 Coupe in Australia to directly attack models such as this, the BMW 335i Coupe.

But BMW's response has been emphatic - improved technology that's even more seamless than before, but easier to use. Let's see how it goes:

Hooked up to a quick shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox, the BMW 335i is as smooth as you like. You wouldn't even know it was a turbocharged performance car in most situations, such is the svelte power delivery and smooth ride.

Cruising up the Calder Freeway towards Hanging Rock, the German-made coupe is relaxed, quiet, and generally very cosseting. Apart from the thud of the odd cats eye as the vehicle changes lanes to overtake, there's barely any sound entering the cabin which helps conversation flow.

BMW has also solved the age-old coupe problem of reaching behind you for the seatbelts by adding a robotic 'arm' that extends the seat belt for both driver and front passenger.

While it has a turbocharged sting in its tail, the E92 BMW 335i Coupe is every bit a luxury car. In fact, it feels more like a grand tourer thanks to its calm cruising nature.

Fuel consumption of just 7.0L/100km on the freeway is impressive, and if it wasn't for high price of servicing the running costs would be admirable.

With a fairly large 63 litre fuel tank the 335i won't be opposed to interstate sojourns and the combined cycle (city/highway) fuel consumption figure isn't too bad at 9.5L/100km.

BMW's conservatively styled 335i exhibits a smooth ride, even with large 18-inch wheels shod with ultra-stiff run-flat tyres. While the M3 is the new sports car pin-up boy for BMW's 3 Series range, there is no denying the desirability of the 335i.

Smooth leather seats with electric adjust are nice, and like all new generation BMW's the interior layout is minimal but attractive.

The usual spray of buttons, lights, dials are switches are simply not there.

Instead there's a couple of dials and a handful of buttons for the climate control temperate settings, and everything else is handled by the controls on the steering wheel and oft-derided iDrive system.

While BMW has done a lot of work with the iDrive system to make it more intuitive - it controls everything from radio settings to sat nav via a large control dial near the gear shifter - it still lags behind Audi's MMI and Lexus's touch-screensystems and needs to be fundamentally reworked to be comparable.

As it stands however, it can be quite effective when you get used to the navigating the menus, and owners may even grow to appreciate the system.

With responsive steering and an intuitive cruise control system, the BMW 335i makes eating up the freeway miles effortless; it really does feel like a top quality grand tourer with a plethora of automated systems and luxury materials. 

But once you've had your picnic at Hanging Rock, there comes a time when you need to flex the muscles of BMW's first turbo petrol car in decades. And when you do, the 335i's character changes dramatically.

Floor the throttle and the BMW 335i changes from gentleman to scoundrel. And it's the sinister side which is making all the headlines.

The official figures claim the N54 twin turbo 6-cylinder engine outputs 225kW of power, but in reality it feels more muscular. 

At full throttle openings, the 335i accelerates with a pace that will satisfy even the most trenchant performance fan, charging forward with a ferocity that comes very close to BMW's hero car, the M3. As close as just a few tenths of a second in fact.

Put simply, it's one of the fastest German luxury cars money can buy.

Gently squeezing you into the plush leather pews, the G-forces build quickly but smoothly when you flex the right foot. There's no whiplash involved like a Mitsubishi Evolution or any other highly strung turbo sports car, and that's because BMW kept the 335i's turbocharger pressures relatively low, maxxing out at around 8.5 psi (0.58 bar).

Peak torque of 400Nm - the same amount as the M3 - hits the skids @ 1300rpm and you can ride that wave of torque as long as you like. It's not a brutal torque hit, but it is strong and it gives the car a sense of effortless power rarely experienced with 6-cylinder engines.

Accelerating from zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 5.7 seconds, but the real world figure is closer to 5.2 seconds, and the standing kilometre sprint is clocked at a 24.6 seconds -- all of these being seriously fast times.

Overtaking is easier than hanging up the phone on an irate relative - just squeeze the throttle and German-made ZF automatic gearbox drops a few cogs and before you wipe the smile from your face the semi-trailer is just a speck in the rear view mirror. 

Mid-gear response is best described as phenomenal: the 80-120km/h 4th gear acceleration test takes just 5.2 seconds.

The aural experience is also rather impressive, but never overbearing. The engine is almost silent at idle and very quiet in traffic, but builds up to a turbine-like roar as the revs rise.

When the engine nears its 6000rpm redline, the whine from the engine mingles with a subtle biturbo whistle which only serves to make the experience more exhilarating.

Accelerating in a straight line is one thing, but can the 335i handle corners? 

Is the Pope German?

The 335i is a very sweet piece of cornering machinery and with an almost perfect front-to-rear weight distribution and short front and rear overhangs, it takes very little time to find your groove and learn how to get the most out of the car German coupe.

With crisp turn-in thanks to a light front-end and responsive, well-weighted steering, the BMW 335i tips into corners like it was born to do so and with a suspension tune that's firm but not stiff, body roll won't ruin your fun.

The suspension and chassis setup will keep body roll under control, yet with thoughtful tuning of the shock absorbers can also provide a smooth ride, and even ruts and ridges mid-corner rarely upset the 335i's attitude.

There's only one minor issue I found with the 335i and that's rear end grip. While the front wheels shod with 225/40 R18 tyres bite the road firmly, improving your confidence to push the car further into each corner, it's exiting the corners that be tremulous.

Like any well-sorted sports car the urge is to pour on the throttle as soon as you're past the apex and nearing the exit of the corner, but in the 335i the rear tyres (255/35 R18) like to break loose, due almost exclusively to the engine's twin turbo torque surge low in the rev range.

While fairly controllable with throttle and steering adjustments when the rear wheels break traction, it can come as a surprise and invokes caution where something like the Audi S4 wouldn't, thanks to its AWD grip.

Still, the chassis is fairly communicative and you can sense when the rear end is nearing its limits as it blasts out of corners, and larger 19-inch rear wheels with can be optioned which would help mollify this somewhat.

For certain drivers, the accessibility of power oversteer will be a boon and it highlights just how much power the German coupe has at its disposal, and the dynamic stability control (DSC) won't let things hang out for long.

The brakes are very good, and even after 90 minutes of non-stop thrashing, the 348mm and 336mm front and rear brakes still felt firm and responsive, and with cornering brake control hitting the anchors mid corner won't send you off the road either.

Overall the BMW 335i is a rewarding vehicle to drive, especially on tight and twisty roads, but I'm not convinced about the styling.

While it's good to see more variance in the way the 3 Series sedan and coupe models have been styled, the 3 Series Coupe looks a bit like a sausage.

It's long and low and has all the visual cues of a sophisticated European sports coupe, but there's something doughy about the overall design. It's all soft curves and the downturned nose - while aggressive thanks to the headlight design - is dull.

That said, it wouldn't be easy being a car designer with a company like BMW which has numerous historically famous vehicles. Anything too radical gets panned by the hordes of long-time fans, while the conservative 'clone' designs are labelled boring by newcomers. Sometimes it seems that you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't...

The aesthetics of the BMW 335i's tail end are more endearing, with a fairly sporty style that's underpinned by twin exhaust pipes. The overall profile of the car, while far from original, is pleasing in a traditional sports coupe way.

Boot space isn't too bad at 430 litres - enough room for a few golf bags - and rear seat room caters for two adults if the front seats aren't extended all the way back.

Like most BMW's the 335i is a very comfortable car be in, and plenty safe too.

Along with DSC and ABS, the 335i also features cornering brake control, dynamic brake control, and the anti-hooligan feature -dynamic traction control - the 335i has a full suite of front and rear airbags.

BMW's executive coupe measures 4.58 metres in length and looks longer than it is, which together with park distance control proximity sensors in the front and rear bumpers (as standard equipment) makes parking the vehicle a hassle-free affair. 

With a turning circle of 11 metres it's not too bad as a city car, and though it costs around $25,000 more than the non-turbo 325i, the 335i gets a large 8.8-inch colour screen, satellite navigation, built-in TV, and voice recognition as standard equipment.

Then again, if the $100,000+ asking price isn't worth your while, there are plenty of options that can nudge the figure up another $20k, including a $3,150 high end audio system, $1,800 radar cruise control, $2,700 active steering, $1,600 metallic paint, and the list goes on.

Or you could opt for the convertible 335i which fetches $124,300. Whatever you choose, this is the kind of vehicle that, once driven, will seldom be forgotten. The creamy smooth twin turbo power delivery is only one arrow in the 335i's quiver, but certainly has the most impact.

The argument that BMW's powerful new 335i could harm the new M3's sales because it's more affordable and almost as fast in a straight line has been quashed in Australia,as the new M3 has almost doubled sales in its first six months compared to the previous 6-cylinder version.

Overall: 4/5

Outputting the kind of power that has previously only been available in the highly strung BMW M3, the 335i is a revelation. Priced at more than $110,000, this particular German sports car doesn't come cheap, but what it offers is a sublime combination of satin luxury and ballistic speed tempered by a cool attitude.

It's a luxury coupe that won't jostle you about with race car suspension and has all the accoutrements you could wish for, while at the same time is capable of accelerating like a tomahawk missile.

It's a suave customer the 335i, and you've got to hand it BMW for creating such a sophisticated beast. Sure, it can be a real gentleman when needs be, but the first turbocharged petrol BMW in an era can also be malevolently assertive, accelerating with enough pace to please the racer in everyone.

The BMW 335i is not perfect, but it comes tantalisingly close.