My Experience:

Going in, my intention was to drive the new BMW 135 coupe. It really was. I wanted to know what the new twin-turbo engine felt like in such a small car. But when I got to the dealership, I noticed that they had some of the new 335 diesels. Intrigued, I decided to alter the plan and see how the 335 diesel stacks up against the regular 335. I’ll leave the 135 for another day.

Trim Levels:

The BMW 3-series comes in several flavors with engine size/type being the main differentiator. You’ve got the 328 (coupe, convertible, sedan, and wagon), the 335 (coupe, convertible, and sedan), and the 335d (sedan only). There’s also the M3 lineup as well (coupe, convertible, and sedan). Oh, and the 328 & 335 coupes and sedans can be had with all-wheel drive.

I’ll leave the rant regarding why they only offer the wagon in 328 form for another day. (Wouldn’t everyone want a twin-turbo wagon?)

For this review I drove two cars: First up was a 335d sedan, new for 2009. As stripped down as I’ve ever seen on a lot. The only option was $500 for heated seats. After that, I drove a 335 coupe completely loaded (premium package, sport package, navigation). Both we’re twin-turbo engines with six cylinders. How did the diesel stack up? Let’s see…

Exterior:

The new styling of the 3-series has never really invoked any strong emotional response from me. I don’t dislike it, and I even like the new coupe to a certain extent. But it’s not anything that I really get excited about when I see it on the road. (And in Southern California you seem them on the road A LOT).

For 2009, the 3-series styling got tweaked somewhat. Some subtle changes to the front grill and hood as well as the rear taillights. Frankly, I find it hard to tell the difference.

The styling of the diesel is identical to the standard 335. For some reason BMW feels the need put stickers all over the diesel proclaiming it’s a different engine. But I assume those are easily removed.

Interior:

As for the exterior, the interior styling and amenities available for the 335d are identical to the standard 335. So as I describe each one, the differences are due only to the options included on each car. Overall I found the 3-series interior to be about as expected. Good quality and finish, with a slightly utilitarian feel. Not much different than my wife’s old 325 wagon. I’ve never found BMW interiors as upscale as those from Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, or even Acura. Maybe the 5 and 7-series are, but the 3-series always seems very purposeful inside to me. I’m not saying that’s necessarily bad. Depends on your point of view.

Seat comfort is good. Of course, the sport seats that BMW offers are always much better than the regular seats. Much more lateral support, plus the extendable thigh support. The leatherette that was in the 335d was comfortable, not much below the real leather seats that the 335 coupe had thanks to the added premium package. All 335’s come with power adjustable seats standard.

All the usual stuff is laid out well – door locks, window controls, climate controls, etc. BMW’s backed off the idea of having to control basic radio and climate functions through the iDrive, which is good. Of course, the 335d I drove did not have the iDrive since it was not equipped with BMW’s navigation system.

The 335 coupe did have that system and I was able to briefly try out both the navigation system and the iDrive controller. The system id new for 2009 and my overall impression was good. The screen resolution is great, and the whole system is hard drive based so it is very responsive. Overall, the new software is much improved and makes the iDrive less annoying. I’d still prefer a touch screen, though. Up to 8GB of the hard drive is user-addressable, so you can burn music onto it if you want. There’s also a nice USB/iPod integration capability. No backup camera, but there is a good sensor system available (both front and back).

As far as rear seat space, there’s definitely more of that in the sedan than the coupe. The coupe’s rear space is livable for short trips. As for the sedan, you’ll get a good 2-3 inches more space all around (leg, head, shoulder) and that makes all the difference. The 3-series has really grown quite a bit is this regard. Truck space is adequate.

Performance/Handling:

So here’s where we hit the differences between the two cars. Let’s start with the diesel. First off, I’d never driven a diesel before. The 335d is rated a 265 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. So from the numbers, and from what I’ve read, I was expecting some serious torque. Start up the diesel engine and you greeted with a rough idle. Once underway, there’s definitely a different soundtrack than you’d get from a gasoline engine. Honestly, I didn’t find the torque all that evident. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I wasn’t able to get up to any real cruising speed. Maybe you could get more out of this engine with a manual transmission – but BMW only offers the automatic. Maybe it’s the fact that the diesel adds some 220 lbs to the weight of the car. Whatever the case, I was underwhelmed. To me, it didn’t feel much different than the 328.

The 335 engine, by comparison, is a brute. This is also the first time I've sampled that engine. There’s definitely plenty of pull and you feel every bit of the 300 hp and 300 lb-ft or torque. I was not impressed with the level of overall refinement, though. The exhaust note was load and harsh to my ear. I felt like I spent the whole test drive rocketing from stop sign to stop sign. Which can be fun, but I’d need to spend some more time with this car to see if it’s capable of a quieter ride as well. (Maybe I’m just getting old…)

The handling on both cars was classic BMW. Confident handling with great overall feel from the steering wheel. Both cars have almost a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. I’m always amazed at how well BMW can tune their suspensions to balance handling and ride quality. The salesman who accompanied me on both test drives said they don’t stock any 335 coupes without the sports package. And I see why – I doubt that the regular suspension could ride any smoother.

Fuel Economy:

Now we really come to where the 335d outshines the 335. Where the gasoline engine rates 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, the diesel achieves 23 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Also, the 335d qualifies for a IRS Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Tax Credit of up to $900.

Reliability:

In the past few years, the 3-series has had average to above average reliability. Time will tell how the diesel fares, but historically diesel engines have been very durable.

Safety:

The 3-series scored well in all the IIHS testing and was a top safety pick. The NHTSA gave the 3-series 4 (out of 5) stars for front impact and rollover testing and 5 stars for side impact testing.

Summary:

Overall I came away from these test drives with unexpected results. I expected huge torque from the diesel and was unable to find it. I expected to be thrilled with the twin turbo six but came away looking for more refinement. But, on the flip side, I expected to hate the navigation/iDrive and came away somewhat impressed. Not what I expected at all.
Amount Paid (US$): 50000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2009