[fq1]

BMW 335i Coupé
Superb, but don’t buy it


It is a sign both of the times in which we live and the raw potential of this new BMW 335i Coupé that the pre-drive briefing at the car’s launch in Innsbruck was conducted not by some BMW big cheese but the police. The Austrian constabulary were keen not to spend the afternoon digging us out of the Tyrolean scenery and were not shy about saying so.
You may think this says more about British motoring journalists than anything we were about to drive but our assessment-to-accident ratio is actually rather good. Even so, they did refer darkly to an “earlier incident”, and I suspect it was thoughts of what happens when a 306bhp, rear-drive BMW meets a throttle-happy hack on a streaming wet mountain road that had them appealing to us to behave.

They need not have worried. Now that the M3 is out of production the 335i takes over the mantle of fastest 3-series, but even on the treacherous roads that BMW selected, not once did it give cause for concern.



We were here not only to try BMW’s new twin-turbo 3 litre engine but also the 3-series’ third body style, after the Saloon and Touring shapes. I care little for the new coupé’s styling. Having been so adventurous in the styling of cars like the 5, 6 and 7-series (and walked into a storm of criticism), BMW has tried to be conservative and ended up being bland. There is some sense of purpose about the front, but the side is oddly proportioned and the back verging on the insipid.

But there’s nothing dull about what’s under the bonnet. BMW hates turbocharged petrol engines so much that it has only ever made two, and none in the past 20 years. As it has been quick to say when asked about rivals’ engines, turbos kill throttle response and guzzle fuel.

Now, however, BMW has embraced the turbocharger like a long-lost son. By marrying a new form of direct fuel injection to two small, low-pressure turbos, the theory is you get the power and torque for which turbo motors are famous without the drawbacks.




View a photo gallery of the BMW 335i Coupé





And so it proves. You would never twig this engine was turbocharged. It offers maximum torque at just 1300rpm and when you hit the accelerator it responds at once. It can hit 62mph from rest in 5.5sec on its way to a restricted 155mph top speed, and BMW’s boffins say that in the real world it is as quick as the M3. Yet you can still expect it to return 30mpg on a quiet run. Which is more than you’ll be able to say about next year’s new V8-powered M3, which will have at least another 100bhp.

And this engine’s been married to a chassis of near equal ability. So long as you don’t opt for BMW’s awful active steering system the 335i handles brilliantly. BMW knows that making you feel at home at the wheel is achieved only when, through the feel imparted by the steering and chassis, the driver is kept fully informed of conditions underfoot. It does this superbly, though the price you pay is an exceedingly firm ride.

It’s worth it. The 335i’s showroom qualities are strong, too. Unlike coupés such as the Alfa Romeo Brera and new Audi TT, the 335i offers adequate space for four adults, so can be used as a family car. Its only true rival is the Mercedes-Benz CLK, but to get a Merc with similar power will cost £46,740. The 335i Coupé is priced at £33,420.

Should you buy one? Probably not. While the 335i Coupé is tempting, there’s another 3 litre twin-turbo model that’s likely to be even more compelling just around the corner. The 335d is powered by the same 286bhp diesel engine that gives the larger 535d such outrageous performance, but because it’s being installed in the smaller, lighter 3-series body, it’s going to be even faster and more frugal — hitting 62mph just 0.6sec after its petrol-powered brother, but returning 37.2mpg in the combined cycle. And with even more torque, in the real world it’s going to feel faster still. And it should cost little or no more than the car you see here.

The true beauty of the 335i Coupé is found not in its awkward appearance, but in the depth of engineering excellence beneath the surface. It might not be much to look at, but to drive it is little less than gorgeous.

Model BMW 335i Coupé

Engine type 2979cc, six cylinders

Power/Torque 306bhp @ 5800rpm /
295 lb ft @ 1300rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel/CO² 29.7mpg (combined) / 228g/km

Performance 0-62mph: 5.5sec
Top speed: 155mph (electronically limited)

Price £33,420

Verdict Dull to look at, anything but to drive

Rating 4 Stars

Release date September 15


THE OPPOSITION

Model Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 £46,740
For Smooth and characterful V8, excellent ride quality
Against Dull appearance, should be more fun to drive

Model Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 SV £29,850
For Looks great from some angles, high quality interior
Against Not sufficiently fast or fun to drive, joke rear seats

[InOttawa2]

Nice review, and I agree: its too bad the car's butt ugly.

[Agni]

I dont think its ugly at all, but if it did have 4 doors instead of 2 it would have a nice coupe shillouete but instead of 1 long front door it would have 2 doors on each side.

A la CLS.

[Nikki]

Where is it from?

[akhbhaat]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Where is it from?

UK, evidenced at least by the quality and style of writing. The author does also mention it in passing.

Unless you were referring to a specific publication, in which case I don't know.

[fq1]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Where is it from?

Times of London. The only english language daily (in the world) worth reading.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by fq1

Times of London. The only english language daily (in the world) worth reading.

cool, thanks.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by Agni

I dont think its ugly at all, but ...

It ain't pretty, I have to see it in person but so far the "wow" factor is missing.

[cntlaw]

And this engine’s been married to a chassis of near equal ability. So long as you don’t opt for BMW’s awful active steering system the 335i handles brilliantly.

== not sure if it compares with the old 5-series AS or the E90 AS , and can we in time get reviews of a live test of 335i with AS rather than a guess?

Its only true rival is the Mercedes-Benz CLK, but to get a Merc with similar power will cost £46,740. The 335i Coupé is priced at £33,420.

== Presumably, he was comparing to the 2005 CLK 500 (306hp); the facelifted 2007 CLK 500 has a V8 with 388hp and priced about the same as the old CLK500.

[stressdoc]

Dumbass reviews that we could have written in our sleep 6 months ago are a waste of trees, London Times or no.

[Brett]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

It ain't pretty, I have to see it in person but so far the "wow" factor is missing.

What picture does any of the recent Bimmers justice in comparision to seeing it in real life?

-Brett

[trurace]

^^^^ So TRUE Pictures don't do any Bimmer justice. I hated the new 330i until I actually saw one.

[InOttawa2]

That's funny: I liked the new 330i until I saw it (and kept seeing it, and kept seeing it...). It gets worse with every viewing.

[just4kickz]

i liked the review and i totally agree.