335i Manual - can't get a test drive!
Discussion
Apparently, there are only three 335i demonstrators in the whole country - and they're all autos
So, the dealer has offered me a range of test drives in other models to try to build up a representative picture of what my chosen model (335i Sport Touring Manual) will drive like
Not ideal, but could be fun bearing in mind I've not driven a BMW for about a decade.
He's started by offering me 'his car' - a 320d Sport Touring
Firstly, is there any value in driving the 320d to get a feel for the BMW again and secondly, what else should I be asking to drive? - I've sugggested to him that a 325i/330i Sport would be absolutely essential.
So, the dealer has offered me a range of test drives in other models to try to build up a representative picture of what my chosen model (335i Sport Touring Manual) will drive like
Not ideal, but could be fun bearing in mind I've not driven a BMW for about a decade.
He's started by offering me 'his car' - a 320d Sport Touring
Firstly, is there any value in driving the 320d to get a feel for the BMW again and secondly, what else should I be asking to drive? - I've sugggested to him that a 325i/330i Sport would be absolutely essential.
Edited by alfaspiderman2 on Monday 26th March 08:47
told you!
BMW are stopping the 335i engine going to E90/91 until they catch up with the demand for that engine in the E92/93.
Therefore E90 335i's are as rare as rocking horse sh*t (especially manuals) (and even more so touring manuals)
My suggestion would be to search autotrader and see if one is up for sale that you could have a drive of...
As discussed before I was meant to be coming to the new forest over easter but the other half has decided that i am going to pay for us to go to spain instead now!
dont bother with a 320i, 320d, 330i... if you want to know what a 335i feels like to drive (powerwise) test drive a manual E46 M3!
Let me know if you get really desperate if you want to arrange something.
All the best
Lee
BMW are stopping the 335i engine going to E90/91 until they catch up with the demand for that engine in the E92/93.
Therefore E90 335i's are as rare as rocking horse sh*t (especially manuals) (and even more so touring manuals)
My suggestion would be to search autotrader and see if one is up for sale that you could have a drive of...
As discussed before I was meant to be coming to the new forest over easter but the other half has decided that i am going to pay for us to go to spain instead now!
dont bother with a 320i, 320d, 330i... if you want to know what a 335i feels like to drive (powerwise) test drive a manual E46 M3!
Let me know if you get really desperate if you want to arrange something.
All the best
Lee
Edited by Rochester BMW on Monday 26th March 09:03
hear what you're saying, but I don't think power will be the make or break factor on whether I get a 335i...after a VAG 2.0 TDI, I'm sure performance won't be an issue
what's more likely to influence my choice is ride (M Sports have received mixed reviews, handling (I'm paying a premium to have a BMW over the equivalent Audi) and interior space (can a 3 tourer really cope with 2 kids under three?)
my thoughts were that i could ascertain most of that from a 320d M Sport Tourer
what's more likely to influence my choice is ride (M Sports have received mixed reviews, handling (I'm paying a premium to have a BMW over the equivalent Audi) and interior space (can a 3 tourer really cope with 2 kids under three?)
my thoughts were that i could ascertain most of that from a 320d M Sport Tourer
Oh well in that case if its the sence of space that you want to get a feel of then any 3 series touring will help with that issue...
It will easily cope with 2 kids under 3. I have one on the way and a colleague of mine who has had a touring assures me I will have more than enough room (and mines the E90)
In terms of ride... the M Sport with runflat 18's can be a bit crashy over rough surfaces... It doesn't like potholes or speed bumps or badly surfaced roads... BUT... it is as solid as a rock on the motorway, and corners like it is on rails, once settled at cruising speed its effortlessly smooth.
Personally i like a harder ride as i feel more connected to what going on and i get bored with driving a car thats doesn't fuel my passion for driving.
Again you can test drive any M Sport 3 series with 18's to sample out the ride...
If its not the power thats the issue i would suggest test driving a 330i M Sport manual.
You never know you might end up getting the 330i... still a fantastic car.
It will easily cope with 2 kids under 3. I have one on the way and a colleague of mine who has had a touring assures me I will have more than enough room (and mines the E90)
In terms of ride... the M Sport with runflat 18's can be a bit crashy over rough surfaces... It doesn't like potholes or speed bumps or badly surfaced roads... BUT... it is as solid as a rock on the motorway, and corners like it is on rails, once settled at cruising speed its effortlessly smooth.
Personally i like a harder ride as i feel more connected to what going on and i get bored with driving a car thats doesn't fuel my passion for driving.
Again you can test drive any M Sport 3 series with 18's to sample out the ride...
If its not the power thats the issue i would suggest test driving a 330i M Sport manual.
You never know you might end up getting the 330i... still a fantastic car.
Edited by Rochester BMW on Monday 26th March 09:26
I have a 335i manual saloon and dealer didnt initially want me to order it as was pushing auto box. Suprise suprise as every pre built car was fitted with auto and no manuals in the country. I couldnt get a test drive for this reason.
All i can say is that it is superb. For your comparison you simply need to go and drive any 335i / 330i / 335d / 300d sport touring to get an idea of ride. Its pretty firm and fairly bumpy as you would expect as the 3L cars all have larger wheels.
The manual box will feel similar to what it does in any E90 variant.
Bit of a curve ball this but I would reccomend a back to back drive of 330i and 335i pref one in sport and one in standard. I suspect a 330ise might be the best call as the engine is almost as powerful but more classically bmw revvy and ir rides better.
Bennno
All i can say is that it is superb. For your comparison you simply need to go and drive any 335i / 330i / 335d / 300d sport touring to get an idea of ride. Its pretty firm and fairly bumpy as you would expect as the 3L cars all have larger wheels.
The manual box will feel similar to what it does in any E90 variant.
Bit of a curve ball this but I would reccomend a back to back drive of 330i and 335i pref one in sport and one in standard. I suspect a 330ise might be the best call as the engine is almost as powerful but more classically bmw revvy and ir rides better.
Bennno
My previous car was a E46 318i so for me its a huge step up.
Ive had the pleasure of driving an M3 a bit recently and the 335i seems to pull just as hard from 0-60... although its more relaxed in its ways...
Ive had to keep it topped up with oil though (2 ltrs) so far (3200 miles).
My wheel hubs are rusting! (onto BMW to make a claim)
The glove box is too small to get the owners manual in which is abit annoying!
It drinks windscreen washer like theres no tomorrow (and petrol for that matter)
it sprays the lights when the lights are not on....?
the trottle is very sensitive when the engine is cold.
but apart from them tiny (and they are very small) problems its a fantastic car and im very very happy with it... and i LOVE that engine!
a proper Q car!
Ive had the pleasure of driving an M3 a bit recently and the 335i seems to pull just as hard from 0-60... although its more relaxed in its ways...
Ive had to keep it topped up with oil though (2 ltrs) so far (3200 miles).
My wheel hubs are rusting! (onto BMW to make a claim)
The glove box is too small to get the owners manual in which is abit annoying!
It drinks windscreen washer like theres no tomorrow (and petrol for that matter)
it sprays the lights when the lights are not on....?
the trottle is very sensitive when the engine is cold.
but apart from them tiny (and they are very small) problems its a fantastic car and im very very happy with it... and i LOVE that engine!
a proper Q car!
BENNNO said:
I have a 335i manual saloon and dealer didnt initially want me to order it as was pushing auto box. Suprise suprise as every pre built car was fitted with auto and no manuals in the country. I couldnt get a test drive for this reason.
Bennno
Bennno
Same here (still waiting for delivery).
I had to test drive an Auto, dealer tried to persuade me as well.
BTW - What’s the Manual like compared to the Auto (if you test drove an Auto that is)?
matlough said:
BENNNO said:
I have a 335i manual saloon and dealer didnt initially want me to order it as was pushing auto box. Suprise suprise as every pre built car was fitted with auto and no manuals in the country. I couldnt get a test drive for this reason.
Bennno
Bennno
Same here (still waiting for delivery).
I had to test drive an Auto, dealer tried to persuade me as well.
BTW - What’s the Manual like compared to the Auto (if you test drove an Auto that is)?
Hope this helps...
Although I have never driven an auto 335i I test drove an Auto 325i (im guessing its the same box?)
I didn't like the way the 'box would keep changing up if I wasn't accelerating... on the test drive i was at a steady 30mph and in 6th gear, then when I wanted to accelerate I had to wait for the 'box to shift down to 3rd before I had any pull.... this drove me mad as I had to wait for the engine to respond to my inputs...
Also I didn't like the fact that I couldn't keep it in manual mode (not sure if the 335i 'box is different) but if i changed using the tiptronic function it would re-enter auto mode after 30 seconds if the tiptronic gear change was not used again.... this also drove me mad.
I also prefer manuals as I feel its more of a drivers car with it... Auto will hold its value more though... and when selling I think its the sort of car that people would expect to be an Auto...
The manual has a great feature called hill hold where it will keep the brakes on for 2 seconds to stop you rolling back when lifting off the brake and onto the accelerator... handbrake hill starts are a thing of the past....
Its down to personal taste, test drive both (if you can get hold of a manual), some people love the autos, others dont....
alfaspiderman2 said:
so, any ideas what the lead time on a 335i Manual Sport Touring would be?
The only people who could answer that accuratly are the dealers... give them a call...
but at a guess... I'd say that if you cant find a pre spec'd car thats already been asigned a build slot then you should expect to wait longer than if you were to order an E93...
Monthes and monthes....
When i went to my dealer at the weekend I got chatting to the sales guy and i was told that only 3 other 335i saloons had been delivered since i got mine... thats 3 in 8 weeks!
I'd imagine that Tourings are even less common than the saloons... are there not any on Autotrader with delivery miles?
matlough said:
BENNNO said:
I have a 335i manual saloon and dealer didnt initially want me to order it as was pushing auto box. Suprise suprise as every pre built car was fitted with auto and no manuals in the country. I couldnt get a test drive for this reason.
Bennno
Bennno
Same here (still waiting for delivery).
I had to test drive an Auto, dealer tried to persuade me as well.
BTW - What’s the Manual like compared to the Auto (if you test drove an Auto that is)?
Hi Mat, welcome to PH
If the extended delivery times arnt a problem then get your name down... you dont have to decide on exact spec until your dealer tells you so...
Its getting a test drive thats the problem though...
I saw my first M Sport Touring in Red today... Im not brave enough to go for red on a BMW but it looked really nice!
Its getting a test drive thats the problem though...
I saw my first M Sport Touring in Red today... Im not brave enough to go for red on a BMW but it looked really nice!
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