BMW 335i 2007 Review

Road Test

When BMW launched its new E90 3 Series back in May 2005, we were more than suitably impressed with the then 190kW/300Nm light alloy 3.0-litre straight six in the 330i. Its power, flexibility and smooth refinement were enough to turn the small sedan into a very decent sports machine.

Now there is a new king on the hill from the Bavarian maker that makes the 330i almost pale into the background. With the new twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six (as debuted in the 335i coupe (more here), the 335i takes the 3 Series sports sedan concept to an altogether higher plane.

Compared to the 330i (which the 335i replaces), power is up a very healthy 35kW while torque is boosted by a massive 100Nm to peak outputs of 225kW and 400Nm respectively. And where the atmo 3.0-litre delivered peak power at 6000rpm and max torque from a commendably low 2500rpm, the twin-turbo engine spreads its muscle even further with all 400Nm on tap from just 1300rpm right through to 5000rpm, while the engine will still scream to the top end where the peak power arrives at 5800rpm.

And it is these figures that tell the story of this sensational engine.

Sink the right foot and the 335i simply hunkers down and surges off the line with rapid enthusiasm. There is not even a hint of turbo lag as the twin turbochargers do their best, delivering the maximum torque from just off idle.

With such an enormous spread of torque, the engine is extremely flexible with astonishing in-gear acceleration available. Overtaking is effortless making the 335i eminently suitable as a long distance cruiser as well as a car to drive hard on a challenging strip of tarmac.

The slick six-speed automatic never falters in finding the right ratio with a quick response to throttle input. If you want to shift yourself, the steering column mounted paddles are equally decisive.

The ride is on the firm side but still reasonably supple, only getting a little jiggly over really bad road surfaces. The flipside is the car's superb handling and dynamics. If this thing wasn't so fast you could close your eyes and quite comfortably believe you were driving a sportscar rather than a relatively conservative four-door.

Push hard through corners and the car sits incredibly flat and stable with an enormous amount of grip from the 17-inch 225/45 front and 255/40 rear tyres. The suspension soaks up mid-corner ruts with ease, creating a very fluid driving experience with a degree of balance and poise that simply engenders more confidence to push even harder.

The only part of the package that feels slightly underdone is the steering. Quite heavy at low speeds, it becomes almost too fussy and light as speeds rise, requiring regular correction as it follows surface irregularities on the road.

Like the rest of the range, the 335i is a stylish looking car with minimal indications of its performance potential. Despite being bigger than its E46 predecessor, it still lacks the rear seat space of some of its rivals.

Priced from $104,500, the 335i is not cheap and is a substantial jump from the $76,400 2.5-litre straight six 325i. Add in some optional items and it's not hard to add 15-20 per cent to the purchase price.

Given the 335i's performance is not far short of the $132,500 Audi S4 and $160K-plus Mercedes C55 there's an argument that pricetag presents value for money. Especially if you're looking for a true wolf in sheep's clothing…

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