[Musicvader]

Got a 2011 335D service loaner from my dealership when I took my 2011 328i in to get a tire changed.

The 335D had the sport package so the steering was smaller and had paddle shifters. Turned on the engine and at first impressions didn\'t feel like a diesel at all. But after idling a bit you could notice the diesel drone but it\'s gone one you start driving. My main reason for writing this post was my experience with the throttle response. Coming from a 328i, I have read a lot about how the 328i throttle response is slow and delayed in D mode. I have felt that happen sometimes but I have learnt to control it. So imagine my surprised to find that it was worse with the 335D! I pressed the pedal at the light and it started rolling slowly, pressed some more, slightly faster..but nothing exciting. Since I had an open road, I floored it, which probably enabled kickdown which then made it growl and pull forward with amazing force, that I was looking forward to. I tried some spirited driving but it always felt like I had to press the pedal more than 60% down before it stopped being sluggish. Totally not what I expected with a 335D. The next day I tried driving in DS, and it made almost no difference from D. Switch back and forth and sometimes I couldn\'t tell I was in DS without looking at the dash. Let me tell you, when I switch to DS in my 328i it is night and day! My hands are always lagging behind the steering wheel as it tries to escape me and there is this amazing acceleration whirr that puts a smile on my face. I\'ve heard so much about the 335D and it\'s torque, but I didn\'t feel any of that on the low end. Don\'t get me wrong, the torque is there at the high end, but I was expecting to be blown away all the time and I was not! And the DS is useless, ended up using D or M most of the time I had the car.

Positives
-Amazing mileage. Got 34 average with spirited driving. Ended up returning the car with way more gas than I got it at, totally misjudged how much to fill up.
-No diesel smell whatsoever. Didn\'t feel like I had a diesel engine in my garage.
-Good high end torque

Negatives
-Disappointed by the sluggish throttle response. Worse than my 328i and that was very surprising.
-Almost no change in throttle response in DS mode vs D. The 328i is amazing in DS.

All in all, I feel much better for getting the NA 328i. I used to always have buyers remorse about not getting a 335, but after trying the 335D I\'m quite happy now..will try to get a 335i next time I\'m in for a service. I hope my experience is better than the Diesel!

[JBE90335]

when buying my 328i I did NOT drive a 335i just because I knew if I did I would be way too tempted to get it and I didn't need to be spending the extra money at the time. The 328i surprised me with it's power and still continues to do so. The way some people on this site talk about it I was expecting the performance of a prius. Haven't driven a D yet but i'm sure with a JBD tune it would be another animal. That's what sucks about the 328i, no decent tunes.

[Coolieman1220]

the thing about the d, you dont feel it but look at your speedo climb and you'll realize what you're doing. it doesnt feel like you're going fast until you punch it. it does however move you just dont realize it. no noise no drama, just go go go!

[rvladescu]

I own a 335d and I do not know what are you talking about. Mine takes Off sitului having to push more than 25 % if I push like you state 60 % I spin the tires everywhere. I love my 335d every time I drive it

[maswastage]

A few things help explain what you're feeling. The first is the difference between an NA and forced induction engine. No matter how advanced technology gets, there will always be a slight bit of lag with a turbo'd motor. The next is the difference between the sport and non-sport suspension. A non-sport car has softer springs, which means it bucks more on acceleration. The bucking makes the acceleration feel more wild and forceful than it really is, which is why you non-sport 328i felt more responsive. Finally, the transmission in your 328i has had time to adapt to your driving style, while the 335d has adapted to who-knows-what kind of driving style, which might also explain the difference your feeling.

It's too bad you didn't like the diesel, but hey that's why we all have a choice.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Musicvader

Got a 2011 335D service loaner from my dealership when I took my 2011 328i in to get a tire changed.

The 335D had the sport package so the steering was smaller and had paddle shifters. Turned on the engine and at first impressions didn\'t feel like a diesel at all. But after idling a bit you could notice the diesel drone but it\'s gone one you start driving. My main reason for writing this post was my experience with the throttle response. Coming from a 328i, I have read a lot about how the 328i throttle response is slow and delayed in D mode. I have felt that happen sometimes but I have learnt to control it. So imagine my surprised to find that it was worse with the 335D! I pressed the pedal at the light and it started rolling slowly, pressed some more, slightly faster..but nothing exciting. Since I had an open road, I floored it, which probably enabled kickdown which then made it growl and pull forward with amazing force, that I was looking forward to. I tried some spirited driving but it always felt like I had to press the pedal more than 60% down before it stopped being sluggish. Totally not what I expected with a 335D. The next day I tried driving in DS, and it made almost no difference from D. Switch back and forth and sometimes I couldn\'t tell I was in DS without looking at the dash. Let me tell you, when I switch to DS in my 328i it is night and day! My hands are always lagging behind the steering wheel as it tries to escape me and there is this amazing acceleration whirr that puts a smile on my face. I\'ve heard so much about the 335D and it\'s torque, but I didn\'t feel any of that on the low end. Don\'t get me wrong, the torque is there at the high end, but I was expecting to be blown away all the time and I was not! And the DS is useless, ended up using D or M most of the time I had the car.

Positives
-Amazing mileage. Got 34 average with spirited driving. Ended up returning the car with way more gas than I got it at, totally misjudged how much to fill up.
-No diesel smell whatsoever. Didn\'t feel like I had a diesel engine in my garage.
-Good high end torque

Negatives
-Disappointed by the sluggish throttle response. Worse than my 328i and that was very surprising.
-Almost no change in throttle response in DS mode vs D. The 328i is amazing in DS.

All in all, I feel much better for getting the NA 328i. I used to always have buyers remorse about not getting a 335, but after trying the 335D I\'m quite happy now..will try to get a 335i next time I\'m in for a service. I hope my experience is better than the Diesel!

+1. I agree.

The 335d has been hyped up a lot, in my opinion. My 335d test drive left me disappointed and with mostly mixed feelings. None of which were excitement.

I'm sure others out there like it, but it would not my preference.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by maswastage

Finally, the transmission in your 328i has had time to adapt to your driving style, while the 335d has adapted to who-knows-what kind of driving style, which might also explain the difference your feeling.

Wait, BMWs seriously do this? What type of variables get changed, and based on what type of driving style variables?

[RoundelM3]

I drove a 335d about a year ago in extremely hot conditions, and it performed amazingly. I didn't notice any need to give it excessive throttle to get it moving, and when I did floor it to get on the freeway, it was amazingly fast. I suppose there are variances on every car, but this one was definitely no slug.

[AddictedToBavarian]

.....no, but seriously I had no idea there was a lag with the 335d. I thought that was a 328 disease.

[BD SM3RF]

After a few test drives I am planning to get a 335d in the next few weeks. Just need to get my '07 GTI DSG sold. I didn't feel anymore lag than any other Turbo and the torque was just too much fun to accept anything less.

[DnA Diesel]

Great that each guy enjoys the things about his car that make it special for them.

Myself, I like shifting full throttle at lower rpm and running the car through the gears between 1500 and 2000, the rumble is like an R10/R15 running Le Mans.

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by 328xi0wner

.....no, but seriously I had no idea there was a lag with the 335d. I thought that was a 328 disease.

Wrong.... I wasn't impressed with the 335ds I drove. People get easily blinded with meaningless numbers.

335d is OUT (good riddance). Next thing is the Active Hybrid 3. Its appeal all depends on the pricing (should be insane of course).

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Saintor

Wrong.... I wasn't impressed with the 335ds I drove. People get easily blinded with meaningless numbers.

335d is OUT (good riddance). Next thing is the Active Hybrid 3. Its appeal all depends on the pricing (should be insane of course).

if you're impressed with a riced 323 than you shouldn't be driving a BMW or allowed to comment....

just saying...

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

if you're impressed with a riced 323 than you shouldn't be driving a BMW or allowed to comment....

just saying...

Not "impressed", but I live very well with it, despite a few smart-asses might think.

Thank you for you caring.

[DnA Diesel]

Originally Posted by Saintor

Not "impressed", but I live very well with it, despite a few smart-asses might think.

Thank you for you caring.

...like a moth to a flame.

[Quasimodem]

Sometimes its the pilot not the plane.

[Musicvader]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Sometimes its the pilot not the plane.

And sometimes it's really the plane! I was trying really hard to like the 335D, but I didn't. Expectations are a strange thing, they change your perspective. If they weren't so high I'd probably have liked it, but the 328i has been put down so much that I assumed there was always a world of difference but it turned out not to be. It's marginally better but not worth the premium price over the 328i..

[kcgman]

Originally Posted by rvladescu

I own a 335d and I do not know what are you talking about. Mine takes Off sitului having to push more than 25 % if I push like you state 60 % I spin the tires everywhere. I love my 335d every time I drive it

I have to agree with that.

[listerone]

Originally Posted by Saintor

335d is OUT (good riddance).

Skunk....picnic.....

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by Musicvader

And sometimes it's really the plane! I was trying really hard to like the 335D, but I didn't. Expectations are a strange thing, they change your perspective. If they weren't so high I'd probably have liked it, but the 328i has been put down so much that I assumed there was always a world of difference but it turned out not to be. It's marginally better but not worth the premium price over the 328i..

I am quite impressed on how fast you you were able to take control and get a handle on the 335d and learned how to get the best performance out of it. It took me a few months, but hey, I guess I am a bit slow on the uptake, but give me a break, it was my first turbo and my first diesel.

Maybe you should be taking your 328 to a local track and shaming them d drivers. I would like to see that.

[Coolieman1220]

Originally Posted by Saintor

Not "impressed", but I live very well with it, despite a few smart-asses might think.

Thank you for you caring.

Just like us who love our diesels live with ours very well. To each his own.

I guess you like being the resident diesel troll.

Originally Posted by Musicvader

And sometimes it's really the plane! I was trying really hard to like the 335D, but I didn't. Expectations are a strange thing, they change your perspective. If they weren't so high I'd probably have liked it, but the 328i has been put down so much that I assumed there was always a world of difference but it turned out not to be. It's marginally better but not worth the premium price over the 328i..

different pilots are suited to different planes. have you driven a 335i? what do you think of those? Marginally better?

I had an uncle that said he didn't care if he drove FWD or RWD they both felt the same. yeahhh, about that....

[Q4P]

Originally Posted by Coolieman1220

if you're impressed with a riced 323 than you shouldn't be driving a BMW or allowed to comment....

just saying...

Owned hahaha, I am not too big of a fan of Coolieman but he has a point, the dude driving the car with almost no power and that would get smoked by a stock Civic SI shouldn't shit on the man whose car has considerably more power/torque and gets better fuel efficiency.