Two perfect turbos.
As I was driving home from work in the 335i one night, I happened upon one of the E90's much older siblings. Beside me, in traffic of course, was a
clean 1987 E30 BMW 325is. It dawned on me right at that moment that 20 years had passed since the introduction of the then ultimate 3-Series (pre-M3). It also reminded me of one of my first exciting rides in a car; it was in my father's friend's black 1987 325is. That car was fast and furious especially for an 11 year-old impressionable boy who loved cars.
Back in the day, 168 hp out of a 2.5L I-6 was something to write home about especially in a car that weighted a mere 1,250 kg. Not only was it fast, it offered nearly unmatched handling because of its perfect 50/50 weight distribution and a sporty suspension. Its brakes were powerful and all of this was mixed with a premium interior assembled with perfect craftsmanship.
Better than it was when it was already great
Here we are 20 years later and the good things have gotten better. The only negative is that the car has gotten heavier but BMW has seen to it that performance would not be affected in any way, shape or form. The 335i's weight is up about 25% over the 325is but then horsepower has nearly doubled. With 300 hp storming out of the twin-turbocharged 3.0L I-6, the 335i merely crushes those that dare oppose it at a stop light.
According to BMW, the 335i reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. I am convinced that this is a conservative number. The whole time I had the car, the weather spat rain and drizzle and made some testing conditions less than ideal.
This badass coupe just feels so much faster; with a proper launch, the 335i must be able to clip a buck in just over 5 seconds. All of BMW's engines always sign a melodious tune. Turbos usually hush-up the exhaust note but in this case, BMW has tweaked the sound to make the car hum a little more seriously. No longer does the 3.0L purr, it now growls. The forced-induction massage given to the I-6 is flawlessly executed. At low revs, the massive 300 lbs of torque rushes to the rear wheels. As the engine speed climbs, all 300 hp continue to pull all the way to the red-line. This is perhaps the best balanced power delivery I have ever experienced.
Power is nothing without control
And the 335i is all about control. Every mechanical component works to
the very best of its design to deliver cat-like reflexes, rail-like handling and drag-parachute-like stopping distances. Initial bite on turn-in is phenomenal; it takes but a fraction of a second between the thought of moving the wheel, the hand movement and the car's reaction to the steering input. Likewise, the brakes respond masterfully to any amount of effort from the driver.
This 3-Series is the first that I find to have a hard ride. All other BMWs entertain the driver with both comfort and handling. This 335i is perhaps only guilty of sporting the optional 19" alloys; this would be my guess. Montreal roads are not exactly friendly to 19" wheels and 30 profile tires. Although the big rims look absolutely hot, the standard 17" or even the optional 18" rolling stock would possibly smoothen things over.
As I was driving home from work in the 335i one night, I happened upon one of the E90's much older siblings. Beside me, in traffic of course, was a
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| 2007 BMW 335i Coupe (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Back in the day, 168 hp out of a 2.5L I-6 was something to write home about especially in a car that weighted a mere 1,250 kg. Not only was it fast, it offered nearly unmatched handling because of its perfect 50/50 weight distribution and a sporty suspension. Its brakes were powerful and all of this was mixed with a premium interior assembled with perfect craftsmanship.
Better than it was when it was already great
Here we are 20 years later and the good things have gotten better. The only negative is that the car has gotten heavier but BMW has seen to it that performance would not be affected in any way, shape or form. The 335i's weight is up about 25% over the 325is but then horsepower has nearly doubled. With 300 hp storming out of the twin-turbocharged 3.0L I-6, the 335i merely crushes those that dare oppose it at a stop light.
 |
| 2007 BMW 335i Coupe (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
This badass coupe just feels so much faster; with a proper launch, the 335i must be able to clip a buck in just over 5 seconds. All of BMW's engines always sign a melodious tune. Turbos usually hush-up the exhaust note but in this case, BMW has tweaked the sound to make the car hum a little more seriously. No longer does the 3.0L purr, it now growls. The forced-induction massage given to the I-6 is flawlessly executed. At low revs, the massive 300 lbs of torque rushes to the rear wheels. As the engine speed climbs, all 300 hp continue to pull all the way to the red-line. This is perhaps the best balanced power delivery I have ever experienced.
Power is nothing without control
And the 335i is all about control. Every mechanical component works to
 |
| 2007 BMW 335i Coupe (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
This 3-Series is the first that I find to have a hard ride. All other BMWs entertain the driver with both comfort and handling. This 335i is perhaps only guilty of sporting the optional 19" alloys; this would be my guess. Montreal roads are not exactly friendly to 19" wheels and 30 profile tires. Although the big rims look absolutely hot, the standard 17" or even the optional 18" rolling stock would possibly smoothen things over.