Our tester also came with a snappy two-tone interior, complete with beige leather seats and a black dash with faux metal accents. For 2010, high-definition radio is now standard on all models. Turbocharging usually means lag and lumpiness, but not here. You can never, ever compare different cars on different days and different conditions and expect good results. I believe the 0-60 time was probably 5.
I am a toxicologist who works in Regulatory Affairs, I can tell you that results will only be meaningful if you test on identical conditions. The revised iDrive electronics interface that comes with the optional navigation system is not only greatly improved over its confusing predecessor, but also one of the best interfaces of its kind. Maintenance wise just a nightmare, but a fun car to drive. Generating a massive 425 pound-feet of torque, the 335d can sprint to 60 miles per hour in six seconds and is reported to achieve around 36 miles per gallon during highway driving. The sedan can be tight, and the smaller rear seats of the coupe and convertible are best reserved for short distances.
For '09, the sedan and wagon's controversial taillight design was rectified, and a gloriously torquey and fuel-efficient turbodiesel inline-6 became available for the sedan. What kind of engine is available in each body style varies, but you can get a 3 Series in coupe, sedan, wagon or retractable-hardtop convertible layouts, most of them with rear- or all-wheel drive. Shipped car in from Tuscon, no problems. Searching diligently, I did find a trivial flaw: the left-front floor mat that had torn free of its attachments to foul the clutch pedal at the bottom of its travel. The sedan has always been better balanced than the coupe and convertible due to the structural reinforcements that are required for 2-doors. I drove an all-wheel-drive, stick-shift 335i coupe.
Although several competitors deliver added luxury or a slightly sharper driving experience for similar money, the 335i xDrive walks the line between the two extremely well, albeit not as well as the S4. Steering is precise if a little numb - I think the all season Conti's are a little to blame for the numbness, brakes are excellent, ride is very controlled and reassuring. Do some quick averaging, and you realize that combined sits at a shave above 21 mpg. This is a chunk of change for a car that is not much bigger than a Honda Civic. The powertrain, chassis, and operator interfaces are honed to near perfection.
The base engine in the 328i produces 230 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque; it feels far more powerful than those numbers would indicate. The stability control system integrates several features designed to improve braking performance, such as periodically wiping the brake rotors dry when the windshield wipers are in use and automatically snugging the pads to the rotors when the driver abruptly lifts off the throttle. All 3 Series models are fitted with extended-mobility run-flat tires, so no spare is included. The other part is the inherent goodness of its chassis. Car is very quick, gets around 22mpg all around.
Though not objectionable, body roll is noticeable; those who want flatter cornering should look into a rear-wheel-drive 3 Series with either of two available sport packages. This car seems to be just the perfect blend of power and luxury, superior to the other two. The company builds good products, but does it really deserve wave after wave of gushing prose in every car magazine? And in Spring you can get it with all-wheel drive. A calm, uninterrupted line carries all the way from the instrument cluster to the passenger side door. The 17- and 18-inch wheels that are part of the optional Sport Package impart an even more aggressive stance than the standard 16-inch alloy rims. The base engine, according to Cars.
If all-out punch is what you want, the 335i delivers more of it at any speed than its competitors. The 328xi is a beautiful car inside and out. In performance testing, we've clocked a 328i sedan with the manual transmission from zero to 60 mph in 6. We did not purchase from High Class, but their selection of luxury cars is amazing. The 3 Series' long-running double act is truly extraordinary: It speaks the language of driving enthusiasts, yet its upscale image and comfortable interior give it unrivaled mass appeal. Cheap interior, poor handling, just ugly.
The 3 Series isn't the only car with such capabilities, though; others come close, and many do so for considerably less money. So I grabbed some antifreeze and started to unscrew the cap, and it almost seemed…. It is unbelievably composed on the interstate, easily leaping from 80 to 100 miles an hour or more. When I scoot all the way up in the coupe to reach the clutch pedal, I find my forehead uncomfortably close to the windshield. Love the power, comfort, handling, awd.
A new 3-series comes in 2011. Who cares about cup holders? Coupe and convertible versions come with slightly more equipment, including a sport-tuned suspension on the coupe and a power-retractable hardtop on the convertible. Whatever the tongue, traffic seems to understand just fine — cars make room for the 2010 335i like a bad habit. Truly, one of the most fun cars I have ever owned. Up front, the 2010 335i couldn't be mistaken for anything other than what it is. Standard safety features include antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and dual front and side-impact airbags.