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BMW 335d 2009+

392 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2012 at 9:33 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Diesel, Future Vehicle, Sedan

Messages Page 40 of 40

#383 of 392 Bmw 335d reliability and price by auaq

Mar 29, 2011 (11:23 am)

My family and I are thinking of buying a new car probably such as the focus, corolla, camry, civic, and altima perhaps (all from 2011 models). I have been looking in for a diesel for quite a while now and am prepared to have one. The thing is our budget is somewhere around 20 grand. There are only four diesel available in us namely vw (golf, jetta tdi), audi a3, bmw 335d, and merc e350 blutech, but they all cost more than our budget. Now of course we haven't tried a financial check yet on the diesels nor have test drove them, but do you think I could afford one with 60 - 72 month installments. What I mean is that how much on a rough estimate are the monthly installments (for those who have one could answer my question). Mind you I am not good when it comes to financial stuff and accounting cause i leave that to my father, so bear with me. I am trying to find a car which may satisfy me and my family on long term ownership like comfort wise, reliability and durability, and the size of the car (like medium size sedans, small cars would do if it has got space at the back). Aside from the known reputation of diesel engines what other things i should be concerned about like the buttons/switches, the little stuff that can easily go wrong (window motors, door locks, lights, etc.) which can cost us dearly.
 
Thanks

#384 of 392 Re: Bmw 335d reliability and price [auaq] by nopcbs

Mar 29, 2011 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: auaq (Mar 29, 2011 11:23 am)
I am not so sure that your post is not a "put on", but on the assumption that it is not...
 
With $20,000 as a budget, you are NOT shopping for a new diesel engine car, with the possable exception of something like a demo VW Jetta diesel. You do have enough budget for a nice Certified VW Jetta diesel sedan or (better) wagon and that is your best bet. Forget about new Merc or Beemer diesels...you cannot afford a $50,000+ new car with a $20,000 budget. A used 335d will still cost you about $40,000, so forget used BMW diesels. Now you can get a 2005-2006 MB W211 E320 cdi for close to your budget if not at it, but it will have a lot of miles and not much warranty left (even if it's a Certified). With a diesel, a lot of miles is no big deal and the E320 cdi diesel is one of the best. The problem is, it's in a Merc and Merc's are not Toyota-like in reliability and not cheap to fix when they break. This is pretty much true of all German cars. They are nicely designed, drive nice, but not all that reliable and pricey to fix for all but the simplest things. They tend to be needlessly complex, too.
 
The other thing is that while a diesle will get you about 30% better mileage, you can lose 10% and more of that advantage on the price of diesel vs. regular. Plus on older models (like the W211 E320 cdi), there really is a bit of an odor issue (I have one, trust me, it's true.) The newer models with urea injection and the later W211 BluTec V6's lack the odor issue. Not huge, but it is there.
 
If you are going to drive big miles at highway speeds (diesels do not do well on short city commutes...they don't warm up fast) and can live with spotty VW reliability, a 1-2 year old Jetta wagon diesel is the way to go. The DSG auto transmission is decent, but I have heard that they wear pretty quick and are pricey to fix. The manual is robust, but the clutch is not one of the better ones (to use) and the shift is a bit rubbery. Overall, it is a very nice car...almost bought one myself...and gives Prius-level highway mileage.
 
If I were you, I would buy a nice used Lexus or Infiniti or Acura sedan.
 
- nopcbs

#385 of 392 15K miles in a 335d by rmorin1249

Dec 17, 2011 (8:51 pm)

I bought my 335d in March at a discount of about $8500 off MSRP including the EcoCredit. I have driven the car just short of 15K miles and have had ZERO issues. It was serviced at 13K miles at a cost of $0. I have averaged 32-34 mpg on my daily 60 mile RT commute. It is about 30% city and 70% highay driving. On a highway trip I have gotten as much as 40 mpg at a steady 70-75 mph on level highways. I do not have the sport package so this means 17" all season tires which provide a decent ride and good handling. I have owned over 10 new BMWs and this is the best commuter car I have ever owned.

#386 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [rmorin1249] by gagrice

Dec 17, 2011 (9:48 pm)

Replying to: rmorin1249 (Dec 17, 2011 8:51 pm)
Glad to hear it. Keep us posted on how well you like the vehicle. Or dislike, though that is not likely. I like the X5 with the same engine. Just not ready to drop the cash.

#387 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [rmorin1249] by nopcbs

Dec 18, 2011 (5:41 am)

Replying to: rmorin1249 (Dec 17, 2011 8:51 pm)
Out of curiosity, have you run the numbers on actual cost to operate (I mean fuel) on your 335d with diesel at whatever you pay vs. a 328 (using EPA estimates...they are pretty good nowadays) using regular (or premium, if you prefer).
 
In Mi, diesel is at $4.00 to $4.10 a gallon now. Regular is at $3.12 and premium 20 cents more. We pay 30% more for diesel than gasoline and the mpg advantage is nowhere near that vs. a comparable gas engine. More like 20%. Plus it is winter and diesels are slow to warm up and hate running "cold" in terms of mpg. I love my diesel, but sure wish diesel was at near parity to gas in price.

#388 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [nopcbs] by gagrice

Dec 18, 2011 (8:01 am)

Replying to: nopcbs (Dec 18, 2011 5:41 am)
Winter is kind of a double whammy on diesel drivers. Still a lot of people heating their homes with diesel. Keeps the price high during the winter. Though I did not see much relief this year even in summer months.
 
Looking at the X5 35D on the economy website, I see owners getting 30 MPG overall with mostly highway driving. That is nearly double my mileage on my last trip to AZ. I got 16 MPG in my SUV. Not to mention the range is almost double. Today in San Diego diesel is available close to me for $3.79 and Premium for $3.51. Only 7% more. Making the diesel X5 a clear winner. Diesel would have to be closer to $6 per gallon to be a factor.
 
People reporting mileage on the 2011 335d show over all average of 33-38 MPG. Which is much higher than the flaky EPA estimate of 27 MPG.
 
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=29851&id=30056

#389 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [nopcbs] by shipo

Dec 18, 2011 (9:21 am)

Replying to: nopcbs (Dec 18, 2011 5:41 am)
While the biased EPA numbers may indicate a 20% difference in fuel economy when comparing say a 328i and a 335d, in the real world the difference is significantly greater than that, and the 335d will suck the doors off the 328i at the same time.
 
The above said, the 335d cannot be had with a manual transmission, and as such, it will never find its way into any garage of mine.

#390 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [shipo] by genjones

Apr 18, 2012 (3:26 am)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 18, 2011 9:21 am)
Perhaps if you read a recent BMW CCA article on a 335is where the author hopped up his car to what sounds like 335d performance (with the Sport Package of course!) you might notice how he stated his favorite part of the car was the automatic transmission.
 
The 335d comes with the more durable, possibly better automatic that the 7 series has to boot!
 
I won't argue about manual transmissions, I love them dearly, and BMW makes some of the best, but lets not drink too much Kool-Aid shall we! Many people can enjoy such a car in every day driving with a competent automatic.

#391 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [genjones] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 18, 2012 (9:21 am)

Replying to: genjones (Apr 18, 2012 3:26 am)
I think turbo diesels and automatics are a match made in heaven---the two make more sense together than with a manual transmission--the automatic is smart and picks the exactly right match of torque to shifting. You *can* rev modern diesels up more than years past, but I'm not sure it does you very much good to go anywhere near redline.

#392 of 392 Re: 15K miles in a 335d [Mr_Shiftright] by genjones

Apr 18, 2012 (9:33 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 18, 2012 9:21 am)
My Beetle TDI was just fine with a manual tranny - better than my Daughter's DSG automatic. It's just the torque-monster 335d that only the high end automatic can handle apparently. Same thing happened with the early Panteras, the 1994 Corvette and I'm sure some other exotic machinery in the past.

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