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Sedans BMW 3-Series Article Comments - 2009 BMW 335d Full Test
44 messages, Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 4:29 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
2009 BMW 335d Full Test - Bottom Line: A superb execution of clean diesel power wrapped in the proven skin of the 3 Series.(more)
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A careful cost/benefit analysis of the diesel-powered 2009 BMW 335d sedan vs. the gasoline-powered BMW 335i is certain to yield...exactly nothing. There are many reasons for this: 1. The 335d burns less fuel than the 335i, no question. Yet diesel fuel also costs more than gasoline. 2. The 335d costs more than the 335i. Yet it also emits less CO2. 3. The 335d can easily exceed 500 miles on one tank of fuel. Yet the 335i is quicker, lighter and handles better. 2009 BMW 335d Full Test
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Replying to: KarenS (Jan 21, 2009 7:54 am) 1. The 335d costs $10,000 more than the 328i. 2. The difference in (combined cycle) fuel economy is only 6 MPG. 3. Where do you buy urea (and how much does it cost) after you've driven 50,000 miles? 4. The 328i offers virtually the same acceleration (with a livelier, more entertaining redline). 5. The 328i handles better and turns in sharper (it weighs a whopping 500 lbs less). 6. You can get a manual transmission on the 328i. Why would anyone choose this overpriced leviathan over a 328i?
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Forget about 328i.. It's absolutely no match for the 335d. You talk before you drive nothing.. One thing about the fuel consumption, EPA numbers tell you something, OK. But if you compare a diesel against a gas engine then the comparison over EPA measurements is not valid. If you buy a BMW, and if buy something like 335i or 335d you don't buy it to drive like the grandpa. In a harder real world driving that EPA difference in consumption will mean absolutely nothing. On a gasoline engine the spread to upwards in consumption is much larger than a diesel engine. On that 335d you can never get below, let's say, 20mpg whatever you do with the car. But on a 335i you can get maybe 10mpg easily with a hard, enjoyable driving. Therefore the neutralized consumption gains because of the fuel price difference would be most probably not true in a real world experience. |
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Replying to: fedlawman (Jan 21, 2009 10:31 am)  
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The article makes a point about fuel cost being about the same given today's diesel price disadvantage, an assumption which probably will not hold in the next five years since diesel has actually had a price advantage over regular gas for the majority of the last ten years. So the fuel cost over the life of the car, will probably favor the diesel given the other assumptions used in the calculations. As the article also calculates, after the gov't tax credit the diesel is at a price disadvantage of $1,575 MSRP. The dealers will probably hold out to a higher margin for the new diesels so let's say the price disadvantage versus the gasser is 2,000. That entire price disadvantage will most probably be recouped at resale. There are no used 335ds in the market yet but we can use a Volkswagen TDI as a proxy. Five year old TDIs have a KBB retail of 3,500 over an equivalent VW model. That relationship will probably hold true for the BMWs as well. fedlawman does have a point that the 328i might be a better choice IF you are looking at costs. So it all boils down to driving experience, which is really the main reason most people buy a BMW. If its simply all based on costs, we'd all be driving Kias right? Driving experience of 328i vs. 355d? For canyon carving, the 328i w/a manual. For daily driving with traffic and for long-distance journeys, the auto 335d is a much more relaxed driving experience. For some that also equates to a more luxurious driving experience. All the 3s are great cars and what the 335d offers is just one more option for those people who like to drive autos in a less frenetic manner and to use a bit less of the earth's resources while still enjoying the BMW 3 experience. |
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3. ..Yet the 335i is quicker, lighter and handles better. Those three points seal my decision. As for fuel consumption.. Diesel costs more in the US effectively equalizing it with the 335i's fuel consumption costs. Car makers must improve fuel consumption without sacraficing the following - performance <- handling, 0-60, 1/4mi... no one will settle for worse performance - weight <-- everyone wants a lighter car - beauty <-- no one wants an ugly car (just look at the 135i and the GTR) - price <-- no one wants to pay too much more than the present best incarnation ------------------- Other than having superior low end torque, the 335d fails to justify its existance over the 335i...at least in the US. Joseph San Diego
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Replying to: jmaroun (Jan 21, 2009 2:57 pm) If I was in the market for an auto trans car, then it would be a 335d with sports package, sat radio, heated seats. Even then, both the i and the d are expensive propositions. |
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Replying to: roadburner (Jan 21, 2009 12:11 pm) " Yeah, I guess so. Too bad - I thought driving a BMW was about revving a sewing-machine smooth I-6 to 7000 RPM and getting the best ride/handling compromise possible in a comfortable, practical package. I guess there's truly a 3-series for everyone now.
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Replying to: fedlawman (Jan 21, 2009 6:40 pm) |
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Replying to: fedlawman (Jan 21, 2009 6:40 pm) |
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