BMW 335xi sedan on sale in March
BMW's twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-six is turning out to be as exciting an engine as the automaker's lauded 5.0-liter V10. Though its horsepower rating is down a couple hundie compared to the V10, the experience of dropping the hammer on a perfectly balanced inline-six that's sucking in more air than a Dyson upright is awesome (or so we've heard). The engine debuted in the 3-Series Coupe, followed by an appearance in the 3-Series Sedan, and finally we've learned when it will be taking up residence in the all-wheel drive 3-Series Sedan. The vehicle, known as the 335xi, will be available in March of 2007 according to this page on BMW's Military sales website. With 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive and BMW handling, the 335xi promises to be everything to everyone.
[Source: BMW via Straightline Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Karesh 4:33PM (11/15/2006)
Like an Audi S4, but with less weight on the nose....
BMW charges $1,800 for AWD, so the base price should be about $41,200.
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Jason T 4:40PM (11/15/2006)
No Mention of the 335 Wagon here? AWD is Great but i want a rwd turbo Wagon , thats everything to me. Do AWD Bmw's still have a manual option?
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Steve S 4:48PM (11/15/2006)
Seeing as the 335i sedan has a base of 38,700 shouldn't it be 40,500 instead?
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Jason 5:01PM (11/15/2006)
Couldn't they have thought up some sportier rims? Plain.
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Steve C 5:07PM (11/15/2006)
Jason T the 335ix will come with a manual as standard. Automatics are optional on the 3 series line up. BMW puts plain rims so they are hoping to get customers to but the EXPENSIVE upgrades. But if you lease the car who cares - lol
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Brad 5:12PM (11/15/2006)
A manual is certainly an option on the xi's, at least the current ones. The only drawback to the xi (other than the added weight and price) is that, unlike in a RWD 3, the "Sport Package" does not affect the suspension at all. The suspension in an xi is a little stiffer than the standard suspension, but still higher so you get a bit more body roll.
I wish they took a page from Audi on this one.
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Calvin 5:34PM (11/15/2006)
The 335i is an awesome machine. I compared it to the S4 and the S4 looks underwhelming.
http://wheeltalk.fancal.net/?p=890
The new G35 is underwhelming as well.
http://wheeltalk.fancal.net/?p=867
I've not really driven the 3-series xi, but the 525xi looks pretty impressive as well, with more of a RWD feel.
http://wheeltalk.fancal.net/?p=813
http://wheeltalk.fancal.net/?p=813
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Jim 5:48PM (11/15/2006)
Now if it was just as good-looking as the E36 3 series, they'd really have something! Granted, it's not as butt-ugly as some of their other cars, but it's no beauty, either.
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emulous1974 5:54PM (11/15/2006)
I know when I went looking at the 3 series wagon years ago, that you could not get the all wheel drive system in the 330 wagon cause BMW USA thought it would take away sales from the X5 and possibly the X3.
If BMW does offer a 335xi wagon with a manual tranny, I will happily be in line to buy one.
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matts 7:05AM (11/16/2006)
yeah, everyone with fifty grand....
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MikeW 9:00PM (11/15/2006)
The xi models have overly heavy steering, yet no ROI. The run flats make the cars darty. The N54 is a nice engine and the ZF 6hp26 works very well in rear drive applications.
The 328xi coupe has the GM 6L50 transmission and does not shift as well as the ZF 6hp26.
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4schizle 10:29PM (11/15/2006)
#1, Mr. Karesh - the weight distribution of the Audi S4 is 53/47 front to rear. The BMW 328xi Sedan is also listed as 53/47. The 335xi will have the same engine w/ even more "stuff" under the hood. How do you figure that the S4 has more "weight on the nose"?
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MikeW 11:14PM (11/15/2006)
The S4 is more like 60/40. There is a typo in the pdf from Audiworld?
Have you heard of the test of reasonableness?
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4schizle 10:40PM (11/15/2006)
#7, Calvin - You have a really nice looking website but don't you think you should at least test drive the 335xi before you come to the conclusion that the S4 or G35 are "underwhelming" compared to it?
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Larry 12:42AM (11/16/2006)
ugly.
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Ming 7:39AM (11/16/2006)
"Everything to everyone..." I don't think so. I'll take a IS350 over this thank you...
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4schizle 7:59AM (11/16/2006)
Mike W, I got the info from Yahoo autos - here is the link:
http://autos.yahoo.com/audi_s4_25quattro_special_edition-specs/?p=ext
No, I havn't heard of the "test of reasonableness" - is that a new comparison test on someone's blog? Is that where you test drive a car at night after work then write about it? Does the salesman allow you to drive when you get down the block? Then it's compared to a car that's not even produced yet? O.K., sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
I am comparing the facts or differences as I have found them, the "True Delta" if you will. They have shown identical weight distribution number's of 53/47 before adding turbos, intercooler, piping - not to mention the whole front wheel drive assembly.
"Nose heavy" refers to weight distribution . I think you are confusing this with "handling" - which is a totally different and subjective matter. Does the S4 handle differently than the 335xi? Probably yes. Better? Maybe. Who's to know until the car actually comes out and gets a real comparison test.
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quantimouse 12:40PM (11/16/2006)
"Like an Audi S4, but with less weight on the nose...."
Nothing like an S4, since the S4 comes with a much nicer interior, a much better clutch and gearbox (I've driven the 335i and owned an 05.5 S4), and I would take Quattro over BMW's idea of AWD any day.
Yes it will be a better balanced car, but I still see the 335 series as being one of the most over hyped cars of this year. It is as if BMW has screwed up so badly up until now that the auto press is looking at everything that is basically good and calling it "GREAT!"
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jeffinToronto 10:25AM (11/16/2006)
Hi guys. Lot's of speculation here. I own a 2006 325xi. Contrary to some comments, I don't find the handling "darty" at all and very little roll, although I found the "dartiness" in an X5 I drove. I test drove the IS as well but didn't like it as much and is more cramped than the 3 series. Couldn't wait for the new engine (or the new price) of the 335xi.
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MikeW 3:55PM (11/16/2006)
TrueDelta also got it wrong. Haven't ever been there.
Sorry, I was asking if you believed that the automatic was 60/40 (as listed) and the manual as 53/47. That is unreasonable, because the drivetrain layouts are the same and the manual is only 75lbs lighter.
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