Oct. Car & Driver - 335 0-60

[SCA]

in 4.9 seconds. WOW! :eek:



Here's a brief summary.

Maintaining the classic proportions that have distinguished 3-series coupes since 1991, it all adds up to a look that's simultaneously sophisticated and aggressive. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.
We had a chance to put a 335i through its paces in an all-too-brief tour of the Austrian Tyrol near Innsbruck and emerged with three major impressions.
First, the new six-speed Steptronic automatic is well matched to the turbo engines's almost bottomless torque, and its paddle shifters allow manual operation when the pilot feels playful. We still prefer the involement of the standard ZF six-speed manual...
Two: The 335's sport suspension package provides an outstanding compromise between creamy ride and athletic response.
Three: The Alpine heights magnified the benefits of boost, but we're certain this new engine will win friends at any altitude. BMW forecats 0 to 60mph times of 5.3 seconds for the 335i. Judging by our Tyrol touring , we thought this was conservative, a premonition that was vindicated when a 335i showed up at Hogback HQ as this issue was going to bed - just time enough for some formal test data : 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.6 @ 105mph. Those results are almost exactly the same as the numbers posted by the last M3 we tested

[Theo]

in 4.9 seconds. WOW! :eek:



Here's a brief summary.

Maintaining the classic proportions that have distinguished 3-series coupes since 1991, it all adds up to a look that's simultaneously sophisticated and aggressive. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.
We had a chance to put a 335i through its paces in an all-too-brief tour of the Austrian Tyrol near Innsbruck and emerged with three major impressions.
First, the new six-speed Steptronic automatic is well matched to the turbo engines's almost bottomless torque, and its paddle shifters allow manual operation when the pilot feels playful. We still prefer the involement of the standard ZF six-speed manual...
Two: The 335's sport suspension package provides an outstanding compromise between creamy ride and athletic response.
Three: The Alpine heights magnified the benefits of boost, but we're certain this new engine will win friends at any altitude. BMW forecats 0 to 60mph times of 5.3 seconds for the 335i. Judging by our Tyrol touring , we thought this was conservative, a premonition that was vindicated when a 335i showed up at Hogback HQ as this issue was going to bed - just time enough for some formal test data : 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.6 @ 105mph. Those results are almost exactly the same as the numbers posted by the last M3 we tested


Ok the new M3 has to be a beast then. We are talking close to 4.0 flat to justify the price. Wow just wow. Rock on BMW!!

Btw, I wont be testing 335i coupes at red lights now. I dont want them to point and say haha I beat your M3!!

[killerdeck]

:eek: Shock and awe! Damnit, MUST keep ZHP...MUST resist temptation to do a Euro delivery 335i sedan for around $37K!

[lemming]

i'm not surprised the numbers are really close to that e46m3.

'never been a fan of that engine/chassis combination and have never understood what the hubbub has been all about anyway. i'd still bet that the M3 pulls away as speeds build as it holds more rpms per gear, but it wouldn't be convincing.

then again, drag racing has never been the point of the m3 so.....

[undefined]

the next m3 will not be a sub 4.5 car

[FC]

Impressive indeed. But my prior sentiments remain.

1) I need to drive it

2) I'm not in love with the looks and hope a ZHP-like pkg can spice it up.

It is the most appealing sedan in the horizon for me (on paper), but I just don't see us buying a premium sedan for quite some time. A CPO 335i "ZHP" sedan sure sounds nice many years down the road.

Now, if they sold a roomy 335ixT...

[JST]

i'm not surprised the numbers are really close to that e46m3.

'never been a fan of that engine/chassis combination and have never understood what the hubbub has been all about anyway. i'd still bet that the M3 pulls away as speeds build as it holds more rpms per gear, but it wouldn't be convincing.


Bet you're right. But in almost any real-world situation, I bet the Wall of Torque in the 335 makes it the faster car.

Those are compelling numbers.

[ZBB]

Now, if they sold a roomy 335ixT...

:+1

[lemming]

in 4.9 seconds. WOW! :eek:



it's about time, actually, that BMW provided a 3series with a good power to weight ratio (non M).

[ff]

it's about time, actually, that BMW provided a 3series with a good power to weight ratio (non M).

Now, let's just have them start working backwards (downwards) on the weight thing.

[lemming]

the next m3 will not be a sub 4.5 car

it might be really close, though.

i don't care so much about that as the speed it could attain in the 1/4mile. better gauge of the power and the gearing there. it will probably be really close to 8min, though.

if those leaden sled pigmobile M5/M6 cars can get down to 8:09 and 8:15, respectively, the new M3 should. 'be lovely to see how the 335i did by the BMW test drivers.

[lemming]

MotorTrend got 5.1 seconds.

(i routinely discount Car & Driver acceleration times because they're always the fastest extreme; Automobile is usually the slowest extreme).

[TD]

MotorTrend got 5.1 seconds.

(i routinely discount Car & Driver acceleration times because they're always the fastest extreme; Automobile is usually the slowest extreme).
But Motor Trend is generally about as credible as Donald "Everything's GREAT!" Rumsfeld.

[lemming]

But Motor Trend is generally about as credible as Donald "Everything's GREAT!" Rumsfeld.

yeah.

i know. it's the same magazine where the z06 outperformed (by a wide margin) the F430 and the 997tt and finished dead last.

:dunno:

i just prefer their testing numbers because they report the racelogix numbers usually with minimal if any correction for conditions a la C&D.

[John V]

(Motor Trend is) the same magazine where the z06 outperformed (by a wide margin) the F430 and the 997tt and finished dead last.

That was in the latest C+D.

[lemming]

That was in the latest C+D.

now i have them all muddled up. :(

car&driver does funny things like aggressively adjust for temperature in their acceleration readings (which is why they always report the fastest times) and they also do things like compare acceleration numbers for cars ina comparison test that were not done on the same day, same surface etc.

[ was it Road&Track that did the Europe versus US (where the Euros had R compound tires fitted) ]

at the end of the day, there's no question the 335i is fast, but i also remember that C&D also said the STi was a 4.6sec car (and no one has ever gotten close to that number) and the Z06 is a 3.4 second car (again, no one has ever gotten close to this number).

[FC]

at the end of the day, there's no question the 335i is fast, but i also remember that C&D also said the STi was a 4.6sec car (and no one has ever gotten close to that number) and the Z06 is a 3.4 second car (again, no one has ever gotten close to this number).

...they also claim the ZHP is a 5.6 sec car, and that is hard to believe.

[Nick M3]

...they also claim the ZHP is a 5.6 sec car, and that is hard to believe.
It is if you tow it with a Z06. :D

[FC]

It is if you tow it with a Z06. :D

:lol:

lemming, wanna try this?:D

[lemming]

:lol:

lemming, wanna try this?:D

my roof might fly off and crack your windshield.

:D