Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

I nearly bought the 272 PS 535d when it came for the space and the power.
Too overpriced in this place.

Might if the 40d comes out soon enuff.

Matteeboy

No true sports car will ever be a diesel but life is about compromises - both 535d and 335d are cars where the compromises are small and the benefits large. I'm still offended every time I see a TT diesel...

Janspeed - the 3 series fans are getting rather excited about a 340d but TBH, the gains are very small - you get more with a remap.


Having driven the 335d and 535d a long way, (the 535d was the lesser powered version) the 3 was a good margin better to drive. Yes the weight difference is pretty small but the 3 series steering is better, the gearbox feels keener, the brakes are more effective and the chassis feels more "sporty." And there are always tiresome laps times - The 3 is usefully quicker.

_Tim_

LOL, you've never watched LeMans then. It's a ridiculous idea to dismiss any car based purely on what fuel it runs on. A sports car is defined by its purpose, not its fuelling.

Define "better" in the context of what these cars are designed to be. Remember, real life isn't a game of Top Trumps.

Also where are you seeing laptimes for the 3 & 5? I'd be interested to know which circuits. Can you post up a reference?

Matteeboy

Have you driven a 335d and your 535d back to back? If you have then it won't need any explaining.

The 335d is sportier - more agile, lighter on it's "feet", the gearbox is better suited to faster driving. It's has better acceleration and 1/4 miles figures, better power to weight ratio, etc and a quicker Bruntingthorpe lap time - I can't find the link but I remember stuff like that from memory.

The 535d is bigger, slightly more comfy and better suited to mile munching although still good on a decent road.

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but if space is really an issue, might consider the lardy 5 series.
I can imagine it will be interesting to have even more PS in a 3 series.

Matteeboy

5 series is only 110kgs heavier (according to Parkers) so not really all that lardy...

_Tim_

explain this please.

I think you're confusing "better" with "what I settled for" but that's no surprise.

What on earth has qtr mile times got to do with mid size and larger luxury saloons? Nothing. Not one iota. Except in the world of Internet Top Trump style boasting.

You're familiar with Bruntingthorpe are you? It's an airfield with a MASSIVE straight and useless as a basis for comparison between two cars with differing power:weight ratios.

Your claim is unsubstantiated heresay with no basis of reality with which to compare it too. They are two different cars, aimed at different Market segments that just happen to share the same engine. I don't know why you need to validate your choice as being "better".

A five was always going to be better than a three for us; we have a rear facing child seat (from Ipswich) and I don't like my wife sitting with her face in the windscreen. YMMV.

Matteeboy

A 335d has BETTER acceleration than a 535d
A 335d is LIGHTER by around 100kgs
A 335d is QUICKER at 1/4 miles than a 535d
A 335d has more AGGRESSIVE gearing than a 535d
A 335d is SMALLER than a 535d

I bet you'll try and dispute those FACTS too.

No I can't find the lap times but unless physics suddenly stops working, how on earth is the 535d going to go around any circuit from Nurburgring to Silverstone any faster than the 335d?

At no stage did I want a 535d - they are cheaper to buy used so clearly I didn't want one because I could have saved a few grand. Firstly, I'm under 45, secondly, we don't need extra space, thirdly, while the E91 looks pretty good, the 5 series Touring doesn't (much better in saloon form though) and just to secure it, the 335d is usefully quicker.

I spent around six months looking for the car I got - I could have bought a 535d many times over in that time for much less.

No doubt you'll attempt some "clever" twisting of words and have the last word. Again.

Anyway, why are you suddenly writing on here again? Why are you following all my posts? If you have a crush on me, why not just tell me.

_Tim_

What does AGGRESSIVE gearing mean and why does that mean it's "better"?

Which Nav you got? Pro or Business? Electric memory seats? Logic 7 hifi? Adaptive xenons? These are all useful things to consider when buying a car.

I personally didn't sit in the dealership with my wife and say "you know what darling, this 535d is 0.43 seconds quicker round an airfield than the one we looked at yesterday. We should buy it!"

Did you?

Matteeboy

This is going to hurt Tim but you are now invisible and will be ignored for good by yours truly. Congratulate yourself if you wish, consider yourself to have won some bizarre battle.

The real truth is that your bleating, your constant picking, your complete inability to just step back and shut up bores me to tears.

Time to find someone else to latch onto. I pity whoever it is.

Yawn.

_Tim_

Did I mistake the topic of this thread? I'm only trying to engage you in some kind of grown up conversation on the topic in hand.

It's you that's doing The Mental because I won't acquiese to your silly Top Trumps. The mattee way isn't the only way you know!

jespin

My god some people on here are catty, people are entitled to their own opinion whether you agree or disagree with it.

hodgy0_2

I have never heard such a ridiculous statement in all my (literally seconds) on Scoobynet

It is the ONLY way

I wouldn't be surprised if Mattee ups sticks and sets up a religion -- somewhere in Texas

Matteeboy

No surf in Texas

_Tim_

You're not wrong, sadly. You should see how he layed into some poor bloke on EVO who dared to own an Alfa GTA! It's funny, but quite tragic.

hodgy0_2

surfing's the devils work and you know it

dpb

I reckon there would be quite considerable surf off of Texas if you time it right

hodgy0_2

simply misunderstood i'm afraid

But I have to say Tim I think you have been very patient eloquent and restrained with our Mattee

(oh but totally correct with your attitude to debt)

any way -- back on topic -- I would go for the GT-R Black spec

njkmrs

Im feeling a sense of dejavu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dream Weaver

Matt, one person's "better" is different to the next persons.

When we buy whichever Beemer we go for, 3 or 5, or even an A4 it will be used purely as a family car and to take stuff to the tip so I will have no interest in anything other than it being safe, reliable, comfortable, big and nice to look at - I really wouldn't care less about how agressive the gearbox was, or how quick it was up a runway.

None of the points you mention above would even enter into my thought process for a family car as I have the ST for weekends for that sort of thing. In fact the 335 being SMALLER is a negative for me not a positive, but then I am twice the height/width of you.

I think the 5 touring looks nicer than the 3 touring as well, but that's subjective and IMO.

As for Bruntingthorpe times, I've done many (boring) laps of Brunters and as Tim says it's a useless measure of a car. Even by your admission didn't the new Focus RS get a quicker lap time than your 335D even though you maintain your Beemer would whoop an RS?

I'm not having a go here by the way, so don't get all huffy on me, just pointing out that one mans "better" is another mans "don't care".

You buy a BMW touring purely as a family mans car and for space, comfort etc.

_Tim_

I'm still crying into my professional sat nav and electric memory seats this morning. <boohoo>

hodgy0_2

ultimately -- it would be down to the one with the power outlet in the boot

(and the self dimming rear view mirror)

_Tim_

Well mine is the better looking (so Mattee says) Saloon, so I have no power outlet in the boot. Fail.

However self-dimming rear mirror for the win!

Matteeboy

Well either Touring would suit you then. Both have both.

The nicest extra on ours is the panoramic sunroof - we absolutely love it. And the terra leather - bit unusual (from the usual lemon, grey or black) but nice and goes well with the black paint.

_Tim_

I agree Mattee, terra leather over black is a nice combo.

Matteeboy

And the saloon 5er looks better as an M Sport too. In fact I think it looks great, especially in darker colours.

I prefer the 3er in non M Sport/SE (but love the E92 M3), especially as a coupe. Cleaner lines, no silly plastic rear diffuser to hide the twin pipes and I prefer the 3 series non M Sport alloys (less fussy, don't crack randomly) - the 19s on the coupe and the 162 18" ellipsoids in particular but I do also like my milk float 17" alloys.

So there you go - we both have nice cars that we like.

hodgy0_2

also with small kids leather is soo much easier to live with

ps I do like the leather in your car Mattee

I'm not sure I would buy a car without leather anymore -- apart of a real run-around

zip106

...and they all lived happily ever after.....

Ahhhh....

zero260

It all comes down to what you are looking for in a car. I have owned both motors and for me the 5 series was a far better all rounder. Being tall myself I felt the 3 series was a little bit to small and the leg room in the back was naff for my passengers when the seats were in my driving position....this was one of the reasons I got rid.

I do 35,000 miles a year and the 5 series soaks it up with ease where as you knew you had done a very long journey in a 3 series....especially if you dont have the best back in the world like me.lol

When it comes down to power obviously the 3 series felt more agile being a smaller and lighter car but it was nothing a nice map to my 5 series couldn't sort out and with it being a diesel the torque was amazing and made up for being that bit heavier. I do recommend going for the M-Sport though as the suspension and interior is a world apart from the models below.

Both cars are great when it comes to power and the way they handle, the fuel economy is excellent and they will go on for ever without any bits falling off overtime. But in my opinion the 5 series has the edge overall. Thats why it is the next series above the 3, the same reason that the 7 is a better car overall than the 5.

N.B. The above views are from my own experience and wont necessarily be the same views that you have........not everyone is the same....thats what makes us individuals.

austinwrx

this thread is great to keep coming back to and reading.

its very (cue jeramy clarkson doing an adenoid voice)

ooh my bmw is better than your bmw because its 0.000000001 sec faster on a track than another car no ones cares about either.

the anorak knowledge is staggering.