Edcase

Well, much as I've been trying to keep the M5 I really can't avoid the need for an estate much longer.

I've already discounted the E60 M5 and B7 RS4 partly because of fuel costs (I regularly do big trips to scotland, wales, the alps, and devon), partly because I have no garage and wouldn't want to street-park them in SE21, and partly because they only get used at the weekend, and sometimes not for a couple of weeks, and I couldn't bear walking past it every day to work knowing it was depreciating like a stone. The missus is also learning to drive and couldn't possibly jump straight into an M5 or RS4.

So, I need an estate, must be quick, dynamic, involving and rwd. Which pretty much means sticking with BMW.

Narrowed my options to the following:

335d with a remap
335i (still gets 30mpg)
535d with a remap

I've been set on the 5 series as (in M-sport guise) I actually have grown to like the looks, and given the amount of kit I carry (bikes etc.) the space is ideal. However, there is no manual, and the newer auto with paddle shift is hard to come by 2nd hand.

However, I've been reading the evo long term test of Tomalins 335i touring with interest, and it sounds like a much more dynamic car. The engine is a peach, with surprisingly good mpg, and the smaller chassis and lighter weight seems to make for a very fluid car. I'm sure the space would still be adequate, it's just a shame it's so ugly.

The flanker, then, would be the 335d with a remap, which I imagine would be possibly the perfect combo of reach, efficiency and power.

I can get all of the above for 30-35k.

Anyone comment on any of the above?

cheers
Ed

subaruturbo_18

i think the 5 series look so much better, id have that any day over the 3 series, but call me boring.....i seem to really like the new volvo estates

Edcase

I know what you mean, it looks like the front end is melting off on the 3-series

stilover

If you go for a Diesel, why must it be RWD? With such a norrow rev band, side ways power sliding is going to be pretty tough.

Why not get a Audi A4/A6 3.0 TDI? Just a thought.

Brendan Hughes

Yeah. Go and drive the *******, and make your mind up


HTH

Edcase

with 500lb/ft of torque in a 3-series, regardless of the rev range it's gonna go sideways

I had an RS6 before, and it was just dynamically horrid, so I wouldn't go back to an A6/A4.

Just booked a test drive of a Le Mans blue 335i touring tomorrow, dying to check out that engine more than anything, it's meant to be a peach!

Edcase

Haha, see my last post

Already tested a 530d and 535d before xmas and was fairly underwhelmed to be fair, but I think the remap and the sports auto would help that.

R 14NS R

what about the new mercedes c class, sport estate, 320 cdi is a great engine and looks not dissimilar to the new c63 amg.

Edcase

The new C-class? I didn't think the estate had been launched yet, plus I don't want to buy brand new.

wilffive

Worth checking out threads on 335i's returning lower than figured MPG on MTorque. I recall some punters saying they were getting more like low to mid 20s.

Brendan Hughes

BTW Ed, do Hartge or Alpina do anything for you?

Edcase

Seems okay on the first thread I read?

UBB Error - MTorque.co.uk - Passion for M Cars

Edcase

Have to admit, no not really. What did you have in mind (bearing in mind I'm looking for nearly-new)

Edcase

I hadn't read the second half of the thread

Brendan Hughes

Sorry, no idea, but I wondered if anything they offer would broaden your choice a little. Nevermind.

Edcase

Ahh, sorry

Nah I'm looking for nearly new, bog standard from an official dealer.

Seems the 335i is pretty quick, here against an e46 m3:

YouTube - 2005 BMW E46 ///M3 vs 2007 BMW 335i (Race 2)

j4ckos mate

i just saw a new mondeo tdci titanium estate on the way home waht a lovely car

GCollier

I've got a 335d M-Sport touring which also replaced an RS6 Avant. As a road car which combines performance, practicality, driving enjoyment and low running costs I can't think of much which comes close. It's only a cooking model (i.e. not a proper 'M' car), but dynamically it's in a different league to the RS6. Even without remap it has all the pace you will ever need in a road car.

The only downside is that it's more 'lifestyle estate' than 'load lugger', so if you carry a huge amount of gear with you, a 5 series may be more suitable. It's not a problem for us as we also have a Mazda 5 MPV thing.

Whichever touring you go for, make sure it has a panoramic sunroof - it totally transforms the interior.

With the 335i it's worth checking on the model year if buying second hand. When they first came out they were tax-band G, but the 2008MY has some efficiency improvements which drop it into F. Anything in band G is probably going to get an ever increasing VED shafting by our beloved chancellor.

Be interested to hear how you get on with the test drives.

Gary.

Edcase

Cheers Gary. On further thoughts this evening, I'm thinking that the marginal extra fuel cost of the 335i (similar mpg to the 535d) is worth it for the rev range and sound of the inline petrol 6.

As silly as it may sound, high revs and a sweet exhaust note are both very very important to me, and I just don't think I can go back to a diesel despite the torque, tunability and economy.

I'm taking the bike bag with me tomorrow to check the boot as well as the length measurement for the snowboard bag, plus when I sold the RS6 I kept my thule roof rack and bike carriers which I'm hoping will fit the 3 series!

Shark Man

Careful, for the old 3 series hoodwink.....

If you look at a 3 series touring for space. Take a good hard look at the boot space and rear leg room in a 3 series touring. To give perspective; a Ford Focus Estate has more rear leg room and a bigger boot. Yet the 3 series is aimed at the Mondeo market (if you see what I mean).

I would test drive the auto diesels, yes I know everyone hates autos. But reason why manual options aren't available on the diesels is that turbo diesels work best with autos; as they make much better use of the torque and norrow rev range.


I'd also say that a 335i petrol may get 30mpg. But that will be motorway cruising at 70mph and nothing but: As soon as it sniffs anything like urban driving and sub 40mph cruising, it will fall well below that. I say that because I find a 325 touring struggles to get close to 30mpg in the real world (that's an understatment...its reading 19.2mpg at the moment ).


Also take it for a good test drive - see if you actually like the handling and ride quality. Especially in M-sport trim and you have bumpy roads in your area (and not forgetting the runflats; if fitted Although the ride could be below your expectation without them ).

Edcase

All fair points. However as much as I can see the sense in the reasoning, I just don't think I can go back to a diesel, let alone a full auto diesel.

Space is a different matter, and will certainly be one of the key deciding factors! However at the moment purely from the write-ups and youtube, the 335i engine is looking like a winner and a worthy replacement for the wonderous V8 in my E39 M5!

what would scooby do

[quote=Edcase;7576452]
As silly as it may sound, high revs and a sweet exhaust note are both very very important to me, and I just don't think I can go back to a diesel despite the torque, tunability and economy. [quote]

Ed, you're not wrong, a lot of people have loved unpopular cars based on their sound, smell and character.

Shark Man

How much you want for the M5 BTW?

(I'll get slaughtered by a certain fellow household member for asking this; as there is already one too many BMWs on the driveway No harm in asking, right? )

sti-04!!

535d with remap gets my vote

Or a E320 Cdi with a remap.

Edcase

https://www.scoobynet.com/other-marq...ml#post7578424 etc...

Edcase

See t'other thread