Just picked up our new 2007 BMW 335xi- First impressions

[ChevyRules]

Well it arrived at the dealer 3 weeks ago. But, my dad didn't want to pick it up until after we got pack from Europe. So we went today to pick it up and the CA( Client Advisor) showed us how to work the BMW and iDrive. Anyway, here are my first impressions.

interior: 5/5

Now, there aren't super soft plastics used in the BMW. But, that isn't the point of a BMW. The interior is functional and easy to use. The rear seat room and comfort is up compared to my dads old 2002 BMW 330xi. The rear seats are softer.

Exterior: 5/5

While I prefer the 3 series coupes design to the sedans, I still love the sedans aggressive look. I love the rear design.

Drive: 4.5/5

I got to drive it half way home. Where the BMW dealer is, it is a very busy street with lots of traffic. My dad didn't feel comfortable letting me drive it on that road. With me being totally unfamiliar with how it drives and having that much HP, I myself didn't feel comfortable driving it on that road. So we stopped at a church to switch and did a couple laps around the parking lot so I could get used to the brakes and gas pedal. Drove it awhile in normal D. It is very tame in drive and it cruised at 1400 RPM at 40 MPH. Switches it over to Sport mode and the rev's increased to 2000 RPM when cruising at 40 MPH, and the car came to life. Driving it in sports mode, is incredible on how it accelerates at just 2500 RPM. The reason why it gets knocked down .5 is because it doesn't cruise like the Aura does. I can let go of the gas pedal in the Aura and it just coasts at the speed I let go of the pedal and slowly slows down due to friction, etc. With the BMW, release the pedal and it starts to slow down immediately. Have to keep the gas pedal pushed a little to maintain speed. the 330xi did the same.

Overall: 5/5

The 335xi is the best car my family probably has ever bought. It drives and handles well and it looks great. Although I didn't get the oil cooler. Which seems if you ordered the 162 wheels, you will get it. We got the standard xi wheels. Though my dad won't push it to the point where the car could overheat.



http://homepage.mac.com/quagmire2/PhotoAlbum36.html

[CRBoyd91]

That's one nice looking color you got there. I do like it a little better than the white one my neighbor has, which, other than that, is almost identical except it's a year older.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Now, there aren't super soft plastics used in the BMW. But, that isn't the point of a BMW. The interior is functional and easy to use. The rear seat room and comfort is up compared to my dads old 2002 BMW 330xi. The rear seats are softer.

I personally dont usually mind hard plastic..but to say "that isnt the point of a BMW" raises the question...why not? And why IS that the point of other cars that are always given crap for hard plastic? Dont get me wrong, as I said..I dont mind hard plastics...I just dont see how its intentionally done by BMW for a point, but when others do it, it is a fall back.

[likearock00]

Sweet ride. I'm sure your Dad will enjoy it for awhile.

I don't mind hard plastics either. I just hate hollow sounding dashes and panels that creak and moan with different temps.

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

I personally dont usually mind hard plastic..but to say "that isnt the point of a BMW" raises the question...why not? And why IS that the point of other cars that are always given crap for hard plastic? Dont get me wrong, as I said..I dont mind hard plastics...I just dont see how its intentionally done by BMW for a point, but when others do it, it is a fall back.

I didn't say the interior was bad and poor quality. I just said it doesn't have super soft materials. The interior uses fairly good materials. There not hard, and are a little soft, but it isn't soft as my Aura's is. It has a good touch to it. Not like the bottom portion of the Aura's dashboard where hard and very rough to touch.

While BMW is a luxury marque, BMW focuses on how the car drives and handles. Where Lexus focuses on comfort and the interior. So if a Lexus interior is bad, it should be bashed because that is where the focus is when Lexus developes the car. Not how it drives and handles. Different focus points so that is why one can get away not using the best materials and the other isn't. Now if you believe that, is your choice.

[jro4566]

I LOVE the new 335 - it simply is an amazing vehicle. No other 6-cylinder engine gets 300lb/ft of torque, and none can match the fluidity of the BMW inline-6.

BTW, I added type 195 wheels (18") to my 328.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/upload...heels/195b.jpg

However, for a 335xi, I would add 199 wheels.


BMW definitely makes the best OEM wheels in the world.

[mgescuro]

Congrats on the purchase.
I'm not a fan of the new 3-series styling. I think they took a step back from the more brash Bangle designs and distilled it a bit too much. I think BMW should ahve taken more of a risk with the 3. But that's just me.

It's still the class leader. I'm sure your family will enjoy it.

[JBsZ06]

Congratulations on a real road rocket.

Enjoy and thanks for sharing.

JB

[adaca]

First of all, congrats. Sweet, but I'd always prefer a rear driver - lighter and less understeer.

Just a comment.

"Driving it in sports mode, is incredible on how it accelerates at just 2500 RPM. The reason why it gets knocked down .5 is because it doesn't cruise like the Aura does. I can let go of the gas pedal in the Aura and it just coasts at the speed I let go of the pedal and slowly slows down due to friction, etc. With the BMW, release the pedal and it starts to slow down immediately. Have to keep the gas pedal pushed a little to maintain speed. the 330xi did the same."

That is good. That's how performance cars are designed - very responsive on the throttle so you can have finegrained control say when you steer with the trottle. On true sports cars like the Corvette or Porsches (more so on the Porsches which seem to be less designed for cruising), the effects are even more pronounced. They are a pain to drive in traffic but what's exactly needed on the track or aggressive backroads driving.

Now if only Corvettes can have the same great steering feel as on the Bimmers...

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by adaca

First of all, congrats. Sweet, but I'd always prefer a rear driver - lighter and less understeer.

Just a comment.

"Driving it in sports mode, is incredible on how it accelerates at just 2500 RPM. The reason why it gets knocked down .5 is because it doesn't cruise like the Aura does. I can let go of the gas pedal in the Aura and it just coasts at the speed I let go of the pedal and slowly slows down due to friction, etc. With the BMW, release the pedal and it starts to slow down immediately. Have to keep the gas pedal pushed a little to maintain speed. the 330xi did the same."

That is good. That's how performance cars are designed - very responsive on the throttle so you can have finegrained control say when you steer with the trottle. On true sports cars like the Corvette or Porsches (more so on the Porsches which seem to be less designed for cruising), the effects are even more pronounced. They are a pain to drive in traffic but what's exactly needed on the track or aggressive backroads driving.

Now if only Corvettes can have the same great steering feel as on the Bimmers...

While I would agree with you, in today's political climate fuel economy is everything. He notices the coasting in his Aura because of the super agressive final gear, which is for pure FE, and allows you to stay in overdrive for a LOOOONG time.

I don't mind it, and actually enjoy it while driving my sister's Malibu, every second that you have your foot off the gas pedal is another drop of oil saved.

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by adaca

First of all, congrats. Sweet, but I'd always prefer a rear driver - lighter and less understeer.

I would too if I was in Florida. We live where it snows. And my dad wanted AWD for the winter.

[asim]

Nice, nice vehicle like always. So how many cars does your family have...like 10? lol

[ctaylorzl1]

Sweet car, I love the new 3-series. Can you get the 6-speed manual on the xi, or is it only avaliable with the regular rwd 335i? Thats one thing I really like about Audi as aposed to other makes, they offer manuals even with AWD.

[CobaltSScrazy]

cool car! thats awesome you're lucky you get to drive it! i drove an 07 STS AWD the other day, one great ride, ppl knock the interior rightfully so and the exterior for not being edgy (though an eclass isn't either ??????? duh) but it drove beautifully! soooo much nicer than my bu and rightfully so!

CobaltSScrazy

[FStephenMasek]

I have never known a BMW owner who was not always dealing with some sort of defect or failure. My brother had a 530 (V8) and the engine blew up, he rebuilt the front suspension three times, and various other things went bad. Perhaps the one your parents bought will be more reliable - for the price it certainly should.

Why didn't they consider a 2008 CTS?