[Rochester BMW]

Do you think your 335i (and d) attracts attention? (especially the saloon)
Do you think people realise what lurks beneath the bonnet? or is this a true wolf in sheeps clothing?

Lastly it would be great to hear from anyone who has any stories of 'lesser' cars trying their luck only to find out the hard way they're no match........

[Z4 Beemer]

They probably don't attract as much attention as say... an orange Ford Focus ST (a guy that lives along the road from me has one).

To be honest a car which has a 'look at me' factor is not that important for me when buying a car. For me, I love and appreciate the build quality, ride, handling and the 6-in-line petrol engines that BMW's have. I think die-hard car enthusiasts will know whats under the hood of a 335i but others may not

[red355]

Generally I have no intimidation in 4 months and 5000 miles

Only had one obvious " Lets outrun you moment"

Minding my own business just listening to the radio and making sure I didn't go over the speed limit when I became aware of a car driving very close behind. Next thing I know he has dived in to the inside lane accelerated HARD up the car in that lane then switched back into my lane...narrowly missing my nose & he only just just made it back onto the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me.

So there we are three people (that nearly got involved) driving sensibly leaving suitable gaps all at the speed limit and some knob with a baseball cap in 306 GTI-6 decides to play stunt man. Three miles further on he is still in front of me when we reach a set of traffic lights. He looking across so of course I think I will just blast off, but that's too obvious. Lights change He shreds 500 mile off his front tyres and I just pull as normal...ten miles further on I am still behind him...he is behind the line of traffic that never seems to be absent.

5 years ago would have had to blasted off but now It just makes me smile

I did have one moment in the Boxster s that is worth mentioning..came across a blinged up Escort RS turbo doing 40mph went to over take it and has I did he started to accelerate..dead straight road, good conditions and ist 6am. So I just kept on accelerating..took 4th, then 5th. Escort is still next to me. I did get by but it took a serious amount of effort. Found out some weeks later that this guy had spent £10K on the escort and also had nitro, It ran nearly 300BHP and an escort don't weigh a lot. It was fast in straight line, but nowhere around the bends.
I never did it again

[Z4 Beemer]

I like your thinking red355. but your story about the Escort is a good point. You can never actually tell whats under the bonnet - even though it might look like a clapped out old Nova, it could be running with some 2.0i turbo bla bla bla underneath

[red355]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

I like your thinking red355. but your story about the Escort is a good point. You can never actually tell whats under the bonnet - even though it might look like a clapped out old Nova, it could be running with some 2.0i turbo bla bla bla underneath

I did get to have a good look at the escort about 6 months later and it was amazing just how much money the guy had spent. Just after the err 155 incident with me ...he told me it needed a rebuild.

He now runs a stealth black Supra which sounds frightening capable..

[Rochester BMW]

great story.

the reason i asked this is that at the moment i drive an E46 318.. which as you no is not exactly going to break any land speed records, but its quite often i find someone sitting up my *** on the motorway (im far from slow either) which makes me think that they do it because its only a 318 or just because its a BMW....? no other car ive had has attracted driving like this...

on the other hand, my dad ownes a E46 M3 and from driving that ive had no such experience of people sitting too close behind or trying to get past at silly speeds....

So why is this??? is it because people reconise an M3 and dont even try their luck? if so... seeing as the 335 is more or less the same performance i am likely to get the same respect? or.... because its not a reconisable 'M' people will still drive round me like in my 318...?

Sorry to waffle on, but its something ive been wondering about

(7 hours to pick up!)

[red355]

Originally Posted by Rochester BMW

(7 hours to pick up!)

Is your camera charged up with a fresh memory card?

[red-max]

Unfortunately, I think it's a BMW thing. For certain people out there the BMW badge is like a red rag to a bull. It seems worse when driving a newer model and/or one with a "personal" number plate - seems to bring out the worst in some people. I really noticed it when I got my first BMW, but I've got used to it now. I do notice the difference when driving a non-BMW loan/hire car or even the wife's MINI - people are nice to me again because I'm not driving a BMW.

[Z4 Beemer]

hmmmm - i do find at times if I'm signalling to pull out from the side of the road and the traffic is quite busy, I can wait for a while until someone lets me out.

I do however (as a courteous person and considerate driver) always let other people out in a long queue of traffic where circumstances permit.

I remember when I had the MINI 4 years ago, there seemed to be a craze that MINI drivers flahed their headlights at eadh other. I always used to get flashed by a black MINI going to work in the morning, with a small wave from the young, blonde female driver

[Rochester BMW]

Originally Posted by red355

Is your camera charged up with a fresh memory card?

it sure is!!

Ive got loads of questions about BMW assist for the dealer... its on my car, but i havn't got a clue what it does.....

and ive already found where the nearest petrol station is that sells shell v-power....

going to fill up on that straight away! (i only get £30 of petrol from pick up)

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i do agree that its a BMW thing... i sometimes (unfortunatly) have needed to drive a Porsche Cayenne, and that recieves the same attention, but then again it is gods ugliest creation