[Fx1]

I took them both out today to see which i preferred...

Ill be honest im more confused now than ever about which one i wanted.

The 335i only had 4k miles on it and it was also a E93 so not exactly apples and apples.

To say it felt weird was an understatement, baring in mind i have owned a E92 for 4 years+ now...

It was happy enough to cruise at low speed on D with the M3 gearbox.. but it seems to change gears more than any car i have ever seen even went in to 7th at 40 mph?

I took it on the motorway and it just didnt seem as responsive as my 320D Manual, mainly because if i wanted to boot it the gearbox would have to decide which gear it wanted.. this felt like lag before there was any turbo lag... Not Good.

But after playing with the flappy paddle things i noticed that i could get around this and fast shift to get the response i was looking for.. But not knowing which gear i was in didnt help... at least in manual i know where i am..

I think the 335i sounds faster than it really is where as the 335d is faster than it sounds... is that weird?

the 335i felt so alien to me i couldnt get to grips with it... i am going to have to get a extended test drive of the 335i to see if i like it... currently i am a little disappointed..

The 335D on the other hand also had the Auto but just the normal Auto...This car felt like an old girlfriend except now shes got 34DD boobs!

I floored in on the motorway and after it found the gear i felt a WOOOSH like someone had just put a rocket up my arse! i wasnt expecting that! It felt right at home cruising and blasting up and down motorway lanes...

It responded like my 320D but just felt smoother and more powerful. i was right at home.

Now here is the weird part.... i reset both MPG counters and i got 32mpg out the Diesel and 34mpg out the Petrol!!?

Im hoping that there is more in the petrol that will reveal its self in a better test of the car...

One thing i have realised though today..

Manual transmission owns Auto for pure driving engagement.

[creepy coupe]

Forget the 335i with an auto, try the DCT, different league

[dxb335d]

Different league for driver involvement?!

Cuz it ain't much quicker in reality.

[Fx1]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Forget the 335i with an auto, try the DCT, different league

This had DCT...

[gIzzE]

The E93 is horrible to drive imho, it feels heavy and lethargic, try a 335i in any other shape.
Even the M3 E93 is only .2 seconds quicker than the 335i coupe, so just shows how much of a hit on performance the E93 takes.

You do need to get used to the power coming on higher up the range, from 1800rpm on the 335d and from 3000rpm on the 335i, but once you get used to that it is easier to keep the 335i in the sweet spot, as you have got to 6000rpm, where as from just over 4000rpm you need to think about changing on the 335d.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Different league for driver involvement?!

Cuz it ain't much quicker in reality.

Calm down. I was refering to the DCT Vs Auto.

[dxb335d]

Both are great cars mate, I had a 335d and re-mapped it and loved it. Was ballistic, but would equally love a 335i.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Fx1

This had DCT...

So how come

But not knowing which gear i was in didnt help

Because the gear you're in is shown in the display?

[dxb335d]

Don't need to change till 4800 in the 335d. Pulls hard
to 5k.

Shift up at 4k and your loosing horses.

[Fx1]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

So how come Because the gear you're in is shown in the display?

Yes it was a bit information overload tbh...

Hense the need for a proper test of the car...

[M3-FAST]

I much prefer a DCT box over an auto one - the DCT once you get used to it will be 10x better.

I have it in the M3, and that also can get to 7th if pootling around at 30-40mph. Can you adjust how 'sporty' the box is like on the M3? For instance if I set it to D1 it pulls away in second, keeps revs down and selects very non aggressive gears. However in D4 or D5 it really hangs onto the revs, and is a lot more ferocious when booting it to overtake.

Where it really comes into it's own though is using at as a semi-auto. When approaching roundabouts etc, I use the paddles to shift down and out the car into the gear that I want, rather than waiting for the car to decide. Pretty well exactly the same as I would if driving a manual. That way the car accelerates instantly as it is already in the correct gear.

In traffic though, it's nice to just leave it in D and let the car do the gearshifting.

I agree with other comments though about the E93. I had a 325i vert and even with the 3 litre engine, still felt flat compared to the 2.5 litre E92 that was fitted to the E92 325i at the time (they upped this to 3 litre in the end though and the difference would have been massive between the 2 cars).

A 335i with DCT should feel a lot better than a 335D auto IMO - not saying the 335D is at all bad....it isn't! Just not as good as the DCT box!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Fx1

Yes it was a bit information overload tbh...

Hense the need for a proper test of the car...

Bizarrely, one of my criticism of the DCT, was that it kicked down too many gears on when you gunned it on the motorway. I remember the first time the Wife did it and it dropped from 7th to 4th

[Fx1]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

I much prefer a DCT box over an auto one - the DCT once you get used to it will be 10x better.

I have it in the M3, and that also can get to 7th if pootling around at 30-40mph. Can you adjust how 'sporty' the box is like on the M3? For instance if I set it to D1 it pulls away in second, keeps revs down and selects very non aggressive gears. However in D4 or D5 it really hangs onto the revs, and is a lot more ferocious when booting it to overtake.

Where it really comes into it's own though is using at as a semi-auto. When approaching roundabouts etc, I use the paddles to shift down and out the car into the gear that I want, rather than waiting for the car to decide. Pretty well exactly the same as I would if driving a manual. That way the car accelerates instantly as it is already in the correct gear.

In traffic though, it's nice to just leave it in D and let the car do the gearshifting.

I agree with other comments though about the E93. I had a 325i vert and even with the 3 litre engine, still felt flat compared to the 2.5 litre E92 that was fitted to the E92 325i at the time (they upped this to 3 litre in the end though and the difference would have been massive between the 2 cars).

A 335i with DCT should feel a lot better than a 335D auto IMO - not saying the 335D is at all bad....it isn't! Just not as good as the DCT box!

There was a sport button on the DTC which i put on but after a few blasts the BMW salesman started to get a little scared.

Im going to have to get a E92 335i and give it a good spanking..

But i have to say though the 335D is some engine... Diesel haters have no case now

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

I . Can you adjust how 'sporty' the box is like on the M3? For instance if I set it to D1 it pulls away in second, keeps revs down and selects very non aggressive gears. However in D4 or D5 it really hangs onto the revs, and is a lot more ferocious when booting it to overtake.

Yes you can, just push the sport button.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Fx1

..

But i have to say though the 335D is some engine... Diesel haters have no case now

It is a fantastic engine, but for me has no pleasing engine note or exhaust tone.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Bizarrely, one of my criticism of the DCT, was that it kicked down too many gears on when you gunned it on the motorway. I remember the first time the Wife did it and it dropped from 7th to 4th

Thats why I always use the paddles - If I want 4th I would prefer to decide rather than the car. Three quick paddle shifts and the car is launching in 4th

Also great if mid overtake, you decide that you have enough revs to drop yet another gear, bang it into third without losing any drive through dipping the clutch. Perfect!

[zltm089]

I suspect the OP likes manual gearboxes....

Manual is manual....no other dct, smg, dsg, tipttronic, paddleshifts would do ...so i would try to test drive a manual 335i ....and the e93 is much heavier than the e92 btw....

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Thats why I always use the paddles - If I want 4th I would prefer to decide rather than the car. Three quick paddle shifts and the car is launching in 4th

Also great if mid overtake, you decide that you have enough revs to drop yet another gear, bang it into third without losing any drive through dipping the clutch. Perfect!

I was asleep at the time

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by zltm089

I suspect the OP likes manual gearboxes....

Manual is manual....no other dct, smg, dsg, tipttronic, paddleshifts would do ...so i would try to test drive a manual 335i ....and the e93 is much heavier than the e92 btw....

Except the manual in the 135i and 335i isn't the nicest of gearboxes.

[Fx1]

Originally Posted by zltm089

I suspect the OP likes manual gearboxes....

Manual is manual....no other dct, smg, dsg, tipttronic, paddleshifts would do ...so i would try to test drive a manual 335i ....and the e93 is much heavier than the e92 btw....

never having owned a SMG type gearbox i always stood in awe of the shiny metal paddles on "Performance cars"

i dont think it would bother me owning one but i have to say it wasnt quite like i had hoped.. then again i havnt really got to grips yet... so i will reserve judgement

[webwysard]

Originally Posted by zltm089

I suspect the OP likes manual gearboxes....

Manual is manual....no other dct, smg, dsg, tipttronic, paddleshifts would do ...so i would try to test drive a manual 335i ....and the e93 is much heavier than the e92 btw....

+1

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by Fx1

never having owned a SMG type gearbox i always stood in awe of the shiny metal paddles on "Performance cars"

i dont think it would bother me owning one but i have to say it wasnt quite like i had hoped.. then again i havnt really got to grips yet... so i will reserve judgement

It does take time, for sure - you need to learn the car AND the gearbox. But once you do, it is brilliant. Makes overtaking a breeze and downshifting mid corner without upsetting the balance of the car is also great (obviously with some throttle control!) - also love the blips on the downshift (does the 335i do this also?)

At slow speeds the gearshifts are near seamless. I could travel at 40mph on a stretch of road and keeping my throttle pedal in exactly the same position, change gear up and down the box from 3rd to 7th and back again. Without hearing the engine note, a passenger would not even know I was changing gear.

Oh and launch control is a bit of fun as well

Originally Posted by webwysard

+1

I used to think the same until I owned one - now after 2 years I will find it difficult to own a manual car again!