[Dominus]

Well been looking for a 335 since i bought my 328 and finally found one locally in my price range (albeit they are hard to find period.) thought it was a 2010 but it ended up being a n55. It was a 6mt though! so i took a drive to check it out.

i come to find that it is completely Base. only option seems to be the lighting package. (mine has cold weather, premium stereo, and lighting) it also had the beige interior which i am not a fan

But my want for a 335 was going to look all of that over, until the test drive. . . IDK how you guys like the 6mt. i felt like i was driving a truck! then the power from 1st and 2nd was barely noticeable from my 328. i guess i just had my expectations too high that i thought an extra 100hp would make a bigger difference

needless to say i returned the keys and plate only to discover that they wanted to give me 11k for trade in, when my e90 goes for 15k stock

so needless to say i am still on the search and will probably just pay off my 328 and wait for the m4.

//end rant

[fl335i]

^ I have a 6MT. It's not the smoothest driving experience. 1st and 2nd are tricky and I've driven a MT my whole life in anything from a econo car to a F550 work truck. I'll agree with you, kind of truck-ish. My Honda Accord and Supra had the best gear box driving experience. Looking back I should of done a Auto, and not paid the premium price for the 6MT and got more items like the sport pkg and premium etc. I feel your pain. It's not as easy as it sounds just going out and getting the perfect 335i. And in traffic off the line from redlights my car feels slow compare to traffic around me. All these 265+ HP automatics that everyone is driving makes it hard for me to keep up unless I'm getting after it. Dont' get me wrong, if I'm WOT my car is nuts fast. Just hard to find that medium pace.

[smallseafishie]

Sounds like you'll be happier with an AT 335i. You can definitely notice the power difference between a 335i and an 328i (even if it was a N55). MY 2010's came with the N54's though...

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

The 6MT is buttery smooth. In fact a bit too refined for my liking. 2010 should have an N54 though. Did you pop the hood?

You never get good money on a trade in. Dealers barely give you the "trade in value' from KBB or NADA. If you want the most out of your sale you must sell it private.

[Dominus]

Originally Posted by smallseafishie

Sounds like you'll be happier with an AT 335i. You can definitely notice the power difference between a 335i and an 328i (even if it was a N55). MY 2010's came with the N54's though...

Yes i do believe ill be happier with a AT. and probably some of those flappy paddles

by "thought it was a 2010" i wasnt clear. it is a 2011, i just cross read the ad online with another i saw in Ohio

[Delta0311]

I bought a loaded 2011 335xi and I could not be happier. The difference between my 328(tuned) and 335 is night and day. I love the car.

[kdbryce]

6mt in Bimmers are definitely different than most other cars. especially american cars. I was driving a mustang for a month or two at one point and going from from my 335 to that was like "I NEED TWO FEET TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH?!?!"

I've found it to be my favorite out of anything else, though. It just takes some getting used to.

but it's odd you didn't notice a huge power increase in 1st to 2nd. Coming from a 328, the first time I drove a 335, I was blown away. I thought it was the fastest thing ever haha

[BRAISKI]

Ok seriously you didn't notice a difference between 1st and 2nd from a 328 to 335!

[///M3NACE]

A few good friends have driven my cars and they come from e46 m3s and other Ms and they were impressed how smooth it is. They were so shocked it had hill assist ( on a hill the car would not let you roll back for a few seconds)

[silver07335i]

Maybe the OP needs practice with the BMW's manual transmission or maybe that car has problems that need to be fixed. I test drove 3 manual transmission 335i in my area before I settled with my current one. The first one I drove felt very difficult to shift from first to second gear. The third car I test drove with 6MT was buttery smooth and the power was definitely there. I've been in the newer 328i courtesy cars and I definitely can feel the power difference between the 335i and the 328i. Start modding/tuning the 335i and you will open up more power. Best of luck to OP on your search for your next car.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by Dominus

IDK how you guys like the 6mt. i felt like i was driving a truck!

I put a KW emblem on my grille, and girlie mudflaps on the rear to complete the experience. Driving like a truck is inherent in any 335 with a stick. About the only difference is you don't have to double-clutch through the range.

P.S. I can totally relate to what you mean about having your hopes too high. I am preordering Katy Perry's new album, but deep down inside I know there is no way, no how, it's going to be as good as Teenage Dream.

[Mardio]

Test drive an auto before you give up on the 335.

[Dominus]

Originally Posted by John 070

I put a KW emblem on my grille, and girlie mudflaps on the rear to complete the experience. Driving like a truck is inherent in any 335 with a stick. About the only difference is you don't have to double-clutch through the range.

P.S. I can totally relate to what you mean about having your hopes too high. I am preordering Katy Perry's new album, but deep down inside I know there is no way, no how, it's going to be as good as Teenage Dream.

and i didnt say not noticable, i said barely, as in there was no way there was an extra 100hp, though it was an xi . . .

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by Dominus

and i didnt say not noticable, i said barely, as in there was no way there was an extra 100hp, though it was an xi . . .

Kick the gas a little bit and you will notice it right away. I had my old 328 loaded up (tune, manifold, exhaust) but it still did not compare to the 335.

[AllBlackBimmer]

6MT in the 3 series and it's "smoothness" is directly related to the CDV (Clutch delay valve)

Makes for some odd shifting if coming from another car, or from an auto... that is, UNTIL YOU GET USED TO IT. at first i was going to do the CDV-delete.. but after a few months in my car, i got used to the shift points/clutch engagement, and now the tranny is nice and smooth! sure there are times the CDV creeps in and the shift is not as "smooth" as it should be, but I am used to it now.

Reverse in the MT with the CDV is where you really notice it. practically have to hold the clutch half way in and ride it, to get the engagement in reverse that "feels" right.

[curiouz_g]

Every BMW including the M models have brooms stick shifts. There's no getting around that.

[Yvette]

you should have red lined it
its night an day

[nightops]

Originally Posted by curiouz_g

Every BMW including the M models have brooms stick shifts. There's no getting around that.

I noticed this in a stock mt when i first drove it too. Very long throw and that cdv valve is hard to shift fast. The car i ended up buying had the short shift kit and a m performance knob. those two things make a huge difference and the car feels almost like a miata the throws are very short. After getting rid of the cdv valve the 1-2 shift is much smoother and faster. without these two mods I would prefer the paddles. OP should definitely try the step version before giving up on the 335 as the torque should be very apparent in the auto compared to the 328.

[CruzS4e92]

Originally Posted by nightops

I noticed this in a stock mt when i first drove it too. Very long throw and that cdv valve is hard to shift fast. The car i ended up buying had the short shift kit and a m performance knob. those two things make a huge difference and the car feels almost like a miata the throws are very short. After getting rid of the cdv valve the 1-2 shift is much smoother and faster. without these two mods I would prefer the paddles. OP should definitely try the step version before giving up on the 335 as the torque should be very apparent in the auto compared to the 328.

x2. mine had the perforance ssk when i bought it. ZHP knob made it better, CDV delete completed the process. couldn't be happier now.

[djjasper]

Last year on Earth Day I set my JB4 back to the stock map. You know...for the environment... I had forgotten how uninspiring the performance is without a tune, but pop on a Juice Box and it is a fire-breathing monster.

[11e90Ride]

Originally Posted by Dominus

Well been looking for a 335 since i bought my 328 and finally found one locally in my price range (albeit they are hard to find period.) thought it was a 2010 but it ended up being a n55. It was a 6mt though! so i took a drive to check it out.

i come to find that it is completely Base. only option seems to be the lighting package. (mine has cold weather, premium stereo, and lighting) it also had the beige interior which i am not a fan

But my want for a 335 was going to look all of that over, until the test drive. . . IDK how you guys like the 6mt. i felt like i was driving a truck! then the power from 1st and 2nd was barely noticeable from my 328. i guess i just had my expectations too high that i thought an extra 100hp would make a bigger difference

needless to say i returned the keys and plate only to discover that they wanted to give me 11k for trade in, when my e90 goes for 15k stock

so needless to say i am still on the search and will probably just pay off my 328 and wait for the m4.

//end rant

Wow, I drive a 328i and my wife drives a 335i, both 2011, both 6MT, and I notice a hella-massive difference in the 335i using ANY gear, in terms of power. Actually, what I notice is that there really isn't a need to use a lower gear for passing in the n55. Kinda takes the fun out of it, really....

[Jeremy]

Next time turn off the traction control and you will notice a huge difference in 1-2 compared to any 328i.