BMW 335i
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From: Notts & Bristol wanderer
BMW 335i
Hello all,
Just back in the office having driven the 335i Coupe back from France on a press launch. 1200 miles in the car and I feel I can give a little review of BMW's first turbocharged petrol since the Euro-only 745i of the 1980s, and the third evert including the legendary 2002 Turbo.
LOOKS
Very pretty, but not typically BMW. It's been toned down from other Flame Surfaced cars but it has gleaned "looks like a Jaguar/Lexus/Audi etc" comments. Good or bad? Well, it doesn't have much identity but it isn't offensive and like every other BMW, pictures do it no justice. Our car is Monaco Blue with Cream leather; a lovely, upmarket combo. Oh and the E92 (code number for the Coupe) shares just three body parts with the E90/E91 (saloon/Touring 3-Series) models (boot badge, door handles, side repeaters) in an effort to differentiate all variants of the fifth generation 3-Series. Overall, it's a big car with sleek looks and a muscular presence from both direct front/direct rear views. I really like it.
INTERIOR
Massive. Huge boot and space inside for four 6ft adults, and I'm not kidding. A 650i couldn't hold a candle to this car for practicality. Way bigger than the E46 Coupe inside, without looking massive outside. Everything is well built, lending further credence to the idea that BMWs still built in Germany feel ever so slightly tighter and more expensive than those built elsewhere (X3, X5, Z4). iDrive is simple to use for those of us au fait with desktop computers. Layout of dash is very nice. BMW's trademark orange glow inside has been extended with the use of lighting strips running along the tops of the doors and into the rear, which exude a warm glow downwards at the side of the cabin at night. All very
COSTS
Just back in the office having driven the 335i Coupe back from France on a press launch. 1200 miles in the car and I feel I can give a little review of BMW's first turbocharged petrol since the Euro-only 745i of the 1980s, and the third evert including the legendary 2002 Turbo.
LOOKS
Very pretty, but not typically BMW. It's been toned down from other Flame Surfaced cars but it has gleaned "looks like a Jaguar/Lexus/Audi etc" comments. Good or bad? Well, it doesn't have much identity but it isn't offensive and like every other BMW, pictures do it no justice. Our car is Monaco Blue with Cream leather; a lovely, upmarket combo. Oh and the E92 (code number for the Coupe) shares just three body parts with the E90/E91 (saloon/Touring 3-Series) models (boot badge, door handles, side repeaters) in an effort to differentiate all variants of the fifth generation 3-Series. Overall, it's a big car with sleek looks and a muscular presence from both direct front/direct rear views. I really like it.
INTERIOR
Massive. Huge boot and space inside for four 6ft adults, and I'm not kidding. A 650i couldn't hold a candle to this car for practicality. Way bigger than the E46 Coupe inside, without looking massive outside. Everything is well built, lending further credence to the idea that BMWs still built in Germany feel ever so slightly tighter and more expensive than those built elsewhere (X3, X5, Z4). iDrive is simple to use for those of us au fait with desktop computers. Layout of dash is very nice. BMW's trademark orange glow inside has been extended with the use of lighting strips running along the tops of the doors and into the rear, which exude a warm glow downwards at the side of the cabin at night. All very
COSTS
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
Excellent review & it sounds like the LPT-generation of engines might be quite good.
IKWYM about the German cars seeming to have proper build quality.
There was a lot of discussion about calling the car the 4-series, but the bavarians are terribly conservative.
I hope that they have finally grown up with the flame surfacing & re-discovered proportion & elegance. And not made the wheelarches three sizes too big. The pictures suggest a welcome return to the Civic Coupe elegance that the outgoing generation has and the other BMWs desperately want.
IKWYM about the German cars seeming to have proper build quality.
There was a lot of discussion about calling the car the 4-series, but the bavarians are terribly conservative.
I hope that they have finally grown up with the flame surfacing & re-discovered proportion & elegance. And not made the wheelarches three sizes too big. The pictures suggest a welcome return to the Civic Coupe elegance that the outgoing generation has and the other BMWs desperately want.
