Test drove the new 335i

[Jim]

I just got back from test driving a 335i twin turbo coupe w/ paddle shifters...
so I thought I'd post some thoughts on it, and compare it to the E46 M3 and E46 3-Series.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIaQOBPCBE

Obviously the car has alot more power then the standard E46 Coupe... 300lbs tq and 300hp. The car has roughly ~30-40 hp less then the E46 M3. The crazy thing is, comparing the stats on it, the 335i is only about 1/2 slower in 0-60 times then an E46 M3, partially due to the larger power band (more tq) and that the E46 M3 peak HP is achieved only very close to redline.

Paddle shifting was awesome... up and down shifts were almost instantenous. Interior has been changed drastically, prob one of the pimpest things were the seat belt pusher things. They push the seat belt up from behind you when you close the door.

The car was quick, but not fast (I guess what can you expect); I havent seen too much about modding, but I'd assume it has a bit of potential... especially after reading the dyno results posted on the BMW boards.

Perhaps the most interesting part about it, is to see what happens with next years M3. It's supposed to have a revised version of the M5's V10... in V8 shape and make 400+hp.

---

Quote:
Originally Posted by sliknick
DYNO INFO BELOW!!

thanks to chrisanlo22

We used a DynoJet chassis dyno, which measures an engine's power output at a vehicle's rear wheels. Because of frictional driveline losses, this number is always lower--generally by fifteen to twenty percent--than the quoted power output from the manufacturer, which is measured at the engine itself.

Here's what we found:
The non-turbocharged 330i, rated by BMW at 255 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque, puts about 200 hp and 180 lb-ft to the rear wheels. That's roughly a twenty-percent loss. Since they have similar drivelines, you'd expect the 335i to put down 235 hp and 250 lb-ft.

But it didn't. It put down a whole lot more: 275 hp and 300 lb-ft. A few quick taps on our trusty calculator shows that this engine is likely putting out closer to 350 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque.

Technical editor Don Sherman's ears perked up at all this number crunching. With all that power, he wondered, is the 335i faster than the outgoing 333-hp E46 M3? We waved goodbye to the shiny new coupe's rear tires, and sent him to find out.

Don coaxed the 335i to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds--only 0.3 seconds slower than the M3. The 335i covered the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds @ 104 mph--again, only 0.2 seconds and 1 mph behind the M3.

So in an all-out drag race, the 335i comes close, but can't quite match the M3's blistering acceleration. Those numbers, though, only tell half the story. Have a look at the top-gear acceleration figures. In sixth gear, the M3 needs 14.7 seconds to get from 30 to 70 mph - but the 335i does it in only 12.5.

That, my friends, is the beauty of this engine. At full bore, it's as fast as an M3. But at moderate engine speeds, it's even faster. What a great way to keep us all interested until the next M3 comes along.

Test - M3 - 335i
0-60 - 4.8 - 5.1
0-100 - 11.5 - 12.7
0-110 - 14.5 - 15.6
0-120 - N/A - 18.6
0-140 - N/A - 28.2
1/4 mile - 13.4@105 - 13.6@104
peak g - 0.7 - 0.68
30-70 (6th) - 14.7 - 12.5
30-70 (3rd) - N/A - 6.5

70-0 - 162 - 150
Peak g - 1.12 - 1.12

Weight - 3480 - 3560
%F/R - 50.6/49.4 - 51.1/48.9
Redline - 8000 - 7000
Power - 333 - 300
Torque - 202 - 300

Tires 255/40 ZR-18 255/35 WR-18

[weshole]

Well, by the video footage I would say it does circles like nobodys buisiness. Hahaha Jk. It does sound nice tho. Wheres the in-car footage?

[Jim]

Pics of the new turbo coupe:

[SmitEvo]

That does look bad ass....

[KA-T_240]

that thing looks pimp

[integra_gsr98]

Vishnu has done some tuning on them already and w/ a ghetto catback and his programming they were making near 400 whp w/ test cars.

[King Ricer]

Buy it up Jim! that thing's pimp

[Jim]

Interior and such:

[Sweet-WRX-Lovin]

Damn, sweet ass car.

[91nbtsi]

The question is...When are you going to buy one? They look awesome.