UPDATED w/pics: Noticed the oil temp on the 335i runs HOT

[Kewl X5]

Finally had a chance to test drive the 335i at Crevier BMW today as our E46 M3 had it's emission software reprogrammed as per BMW's recall.

First thing I noticed was how hot I could get the oil temp on the 335i. The E46 M3 also has oil temp guage and usually I run just hair below 210F or right on 210F. On the 335i, after driving it for a 5-10 minutes in a "sprited" fashion, the oil temp was already 260F!!

There is a little turbo lag at 1500 rpm, but once get past 2000 rpm, it is pure torque and fast revving as well.

The sports suspension on the 335i coupe appeared to be more "firmer" than the E90 330i sedan with sports package. The front of the 335i seemed to be heavier and seemed to "push", but with all that power and torque and you can definitely steer with the throttle. One thing I missed on the 335i that the E46 M3 has is the variable locking diff that the M3/M5/M6 has. The 335i with all that torque should have that M variable locking diff!!!

The ride on the 335i is less harsh than the M3 but still with great roll control and well dampened ride.

However, the E46 M3 with it's 6 butterfly throttle still has a more quicker & raw throttle response vs the 335i.'

The E92 coupe interior appears to have a little more width but other than that, it did not appear to much larger than the E46 coupe. The difference in interior space between the old & new coupe was not as dramatic as the difference in space between the E46 sedan vs. the E90 sedan.

I am not crazy about the E92 bland/slab style side view. Some may say it is a "cleaner" design, but it also appears boring. Unfortunately, Japanese cars have copied BMWs and appears that new E92 coupe looks more Japanese than German. Not crazy about the interior dash material....First of all, the 335i coupe did not have NAV nor iDrive (not a big deal either way for me), but the non-NAV 3-series radio display sucks because with polarized sunglasses, you CANNOT read the radio display. I thought they would have fixed it in the 2007 models.

The 335i coupe is a great handling car and very fast (basically as fast as the E46 M3). It really gives the 3-series more muscular ammo it deserves. However, the E46 M3 still has this raw power/raw throttle response/engine sound/handling/precises steering that makes it a little more fun (like it should) than the non-M cars.

After driving the 335i coupe, the E46 M3 still felt lighter and little more nimbler at the front end than the 335i coupe. I found out why....because the 335i coupe weighs about 200 lbs more than the E46 M3.

UPDATED: I added the pics from Crevier's E92 335i & you can compare with our E46 M3

[SANguru]

that's cuz the oil is used to cool the turbos...

Originally Posted by Kewl X5

Finally had a chance to test drive the 335i at Crevier BMW today as our E46 M3 had it's emission software reprogrammed as per BMW's recall.

First thing I noticed was how hot I could get the oil temp on the 335i. The E46 M3 also has oil temp guage and usually I run just hair below 210F or right on 210F. On the 335i, after driving it for a 5-10 minutes in a "sprited" fashion, the oil temp was already 260F!!

There is a little turbo lag at 1500 rpm, but once get past 2000 rpm, it is pure torque and fast revving as well.

The sports suspension on the 335i coupe appeared to be more "firmer" than the E90 330i sedan with sports package. The front of the 335i seemed to be heavier and seemed to "push", but with all that power and torque and you can definitely steer with the throttle. One thing I missed on the 335i that the E46 M3 has is the variable locking diff that the M3/M5/M6 has. The 335i with all that torque should have that M variable locking diff!!!

The ride on the 335i is less harsh than the M3 but still with great roll control and well dampened ride.

However, the E46 M3 with it's 6 butterfly throttle still has a more quicker & raw throttle response vs the 335i.'

The E92 coupe interior appears to have a little more width but other than that, it did not appear to much larger than the E46 coupe. The difference in interior space between the old & new coupe was not as dramatic as the difference in space between the E46 sedan vs. the E90 sedan.

I am not crazy about the E92 bland/slab style side view. Some may say it is a "cleaner" design, but it also appears boring. Unfortunately, Japanese cars have copied BMWs and appears that new E92 coupe looks more Japanese than German. Not crazy about the interior dash material....First of all, the 335i coupe did not have NAV nor iDrive (not a big deal either way for me), but the non-NAV 3-series radio display sucks because with polarized sunglasses, you CANNOT read the radio display. I thought they would have fixed it in the 2007 models.

The 335i coupe is a great handling car and very fast (basically as fast as the E46 M3). It really gives the 3-series more muscular ammo it deserves. However, the E46 M3 still has this raw power/raw throttle response/engine sound/handling/precises steering that makes it a little more fun (like it should) than the non-M cars.

After driving the 335i coupe, the E46 M3 still felt lighter and little more nimbler at the front end than the 335i coupe. I found out why....because the 335i coupe weighs about 200 lbs more than the E46 M3.

[Wagner]

Does the 335i run an oil cooler?

[Kewl X5]

I know that the oil is used to cool the turbo, and I assume they are not using the standard synthetic 5W-30 oil (in fact, it states to used only HIGH PERFORMANCE SYNTHETIC OIL on the fan shroud, but it doesn't states which viscosity).

I am curious, like Wagner, I hope BMW use a huge oil cooler/radiator.

Even my E30 325i had an oil cooler (abeit probably a small one)

[PersonaNonGrata]

Your "bland/slab style" comment is pretty much what I said when I saw the first E92. I described it as "slab sided" to be exact. I think that is because the one you saw and the first one I saw was Jet Black. It's very plain and actually quite Accordish from the side but when I saw the Space Gray one around the corner, the one I test drove, it looked much better.

I would add that the slab-sidedness of it would be less prominent with a nice set of 19" wheels. I can't wait to see something like that; a Space Gray or Montego Blue with 19" CSL style wheels or HRE/iForged would look sick!

[Kewl X5]

I agree that Jet Black does not show off curves as well as Space Grey. However, BMW does it again with the suspension fine combo tuning of handling and ride with good dampening. I will say, the E92 coupe definitely rides better than the M3, yet has the similar handling characteristic. The only thing I wished the 335i had (maybe at least as an available option) is a limited-slip differential. What is going one with sports car companies these days. I can't believe even the standard 997 Porsche 911 Carerra or Carerra S doesn't come with a limited-slip diff anymore.

With all this power on the 335i, you will be wasting power & time on the track without that M-variable locking diff!

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Your "bland/slab style" comment is pretty much what I said when I saw the first E92. I described it as "slab sided" to be exact. I think that is because the one you saw and the first one I saw was Jet Black. It's very plain and actually quite Accordish from the side but when I saw the Space Gray one around the corner, the one I test drove, it looked much better.

I would add that the slab-sidedness of it would be less prominent with a nice set of 19" wheels. I can't wait to see something like that; a Space Gray or Montego Blue with 19" CSL style wheels or HRE/iForged would look sick!

[Kewl X5]

Kevin, your wish is my command...here is a pic of a 335i coupe, Space Grey, with OEM M3 competition package wheels...

[dr.jay]

I still like your E46 better

[vinuneuro]

Considering that even most NA cars have some sort of oil coolers these days, I'm sure this one uses a aux one. Am also very curious about the oil viscosity run in this engine and whether they're still using the north american castrol syntec crap. There's no way the existing stuff will last even 12k in this engine.

[SANguru]

the oil will be fine... has been fine, it's the oil filter that takes a crap pretty early..

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

Considering that even most NA cars have some sort of oil coolers these days, I'm sure this one uses a aux one. Am also very curious about the oil viscosity run in this engine and whether they're still using the north american castrol syntec crap. There's no way the existing stuff will last even 12k in this engine.