Which one is faster 35i vs 35d

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by barbja

You know, I'm 100% certain that the 0-60 published numbers on the 2011 35d are Loads better than on my E53. However, in real life, it all has to be determined on how you drive your own car.

I traded a 2003 E53 3.0 for a 2011 E70 35d. I've had my new car since the beginning of June, so I'm certainly used to driving it now. I know that I could have toasted myself in the E70 with that E53 in all respects.

The E53 is faster off the line, so I'd get a head start. I would drive the E53 in sport mode all the time, so when I needed to down shift (which I did regularly), I could do it in a heartbeat. I know how and when to shift from driving a standard xmission for 20 years. My dad even taught me how to shift without a clutch (on a car that actually has one) from listening to the engine speed. [Be one with the engine...]

My E70 is slow off the line because of the turbo lag. I can't drive it in sport mode all the time because the shift points are just stupid. So, when I need the 'extra oomph' to pass, or to keep up my speed, I end up shifting into neutral (freakin' hell!), or, that extra time it takes to have all the thoughts go through my brain to move the shifter to sport, then shift makes it too late.

And just "stomping on the gas" will not overtake someone who is good at working a standard transmission, no matter how much torque you have. Perhaps if you have enough straightaway, but you usually don't.

There's a section of road leading to my house that goes from two lanes down to one. I always get in line in the correct lane and I HATE it when people run up the other lane and cut in; its just rude. A couple of days ago, I was a little more than a car length, maybe more, behind the person in front of me. We were going 40. A guy in a jeep directly behind me pulled around me and MADE IT (he just had to get his front end in front of mine before I closed the gap -- its a dovetail, and he did it). It didn't take me by surprise. I saw him start it, and I knew what he was doing and I didn't want him to do it. There is no way on god's green earth that he would have been able to do that had I been driving my E53. Why? I would have been in sports mode and dropped down to 2nd and been able to close the gap in about 2 seconds in my E53. I didn't have time to shift in my E70, so just the gas was my only option and it wasn't nearly enough.

I can't drive in sport mode on that road in my E70 because it drives it the entire way at 40mph in 3rd gear and that's way annoying. My E53 would do it in at least 4th (out of 5 gears). I wish there were some way to program sports mode to be 'less aggressive', so that I could be in that mode so that I could shift myself and also have the shift points more to my liking. If I could do that, my E70 would be much more of a peach for me.

Now here's something I want to know: why is there such a pronounced turbo lag on the 35d? I had a 1988 Volvo 750 turbo with a standard xmission for 7 years. I don't remember that car having a turbo lag. It would take off like a bullet. Annnddd -- about 6 months ago, I ended up right behind it at a light in a left turn lane onto an access road (I know it was my old car because it had custom pin-striping). I wasn't trying to do anything sporty myself, I was just admiring my old car -- it still looked pretty good. But when that light turned green, holy hell! It was just gone. When I turned the corner, it was WAYYYYY up the road and still going fast, there was no way I would have ever been able to get to it. Oh ya, that was a fun car to drive. It definitely was not your grandma's Volvo.

So, as you can see, 0-60 numbers on paper aren't necessarily going to be able to tell you what you are going to be able to do with your car when you are behind the wheel. Me, behind the wheel of either the 2003 E53 3.0 or a 1988 Turbo Volvo would definitely toast me at any speed behind the wheel of a 2011 E70 35d. A 50i? I'll bet that's a different story . (Ya, I know a 50i isn't under discussion, but still...). I'll take the interior of my 35d over the other two in a microsecond however. I loves my toys!

Compared to the 35ds I have driven, yours sounds like a dud, I'm sorry to say. Are you sure there's nothing wrong with the engine or transmission?

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by JCL

For your driving style, you may have preferred the 35i, which gets more torque lower down than the diesel does. I think the 35d could be very effective in traffic, but it would require a slightly different driving style.

The 35d is very effective in traffic.

As for the low-down torque comparison of 35i vs 35d, the 35i has a smidge more at 1000rpm (350Nm vs 340Nm) than the 35d, but by 1200rpm where the 35i has reached its peak of 400Nm, the 35d is already making 450Nm and on its way to its max of 680Nm at 1750rpm.

However I do agree with your comment on driving style, especially going from the 3.0i to the 35d, but it's not one that's hard to master. For me the 35d is fast and effortless even in the regular auto mode.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Fraser

The 35d is very effective in traffic.

As for the low-down torque comparison of 35i vs 35d, the 35i has a smidge more at 1000rpm (350Nm vs 340Nm) than the 35d, but by 1200rpm where the 35i has reached its peak of 400Nm, the 35d is already making 450Nm and on its way to its max of 680Nm at 1750rpm.

However I do agree with your comment on driving style, especially going from the 3.0i to the 35d, but it's not one that's hard to master. For me the 35d is fast and effortless even in the regular auto mode.

I think we are agreeing here. I am very sure the 35d could be effective in traffic, but it may require a different driving style.

The diesel will have less torque just off idle, and a different (less immediate) throttle response, and I think that is what barbja is noticing.

Edit: thinking about it, I wonder why there is never any discussion, along with all this talk of hp and torque, of torque rise? Not a commonly published figure in the automotive world, but two engines with the same torque but with different % torque rise would have very different throttle responses under load.

[Fraser]

It's a pity that the factory power and torque graphs don't go below 1000rpm but at that speed the 3.0i is making 230Nm while the 35d is making 340Nm, as mentioned above. If the 3.0i does have an off-idle torque advantage it must be very fleeting at best. Of course, in the poster's case, there's a also weight and gearbox difference to take into account.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by XXX555

Disappointed that BMW took a step backward with their new 35i engine:

2011 BMW 535i: The Dyno Results

But did they? Rolling road dynos can be inconsistent, especially when used some time apart. Only a side-by-side test of the two engines on an engine dyno, at the same time would really tell. Perhaps the single, twin scroll turbo of the new 35i isn't as effective as the twin, single scroll turbos of the old 35i but I wouldn't take this report as gospel.