35D vs 35I - Anyone owned both?

sarends · #1 01-25-2014, 05:54 PM

I am thinking about a 2nd E70. If I do it, I am leaning towards a 35I over a 35D, mainly because of the 8 speed transmission. My gut feel is I would be disappointed in the 6 speed now that I have experienced the (wonderful) 8 speed (in our 50I).

Thx!

Lubehead · #2 01-25-2014, 07:55 PM

I had an '08 35i and now have a '10 35d. While I wish for the 8 speed, the torque of the diesel (as well as the excellent mileage) makes up for the lack of the 8 speed ( at least until I drive one). I think the gap has narrowed though as far as fuel mileage goes with the present rendition of the 6 cyl gas engine.

Have you driven both?

sarends · #3 01-26-2014, 09:02 PM

I have not driven both F15 versions. I have driven an E70 35D and a 35I, but it has been about 2 years. To be honest, when I drove the 35D, although it was torquey, I thought it was a little, well, doggy as she wound out. The 35I (as I recall), I loved right away, and then ended up with a 50I (which I adore).

The 2nd E70 I would replace a 13 Touareg TDI that I currently also own. The Touareg TDI has an 8 speed and the entire drive train is excellent. However, there are lots of irritants with the Touareg which is leading me to get rid of it:

Hands free is poor (compared to E70)
Seats are poor (compared to E70)
Nav is poor (compared to E70)
Sports mode is kinda clunky (compared to E70)
Handling, although smooth and rock solid, is kinda squishy in the corners

(compared to E70 - I realize I have Adaptive Drive in our 50I, but I would aim to get AD in the next E70 too)

spyderdoc · #4 02-03-2014, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarends

I have not driven both F15 versions. I have driven an E70 35D and a 35I, but it has been about 2 years. To be honest, when I drove the 35D, although it was torquey, I thought it was a little, well, doggy as she wound out. The 35I (as I recall), I loved right away, and then ended up with a 50I (which I adore).

The 2nd E70 I would replace a 13 Touareg TDI that I currently also own. The Touareg TDI has an 8 speed and the entire drive train is excellent. However, there are lots of irritants with the Touareg which is leading me to get rid of it:

Hands free is poor (compared to E70)
Seats are poor (compared to E70)
Nav is poor (compared to E70)
Sports mode is kinda clunky (compared to E70)
Handling, although smooth and rock solid, is kinda squishy in the corners

(compared to E70 - I realize I have Adaptive Drive in our 50I, but I would aim to get AD in the next E70 too)

Wow, turned off so quick on the Touareg, huh? I'm at 20k mi with mine and still enjoying it. I still like the handling of my old X5d much better, but it had adaptive drive.....I was going to check logistics of placing some Cayenne suspension parts on the VW. I'm sure they'd fit and improve handling.....

bigx5er · #5 02-05-2014, 12:16 AM

Late to the thread. I owned both the 35d and 35i. For me the 35i is the easy winner and I'm currently driving a 2013.

With the price of diesel where it is, there is little or no advantage is fuel costs. The 35i is faster than the 35d 0 - 60 which is what I cared about more. I also prefer the 8 speed automatic.

Plus the 35i doesn't make you mess around with urea, deal with the occasional burn off smell, or enjoy dirty gas pumps.

I'm not knocking those who own the 35d. Just my opinions.

xlr8 · #6 02-05-2014, 02:43 PM

Where i am diesel is $.30 more than premium. Considering i bought my 35D used and it was cheaper than the equivalent 35I at the time i think i made off well. I get 20% more economy for around a 10% more cost in fuel plus that delicious torque.
I do agree about fuel pumps though, diesel ones are often nasty. I'm one of the few who likes the diesel clattering though i bet.

bawareca · #7 02-05-2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlr8

I'm one of the few who likes the diesel clattering though i bet.

I'm the other one

It all depends on the way it is used.I have a track car and my daily job includes hauling a good amount of stuff in the trunk,sedan or hatch wont work.So I moved from 03 X5 4.6is (16 mpg avg/14mpg towing) and 06 530xit(18 mpg average) to just one 12 X5D.22 mpg average and up to 19 mpg when towing.The fact that it cost me less than 30 grand total doesnt hurt either.

seattle · #8 01-27-2014, 03:05 AM

It feels like you want us to convince you to get 35d ))
But seriously, buy the engine setup you want. All 3 are excellent options, you know it well.

sarends · #9 01-27-2014, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seattle

It feels like you want us to convince you to get 35d ))
But seriously, buy the engine setup you want. All 3 are excellent options, you know it well.

No, otherwise I would have said, "Please convince me to buy an XDrive35D".

I am actually beginning to lean towards the 35I mostly because I feel I will disappointed withe the 35D's 6 speed.

Alan Smithee · #10 01-27-2014, 11:01 PM

I actually like the 35d 6-speed. It doesn't quickly force itself into higher gears, followed by multiple downshifts when power is called upon, like so many modern 7- and 8-speeds. Obviously torque is not an issue, so more short gears are not necessary to keep revs up with the diesel powerband. And it is smooth enough, but not so smooth that you forget that you are driving a BMW, not a Lexus. My only criticism is that it could use a higher gear for high speed cruising. (And after three years I still hate the shifter itself, although that is obviously the same across the board.)