Review: 2010 BMW 335i xDrive Coupe

Over the past 35 years like most cars the 3 series has evolved quite a bit. The lineup has grown to now included a four door sedan, two door coupe, a station wagon and a hard-top convertible. We tested the coupe which looks much like a two-door version of the sedan but actually shares almost none of its bodywork with the four door. The coupe is three inches longer than the sedan and the roof-line is two inches lower giving the whole car a sleeker look than the sedan.



The current generation 3 (dubbed E90/E91 internally at BMW) debuted in 2005 and is something of an in-betweener in terms of BMW's styling direction. During the early part of the last decade, under the direction of Chris Bangle BMW launched a series of very controversial designs including the previous 7, 5 and Z4. By the time the E90/E91 3 rolled out BMW styling had settled back to a somewhat more conservative direction. It was as though the design team paused to catch its collective breath. Rather than the flame surfacing found on the last 5 series and especially the old Z4 the 3 series has more sedate surface development.



Of course as a BMW it features all of the usual design cues such as the twin kidney grille, the four round headlamps and the distinct side glass profile including the Hoffmeister kink. Since the current 3 series debuted the newer generations of the 5, 7 and Z4 have taken this direction and enhanced it with a more muscular appearance.

Inside our 335i had the base dashboard devoid of a navigation system or the dreaded iDrive controller. Admittedly the latest version of iDrive on has been improved dramatically from earlier iterations but it still isn't as intuitive to use as the Sync system found in Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The top part of the dashboard on all 3 series variants is finished in a black soft-touch material with the shifter and steering wheel covered in matching black leather. On our tester the lower dash, doors and seats were upholstered in a cream beige leather.



The sport package on our car includes the front sport seats which we think should be standard on all 3 series. After all the 3 series is the car that gave birth to an entire market segment based around combining performance with luxury and practicality so basic elements like the seats should be top notch. At only $850 the sport package is a worthwhile purchase. The side bolsters provide plenty of support to keep the driver planted firmly in front of the tiller and the extendable thigh bolsters provide great support for those with longer legs.



Unlike some other coupes such as the Audi A5 which have a shorter wheelbase than their sedan counterparts, the 3 series coupe spans the same distance between its axles. As a result it has the same rear seat leg room as the four door which itself is not particularly spacious. The lower roof-line does cut into headroom making the back seat tight for taller occupants.

While Europeans get a range of gas and diesel engines to choose from, here in the U.S. 3 series coupes only get a choice of two gasoline fueled inline six cylinders. The 328 uses a normally aspirated version of BMW's 3.0-liter six cylinder while the 335 we drove has a twin-turbocharged version of this engine. The 2010 models like the one we tested have two turbochargers and a port fuel injection system to generate 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The 2011 models coming this summer use an updated version of this engine with direct injection and a single twin scroll turbocharger with same output but 10 percent better fuel efficiency.



The coupe we drove had the optional six speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel. Unlike most paddle setups which have the upshift paddle on the right with down on the left, BMW uses a symmetrical configuration. Both paddles trigger an upshift when pulled toward the wheel with downshifts being set off by pushing the paddle away. While paddle shifters generally imply full manual control of the transmission, in most such applications the ratio changes only come when the transmission is good and ready. In keeping with the sporting nature of a BMW, the gearbox responds right now when you tap the paddles.

This 335i included xDrive which is BMW's branding for all-wheel-drive but not all xDrive systems are created equal. The BMW X6's all-wheel-drive includes torque vectoring that sends more power to the outside rear wheel while cornering to help the car turn in better. The system used on the 3 series is a bit more basic. By default all drive torque is sent to the rear wheels giving the coupe the optimum handling balance that only rear wheel drive can provide. When the traction is limited, up to half of the drive torque is re-directed to the front wheels through an electronically controlled clutch.



Ever since the original 3 series BMW's have been lauded for having the best steering feel of almost any cars on the road. The electro-hydraulic steering assist on the current models continues that tradition with the feedback through the wheel being perfectly in proportion to the forces at the front wheels while cornering. BMW offers an optional active steering system on the rear drive 3 series (and other models) that varies the steering ratio based on the vehicle speed of the car. This provides quicker steering at low speeds such as when maneuvering in a parking lot. Unfortunately the active steering is not available in combination with xDrive and we found the fixed steering ratio to be a bit too slow at low speeds. As a result we had to turn the wheel more than expected when making turns from a stop. At higher speeds though the 335's steering was indeed among the best we've tried.



Compared to previous rear drive 3 series that we've driven this all-wheel-drive version tips the scales at 3,759 pounds, nearly 200 pounds more. Most of that goes on the front half of the car so it doesn't feel as light and nimble as base models. The coupe's responses just feel more sluggish all around. Since this is supposed to be a sports coupe, we'd probably skip the xDrive system and just invest in a second set of wheels and a good set of snow tires for winter driving. Our experience has shown that the combination or rear drive, stability control and proper winter tires is superior to all-wheel-drive and all-season tires.

In many ways the 335i xDrive continues to represent the best of what a sports sedan/coupe should be. We think it's sized just right with ample room for two plus a roomier back seat than many competitors. The turbocharged six cylinder produces plenty of power and the fat torque curve makes it instantly responsive no matter what speed you are at. We don't think the xDrive contributes to making this an "ultimate driving machine" and would pass on that feature, picking the active steering instead. Our personal preference runs to manual transmissions but if you must have an automatic unit used by BMW is an excellent choice with quick smooth shifts. We averaged 19 mpg with the 335i xDrive (compared to 17/25 measured by the EPA) and the 2011 model should boost that by 2-3 mpg. Base price for the xDrive coupe is $44,100 with our example having a bottom line of $51,600 delivered.



For those dissatisfied with the normal list of options BMW is always willing to help you find ways to spend money through its Individual program. Individual lets you pick customized interior and exterior finishes and all manner of other unique items. You can also opt to take delivery at the BMW Performance Center adjacent to the factory in Spartanburg SC. If you do that, BMW will give you a factory tour and you can even get driving lessons at the performance center.



The current 3 series is nearing the end of its life-cycle with a redesigned model likely debuting in 2011. BMW continues to evolve the 3 and the current car is still very good, but it has inspired a lot of serious competitors and it no longer stands head and shoulders above.





Photos Copyright ©2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.