Edmunds Reviews the BMW 335i

The data doesn't make any sense. We're tearing our collective hair out trying to determine why the track-test numbers from our 2007 BMW 335i test car are so far off.

Our freshly minted 3 Series twin-turbo coupe has not only eclipsed BMW's own impressive performance figures — by a ton — it's also smoked those of the 2005 BMW M3 Competition Package, a car we called "The Best M3 Ever Sold in America." And while that admittedly turbo-deprived car had been a six-speed manual, the Arctic Metallic 2007 BMW 335i Coupe cooling in the driveway is but an automatic. Nothing about out Austrian First Drive of the car prepared us for this...

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BimmerFan - 11/27/2006 10:52:43 AM

+2 Boost

Loved the video! Beautiful drifting scenes. I agree with Edmunds, the automated seatbelt arm is quite flimsy and prone to breakage. I am guessing that BMW will redesign and strengthen it. BMW has a history of understating its horsepower and 0-60 times....so really no new news here.

CPILLAR - 11/27/2006 12:15:31 PM

+1 Boost

Only 0.1 seconds behind the "mighty" Audi RS4?

The new M3 is going to be quite a car.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2006 8:56:37 PM

-3 Boost

No, RS4 can achieve 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds.

I love this car, but you're pushing my buttons.

NARunner - 11/27/2006 12:54:35 PM

+1 Boost

I'm not knocking this car because I believe it to be an amazing machine, but it seems clear that this car did not produce more boost and higher rwhp by accident. The car was given to edmunds by BMW "for the purpose of evaluation"...i wouldn't expect the same performance from a customer car. None the less, even 272 rwhp from the customer car, taking into account drivetrain loss is probably over 300hp at the crank. The drivetrain loss would have to be less than 10% to produce 300rwhp, which is unlikely that it is.

I bet these cars consistently push 315hp at the crank (+/- 5hp)

BimmerFan - 11/27/2006 1:24:19 PM

+1 Boost

drive one yourself and you will be a believer.

JRobUSC - 11/27/2006 3:14:06 PM

+3 Boost

sorry, but this wasn't a "ringer". The customer's car that Edmunds dynoed in this article is putting out 341hp at the crank based on 20% drivetrain loss, which istypical for an automatic. The "factory" car is making 349. Those are well within tolerances for production variance. Automobile Magazine said the same thing ("this car is too fast for the rated power, let's dyno it") and they tested two seperate vehicles independently. Both were putting out numbers similar to those in this article, both indicating crank hp in the 340-350 range, and crank torque in the 350-360 range. The car really just is that fast, and obviously extremely underrated power-wise.

BM3W - 11/27/2006 2:58:48 PM

+2 Boost

The article first quote "The case for M-power just got a lot weaker". Not true at all the next M3 0-60 will be in the realm of 4.3 sec. Which is quite remarkable.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2006 8:58:24 PM

-1 Boost

I love this car. BM3W- I agree, the new M3 will be quicker, but this makes any M3 look like a bad deal. It will be cross-shopped, believe me. There are plenty of penny pinchers out there! "Hmm... honey, look at this! 85% of the performance of the M3 for 75% of the price! This is a great deal!"

AmazingBimmer - 11/28/2006 2:36:36 PM

-2 Boost

better deal than any audi out there, and relatively a better value for higher prestige, better vehicle dynamics and "magic feel" than a RS4. I like it. i really like it!!

AmazingBimmer - 11/28/2006 2:39:33 PM

-3 Boost

if you must know, A BMW insider told me this car is purposefully under rated on HP and torque, becasue it woill ultimately go into the 5 series and X5. Not enough differentiation to the 4.8i. New 8 cylinder engine to be released 08 for 09 production. You will see this HP bumped up to a target 325 -350HP and advertised as such.. V8 will be 400+hp as a detuned verison of the new M3 engine... got that little boys and girls??

MunichRob - 12/1/2006 3:46:56 AM

+1 Boost

^^ ^^
Hey Amazing Bimmer just a comment from one of your fellow BMW fans...You truly are an idiot.