Bmw 335xi vs other awd
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- boomee
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Bmw 335xi vs other awd
how does the beamers awd system compare to say an sti or a spec b ? My buddy is possibly gonna get one just curious how there system stacks up and if anyone has taken one for a spin
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
No limited slip diffs front or rear.
Center diff is smart. Car is mostly RWD, and the front helps out as the rear slips.
Quaife sells LSDs for the 135 and 335, for about $1'500 each.
Brakes are electronically controlled to engage and limit how much any wheel can spin out of control, but everyone says that installing LSDs is way better for handling than using the BMW traction control.
If you read BMW forums, people generally like to call the car "1WD".
Basically it's not the best system around, but you can upgrade it, or if you don't care you just live with it.
-scheherazade
Center diff is smart. Car is mostly RWD, and the front helps out as the rear slips.
Quaife sells LSDs for the 135 and 335, for about $1'500 each.
Brakes are electronically controlled to engage and limit how much any wheel can spin out of control, but everyone says that installing LSDs is way better for handling than using the BMW traction control.
If you read BMW forums, people generally like to call the car "1WD".
Basically it's not the best system around, but you can upgrade it, or if you don't care you just live with it.
-scheherazade
- Cereb Daithi
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Actually I just had a huge discussion on this tonight with someone. One of the most brilliant car guys I have ever met. He pretty soundly convinced me that, for performance purposes at least, BMW's AWD is not very good. I was half drunk at the time so I can't quite remember all his details. I'll have to ask him again or have him post em up on here.
- Mr Kleen
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
BMW's AWD system isn't a performance enhancement system, it's a safety enhancement system. we're talking about BMW here, not Audi.



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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
On a related note : I saw the new TL with the 3.7L and SH-AWD has all 3 electronically controlled diffs.
-scheherazade
-scheherazade
Last edited by scheherazade on Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:49 am, edited 2 times in total.
- boomee
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
thanks for the info i will pass it on to my buddy I keep telling uim just to get a rwd 335i maybe he will listen now
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
I have the AWD on orderboomee wrote:thanks for the info i will pass it on to my buddy I keep telling uim just to get a rwd 335i maybe he will listen now

http://www.rixeffects.com/store/node/12
Not much work for over 400hp at the wheels.
AWD helps put it down, instead of spinning wheels or watching the traction control light blink.
edit :
Watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuXNddx_ ... re=related
The AWD version takes the launch easy.
Both cars' should be roughly on par power wise, with the RWD having a little more.
JB2H ~= Procede v2 (Procede v2 is a little bit more powerful)
Downpipes are usually better from what I've read on e90post, but air filter + bov might be as good, I don't know.
edit :
Here's a link to dyno results that you would have with just a piggyback ecu, no other mods.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78916
-scheherazade
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Manual or auto? I hear the automatic is no slouch.scheherazade wrote:
I have the AWD on order.
-scheherazade
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Manual, actually.
I test drove the automatic ~3 times. Each time it felt 'squishy'. You hit the throttle, and the only way I can describe it is a 'saggy feeling'.
They finally had a manual one day and I drove that, and it was a totally different throttle response feeling. I liked it a lot more.
Maybe the automatic is still fast, but it smooths things out way too much. More 'luxurious', maybe...
-scheherazade
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Test driving is definitely the way to make a decision. When do you expect delivery?scheherazade wrote:Manual, actually.
I test drove the automatic ~3 times. Each time it felt 'squishy'. You hit the throttle, and the only way I can describe it is a 'saggy feeling'.
They finally had a manual one day and I drove that, and it was a totally different throttle response feeling. I liked it a lot more.
Maybe the automatic is still fast, but it smooths things out way too much. More 'luxurious', maybe...
-scheherazade
Last edited by GaToR on Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
6-8 weeks.legasleeper wrote:Test driving is definitely the way to make a decision. When do you expect delivery?
I signed the papers last week, and they are just grumbling about needing these papers or those papers to confirm crap before they place the order with BMW mfg. Yesterday they said they have everything they need... but I'm gonna confirm Monday that they don't need any more stuff.
The delays are ok, just gives me more time to sell the evo and have a big down payment ready.
-scheherazade
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Good luck with the whole deal.scheherazade wrote:6-8 weeks.legasleeper wrote:Test driving is definitely the way to make a decision. When do you expect delivery?
I signed the papers last week, and they are just grumbling about needing these papers or those papers to confirm crap before they place the order with BMW mfg. Yesterday they said they have everything they need... but I'm gonna confirm Monday that they don't need any more stuff.
The delays are ok, just gives me more time to sell the evo and have a big down payment ready.
-scheherazade
I'm a bit disappointed hearing your review of the auto. Mostly because the 335d will come with automatic only, and I'll be curious how that car feels when it gets here. Thanks for sharing your analyses.
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Eh', it's just my personal feeling. I wouldn't put too much weight on it. Some people really like the automatic.legasleeper wrote:I'm a bit disappointed hearing your review of the auto.
Although, there are rumors that the 335 coupe will get the M3's 7 speed dual clutch soon. Then you get the best of both worlds. And I hear that the dual clutch actually cuts off a few tenths to 60 (in 'drive' mode too

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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
since i will be in the market to buy another car soon ( and gave up onbuying my uncles 07 z06)is there anything close to the bmw335xi ....in manual trans????
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Define what you mean by close?boomee wrote:since i will be in the market to buy another car soon ( and gave up onbuying my uncles 07 z06)is there anything close to the bmw335xi ....in manual trans????
You can get the 135 with RWD
-scheherazade
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
I was excited about the 135i until I read the reviews. it's only 200lbs lighter, is uglier, and the back seat is much more difficult to use than the 335i.
- boomee
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
close in terms of performance/ and lunxury and not breaking the bank and keeping it luxury (new or used for that matter)
- sirwilliam
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Just get a SpecB 6spd legacy. You can get a brand new 2008 for ~30k now...maybe less.
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
sirwilliam wrote:Just get a SpecB 6spd legacy. You can get a brand new 2008 for ~30k now...maybe less.

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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
The 3 series is still fairly cheapy-plasticy inside, not any better than the legacy.sirwilliam wrote:Just get a SpecB 6spd legacy. You can get a brand new 2008 for ~30k now...maybe less.
Power is similar.
335 costs more...
(That said, I just "like" the 335.)
Or try out the new kid on the block : http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sed ... index.html
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Yeah, I know...I ALMOST thought about trading in my forester...but I have too much time and money invested in it and I need the room for my son and all the crap that I haul.legasleeper wrote:sirwilliam wrote:Just get a SpecB 6spd legacy. You can get a brand new 2008 for ~30k now...maybe less.
There is a vendor over on another forum I frequent but he had this up over on the legacy forum:
http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthre ... son+subaru
2008 Legacy GT Spec B, quartz silver $29990
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2008 SG Model D BlueRallyWorld
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"Nothing shuts my pie-hole but pie." -Shawn Spencer
- boomee
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
yeah spec b is on my list so is an sti limited or i may just by another fxt i love them so much(04-08) only other cars i have considered are a s2000( i love a good high reving engine lol) or an audi s4
Last edited by boomee on Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- sirwilliam
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
Just depends on what you want to do w/ it and how much room you need? My FSXT fits all the bills...just wish it was an FSTi so it would already have everything I need on there instead of me swapping it on...wish I had the 6spd...one dayboomee wrote:yeah spec b is on my list so is an sti limited or i may just by another fxt i love them so much(04-08) only other cars i have considered are a s2000( i love a good hireving engine lol) or an audi s4

2004 SG Model A PearlBlackObsidian (RIP)
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"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story." -Barney Stinson
"Nothing shuts my pie-hole but pie." -Shawn Spencer
2008 SG Model D BlueRallyWorld
"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story." -Barney Stinson
"Nothing shuts my pie-hole but pie." -Shawn Spencer
- boomee
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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
ahh the elusive fsti that would be everything i need lol 

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Re: Bmw 335xi vs other awd
I don't really feel like I've lost anything per se without having the 6 speed. More so after actually owning an STi beforehand.sirwilliam wrote:wish I had the 6spd...one day
I'll keep the weight savings, the 4.44 final drive and the beautiful torque multiplication.

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