The BMW 335d: Can A Diesel Be The Ultimate Driving Machine?
To many people, diesels are slow, noisy, and belch black smoke. 
If that’s your recollection too, you’ll be surprised to find out that diesels in Europe currently account for roughly 50% of the new car market. In the United States, the market for diesel automobiles is miniscule, thanks largely to a reputation for poor reliability, largely due to problematic diesel models from Cadillac and Oldsmobile in the 1980s.
Today diesels are staging a comeback thanks, in part, to low-sulfur diesel fuel and fluctuating fuel prices The renaissance is being led by German car makers including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. Car enthusiasts began to take note of diesels last year when BMW announced plans to offer 50-state diesel-powered BMWs (namely the 3er Series and X5), promising no compromises in handling and performance. In BMW’s home market of Germany, 70% of BMWs sold are diesels.
Until about 10 years ago, Europeans were happy to relegate diesel technology to trucks, buses, and taxis (a common assignment for the Mercedes 240D). But that changed around 1997, when Bosch introduced the diesel Common Rail System, where diesel fuel is precisely injected at a very high pressure (much higher than in a gasoline engine). Its name derives from the one common fuel feed pipe – or rail – that provides fuel for all injectors. The Common Rail System reduces exhaust emissions and lowers engine noise, thereby ameliorating the two most common objections to diesel-powered automobiles.
Anyone who has driven a modern diesel automobile knows of its advantages over gasoline. Diesels use far less fuel, about 30% less on average, than their gasoline-burning counterparts and emit 25% less carbon dioxide. They also produce 50% more torque, which translates to higher acceleration at lower RPM.
INTRODUCING THE DIESEL DRIVER BMW 335D
To date I have only spent a few hours in a BMW 335d but all I can say is, “what torque, what torque.” Just like the 535d (see our review here), the 335d has sick amounts of torque and provides bone-crushing acceleration devoid of any turbo lag. There’s no question in my mind that this car will establish the BMW diesel line in the mind of the enthusiast.
On 23 December 2009, I will take delivery of a new BMW 335d at the BMW Welt delivery center in Munich, Germany. I’ll have more to report then.
“Diesels are slow, noisy, and belch black smoke” – yes, that’s pretty what comes to my mind when I think of diesel cars. You say that BMW has overcome these problems, which is pretty impressive. But you neglect to mention one more big hurdle to the acceptance of diesel cars in the US: Where do you get fuel? I don’t see too many of my local gas stations selling diesel. I don’t want to go to a truck stop every time I need to fill up!
I own the BMW 335d. First time the sales guy started the 335d in the show room, more than a few people commented on how quiet the car is, not just how quiet it is for diesel, but how quiet the car is as a normal car.
The 335d goes 0-60mpg in 6.0 seconds, pretty damn quick, but it really shines in highway passing. The torque is MASSIVE! Passing cars is so effortless, it doesn’t even need to downshift!
I have averaged 26mpg on my day-to-day driving (compare to 20~21mpg on my 05 Acura TL in exact same situation). I can also easily get the claimed 36mpg on highways. (Actually, I’ve done 40mpg driving across Houston on the freeway, which takes about an hour from one side to another, with a lot of slow down, speed ups due to traffic)
Gary: as far as your “big hurdle” of getting fuel… I’ve had zero issue in finding diesel fuel. On the rare occasions that one gas station doesn’t have diesel, chances are the one cross the street does. We’re talking about inside the loop in Houston, close to downtown.
Just noticed that one of the local stations I use sells diesel, so maybe it’s not too hard to find these days. That said, it was $.50 / gallon more than the regular I put in my Mustang!
Last week diesel was only ,99 / liter in Austria (less expensive than anything else at the pump). Just like with gasoline, prices in Austria are always less expensive than in Germany.
In New York prices seem within a few cents of premium (which is what I purchase for my 550i anyway).
A quick glance at gasbuddy.com confirmed this.
I have a UK 335d. Im glad you guys in the USA finally have this fantastic machine.
I cant wait to see what you guys do with the tuning side.
I have a DMS Automotive re-map for the past two years, it gives 350HP and 530ibs.
Ive done a 13.0@105.5mph standing quarter.
You guys No doubt will get this car to 400HP in no time!
I drove a 535d for two weeks on vacation across Austria & Germany last year and I was simply amazed with the performance! Other than ‘what’ goes in the tank, there was no indication that the car was a diesel. I think BMW has really done a lousy job of marketing the 335d & X5d in America. As I recall the only reference I’ve seen was at the end of that stupid commercial with the guy in the white room, and even then, the diesel was only mentioned some of the time. What they really need to emphasize is the performance characteristics of this car as opposed to just the ‘green’ angle. Because let’s face it, BMW customers want and expect performance first, and this engine delivers in spades!
My lease is up on my BMW 550 on July 15. I am going to get another 5 series. If the 535 diesel were available in the US, I would lease that in a heart beat.
I drive an automatic 525d (which is basically the same engine as the 535d) and am very pleased with it. Currently I am averaging 7.6L/100km. Where I live (Belgium) about 80% of new vehicles sold are diesels.
My next will be a 535d – I’m waiting until 2012 or so when the new 5 series sports pack will be available as an option.
As a 335d driver, I fnd there is no shortage of diesel at service stations in Canada, and with 800-1000km per tank, you’re more than likely to pass many before you ever have to fill up.
This car is amazing…the first of the diesels to be “just as good as” if not better than its gasoline-powered stable mate. It drives well, and the 425ft-lbs of torque seems to always be there. Passing a highway speeds is simply incredible…maybe a gear downshifted, but often twisting away in 6th with stunning acceleration.
BMW got this one right!
Now for the X1 xDrive2.3d to hurry up and come over so I can replace my clunky Jeep KJ CRD.
Just picked up my 2010 335d a month ago (turned in my 08 328xi) and couldn’t be happier with it! As a 25year client advisor for BMW in the states, I have had too many BMWs to mention here. It has been a hard sell for us here in the northeast (ny) not having all-wheel drive, but I have been selling a few here and there. So far everybody that I have sold an X5d or 335d to has fallen in love with it. The Engine is really a wonderful power plant. I hope that this is only the begining of many more to come.
Finally got my own diesel in August – 335d and picked it up at the WELT with a European Delivery. Shipped it home and reunited at Performance Driving Center. Drove cross-country in five days on 100 gallons of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) without any issues getting fuel. Total distance 3,475 – so the average was 34.5 mpg. And I forgot the speed limit a few times.
Only met one law enforcement officer on the trip – a very nice California Highway Patrol Officer. Probably should not have mentioned that the car ‘was hot’, but I couldn’t resist.
As Jonathan knows, I wanted a 535d, but I got tired of waiting for BMW to crack that nut.
And it is fully loaded with everything that they make for the 335d – the ultimate test platform.
After long days of driving, were it not for sleep, I could have comfortably driven for endless miles. The Sport package seats were superb.
At 60 years of age, I can say that I have not had so much pleasure, and ‘BMW Joy’ driving any vehicle as much as the 335d.
If you don’t buy one, you will regret it the rest of your life.
Glad to see so many great reviews of the 335d. Out west we use a lot of diesel fuel so almost every station has it. I love my diesel pickup and looking forward to adding a 335d to my stable. Visited the Welt in Sept 2008 and had an awesome time there. Goal on my 335d is to be there every step of the way. Might not be possible but I’m going to try. I just hope these do well in the US and doesn’t get discontinued before I buy one. No need to buy one this year as it would just sit since I’m working in the Middle East.
Can someone compare the relative Freuden (enjoyment) of, say, a 335d (Diesel) vs. 335 Gasoline? I see that several commenters have had experience with gasoline BMWs and have been won over to diesel. What is the difference in drivig a diesel, other than the big increase in torque? Is it frustrating that diesels rev very low? I’d love to hear a pro/con of diesel vs. gasoline engines … from BMW drivers!
I now own a 335d and I traded in my 335i to get it. I am so glad I did. I had never owned a diesel before this car and I was skeptical about the power drop off from the 335i which I thoroughly loved.
I am happy to say that the 335d is simply perfect. It is quiet, it has the same feel to drive as the 335i. It is not lacking in acceleration. The mileage improvement is significant. I commute about 100 miles per day to and from work and I am giddy about the MPG I am seeing.
The only difference I can say is obvious is that the acceleration of the 335i was a higher pitched winding sound while the diesel is a low pitch, more “throaty” sound. I hesitate to even mention this because it is not significant, but that is the most obvious difference I can tell.
I had a 2007 335i sedan with 77k miles on it and now I have the 2010 335d sedan and couldn’t be happier!
Robert, if you covered up the tachometer and didn’t mind a baritone instead of a soprano engine sound, then there is effectively little difference between the two cars on the whole…i a bit faster by fractions of a second. The 335d’s acceleration seems smoother/more constant, while the 335i seems to be a bit ‘peakier’ (a bit more pull towards the upper end of the rpms, then dropping off slightly after the shift). I moved into a 335d from a chipped 540i 6-speed, still drive the 540i/6 from time to time, and enjoy the 335d much, much more. Not sure if it was just my car, but the Getrag 6-speed’s 1st-2nd shift was always ‘notchy’, requiring a bit of a pause to let the synchros spool up before letting the trans slide into 2nd. While it was nice having a fair-sized V8 with a 7000rpm redline, the car did not always put the smile on my face that the diesel does now (every time I drive it!). I don’t at all feel as though I am missing anything by ‘only’ having a 4600-5000rpm redline now…with a lower differential, the effect at the wheel is essentially the same as a gas engine spinning faster but with a greater reduction ratio.
Best to test drive one – you’ll know if you like it or not after the test drive.
I took delivery of my new 335d last week, put 4 new snow tires on it immediately, and have driven through 2 snow storms within the first 3 days of ownership. I had really wanted an all wheel drive vehicle, but decided to take a chance on the RWD 335d. Having driven Subarus and 4WD trucks for the past 10 years, I was worried about RWD. I am completely delighted with my decision. The balance of the car is so perfect and predictable, it’s a joy to drive in snow or on dry roads.
Everything about this car exceeds my expectations, with the single exception of the auto dimming bright headlamps (which don’t seem to work at all). This is the first time I can recall having my fantasy about something surpassed by the reality. I can’t recommend this car highly enough.
Almost sold on the 335d. But, will I spend the next 4 years wishing I had my X-drive 330xi back. My last rwd was not a BMW.
My spouse says we will be retired in a few days and can stay home during extreme Minnesota weather. But, it is the road hugging I love, even in good weather.
I know most people like burning rubber, smoke from one tire, tread left on the concrete, front end raises up and a little fish tailing. But, I love the confidence I feel when I apply power and know the car will go the direction I want.
Does the 335d put all the power on the wheel with the least traction? I think that is how normal cars work.
Cecil:
I bought a 335d in August, and I had previously been driving a 2002 Audi S8 with all-wheel drive. The 335d, I believe, has a limited slip differential. Even with DTC and ESP (both types of electronically manaaged traction/stability control programs) disabled, it does not seem to route power to the wheel with less traction. And with traction control enabled, it is very well mannered in the snow. I put Blizzak WS-60s on it in December. I also used dedicated winter tires on my all-wheel drive M-B R500 and Audi S8, so even with great winter tires, the 335d isn’t any match for the all-wheel drive in terms of plowing through snow that is deeper than the ground clearance of the vehicle, but the 335d goes just fine in snow. As I discovered on my first rear-drive car (a 1994 Mazda 929 WITHOUT any traction control), winter tires still enable me to pull away from snow-packed intersections faster than most SUVs that don’t have winter rubber.
On the subject of the supreme confidence of all-wheel drive versus the higher level of male adolescent pleasure that one can derive from rear-wheel drive, I can appreciate both sides of that argument. In the S8, the most impressive demonstration I can do is to floor the accelerator from a stop, launching immediately into a turn. That car puts all 360 horsepower to the pavement in a stunning, drama-free fashion that is nearly beyond belief. Trying those antics in the 335d results in burnt rubber or traction control prematurely ending the fun. But I must say that the 335d steering feel, braking feel, and overall handling in most driving situations is significantly superior to the flagship Audi.
The 335d (which, though smaller, weighs nearly as much as the all-aluminum Audi) has 95 fewer horsepower, but covers zero to 60 as fast and feels faster than the Audi in every situation that I can think of. While the Audi gives an intoxicating rush as it touches its 7,000 rpm redline (and only then achieves 360 horsepower), the BMW–after a split second needed to spin up the turbos–feels like it has a foot on your chest, shoving you into the back of the seat. And it, too, sounds fantastic when revved to its limit. It is just more baritone, as an early poster said. If the tach were unlabeled, most people would never imagine that it shifts under full throttle at 4,500 rpms max. It sounds like a very quiet diesel at idle–especially when started cold in the winter–but inside the cabin, the engine soundtrack is outstanding!
Matt
P.S. The Audi (which, again, is bigger but not much heavier) gets me no more than 17 mpg in mixed driving, while the 335d gets me 27 mpg–while engaging in VERY spirited driving. As advertised, I get 36 in highway driving.
I have owned a 335d since last august and I can say this is the best car I have ever owned. With the amount of load end torque it reminds me of driving my V8 camaros back in high school. The one problem with the car is it is very easy to surpass the speed limit without even noticing it. On my daily commute to work I average about 32 mpg, with cruise on 70 on the interstate it will do 40 mpg.
[...] with Variable Twin Turbo is representative of the use of more efficient motors. Available in the BMW 335d and X5 xDrive35d, the 3.0-liter engine offers 265 hp and an incredible 400 pound-feet of torque. [...]