BMW 335i Sedan Part 3: Performance Review

BMW's 3-series sedan has long stood at the top of the luxury sport sedan segment for a variety of reasons. To begin with, its size has always been just right - not too small, not too big. Aesthetically, it's always been pleasing to most eyes - not something that could be taken for granted during chief designer, Chris Bangle's tenure. But mostly, what has made the 3 a benchmark is its well-rounded performance.

Let's face it, when a manufacturer sets off to design an entry-level luxury/sport sedan, the car they target is this one - and some won't even hide the fact, calling out BMW and touting their "latest and greatest" as the car that will finally topple the 3-series. And really, who can blame 'em? After all, if you're gonna target any car as "the one-to-beat", you might as well go after The King. And in this class, the BMW 335i is still the King.

Taking center stage in the performance story of the 335i is its award winning three-liter twin-turbocharged and direct-injected engine. The inline-six has all the smoothness you expect given its layout, as well as six-cylinder fuel economy, while feeling much more like a larger displacement V8.

What helps the twin-turbo six feel like a normally aspirated engine of significantly more displacement is that it delivers maximum torque from 1400 rpm all the way to 5000 rpm, so there isn't the spike of power that you get with some turbocharged engines. The other typical turbo tattletale - slow throttle response - is nearly non-existent as well, thanks partially to direct fuel injection, but mainly to the use of two turbos.

Those two turbochargers are small, low pressure units that - thanks to low inertia - spin up quickly to provide instant boost when you get on the throttle. The performance story goes beyond the engine however, and gets even better when you turn the steering wheel. The 335i offers a level of precision from the helm that few other cars possess. And while the steering could use more feel, there's no denying its effectiveness.

The ride and handling balance is perhaps the 335's biggest advantage over competitors. The chassis isolates you just enough, while still communicating what's going on. The brake pedal, too, offers good feel and stays firm underfoot. You really have to use the car hard - as in, on the track for extended periods - before BMW's Brake Fade Compensation system gives in and the pedal goes soft on you. It's also on the track, where you might be left wanting for traction, as the lack of a limited-slip differential will have the Dynamic Traction Control light blinking away at you. If you choose to disable the system, you'll be left spinning the inside wheel coming out of corners while hard on the gas. To be fair, the 335i isn't intended to be a track-car, and this is something that most owners will never experience on the street.

One of the many positive attributes you'll find while driving the 335i aggressively involves the latest version of BMW's Dynamic Stability Control. DSC is a great chaperon, allowing the 335i's back end to get involved in steering the car, while rewarding through subtle intervention that will make you feel like a hero. Any manufacturer looking to dethrone this BMW will do well to have a look at the system.

Available with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual - for those looking for greater driving involvement - the BMW 335i, with its wide array of winning talents, continues its long reign as the king of luxury sport sedans.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience

BMW 335i Sedan

Performance
- Acceleration: Nearly as quick as last-generation E46 M3 (!!!) - turbo lag nearly imperceptible - pulls and pulls and pulls
- Handling: Traditional BMW balance and precise steering combined with excellent (read: unobtrusive) DSC allows you to adjust cornering attitude at will - still the class benchmark
- Braking: Never less than excellent on the street, they will start to go away on the track despite the brake fade compensation system's best efforts (although in all fairness, this isn't a track car)

Design
- Exterior: Thankfully, Bangle's hand was restrained by BMW's board on the E90 3-series, with this mild facelift mostly improving the car further - organic shapes at the front seem out of place
- Interior: Starting to get a bit dated inside - aluminum option helps keep it more modern chic than the traditional wood

Utility
- Comfort: Great ride/handling balance combined with impressive build-quality results in a comfortable place to be... at least in the front
- Space: Excellent accommodations up front, less so in the rear where competitors offer more space

Safety
- Dynamics: The single best attribute of the 3-series range - after all, if you can avoid the accident in the first place...
- Technology: Everything you expect to find in a car at this price

Value
- Price: Certainly starts to get expensive when you spec the 3 with all of the "must have" options, but somehow, it's still worth it
- Mileage: Driven sanely, not too bad - driven on the boost...

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Excluding the awesome M3, it is the top-spec 3-series, but probably too common and practical to really make your heart soar
- Fun to spank: A little - although a limited-slip option would certainly help (nearly unforgivable oversight BMW!)

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear-wheel drive
Engine: 3 liter, twin-turbocharged Inline-6
Power (SAE): 300 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 lb-ft @ 1400-5000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3605 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec.
Top Speed: 150 mph
Mileage: 17 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $40,300
Competitors: Audi A4/S4, Mercedes-Benz C350, Infiniti G37