Test Drive: 2011 BMW 335is
Our first encounter with the BMW 335is took place earlier this year when BMWBLOG's road test editor Shawn Molnar drove BMW'southward new operation coupe around the race rail. Several months after, we decided to revisit the 2011 BMW 335is, this time, living with the car for a week. Of course, we couldn't resist the race track delusion, merely more than on that in a little while.
Why the 335is Coupe?
When unexpectedly the 335is was announced, many wondered where and how will the performance coupe fit within the line-up. BMW introduces the 335is to fill the gap betwixt the 300 horsepower 335i and the almighty M3, and its 414 horsepower. With its 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, and an overboost part allowing for seven-second blasts of 370 lb-ft of torque, the 2010 335is comes to complement BMW'southward 3 Series line-up. To withstand the extra heat adult in overboost fashion, the 335is has a standard oil cooler and an additional water cooler.
Somewhat surprisingly, the 335is has less ponies than the Z4is and its 335 horsepower. The reason? BMW mentions a more restrictive intake on the coupe. BMW offers a option betwixt a six-speed manual or seven-speed Double Clutch Manual (DCT), just to our satisfaction, the rental operation coupe came with the stick shift nosotros came to love.
Along with the power upgrade, the 335is receives aero updates on the exterior incorporated into an aggressive M Sport body Kit, starting with a more than aggressive forepart fascia, side skirts and a new rear bumper that includes a functional diffuser surrounded by twin frazzle pipes finished in matte black. At the front, the 335is ditches the fog laps in the interest of increased cooling capacity. The auto features unique gray-painted five-spoke wheels. Our Titanium Silver examination car came equipped with gloss-black side mirrors, a overnice touch for the new performance coupe. The blacked out front grilles match all the others matte blackness finishes.
In the suspension department, the 335is a has sport interruption calibration that makes the car sit slightly lower than the regular 335i. To increase its handling and cornering, stiffer shocks and springs have been substituted, a squeamish impact that comes even more obvious while running a track.
The voice of a sports auto…
Upon starting the engine, a quick chill ran downwards our spine. The soundtrack reminds of an M3 or other naturally aspirated engines, due to a loose frazzle organization that allows for more heady acoustics. Revving up and goofing around for a scrap, just merely put a big smiling on our faces. The motorcar not but has the looks of a tuned up, operation auto, but it also sounds similar one, both at idle and total throttle. This was the moment the 335is started to become actress points in our book and somewhat made us feel more comfortable with the price deviation from the standard 335i, a $7,000 price premium.
"is" branded cabin…
The interior of the 335is gets special steel cover plates for the pedals, gauges with the "is" logo in appealing fonts, an M Sport steering wheel, sports seats and blackness headliner. Other than these extras, all looks and feels like a 3 Series.
A track performer, yet still a perfect driver.
As much as we all enjoy some track time and dream of existence the next Michael Schumacher, reality is that most of us terminate up using the 335is equally your usual commuter car. And Chicago offers the most painful driving feel with its stop-and-go traffic. But on the bumpy Illinois roads, the 335is behaves basically the same every bit the 335i with 1000 Sport suspension, a firm, strong ride, yet one that connects the driver even more with the road. Clearly, a auto geared towards enthusiasts and people that love to bulldoze and where ride comfort takes the back seat.
Manual shifting is painless and effortless, matching the clutch with its very precise experience of date and disengagement, yet non also stiff for street driving.
Overall, a fun commuter vehicle, eager for open roads and tight corners to conquer, and that was our side by side stop…
Mutual dear between the rails and the functioning "is" coupe
The race rail is where the 335is actually shines. To exam its abilities once again, we headed to Autobahn race rails in Joliet, Illinois. Back in May, the 335is passed its first exam with flying colors, the drifting and fast laps at the NJ Motorsport Park serve equally supporting evidence. Therefore, this fourth dimension we decided to take the 335is through slower rounds around the race track while chasing that smoothness and consistency across several hot laps.
The driving position and chassis feel are incredible, and those of you that love manuals, you volition observe the half dozen-speed transmission equally being an early Christmas gift. If yous're one of those chasing performance and have enhanced driving abilities, you will enjoy the pedal positioning that allows perfect heel-and-toe downshifts. Despite using the N54 twin-turbo engine, the lack of turbo lag is admirable. Total torque kicks in at around 1,200 rpm and the throttle response is one of the quickest nosotros have experienced recently.
Straight lines, tight and wide corners, all seem an piece of cake task for the 335is and the thought behind the "is" models starts to slowly make more sense.
At that place is no doubtfulness the 335is performs on the track and many enthusiasts volition be pleased past the power boost over the regular 335i from the factory.
….but is it worth the toll tag?
The eternal question and most of the time the decisive cistron in a buy. Looking at the base prices, the 2011 335i Coupe runs most $seven,000 lower than the performance enhanced 335is. A quite significant amount for an aero bodykit and a balmy ability upgrade. Just wait, let'southward introduce all the facts. The regular 335i does not include the 335is' sport pack standard equipment, a bundle that sells for around $1,550. If our math is improve than it used to exist in fourth grade, the price difference at this betoken is near the $5,500 mark, an corporeality that we tin live with and most likely the BMW purists would too.
The legendary M3 sits about $9,000 higher than the 335is, and we believe it plays in its own lease.
Conclusion.
For a roughly $7,000 premium, or significantly less if nosotros consider the sport package option on a regular 335i, the new performance coupe models offering a more than appealing sporty look, higher performance and joy of driving over the 335i that sits in our garage as well, which might stay there for a while since it however rocks our world.
Bottom line is that BMW is currently offering lots of options in the 3er line-upward and choices tin and will exist more difficult, but a purchase advise is non wise at the moment since information technology varies from case to case, and based on dissimilar needs.
Tough choice, but a prissy ane to take…
The 2011 BMW 335is was provided past BMW of North America and made it safely back afterward our testing runs. Photos past Szilard Popular (ThePopFoto.com) at the Autobahn Country Gild in Joliet, Illinois.
Source: https://www.bmwblog.com/2010/11/14/test-drive-2011-bmw-335is/
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