Skip to main content

2011 BMW 335is - Are the Changes Enough?


BMW recently announced the 2011 model 335is twin turbo will have power, transmission and cooling enhancements vs. the prior year 335i. I question if these enhancements will enough to sway the enthusiast to purchase the standard 335i with the single turbo. Not giving the car a limited slip differential remains a huge disservice.

The 335is will have 320 horsepower with its revised twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine, up from 300hp. Also 7 seconds of overboost will be available raising the torque figure from 332ft lbs to 370ft lbs. This isn't really an improvement over existing aftermarket tuners such as Dinan (which offers a warranty) and Burger Motorsports Juice Box series.
Potentially bigger news is the Non-S model now has a single turbo instead of the "twins". Likely significantly larger in size than the twins in the "S" and last year's model, this will mean greater potential for adding power in the aftermarket.
The 6-speed automatic is replaced by the 7-speed dual clutch transmission which probably won't mean turbo boost levels will fall off since the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 Twin Turbo manage. But if the gear ratios are the same from the M3, the 6-speed manual has been shown to be the quicker car once the speeds are above 120mph. Will the DCT transmission withstand higher-than-stock power levels?
An upgraded radiator and motor mounts are included as well for track duty. What is really questionable is the decision to leave out a limited slip differential. Making a car more track ready with more power, a fast shifting automated transmission and cooling enhancements without adding an LSD is like making it a better burnout competition entry. Check out this article on the new McLaren MP4-12C supercar not having an LSD and the problems this poses.
While improving the breed, BMW potentially makes the base 335i the enthusiast's choice with a single turbo system and the "S" model still doesn't have a key performance element. Still world class, will the 335is meet sales expectations vs. the non "S"? Will the automatic transmission, now no longer available, be the desired transmission at the 75,000 mile mark? And will the need for an LSD make itself even more apparent?
__________
Have a question about cars you would like answered? Want to know about performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models, events, etc? Ask me here: AskRobAboutCars@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on Examiner.com!
BMW 335i Coupe

Will the single turbo 335i be the model to choose vs. the 335is? Is the lack of a limited slip becoming a bigger detriment?
View Slideshow »
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Ford Mustang GT350 and GT350R review

It’s the exhaust system. It’s an eye widening, amazing mechanical roar, both exotic and muscular at the same time. And that is in the Sport mode. In the standard mode, it’s a quiet cruiser and an excellent grand tourer. Comparisons to the BMW M4 are immediate and inevitable, it is that dialed in. Ford took the already very good Mustang platform and enhanced the suspension and drivetrain, and based on past drives of the current the model, the some interior bits as well. The 2016 Ford Mustang GT350 is Ford’s flat plane crankshaft V-8 answer to the Camaro Z/28 but is absolutely street friendly and less expensive. The non-R version has a starting MSRP $47,995. It features a 5.2 liter V-8 rated at 524hp at 7500 rpm and a healthy 429 lb-ft. torque at 4,750 rpm. The 8000rpm redline makes for a long, hard pull to redline. With the exhaust in the quiet mode, and 80mph cruise is as silent as the BMW 3-series. Styling takes the great lines of the current GT and adds more aggressive touches withou...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Absurdity of Fastrak and the HOV lanes

The state of California continues with the ridiculous HOV or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes that are intended for Electric Vehicles, hybrids with limited issue permission stickers, motorcycles and multiple occupant vehicles. As you can guess, eventually these lanes won’t move any quicker than other full access lanes. That’s how stupid they are. They are so poorly thought out that there are multiple scenarios that the system can be foiled. Of course, not everyone can use these lanes which I covered in a previous article here: http://cartruthblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/abolish-wasteful-and-unfair-hov-lanes.html so they are patently unfair. Now in the infinite wisdom of CalTrans and others, the Fastrak was introduced in order to charge a fee for solo riders who want to use the lanes. This meant adding sensors to detect vehicles but still no cameras for reading license plates. Of course cameras came next along with a revised Fastrak that has a switch to indicate how many passengers are in the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advice for drag racing with an automatic transmission

7/3/2016 Advice for drag racing with an automatic transmission | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/advicefordragracingwithanautomatictransmissionadvice 1/3 LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS See also: car & truck enthusiasts, drag racing, racing, car advice, ask rob about cars Advice for drag racing with an automatic transmission March 6, 2014 11:16 PM MST Hi Robert Warming up a tire helps increase traction. San Jose Cars Examiner 7/3/2016 Advice for drag racing with an automatic transmission | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/advicefordragracingwithanautomatictransmissionadvice 2/3 I have a question for you, what’s the best way of drag racing on a automatic tranny? Everytime I take off my tyres always spins off and I always lose traction. What’s the best way to do it? I have a Holden Commodore VZ SS. Rae E., Australia ____ Hello Rae, The good news is an automatic is easier to launch due to consistency and only one pedal to manage...
Post a Comment
Read more