My XJR vs 335d (holy ****)

Dandle · 25 Jul 2008 at 23:44

Loowi_ashley said:
So you mean the same shape as mine 1997-2003 372BHP or older still?

Same shape as yours and my mates XJR. Thats why thought it was a Jag.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 25 Jul 2008 at 23:51

Dandle said:
Same shape as yours and my mates XJR. Thats why thought it was a Jag.

Get your mate in his XJR (1997-2003) to give you a proper go from 20mph see what happens.

Back to the BMW, is the 335d one of the twin turbo jobbies or not?

Gibbo · 25 Jul 2008 at 23:52

HI there

I've driven the 335D M Sport and yes for a diesel it is fast, but its not that fast. Grip is good as is handling but the car has zero feel and way over assisted power/electric steering.

Compared to the M3 CSL it was quite a bit slower and not a patch on it handling wise. Comparison to the Mustang well a 335D just does not compare power wise at all and handling wise Mustang still better.

For a diesel yes 335D is quick, but its too refined and feels too disconnected from the road even though it is capable if you push it in the twisties.

Dandle · 25 Jul 2008 at 23:53

Loowi_ashley said:
Get your mate in his XJR (1997-2003) to give you a proper go from 20mph see what happens.

Back to the BMW, is the 335d one of the twin turbo jobbies or not?

Yes and 286bhp.

[TW]Fox · 25 Jul 2008 at 23:58

Gibbo said:
Grip is good as is handling but the car has zero feel and way over assisted power/electric steering

Are you sure you've driven a 335d - whilst it is never going to rival a CSL for steernig feel it is false to state it has 'zero feel' and in addition to this the 335d is fitted with hydraulic, NOT electric, power steering.

Gibbo · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:02

[TW]Fox;12160667 said:
Are you sure you've driven a 335d - whilst it is never going to rival a CSL for steernig feel it is false to state it has 'zero feel' and in addition to this the 335d is fitted with hydraulic, NOT electric, power steering.

HI there

Yes I know what I drove.

I found it very uninvolving which was a shame, maybe my expectations were too high. The steering communicated very little feel off the road, it felt numb, just as bad as the RS4 I drove. Not a patch on the CSL's or my modified Mustangs. The weighting was not bad but the feel was very very poor.

I also hated the auto box, way to refined, could hardly even feel it change which I suppose is what most want and yeah changes were quick but I far preferre SMG or a proper manual over the 335D's auto and paddles.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:04

Are we compairing 500BHP+ Mustangs and M3's with a diesel? I said it was good but come-one it aint that good! It got pasted with a 10 year Jag, its no way going to be as quick as a 530BHP saleen!

Gibbo · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:06

Loowi_ashley said:
Are we compairing 500BHP+ Mustangs and M3's with a diesel? I said it was good but come-one it aint that good!

HI there

Am comparing it against what I have driven, I have not driven a Jaguar whatever it is you have so cannot comment on how I think it compares to your car. For a diesel its good and fact it can do serious MPG is impressive.

Solari · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:07

Gibbo said:
HI there

I also hated the auto box, way to refined, could hardly even feel it change which I suppose is what most want and yeah changes were quick but I far preferre SMG or a proper manual over the 335D's auto and paddles.

Are those boxes similar to a DSG type setup or something different? A workmate of mine is mouthing off about getting an R32 and raving about the DSG but no matter what people say, I don't see how any auto will replace the involvement a manual box gives you (unless you're an about-town taxi driver, in which case auto is a blessing in whatever guise).

[TW]Fox · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:09

Gibbo said:
Yes I know what I drove.

So how did you find a 335d with an electric steering system :confused:

It's hydraulic, just like on other more driver orientated BMW's. It's only the 'lesser' models in the range which have the electric PAS as part of the EfficientDynamics scheme.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:09

Gibbo said:
For a diesel its good and fact it can do serious MPG is impressive.

Dont they average around 32MPG? That isnt so good

[TW]Fox · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:11

Loowi_ashley said:
Dont they average around 32MPG? That isnt so good

Correct - fuel economy is not really the 335d's strong point. It's based on the older block found in the E39 and not the newer, more developed 3.0d in the current shape cars because the older engine was more suitable for twin turbocharging. This, combined with the twin turbo arrangement and auto gearbox, hampers fuel economy - infact on the combined cycle it is only 3mpg better than a 330i.

Gibbo · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:12

[TW]Fox;12160710 said:
So how did you find a 335d with an electric steering system It's hydraulic, just like on other more driver orientated BMW's. It's only the 'lesser' models in the range which have the electric PAS as part of the EfficientDynamics scheme.

HI there

I did not know it was hydraulic and assumed its electric from the way it felt.

What I found was a 335D M Sport at a BMW dealer, I did not go in and ask them for one with electric steering system and assumed from the feel it was electric as yes it was crap. I guess I am just too used to more focused cars that give good feel.

The steering on the CSL and Z4M I drove both had good feel especially when pushing hard, the 335D did not.

Gibbo · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:14

Solari said:
Are those boxes similar to a DSG type setup or something different? A workmate of mine is mouthing off about getting an R32 and raving about the DSG but no matter what people say, I don't see how any auto will replace the involvement a manual box gives you (unless you're an about-town taxi driver, in which case auto is a blessing in whatever guise).

HI there

Nothing alike, the 335D is an auto.

DSG and SMG is not an automatic. SMG in the CSL was great and still involving and fun. Not so sure on DSG as not driven a DSG car.

Sparky · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:36

CAR: Jaguar XJ Super V8
PRICE: £74,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 19
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 23 mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ABS with EBA / Dynamic Stability Control / Traction Control / ARTS /

Took one of these on a 700 mile round trip to Glasgow,immense fun although a little pricey on fuel.

AmDaMan · 26 Jul 2008 at 00:45

Tim said:
They're fast. I've had a play with one too, it was inching away from me and I was driving pretty hard in a Civic-R.

was this 0-30?

OllyM · 26 Jul 2008 at 01:15

[TW]Fox;12160719 said:
Correct - fuel economy is not really the 335d's strong point. It's based on the older block found in the E39 and not the newer, more developed 3.0d in the current shape cars because the older engine was more suitable for twin turbocharging. This, combined with the twin turbo arrangement and auto gearbox, hampers fuel economy - infact on the combined cycle it is only 3mpg better than a 330i.

Except drive it hard and it'll return relatively good fuel economy, unlike the 330i.

Not that I'd ever buy one, the power delivery and the fact that it red lines at 5000rpm just make it a bit of an annoying car to drive.

Sparky · 26 Jul 2008 at 01:18

Diesel car in "better fuel economy" shocker.

Scania · 26 Jul 2008 at 09:08

Gibbo said:
For a diesel yes 335D is quick, but its too refined and feels too disconnected from the road even though it is capable if you push it in the twisties.

Pretty much sums up how diesels have advanced over a relatively short period of time.

10 years or so ago, people would have laughed at such a statement, not so these days.

Tax Evader · 26 Jul 2008 at 09:35

Gibbo said:
For a diesel yes 335D is quick, but its too refined

I had a 335d for a week while the CSL was stuck in the workshop waiting for a part to arrive. They're very quick alright but it certainly doesn't feel quick - well, not compared to the CSL. The only way to know you're accelerating quickly is by the way the speedo needle whizzes round, such is the refinement.
The fuel economy was pants once you started to use it's performance, which seems to be the case with all the 'fast diesels'. I bought a 123d recently which will happily return an average of 40mpg at best driven carefully, UNTIL you press on hard or exceed ~70mph where it nosedives considerably.