And on the eighth day, God said, “Let there be turbochargers that provide copious amounts of power.” And God saw that it was good. BMW has added a new engine to its sales leading 3 series model, the 3-liter, 6-cylinder twin turbocharged diesel. BMW has offered a gasoline-based twin turbo 6-cylinder since 2007. It received worldwide acclaim and is probably the greatest mass-market engine to be developed in the last decade. The diesel 335 will stick out from its gasoline counterpart by adding a ‘d’ to the model distinction, resulting in 335d. Don’t expect to hear the cling-clanging you would expect from a normal diesel. BMW has done a wonderful job in the noise department and it is indistinguishable from the gasoline iterations of the car.
The diesel model is rated at 265hp and an intoxicating 425 lb-ft of torque that propels the car to a very quick 6.0 second 0-60 time. The other benefit of the diesel is the fantastic gas mileage 23/36 versus 17/26 for the gasoline version. I drove from Kingwood to Clear Lake and used a single gallon of diesel. That’s definitely impressive. Expect a range above 600 miles on a tank while cruising. The sedan handled wonderfully like most BMWs and provided a sporty feel. My car was also equipped with the sports group which provided 18-inch wheels and some lovely seats that grab at you during turns.
Upsides: Wonderful power. Wonderful gas mileage. Wonderful car.
Downsides: The cost is a touch high, but you get what you pay for.
Price: Base 335d starts at $43,900. $48,800 as tested.
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