Some background. I previously leased a 2004 330 Ci MT with a buyout of $28k which I thought preposterous for a car with 36k miles. At lease end only testing a BMW 328 sedan AT, I was not that impressed. Really a gross dash in the sedan to me, and the ride nothing that special on the straight South Florida roads I deal with. I ended up with a Lexus IS 350. The Lexus has become the most uncomfortable car I ever owned or drove long term. The seat doesn't go straight making occasional mild back discomfort hell at times. Totally numb driving experience. Going to an AT even with the power of the 3.5 L didn't near make up for it. I can and will get out of the Lexus, so, back to a BMW coup.

I test drove a 328 coup in AT and 335 coup in MT today. Both brand new, not demos. The seats are more comfortable than I remember in my 330, and feel more like sports package (SP) seats without the full bolster of SP seats. Versus my previous 330 Ci, I loved it. Seems like the 328 coupe will be similar power-wise to my 330ci (the 328 not broken in and in AT.) The 335 coup had awesome power I likely won't fully use but may miss. It also had a strange vibration which I could definitely feel, albeit it subtle in the car. The manual shifter definitely vibrated, both to feel and visually. I do not find this acceptable in a new car. Options I want make the 335 cost only about 3k more making it a strong consideration. The salesman said the vibration would be a minor adjustment. I am planning to buy a coup MT. I do 20k miles a years these days so purchase makes the most sense. I have some reservation about buying turbo for the long term to begin with, but the vibration out of the gate is very disturbing. Any ideas? Recommendations?

I guess I really don't understand what you're asking?

Well, is the shifter in a 335 MT coup vibrating out of the box normal? Is this some simple adjustment that BMW can easily do? I think I knew more than the salesman (and he is a nice guy though new there) so his thought on it I don't take too seriously. Will it be something that recurs in the future, and, if so, a simple fix? Not so easy a question there, I have no idea.

My brother is advacting the 335 coup MT over the 328 with his theory that more powerfull engines last longer and have less problems. Seems intuitively so on surface. I'm not sure how that theory fits with dual turbo.

My brother is advacting the 335 coup MT over the 328 with his theory that more powerfull engines last longer and have less problems. Seems intuitively so on surface. I'm not sure how that theory fits with dual turbo.


Yea I'm not sure about that in this case cause they are both the same engine practically just one is turbo and one is not. That would lead me to believe the 328 motor would last longer because its not ran under such intense loads like the turbo is. But I don't know much about engines.

As far as the vibration, that does seem a bit weird for a brand new car. I would ask to test drive another 335 MT if they have one. Unfortunately the only 335 I have had the pleasure of driving was a steptronic with paddle shifters. I have bashed these in the past but it was really fun, though I would still go MT in the end.

Sorry for rambling and not really answering your question.

-Chris

I should have added that I replied because I am really curious to see how the e92 328 coupe performs in a Manual as well because for a while I considered leasing a e92 328, but have since decided a used e46 M3 is still for me

I drove the e90 328 sedan at the same ultimate drive event i drove the 335 at and the throttle response for the auto 328 was HORRIBLE!

-Chris

It kind of goes with my thoughts on getting the 328. Less stress on the same engine displacement. There is in the back of my mind repair costs that many report with BMWs long term. And, doing 20k a year, owning long term, its a real concern.

I did originally test a 2004 330 Ci in auto before I got my 330 Ci MT and the power difference (read improvement) I suspect is similar. The MT has more power/control with the same/similar RPM. I compared an auto 328 sedan to a Lexus IS 350. Power difference there was quite significant and the results will hurt me. Literally they have.

I am VERY impressed with the e92 coupes.

Well, is the shifter in a 335 MT coup vibrating out of the box normal? Is this some simple adjustment that BMW can easily do? I think I knew more than the salesman (and he is a nice guy though new there) so his thought on it I don't take too seriously. Will it be something that recurs in the future, and, if so, a simple fix? Not so easy a question there, I have no idea.

My brother is advacting the 335 coup MT over the 328 with his theory that more powerfull engines last longer and have less problems. Seems intuitively so on surface. I'm not sure how that theory fits with dual turbo.

I suggest proof reading first.

And your brothers theory holds no water.

[quote=RobFL1015;10945918

I am VERY impressed with the e92 coupes.[/quote]

They are growing on me too, if only the e92 M3 didn't have the hood bump it would be perfect

Regardless of theory being right, the fact that they are the same engines except one is under a more stressful load, I would put my bets on the 328 for longevity.

"Advocating," typo, sorry. I think despite my typo it was patently obvious. I apologize anyway...

"powerfull"?

Is that opposed to "powerempty?"

Anal... Is that opposed to being overly meticulous about meaningless details?

I see no need to be abrasive... You want a last word on this, its yours, you win, -l.

BMW could solve this for me by using a 2006 330Ci engine in the e92, but I know marketing wise that isn't going to happen. I'm a pretty intelligent guy, but my knowledge of engines does have limits. I'd like to know more than the reported numbers. HP and torque are curves on a chart, not a reported number at an arbitrary RPM. I see no discernable difference between my previous 330 CI and a new 328 based on reported numbers. I suspect they are near the same or are the same. We have numbers at a specific point only. All car manufacturers do this.

Anal... Is that opposed to being overly meticulous about meaningless details?

I see no need to be abrasive... You want a last word on this, its yours, you win, -l.

BMW could solve this for me by using a 2006 330Ci engine in the e92, but I know marketing wise that isn't going to happen. I'm a pretty intelligent guy, but my knowledge of engines does have limits. I'd like to know more than the reported numbers. HP and torque are curves on a chart, not a reported number at an arbitrary RPM. I see no discernable difference between my previous 330 CI and a new 328 based on reported numbers. I suspect they are near the same or are the same. We have numbers at a specific point only. All car manufacturers do this.
The N54 in my E90 328i actually has MORE power than the outgoing E46.

The N54 in my E90 328i actually has MORE power than the outgoing E46.
errrr sorry Ty, but that would be the N52 on the 328 (the N54 is the TT engine on the 335), and yes it is very different than the e46 3.0L M54 engine, although it has almost the same hp but less tq (230/200 vs 231/221 for the latter). More details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N54
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M54

If you can afford the extra $3,000 plus and you like the extra power, buy the 335. Both engines are a year old so I don't see the value in speculating which one will be more reliable years from now. Obviously one has turbos that can break and the other doesn't. Buy what you want now, if it breaks five years from now, get it fixed and move on in life.

The 335 MT shifter does vibrate, but not bad, not nearly as bad as the g35/g37.

After driving the 335i the 328i no longer captured my interest...

The 335i is an experience! It's a true classic!

My brother ... theory that more powerfull engines last longer and have less problems.

Your brother better has some hard data to backup that comment because I don't think it's true. Keep in mind that he is not the one who is paying for the car.

If you are driving about 20,000 a year, I would suggest getting a 328i for fuel economy interest. Sure enough you can use the extra 70 horses, but how many times do you think you will need to use the extra hp within your 20,000 miles of driving / year? If you are running 300 hp full time for 20,000 miles, I think your engine will not last for more than 4 years.

328i Coup MT Monaco Blue, Saddle, ZPP, PDC, ipod, Logic 7, ordered and in production currently.

550 in Carbon Black in MT (attendant zsp, and etc.) I have to admit is quite attractive, but for a single guy to use mostly to commute to work...

Have you driven a 328 Coupe manual yet? It is a completely different experience from the AT. After driving it I chose it over the 335, and part of is was the feel of the shifter (the transmission is different). Believe it or not, I liked the car better than the 335 MT. I would never have considered a 328 AT for the reasons you mention. If I had to do AT, I would have ante'd up for the 335.

Your brother better has some hard data to backup that comment because I don't think it's true. Keep in mind that he is not the one who is paying for the car.

If you are driving about 20,000 a year, I would suggest getting a 328i for fuel economy interest. Sure enough you can use the extra 70 horses, but how many times do you think you will need to use the extra hp within your 20,000 miles of driving / year? If you are running 300 hp full time for 20,000 miles, I think your engine will not last for more than 4 years.

So, are you saying the engine in the 335 will not last for 80,000 miles?

Also, I'm lazy so can someone tell me how much better gas mileage the 328 gets than the 335? I don't think the mpg on the 335 is bad at all for the type of car it is.

So, are you saying the engine in the 335 will not last for 80,000 miles?

Also, I'm lazy so can someone tell me how much better gas mileage the 328 gets than the 335? I don't think the mpg on the 335 is bad at all for the type of car it is.
depends how you drive it, obviously, but overall for the performance, it probably has one of the best (if not the best) fuel economy in its class.