2009 BMW 335i Sedan w/ M Sport Package

THE LINES OF THE E90 BMW 3-Series are familiar to everyone. It is the aspirational car for the upwardly mobile, its badge a symbol of middle-class success.

There’s a good reason for the BMW’s popularity that goes far beyond brand image however.

The simple truth is that the BMW 3-Series is, and has been since 1975, the definitive rising-executive’s sports saloon. And though the fifth-generation of the 3-Series may be a little fatter, bigger, and more expensive than its predecessors, it remains the benchmark for the sector.

The 335i sedan, like the 335i Touring we had on test a month or so back, carries a couple of non-traditional BMW items which move performance from brisk to shattering. These being the twin-turbos attached to that gloriously eager 3.0 litre six-cylinder engine.

BMW, it might not be widely known, has used turbo-charging technology since it first started out with the 3-Series in the early 1970s. A short while after though, it all-but abandoned the technology for its sports-oriented passenger car range, using it only for the odd diesel model or concept car.

Being the top 3-Series model (apart from the stratospheric M3), the 335i should be – you would think - the epitome of what this model can be. We tested it for a week to find out if it met our expectations.

Styling

Who can complain of style with purposeful lines like these? The 2009 BMW 335i in our care was simply gorgeous to look at.

The latest styling changes for the face-lifted models may be minor but most agree that they have improved the car’s lines and balance. With fat rubber sitting on guards-filling alloys, a deep low front spoiler and twin rear pipes, there is a nice athletic menace to the 335i.

While the furore over the Bangle-revolution at BMW peaked some time ago, there is still a little negative sentiment that occasionally gets an airing when it comes to new, flame-surfaced BMWs.

But surely few could find fault with the handsome lines of ‘our’ 335i. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the test vehicle had BMW’s M Sport package, devised by its famed in-house ‘M Division’ tuners.

The M Sport package provides the extra visual muscle to match the grunt the 335i is packing under the bonnet.

The ‘M Aerodynamic Package’ (basically some go-faster bits that make the car appear lower and meaner) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, M Sport suspension, an M Sport multi-function steering wheel, and classy ‘M’ logos on the door sills.

To any eyes, the lines of the 335i work. It looks what it is: a premium sporting saloon for the keen driver.

Interior

The interior of the 335i is accompanied with all the standard BMW fare - leather seats, polished wood accents, and a generally pleasant yet clinical atmosphere.

But while clinical, the layout is functional and appealing, and only the fussiest of drivers will have trouble getting comfortable in the 335i’s sporty seats. If wood trim is a little old-fashioned for you, the M Sport package offers the option of Anthracite Silver instead.

Functionally, the centre armrest that runs up into the centre console stack is where most of the action is.

The shift lever for the six-speed auto is placed perfectly at hand there for rapid manual shifting; as are the steering wheel paddles – upshifts with the finger tips, pressing with the thumbs for downshifts.

The iDrive system’s controller is located just behind the gear lever and doesn’t get in the way when not being used. As we have noted in earlier reviews, BMW’s iDrive is now vastly improved for simple operation. Using it now, you wonder how anyone could ever have found it difficult to fathom.

The thick leather M-sport multi-function steering wheel feels solid, superbly connected to what’s happening below, and inspires confidence for rapid point-to-point driving. It’s fitted with Bluetooth, audio controls, and voice-control buttons - all intuitive and simple to use.

Our only gripe with the interior was the infuriating lack of decent-sized storage space within the cabin itself - the usually detail-obsessed engineers from Munich seem to have left the 335i oddly lacking in this department.

No complaints about the boot however which offers 450 litres of cargo space. (And, hinged ingeniously within the boot channel, it doesn’t have hinges hanging into the luggage space.)

I suppose that if we were to be especially picky, we’d ask BMW if it would have been too difficult to include some drilled metal pedals for the accelerator and brake, rather than the standard black rubber facings.

Equipment and Features

As the top spec model in the 3-Series range, the 335i comes with a long list of standard features - nothing short of what you’d expect for the over $107,000 asking price.

(To that price, add almost $5,000 for the M Sport package of the test car.)

For all that cash you get standard leather seats, xenon lights with automatic function, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, ten-speaker audio, and electric seats.

The 335i also gets the iDrive infotainment system as standard, complete with its 8.8-inch display in the centre console.

iDrive may have been slammed by auto journalists for years, but it’s latest iterations make it a joy to use. A particularly handy improvement is the addition of buttons just above the main iDrive controller to take you directly to the navigation and audio screens.

The high-resolution display shows maps in crisp detail and has the usual options for 2D and 3D, as well as night mode.

We also liked the split-screen display that allows you to have the track list for the CD player on one half of the screen and navigation on the other.

The new entertainment system comes integrated with an 80 GB hard disc drive - which incidentally allows you to store up to 8 GB of audio files from CD or USB devices.

There’s also voice recognition and a TV tuner (optional), although you do have to be parked to watch your favourite shows.