My new daily driver is a diesel and I also have a question - Lateral-g Forums

Tom.A · #1 10-09-2011, 10:41 PM

I have never owned a diesel anything before and I wanted try one out.
My wife and I had been looking at the new Passat TDI for a run around car. It seemed nice and roomy and fair priced. We likely would have bought it had I not stopped at the BMW dealer. So we bought the 335d. Granted it is not a fair to compare as there is about a 17-20K delta. The Passat had more space for sure but is was just a car (as in boring to drive). In any case we have put 2700 miles in a month and so far we love it.
It has good power for passing or jumping on the freeway. This one has the M-sport package which also comes with paddle shifters. It is kind of delayed and just slushes into gear so those are kind of goofy. I think BMW wants to be sure that your not down shifting inplace of up shifting. A manual transmission behind this twin turbo charged engine would be even funner. The 335d has only been stateside for two years and they only offer the automatic as of now. I read there is a BMW tuner that is now selling a hand held that improves the RWHP by 60 HP, but I have a 100K warranty that covers everything but the tires so I likely will not mess with and enjoy it for what it is a commuter car. The 425 FT Lbs @ 1750 RPM kinda of shocks you. It handles nice, quiet and gets 36MPG.

It is my understanding the most Diesel #2 comes from the same source and only some formulating is done by the refinery. Has anybody noticed problems and or changes buying diesel say from Arco vs. Shell or is it all the same? I never realized they had multiple size Diesel fuel nozzles. I pulled into a gas station the other day and the nozzle would not fit but the car came with an adpater.

Here is a pick of the car

**camcojb** · #2 10-09-2011, 10:50 PM

cool car Tom.

I've never noticed any performance or mileage difference between brands of diesel (I have with gas though). I have heard that bio-diesel will make less power, but I never tried it.

**GregWeld** · #3 10-10-2011, 06:14 AM

Nice looking car! I bought the 335i for my daughter this summer and she absolutely loves it!

I've never noticed any differences between brands on my diesel truck... and I've even run biodiesel a couple of times.

Tom.A · #4 10-10-2011, 07:58 AM

Thanks guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by camcojb

I have heard that bio-diesel will make less power, but I never tried it.

I just read up a little on the bio-diesel and it seems very hard to find in Socal.
You would think it would be more available with all the tree huggers/left wing people in this State

It seems that BMW claims very little emmsions with AdBlue UREA injection anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Nice looking car! I bought the 335i for my daughter this summer and she absolutely loves it!

I heard about 3 series being for girls with wealthy fathers

I will say at my age (41) it did cross my mind about being too old. I could have bought a 5series for close to the same price....but not a diesel and same fuel economy.
I forget about the age thing when I drive it though. Even my wife at 37 said the same thing.

Jr · #5 10-10-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Nice looking car! I bought the 335i for my daughter this summer and she absolutely loves it!

I've never noticed any differences between brands on my diesel truck... and I've even run biodiesel a couple of times.

Weld is running biodiesel...never thought I would see Greg go green.

Jr · #6 10-10-2011, 08:21 AM

That BMW does look good. Are you going to change with wheels?

**GregWeld** · #7 10-10-2011, 09:04 AM

Tom --

My comment wasn't about age at all -- or it being a girls car.... I love these cars! I'd buy one for myself!

Adrienne's is white -- and the only other choice was black... but in AriDzona -- Black is just too much.

The diesel technology is just amazing... Audi is just killing the 24hrs of Lemans with their diesels... and a friend has a MBZ diesel minivan... it's quiet and powerful and you'd never know it's a diesel.

Tom.A · #8 10-10-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJW32

That BMW does look good. Are you going to change with wheels?

Maybe down the road.

Tom.A · #9 10-10-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Tom --

My comment wasn't about age at all -- or it being a girls car.... I love these cars! I'd buy one for myself!

Adrienne's is white -- and the only other choice was black... but in AriDzona -- Black is just too much.

The diesel technology is just amazing... Audi is just killing the 24hrs of Lemans with their diesels... and a friend has a MBZ diesel minivan... it's quiet and powerful and you'd never know it's a diesel.

Greg, I did not think you meant that at all.

However it is borderline chick car anyway