420GC vs 335 vs 328

[Derrick125]

Helpme out Fellas;

I have a choice between:

420dGC (below 10k km), all the goodies except Nav - 590k
335 (15k km), fully loaded incl Nav and Head-up - 600k
328 (15k km), fully loaded, incl Nav and cosmetice accesories (like front splitter, boot spoiler, black grill) - 500k

They're all 2014.

I do around 35k km per year. I have a fuel card, but do pay tax on fuel purchases. The GC is beautiful in white, and most economical.

Would the 328 be a sensible compromise? any significant diferrence between it and the 335 i.t.o fuel consumption?

I did drive all of them. 335 was obviously fastest - 328 not all that bad either. I'm leaning towards the 328, considering performance/price/economy

Thanks

 

[MaX]

Having owned a 328, its probably the best compromise between performance and consumption. Mine averaged around 6l/100km at 130kph and we tested the 0-100 in 6.4s with 3 people in the car.

Unfortunately, if you are a bit of a petrol head, you'd invariably want more and after owning 328's for a year I went full out looking for a x35 and think it was a worthy trade. My 328 averaged around 10 in town and same kind of driving is giving me 13 in the m135.

If you are worried about consumption - get the 420d
If you want a good middleground - get the 328
If you want great performance and actually very reasonable consumption - get the 335

 

[Magneto]

335i No brainer, :sorry:

 

[Mike-R]

335I Bud,

Long distance the car is good on fuel, but not so much with a LEAD FOOT..

 

[cRed001]

The 328i seems to offer the best balance between performance and fuel economy and is 90 - 100k cheaper than the other options.

 

[Xeqtr]

^^I am a petrolhead and I have owned 250kw Subaru's and Big V8 Mustangs...
The 328i is no slouch and really isnt much slower than the 335i. Its enough.

I took mine down to Durbs this December and averaged 6.4l/100 on the way down, 7.0l/100 on the way up. My highway traffic everyday, and town driving, my car is sitting on 10.0L average like Max's above. My mate with his 235i averages about 14l/100. Steep. But he has a heavy foot. But at the same time why buy a x35i if you dont drive it.

With 3 people in the car 0-100 in 6.4 is realistic in the 328i. I have had a few runs with mine just me in the car and timed it to average at about 6 seconds. Many articles claim 5.8 seconds 0-100. Im no expert so I cant confirm such. But whenever I put my foot down I am blown away with how quick she is. The little 4 pot in the 328i is an amazing engine. Fun car to drive.

You say that if you go for the 328i you will get it with all the M-Performance goodies. This makes such a huge difference on the visual appeal of the car. Turns it into a real beauty.

Having said all this, if I could afford a 335i I would go for it, and save up for the M-Performance parts after.

Have you test driven them all?

 

[Maljan]

Some say that the 328 is not quite right because four cylinders. How noticeable is the difference between 328 and 335 regarding nice sound effects, smoothness, refinement and so on?

 

[MaX]

Some say that the 328 is not quite right because four cylinders. How noticeable is the difference between 328 and 335 regarding nice sound effects, smoothness, refinement and so on?

The 2014 328 comes with the fake engine sound so you really cant tell from the inside that you are driving a 4pot. From the outside is a different story though. I had the M Performance exhaust on my car and it makes a big difference to the car with pops on upshifts and crackles on overrun. 328 is super smooth, same as 335.

 

[Xeqtr]

335i sounds better obviously 6 pot vs 4 pot... 328i is quiet compared to GTI's etc but with the M-Performance exhaust it sounds deadly. I heard Max's at Kyalami when he still had his 328i. Was leka.

 

[Woodies]

Easiest question ever!

335! Do it

 

[Naruto]

I like the 328
I love the 335

 

[Psypher13]

335i Any day any time

raise:

 

[Derrick125]

Thanks for the input guys.
I've done an OTP on the 328. It's mineral grey, I'm not a fan of the colour; it mutes the effect of the cosmetic accessories somewhat. However; I do have an M3 (which I am trading in), neither the 335 nor 328 can compare i.t.o of involvement and sound. The entire M3 package makes for a sports car experience, which neither of these cars can match. 0-100 is close on the reef I admit, but that diminishes at the coast.

The reason for saying all of that is that I am not able to discern a marked difference between performance, between the 28 and the 35, so may as well go for the cheaper, economical, and higher specced vehicle.


btw, I am trading in two cars (my M3 and Merc c200) - the overall objective is to reduce debt and free up cash for a second propery - what better comprosmise that the 328?

I want the 335, but can't have everything I want.

 

[prospect]

Thanks for the input guys.
I've done an OTP on the 328. It's mineral grey, I'm not a fan of the colour; it mutes the effect of the cosmetic accessories somewhat. However; I do have an M3 (which I am trading in), neither the 335 nor 328 can compare i.t.o of involvement and sound. The entire M3 package makes for a sports car experience, which neither of these cars can match. 0-100 is close on the reef I admit, but that diminishes at the coast.

The reason for saying all of that is that I am not able to discern a marked difference between performance, between the 28 and the 35, so may as well go for the cheaper, economical, and higher specced vehicle.


btw, I am trading in two cars (my M3 and Merc c200) - the overall objective is to reduce debt and free up cash for a second propery - what better comprosmise that the 328?

I want the 335, but can't have everything I want.

This statement says it all. Do yourself a favor and buy the 335i. You won't regret it. It has to be a M-Sport model! The rest just don't look right IMO.

 

[ChefDJ]

35k km a year sounds like mostly long distance.

Go for the 335i.

 

[Naruto]

Thanks for the input guys.
I've done an OTP on the 328. It's mineral grey, I'm not a fan of the colour; it mutes the effect of the cosmetic accessories somewhat. However; I do have an M3 (which I am trading in), neither the 335 nor 328 can compare i.t.o of involvement and sound. The entire M3 package makes for a sports car experience, which neither of these cars can match. 0-100 is close on the reef I admit, but that diminishes at the coast.

The reason for saying all of that is that I am not able to discern a marked difference between performance, between the 28 and the 35, so may as well go for the cheaper, economical, and higher specced vehicle.


btw, I am trading in two cars (my M3 and Merc c200) - the overall objective is to reduce debt and free up cash for a second propery - what better comprosmise that the 328?

I want the 335, but can't have everything I want.

You will enjoy the 328i
congrats!!!

BTW, Mineral grey rocks big time....

 

[MaX]

Congrats Bud!! Absolutely nothing wrong with Mineral Grey!!! Most rare F30 M Sport Colour

My baby before I sold:

 

[Schalk94]

My dad also has the 328i in mineral grey with an msport package and those black mperformance grills and the people rave about the overall look of the car when they see it. I have had many runs with 335i's amd even though they are quicker its not by that much and i cant justify spending so much more for the 335i and getting only a liiiiiittle bit more performance and then a terrible fuel consumption. The 328i averages about 10 or just below over the 13000km so far and driving from Centurion to sandton and back each day it gives 7.0l/100 day in,day out. All in all i love the 328i, you do get used to the performance but that happens with almost everything ive ever driven.Fast is just never fast enough. So i say go for the 328i

 

[Blert]

Wise choice there

I would have gone for 328 myself.

335 is a dream but when and how often do you or would you use that power.

328 best bang for buck in this case

 

[Magneto]

The owners of 328's will say 328. The owners of 335i will say 335i. Deep down I believe all of the above would have chosen the 335i if they could.

Hope you don't regret your decision, but having said that, the 328i is not too shabby and a great compromise.