Style
No matter if you opt for your 335i in coupe, saloon or Touring spec, you’ll be wanting to tick the box marked ‘M Sport’ if you’re looking for maximum visual drama. Without the bells and whistles this brings the E90/E92 body shape can be a little underwhelming, particularly given how many of them are on Britain’s roads. That M-Sport option gives you 18-inch alloys and a handsome bodykit on the outside, and M-Sport seats, steering wheel, gearknob, plus black anthracite headlining on the inside. All of which should be enough to help you stand out from the crowd, although if this is really your aim then you’d be better off buying a Mondeo.

Engine & Gearbox
BMW’s 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol in-line six is one of the finest, if not the finest, petrol engines on-sale today. Its combination of two small turbochargers operating on three cylinders each ensure it has ample shove across the whole range. Ironically, it actually feels a bit like a large capacity V8 rather than a six pot, yet unlike BMW’s actual V8 3-series, it will return 30+mpg on a run, and it’s not often that 300bhp and 295lb ft of torque will leave you wanting. BMW also has the gearbox situation cracked too; the precise six-speed manual is a driver’s delight, while the adaptive auto can do the changes seamlessly for you or allow you to override them via the excellent semi-auto option. The only potential improvement would be to make the paddles follow suit with BMW’s SMG box, with the right going up the ‘box and the left shifting down it, rather than the current setup where either lever can be used to go up and down the gears.

Ride & Handling
If only BMW had its M Sport suspension as finely honed as its engine and gearbox. There’s no problem in the handling department, all styles of 3-series offering crisp turn in and an adjustable chassis, but M Sport suspension does tend to take the edge off the ride quality. There’s been much written about BMW’s standard fitment of run flat tyres in recent years, but truth be told the technology has moved on so far recently that on SE spec cars you’ll struggle to notice the difference – until you get a puncture, when you’ll love them. Despite this the ride on M Sport equipped Threes can still become tiresomely jittery for town driving, where speed bumps, potholes and general tarmac wear and tear can make the damping feel overly stiff. Lucky then that this car – a practical four or five seater, remember – is such a well-resolved package when it comes to entertainment value. Because there’s so much torque so low in the rev range (it peaks from just 1300rpm) the 335i is an uncannily easy car to steer from the rear at low speeds – just switch off DSC, apply some lock and prod the throttle and you’re a(side)way.

Value
A BMW 335i M Sport coupé – arguably the most desirable model of the 335i range – costs £35,960. That’s £15k less than an M3 and even £2.5k less than a 335d coupe. Consider that you get a car that seats four comfortably, will do 30mpg, looks sensational, sounds wonderful and will outrun pretty much everything else on the road and it really is hard to fault the twin turbocharged Three. Of BMW’s myriad of options the only real essential on a car already equipped with M Sport is leather (£995), while Bluetooth (£535) and iDrive with professional navigation (£1970) is useful.

Verdict
Happily for BMW the 335’s biggest problem comes from its diesel propelled namesake. Provided you’re sold on the 3-series range then which one you choose depends largely on if you get your kicks from being parsimonious at the pumps, or having a howling soundtrack. In truth, both cars are so well developed that they don’t differ all that much in performance or economy. If it were our money it would go on the 335i though. It’s hard to think of a finer all rounder on sale today.


Spec
BMW 335i Coupe
Engine: 2979cc, twin turbocharged, straight-six
Power: 306bhp@5800rpm
Torque: 295lb ft@1300rpm
0-60mph: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1600kg
Price OTR: £35,960

Extras:
Dakota leather (£995)
iDrive with professional navigation (£1970)
Blue tooth (£535)

Price as tested: £39,460


We like: Sublime engine with bags of low down torque, crisp handling

We dislike: A bit too ubiquitous, M Sport ride jittery at low speeds

Verdict: Conclusive proof that BMW still makes some of the world’s best cars



(This appears to be the same Performance Car that evolved into Evo Magazine. Their site has only a few tests for now:
Performance Car: For owners, drivers and enthusiasts of performance cars.)