BMW 5-Series

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

To my understanding the engine block is the same. The difference lies in the turbos, with the 330d having a single turbo, while the 335d has a sequential twin turbo. The end result is that the 335d is a bit more powerful and should experience less turbo lag.

I actually read the Car and Driver article too fast - it was comparing the 330d engine to the 335d engine, but in my haste I thought they were saying the US 335d had the lower-power engine. That isn't the case, but somehow the low performance figures seemed to fit that scenario, so it didn't seem wrong.

So... I'm confused then by all this hyperbole about the 535d (and by extension the 335d) -trouncing- the 535i and 335i. I still say it's the torque tricking you into thinking the diesel car is faster than it is.

If these heavier cars really are faster, we should see the 335d fare much better than it does against the 335i (which trounces the 335d). I know the gearing is awful in the d, but it's heavier too. I'm not so sure given the same gearing that the diesel could beat the petrol car. Besides, in the US - the only cars we have to go head-to-head are the 335i and 335d (which only comes with the auto transmission and with one gearing option):


-----Car and Driver tests-----
335d - 0-60 in 5.7, 1/4 mile in 14.2 sec, top speed 128 (automatic only)
335i - 0-60 in 4.9, 1/4 mile in 13.4 sec, top speed 145 (automatic)