November 22, 2006 - Once upon a time in the south of Germany, a certain Bavarian Motor Werkes produced a four-door version of their über-M3. In those halcyon days of yore, if you had a young family, or needed to carry friends or business clients, the Q-ship 1997-98 E36 BMW M3 Sedan gave solace to those who were obligated to combine their driving ambitions with the practical necessities of everyday life.

A four-door M3 never appeared during the seven-year lifespan of the next generation E46 3 Series sedan, launched in 1999. The most interesting E46 sedan, the 2003-2005 330i Performance Package—with new camshafts and modified engine-management programming cajoling ten more horsepower from the 3.0-litre straight-six to 235, and a shorter final drive ratio—philosophically came the closest the four-door M3 ethos. Nonetheless, the 333 horsepower E46 M3 Coupé was still faster, whether the road was straight or curved.

By mid-2005, when the E46 sedans were phased out in favour of the current E90 3 Series four-doors, the 330i continued on, garnering our 2006 Straight-Goods Sports Sedan top pick. This time, the fastest E90 four-door had an extensively reengineered 255 h.p., 220 pound-feet of torque 3.0-litre straight-six that was 22 pounds lighter than its predecessor. A fast and furious four-door? No doubt. An M3 sedan? Slow down, cowboy...



But then BMW did something that gave fans of the E36 four-door M3 hope. They recently released the third generation of 3 Series Coupés.

The cooking rear- and all-wheel-drive 2007 328i Coupés (not with a 2.8, but a 3.0-litre, 230 h.p. six) are elegant and smooth driving machines. But they are mere appetizers to one of the most pleasantly surprising new cars for 2007: the range-topping 335i Coupé.

As in the 328i, the 335i badge is misleading. BMW’s first production turbocharged straight-six engine—two turbos, actually—produces 300 h.p. and 300 lb.-ft. of torque from 3.0, not 3.5 litres. Easily posting E46 M3 performance numbers at this year’s Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s annual car of the year testing event, BMW’s new $51,600 335i Coupé was the driver’s choice in the Sports and Performance over $50,000 category, despite being up against more expensive and powerful competition.

So, naturally, with the $49,900 335i Sedan now on sale, the question arises: do driving zealots finally have the four-door M3 they’ve patiently been waiting for?

Physically, the 335i Sedan differs little from its coupé sibling. The four-door as a little shorter in length and height, but the two BMWs share a wheelbase. More importantly, they share that new blown mill.



The all-aluminium straight-six not only brings back turbocharging to BMW showrooms, but also boasts their first engine with High Precision Injection combined with dual-VANOS variable valve timing. With both turbos at full boost, maximum torque is available at a diesel-like 1,500 r.p.m. My test 335i Sedan came with the standard six-speed transmission (a six-speed automatic transmission is an option), and weighed a mere 10 kilograms more than a 335i Coupé. This only supported BMW’s claim that the four-door can scoot from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 5.7 seconds; a meagre one tenth of a second slower than the audacious 335i two-door. En route to these high speeds, there’s virtually no turbo lag, but there is a warble at 1,500 r.p.m. that a naturally aspirated BMW six does not posses.

Like the previous 330i, the new top dog 3 Series sedan is a virtuoso on public roads.



The 335i Sedan’s ride quality betters the Coupé’s harsher setup, but is its equal in having surgically accurate steering, powerful brakes, and bang-on ergonomics. With the almost-obligatory sports package ($2,500) that includes more articulating front seats, a tighter suspension and 18-inch high performance Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run flats (that will require you put aside a couple of grand for proper winter rubber), the four-door matches the two-door’s standard sports suspension setup and, thusly, needed some track time at the recently opened Calabogie Motorsports Park, just west of Ottawa, Ontario.

Calabogie’s big loop course requires a car that can accurately be positioned on the track. Miss the first apex on some of the multiple apex corners, and a potentially smooth lap can be thrown out the window. To avoid this, a car needs to have its steering, power delivery and ergonomics working as a team. It’s here that the rear-drive 335i Sedan exceeds any 3 Series four-door to date.



Beyond a slightly taller seating position, the sedan mimics the 335i Coupé’s sublime, delicate driving experience. A couple of generations into the development, BMW’s electric hydraulic steering is now as linear and delicate as that vaunted E36 M3. To properly make your way around the challenging track, you also need the back of a car to respond to your wishes. Again, that monster of a motor (that can’t be only 300 h.p., can it?) brings a lot to the 335i Sedan’s driving experience. It’s where the 335i Sedan separates itself from its 330i predecessor. Not only is power available everywhere in the rev range, but also throttle response is linear and immediate. Power overseer is but a switch of the DSC away, and when the car’s rear end does come around, the 335i Sedan can easily be coaxed back onto your intended path. The 335i Sedan’s steering, suspension—and just as importantly—brakes, all work together in a cohesive package. What fun! In a four-door!  If you bought a 2006 330i Sedan, I can understand why a trade-in may be in the cards…

But is the 2007 BMW 335i Sedan a worthy successor to that legendary E36 M3 sedan?



First off, objectively and subjectively, the new E90 sedan blows away that late-‘90s M3 Sedan. Only Luddites would argue with that statement. But how does the 335i Sedan stack up against the most recent E46 M3?

Despite similar performance numbers, admittedly, the new 335i Sedan isn’t as sharp at the limit or as alive in its actions. But if you need the added practicality of four doors it’s next best thing until the whomping, new eight-cylinder E90 M3 shows up sometime next year.

As for now, the 335i with the stick and the Sport Package is the best driving BMW you can buy.

And that’s no fairy tale.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, straight-six.com



Just the facts…

Build quality 5/6
Features 4/6
Performance 6/6
Fun-to-drive 5/6
Overall value 6/6

TYPE OF VEHICLE: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
ENGINE: Twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve, aluminum block 3.0 I6
POWER: 300 h.p. @ 5,800 rpm., 300 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,400rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 1,630 kg.
TIRES: (front) 225/40-18, (rear) 255/35-18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT
PRICE: BASE/AS TESTED $$49,900/$55,600
OPTIONS: Black Sapphire Metallic paint $800; Terra Dakota leather $2,400; Sport Package- sport suspension and 18-inch wheels and tires, Sport Seats, (Includes Electrically Adjustable Seat Width).