I like the way you put it... (Marmik)
However on your last remark (only test 28i), I must say that I test drove both, but still went for 28i because I couldn't justify the price difference over the engine...
I also took the time and tested both with piece of mind (acceleration,etc.) 28i IMO performed as good as 35i. I mean not that 35i is not stronger...but 28i has nothing less...
(also the weight is less so it plays to the advantage of 28i to a certain extent...)
Most of us here love BMW, and frankly if I were to order the 35i, then I would have gone for the DHP, Sport package, Head-up, etc. and the total would have been sky rocket!!!
I think I'll be extremely happy with the 28i with all its fancy features.
The difference, well I did a lot of other stuff!!! What?
We'll you are not gonna believe this: I bought a new house for our new X3 just to park it in a new parking!!!
So the difference went to a good cause