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      04-30-2011, 09:06 PM   #1
silverforumsurf
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X3 35i or 28i (USA)

Hmm what is everyone's thoughts?
It seems 35i has more torque and HP - helpful in morning local road California traffic?
Is there additional maintenance and / or repairs costs for the 35i because it's turbo?

On my particular configuration because I'm getting Xenon and Sports Kit, and paying a fixed price off invoice, the price difference is only $3000 more (35i include xenon and lower sports package cost due to wheels)
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      04-30-2011, 09:41 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverforumsurf View Post
Hmm what is everyone's thoughts?
It seems 35i has more torque and HP - helpful in morning local road California traffic?
Is there additional maintenance and / or repairs costs for the 35i because it's turbo?

On my particular configuration because I'm getting Xenon and Sports Kit, and paying a fixed price off invoice, the price difference is only $3000 more (35i include xenon and lower sports package cost due to wheels)
Didn't this topic just get discussed over on the "other" forum??
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      04-30-2011, 09:49 PM   #3
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Yup but not everyone is on both so if anyone on this one has a view here please share!
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      04-30-2011, 10:11 PM   #4
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What other forum? Lol
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      05-02-2011, 10:56 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverforumsurf View Post
Hmm what is everyone's thoughts?
It seems 35i has more torque and HP - helpful in morning local road California traffic?
Is there additional maintenance and / or repairs costs for the 35i because it's turbo?

On my particular configuration because I'm getting Xenon and Sports Kit, and paying a fixed price off invoice, the price difference is only $3000 more (35i include xenon and lower sports package cost due to wheels)
I checked around online and from what I could tell, the 35i gets slightly better mileage when driven the same as the 28i (I think that's due to a combination of additional torque a broader torque band). That being said, I test drove the 28i before I drove the 35i and was pretty happy with the 28i... That is, until I drove the 35i; then I couldn't go back

As to the maintenence you're supposedly covered by the factory for the 1st 4 yrs or 50k miles (which ever comes 1st). So for that span of time, the maintenence is identical. If you're going to keep the car longer than that, you can get the extended warranty (you don't have to buy it at the time you take delivery of the car), so that can level the difference in maintenence as well.

However, a turbo has more parts than a naturally asperated engine, so in theory, there's more that can go wrong. From what I could tell when I was looking into what car I was going to get, the 35i uses the N55 engine, and that engine is being used in a pretty significant range of BMW's cars these days. The twin scroll turbo has been in use even longer (e.g. one of the V8s have two twin-scroll turbos). So I suspect that most of the kinks have already been worked out. Plus, since BMW covers the maintenence for the 1st 4 yrs, it would seem that BMW is incented to put higher quality parts in their cars than many of the other manufacturers.
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      05-02-2011, 11:20 AM   #6
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Red face

The 28i is a great motor and the car performs beautifully with it. The problem is that once you test drive the 35i you sort of recalibrate your expectations into sports car land. Next you fool yourself that you might actually SAVE gas buying the turbo because the hwy mpg number is 26 instead of 25 for the 28i. This last bit is delusion of course. One possible mature strategy is to ONLY test drive the 28i, buy it, and be very happy you did. I did not follow the mature path myself so now I am awaiting the arrival of my 35i.
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      05-02-2011, 05:39 PM   #7
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Would there be no point in getting DHP with 28i?
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      05-02-2011, 05:56 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marmik View Post
The 28i is a great motor and the car performs beautifully with it. The problem is that once you test drive the 35i you sort of recalibrate your expectations into sports car land. Next you fool yourself that you might actually SAVE gas buying the turbo because the hwy mpg number is 26 instead of 25 for the 28i. This last bit is delusion of course. One possible mature strategy is to ONLY test drive the 28i, buy it, and be very happy you did. I did not follow the mature path myself so now I am awaiting the arrival of my 35i.
I followed your same path and did not go the mature route! Drove the 28i and thought "this is good, nimble and quick". Drove the 35i and said "holy s#it, I LOVE IT"! Couldn't go back after that!
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      05-02-2011, 09:02 PM   #9
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3k difference? There's no question. Get the 35i. If the 3k matters that much to you, you probably shouldn't be buying either of them. 35i is a blast!
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      05-02-2011, 09:08 PM   #10
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Alrighty 35i it is! If anyone has a 35i and DHP send me a PM please, I have a quick question about iDrive!
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      05-02-2011, 09:10 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Want the thrill View Post
I followed your same path and did not go the mature route! Drove the 28i and thought "this is good, nimble and quick". Drove the 35i and said "holy s#it, I LOVE IT"! Couldn't go back after that!
Ha! Yes exactly - well said!
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      05-03-2011, 09:44 AM   #12
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35i fuel economy is better mainly because of a numerically lower rear axle ratio than the 28i. The 28i is geared down so that it seems more responsive. I think this fuel consumption issue is one reason BMW is so eager to replace the N52 engine with the N20 in the 28i.
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      05-13-2011, 01:48 PM   #13
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Great! Now im bummed about ordering the 28i LOL. I never actually drove the 35i though
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      05-13-2011, 02:09 PM   #14
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Great! Now im bummed about ordering the 28i LOL. I never actually drove the 35i though
Don't do it now then....
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      05-13-2011, 02:20 PM   #15
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Great! Now im bummed about ordering the 28i LOL. I never actually drove the 35i though
Don't go near the 35i so you won't have regrets. If you love power, it is intoxicating! I thought I would order the 28i, but after driving the 35i I just was in LOVE and had to have it. You could always change your order if it hasn't started production!
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      05-13-2011, 02:30 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by tuco44 View Post
Didn't this topic just get discussed over on the "other" forum??
yes!!!
let me just go and copy paste...
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      05-13-2011, 02:39 PM   #17
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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

Last edited by Shaw; 05-13-2011 at 02:50 PM..
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      05-13-2011, 02:46 PM   #18
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Thanks peeps. I'm not really regretting the 28i I ordered. It will be here next week and Im going to love it and drive the hell out of it! I drove it tons before I ordered and it was very fast and responsive. Thanks Shaw for your info
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      05-13-2011, 02:52 PM   #19
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Thanks peeps. I'm not really regretting the 28i I ordered. It will be here next week and Im going to love it and drive the hell out of it! I drove it tons before I ordered and it was very fast and responsive. Thanks Shaw for your info
my pleasure!
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      05-13-2011, 03:32 PM   #20
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you have identified exactly why I bought the 35i: very little price difference when similarly equipped - plus I always opt for the big motor even though the 28i was plenty
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      05-13-2011, 03:36 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marmik View Post
The 28i is a great motor and the car performs beautifully with it. The problem is that once you test drive the 35i you sort of recalibrate your expectations into sports car land. Next you fool yourself that you might actually SAVE gas buying the turbo because the hwy mpg number is 26 instead of 25 for the 28i. This last bit is delusion of course. One possible mature strategy is to ONLY test drive the 28i, buy it, and be very happy you did. I did not follow the mature path myself so now I am awaiting the arrival of my 35i.
Exact same result on my end! And I'm glad I'm not acting very mature in this respect! :0 I got the other 1000 areas of my life to do that...let's have some fun here!
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      05-13-2011, 04:10 PM   #22
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I'm another one of those who didn't even drive the 35i. I picked up my 28i at the Performance Center on Wednesday and I couldn't be happier.

I thought about the 35i, but decided that I wanted to have the maximum practical fuel economy. Even though the 35i has better EPA ratings, I doubt I'd use less gas. Quite the opposite - I fear I wouldn't resist stomping on the gas and end up using far more. The temptation isn't as great with the 28i, and the power is more than sufficient, especially with the 8 speed.

I've been playing with the suspension settings today, after having it in comfort mode most of the first few days. With the suspension in sport and the powertrain in normal, it feels more like my '07 E83. The ride is firm in this mode, which I like. The car is very smooth and quiet, easily the most luxurious feeling BMW I've owned.
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