The BMW 335i Overview
The 2011 BMW 3 Series is in a league of its own. Compared to its own sedan counterparts, it has spent more time at the top of its class than any competitor. After winning multiple comparison tests and holding a place on Car and Driver's 10Best list for 19 consecutive years, BMW's Coupe is the standard of comparison for compact sport coupes.

The 328i has a 230-hp that has won comparisons against cars with significantly more power, simply by its incredible combination of balance, handling and luxury.

For those who prefer a more evenly matched comparison, the new 300-hp Twin Power Turbo inline-6 in the flagship 335i Coupe puts BMW's Coupe on equal footing with most of the competition in terms of raw power, which means the overall result tilts even more in BMW's favor. Simply put, in either rear-drive or xDrive configurations, the 328i and the more-powerful 335i remain the benchmarks in their class.

The Mercedes-Benz E350 Overview
The Mercedes-Benz E350 maintains the overall E-Class styling, the new 2-door remains on the C-Class chassis, with its 108.7-inch wheelbase. Its 185.2-inch overall length is almost 6 inches less than the E350 Sedan. One answer is in the E350 Coupe's pricing: at just under $49,000 with destination, Mercedes-Benz can charge more for the car. The new sheet metal certainly leans more toward the sportier C-Class, providing a bit more youthful dimension to the staid E-Class sedans.

The E350 features the same powertrain as the E350 and C350 sedans, with a 268-hp 3.5-liter V-8 paired with M-B's standard 7-speed automatic. The combination provides a 6.2-second 0-60 mph time, so the car's acceleration falls into the low-end of the performance scale. The car also offers Mercedes-Benz's Agility Control Suspension, which varies damping at each wheel to maintain a close balance between ride and handling. Ventilated and cross-drilled rotors grace the upscale E550, but the E350 gets conventional ventilated front rotors, paired with solid rears.

Looks aside, the E350 offers no surprises, with 17-inch wheels, power leather seats, dual climate control, automatic only, and the expected Mercedes options – Distronic cruise control, 18-inch wheels, hard-drive COMAND navigation and bi-xenon headlights.

What BMW offers…

• BMW's 335i includes a longer list of standard equipment, including Adaptive xenon headlights and LED turn signals, sport suspension, rear center armrest, moonroof, and split-folding rear seats.
• The 335i Coupe provides a choice of 6-speed manual or auto, with either rear-drive or xDrive all-wheel-drive.
• BMW's Twin Power Turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 holds an advantage in every performance category, with 300 horsepower and a 300 lb-ft of torque and a torque spread that reaches from 1200-5000 rpm. BMW's inline-6 is also inherently smoother than Mercedes 3.5-liter V-6.
• The 335i posts far better 0-60 mph times: 5.3/5.5 seconds (man/auto) for the 335i or 5.2/5.3 for the xDrive.
• In every configuration, the 335i weighs less than the E350 – by as much as 210 lbs in the case of the rear-drive 335i with 6-speed manual.
• BMW also includes larger brakes to counter the 335i's higher performance: 13.7-inch front / 13.2-inch rear.
• BMW includes a 4-year/50,000-mile Full Maintenance Warranty

What Mercedes-Benz doesn’t…

• The E350 includes a Panorama sunroof, but Adaptive xenon headlights, LED turn signals, sport suspension; rear armrest and split-folding rear seats are all extra-cost options.
• Mercedes offers only a rear-drive 7-speed auto, with no other drivetrain options.
• M-B's 3.5-liter V-6 offers reasonable power (258 hp with 268 lb-ft. of torque) but Mercedes V-6 lacks the overall character and sophistication of BMW's inline-6. It also can't match the overall smoothness that's a trademark of BMW's inline-6.
• Similarly, with a claimed 6.2-second 0-60 mph time, the E350 lags well behind any version of BMW's 335i Coupe.
• At 3683 lbs, the Mercedes outweighs the BMW 335i by more than 100 lbs, which affects handling, acceleration and braking.
• Mercedes includes only 12.7 ventilated rotors at the front, with 11.8-inch solid rotors at the rear.
• Mercedes-Benz includes 4 year/50,000 miles corrosion warranty, but no full maintenance.

 

Don't settle for the ordinary, drive something extraordinary. Expect the ultimate in performance and service by purchasing a BMW.

Visit Irvine BMW today, where we provide premiere customer service, high quality BMW vehicles and products, along with factory-trained technicians.

We look forward to seeing you soon, Irvine BMW of Orange County.

"Quite simply, no other entry-level luxury model can match the 3 Series'

exquisite combination of athletic handling and premium ride comfort." – Edmunds.com

 

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