New Guy With a 2008 335i Saying Hi, Asking A Couple Questions

[Cslinger]

Just wanted to say hi. I just took delivery of my new 335i. This is my first BMW, I have generally been in the Japanese camps or higher powered domestics.

First and foremost the 335i is ungodly fast for what it is. It just amazes me that this extremely heavy, 4 door car, can blow the doors off of many dedicated sports cars in both straights and twisties.

Comfort Access rocks. Never having take my keys out of my pockets has spoiled me so much that I get home and expect the door to my house to magically open at my touch.

I am getting about 22 MPG by the computer on the first tank of gas. I am of course taking it a bit easy but have dipped into the boost quite a bit, so I am pretty pleased. 20+MPG for this kind of performance with 70+% of my driving stop and go/suburb/city type is darn good IMO.

The Logic 7 system is great. I do not have Idrive(by choice) and I find it easy and intuitive and it will play any format I want for IPOD to thumb drive etc. It's no Mark Levinson but the sound is very very good.

I do have a couple of questions.

1)I am having a bit of a hard time getting used to the seats, non-sports seats. Do they wear in, should I be sitting further back then usual etc. I know this is a very personal pref. type thing but figured I would ask.

2)Is there anyway to slave the fog lights to come on with the low beam headlights or do I always have to activate them via the switch.

3)Is there anyway to slave the driver and passenger temp controls to act as one?

4)Does the fuel gauge have a reserve when the needle is basically on empty or does it kick in somewhere between empty and a quarter.

Thanks for any insight you might give.

Chris

[mryakan]

Just wanted to say hi. I just took delivery of my new 335i. This is my first BMW, I have generally been in the Japanese camps or higher powered domestics.

First and foremost the 335i is ungodly fast for what it is. It just amazes me that this extremely heavy, 4 door car, can blow the doors off of many dedicated sports cars in both straights and twisties.

Comfort Access rocks. Never having take my keys out of my pockets has spoiled me so much that I get home and expect the door to my house to magically open at my touch.

hahaha, like that Ford Sync commercial. Congrats.




2)Is there anyway to slave the fog lights to come on with the low beam headlights or do I always have to activate them via the switch.

This is one of my minor nitpicks, you have to turn them on manually every time :(.




4)Does the fuel gauge have a reserve when the needle is basically on empty or does it kick in somewhere between empty and a quarter.

Do yourself and your car a favor and never let it go below 15% or so (last 2 notches). The car will warn you with an alarm and a flashing yellow tank when you have around 50 miles or so left and will constantly highlight the yellow tank (with a small triangle that has a "!" in it) when you get below 40 miles estimated range. Don't let it go beyond that without refueling IMO.

[trek1500]

By the way congrats on your new 335i! I just picked mine up mid month and am adjusting as well! Prior to that I was driving a Camry LE (4 cyl) so you can imagine there is a world of difference! My first Bimmer also and loving this forum as there are a lot of good tips you can pick up! As far as the seats..it does take a little getting used to as the car is more compact than your conventional sedan but so far I like the feeling! these seats feel well contoured (for me..) that is..I also have the non-sport seats. As far as the other questions..I've never really considered those so I'm looking forward to responses from others who regularly frequent this forum.

As a new BMW owner...it's exciting but daunting in that you know you are driving a car in a different class entirely! As a friend of mine said..once you go BMW there's no turning back..It's amazing the number of forums that exist out there for this "exclusive club"...you hardly see any for Toyota Camrys..LOL! But this is an amazing car! Like you I'm blown away by how quick this car is! I have to watch myself! like I said.."it's an adjustment..." but a really positive one!" Good luck with yours and hope you get some answers to your questions..

[mryakan]

By the way congrats on your new 335i! I just picked mine up mid month and am adjusting as well! Prior to that I was driving a Camry LE (4 cyl) so you can imagine there is a world of difference! My first Bimmer also and loving this forum as there are a lot of good tips you can pick up! As far as the seats..it does take a little getting used to as the car is more compact than your conventional sedan but so far I like the feeling! these seats feel well contoured (for me..) that is..I also have the non-sport seats. As far as the other questions..I've never really considered those so I'm looking forward to responses from others who regularly frequent this forum.

As a new BMW owner...it's exciting but daunting in that you know you are driving a car in a different class entirely! As a friend of mine said..once you go BMW there's no turning back..It's amazing the number of forums that exist out there for this "exclusive club"...you hardly see any for Toyota Camrys..LOL! But this is an amazing car! Like you I'm blown away by how quick this car is! I have to watch myself! like I said.."it's an adjustment..." but a really positive one!" Good luck with yours and hope you get some answers to your questions..
It's not really exclusive at all, and that's another thing I like about BMW, less snobbishness (say than MB or Porsche), though not close enough to 0 for sure.

[jmonier]

1: I don't know about non-sport. My sport seats are very comfortable.

2: You have to specifically turn on the fog lights but if you turn them on the headlights will also come on.

3: No

4: The fuel reserve warning and light comes on with about 2 gallons left. The fuel gage will be 1/3 to 1/2 of the area between empty and 1/4 when this happens. You're pretty close to empty at "E". The best way to judge is with the "miles remaining" display. It's quite accurate (with a small pad) as long as the way you're driving doesn't change a lot from what it was the last 20 miles. BUT (as others have said), keep the tank 1/4 or more full.

[aftp302]

I've been letting it get to 25 miles remaining or below in the past. In reading the OM the other night (for something completely different) I noticed that it recommends to refuel by the time it gets to 30 miles remaining. I will adjust accordingly. It's also a really good idea to keep more gas in the tank during the winter due to limiting condensation in the gas tank (from what I've been told).

[mryakan]

I've been letting it get to 25 miles remaining or below in the past. In reading the OM the other night (for something completely different) I noticed that it recommends to refuel by the time it gets to 30 miles remaining. I will adjust accordingly. It's also a really good idea to keep more gas in the tank during the winter due to limiting condensation in the gas tank (from what I've been told).
Correct, esp. when the temps dip well below freezing and if your car is left ungaraged for a long period of time. I try never to let it go below 60km or ~40 miles, but I've been down to 50km or 35 miles on very rare occasions (both this car and my previous car).

[Cslinger]

Thanks everybody. I have poured over the manual, as I have actually had to for this car......that is my shame, but I digress. 80(

I will likely run it to the the OM suggested 30ish miles for the first time to get a feel for where the point is and then fill up around a quarter from then on. I tend to want to get 300 miles per tank with my vehicles unless I am out playing, which with this car is going to happen more then a lot me thinks. I have never actually seen a torque LINE before. I have seen torque curves, hell I have even seen reasonably flat torque curves....but never a flat friggen line. I giggled like a school girl when I saw 1400 peak torque arrives......and never leaves.8D

I figured there was no way to slave the fogs or link the temp gauges but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Once again thank you very much for the quick info.

Chris

[mryakan]

Thanks everybody. I have poured over the manual, as I have actually had to for this car......that is my shame, but I digress. 80(

I will likely run it to the the OM suggested 30ish miles for the first time to get a feel for where the point is and then fill up around a quarter from then on. I tend to want to get 300 miles per tank with my vehicles unless I am out playing, which with this car is going to happen more then a lot me thinks. I have never actually seen a torque LINE before. I have seen torque curves, hell I have even seen reasonably flat torque curves....but never a flat friggen line. I giggled like a school girl when I saw 1400 peak torque arrives......and never leaves.8D

I figured there was no way to slave the fogs or link the temp gauges but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Once again thank you very much for the quick info.

Chris
When I fill up, it usually displays 600+ km cruising range at my average 22mpg consumption rate. That's ~370 miles. My consumption is a bit high due to the greater % of city driving in my regular commute. I assume you'd get similar numbers with the 335 driver with higher % of highway driving, so 300+ miles between fillups should be easy unless you are racing.

[neapolitan]

If you let it go to 20 miles left in the tank, it will start running a bit rough as mine did today (long lines at gas station so kept on passing them up). Don't ask me how or why, just filled up today, and after filling up was much more smooth.

It was clearly noticeable (by my passenger too) -- maybe fuel was splashing around and not consistently getting into the intake mechanism? Either way I'll fill up sooner next time...

[soulcactus]

I think you can do the fogs....i believe it's called a Euro switch....

The Euro Switch is the "standard" switch gear for the European and RT-P models that give the rider the ability to turn off the headlights. Many American riders like to install the switch for use on an auxiliary lighting system.
The BMW Part Number is # 61 31 2 306 178 (MSRP $76)
The unit replaces the entire front switchgear, including the Turn Signal Switch, Starter Button, Kill Switch, and Turn Cancel Button.


don't know if that's what you're looking for but interesting anyways...congrats on the new car.. I ordered mine two weeks ago....how long did it take to get it???

[Cslinger]

don't know if that's what you're looking for but interesting anyways...congrats on the new car.. I ordered mine two weeks ago....how long did it take to get it???

That is a bit more surgery then I care to do. Its no big deal to me really.

I bought mine off the lot. It was optioned exactly as I wanted and was a color scheme that was pleasing to me so I guess I lucked out.

Chris