BMW 3-Series Saloon (2012 - 2019) 335d xDrive M Sport (07/15-) 4d Step Auto Owner Review

Torquey engine, and can be easy to drive in a relaxed way, or full rev range can be used. Auto can be used as manual. Wide track, watch kerbs! I bought from a pre-registered selection, so I was stuck the (very good) options and colours available, but at 24% off list, 9 mile on the clock, and with pre-April 2017 VED rates (AND avoiding £310 per annum list price VED addition), that is fine. I ran it in using ECO-PRO driver setting, but that holds on to high gears too long. Now, I use the Comfort setting that the car starts in, with the Sport setting occasionally if I am doing A roads. If I am on undulating up and down hills with bends on B roads, knocking into manual on the central lever gives bend and hill (up and down) control if you want to do that, otherwise it is fine in Auto mode. Paddle shifts are useful too; in manual the replace using the stick and hold the gears, in auto, the paddles can shift down and then automatically return to auto after a settled period (the system works this out well). Best bits, the 8-speed auto, the torque (of course), manual handbrake as well as P position, hill-hold on the footpedal for up to 2 seconds after coming off the brake pedal, or after accelerator pedal is pressed - works very well. Dislikes; dial reflections in side window at night, i-drive is still not simple enough, rebound knock after coming over some speed humps even at cautious speeds (that is basic chassis engineering, and should have been designed out). Ease of driving makes it a little uninvolving, if that is your bag.