[Jason]

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2012 335i (F30) Takes on the Audi S4

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The BMW 335i (F30) sedan is put to the test against the more powerful (and more expensive) Audi S4 in this Autobild comparison. Can the 335i keep up? While the 335i was down on acceleration compared to the S4, the author still picked the 335i over the S4. Let's have a look as to how.

"The 300hp inline-6 in the 3-series impresses with its sharp throttle response and smooth-as-silk operation. Not only does it accelerate the 335i strongly, but it also shows a nice and warm engine sound causing goose bumps. And that's something the Audi can't keep up with. Its [Audi's] V6 does make a good noise but it's always a bit artificial - as if the engine sound was composed on a computer and not in the engine bay. At 333hp, it's got enough power however and revvs freely. Despite being 188kg heavier, the Audi even trumps the BMW in terms of acceleration."

Verdict
"This isn't an easy decision: Costs aside, the Audi wins 3 categories. But at the end of the day the BMW 335i still manages to come out on top by a 10-point-margin. It's got a marvelous engine and - yes, that's right - is almost 10,000 EUR less."

Here were the technical results and specs:

Source: Autobild

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[FANBMWM]

BMW F30 335i <3

[ZheHbKa]

wonder what options 335i had, Audi's are often overpriced but on can argue that awd is a big plus in current sport cars.

thankfully bmw lease deals are very good, compared to audi. you can lease a 335 for the price of base a4...no brainer here

[MrClean335i]

They should have compared a M Sport 335i vs the S4.
When you add the M sport they are even on price.

[nlpamg]

Why is the S4 10k EUR more again?

[RASHID007]

Great result but those 0-100kph numbers just don't look correct.

[Needsdecaf]

I am honestly surprised at the acceleration numbers. The S4 3.0T mill is stout and the acceleration numbers have always been good. That the 335 can keep up is pretty astonishing, truth be told.

Forget the 0-X times, the AWD Quattro will have the holeshot advantage. Look at the in-gear times, they're dead even.

[211SW]

F30 FTW!!

[matze328]

here is another comparison by "auto motor sport" with the same cars:

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/v...k-4631228.html

[Spoolin335]

I actually like the Audi better...

From the side the cars are nearly identical, but Audi has won me over on the styling of the front/rear/interior.
I like the aggressive front on the BMW, but that horrible hood line is really grabbing my eye. Should have kept it like the E9x and made the hood flow all the way to the grills.
BMW's interiors are finally starting to catch up!

[Whostheboss]

Audi looks visibly better.

[Budge]

Originally Posted by Spoolin335

I actually like the Audi better...

From the side the cars are nearly identical, but Audi has won me over on the styling of the front/rear/interior.
I like the aggressive front on the BMW, but that horrible hood line is really grabbing my eye. Should have kept it like the E9x and made the hood flow all the way to the grills.
BMW's interiors are finally starting to catch up!

I couldn't agree more. And it's almost as if the reviewer didn't look at his own results. He just picked the car he liked the best regardless. BTW, I love your avatar!

[E60orBust]

^ Enjoy your "LED accents" turning off every time your turn signal turns on. Admittedly, they should have kept the character hood lines all the way down like the F10, but that LED business is down right asinine.

[fusion01]

Why I bought a BMW, the closest Audi comparison was frankly way overpriced for the same power output.

[svache]

The Audi is not bad looking but... I do have to say I like the F30 much better. Sure, the hood line is open for discussion but the other parts make it all up for me, making me like the F30 better. Guess I'm a fan boy


btw, I'm highly surprised the Audi is 10K more expensive :S

[09BlkSapphire]

Originally Posted by Budge

I couldn't agree more. And it's almost as if the reviewer didn't look at his own results. He just picked the car he liked the best regardless. BTW, I love your avatar!

Not so surprising. A car isn't always better just because it's faster. There's lots of intangibles involved in how a driver could like a 'slower' car. And anyways the Audi tested is 10,000 euros more expensive so there was that to consider too. Look at how the M3 still better than the C63 despite being less powerful and slower straight line.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

thankfully bmw lease deals are very good, compared to audi. you can lease a 335 for the price of base a4...no brainer here

Are those lease rates for the outgoing E90 335? I just can't imagine that the new F30 335 would have a better lease rate of a much less expensive base A4 with the 2.0 four cylinder.

[fusion01]

Originally Posted by Spoolin335

I like the aggressive front on the BMW, but that horrible hood line is really grabbing my eye. Should have kept it like the E9x and made the hood flow all the way to the grills.

Agreed on the hood line. It's my biggest criticism on the new model: looks 'droopy'. I prefer the older model's front.

[335iJWC]

[bmrm396]

where are the skid pad numbers??? hmmmmm bet the s4 woulda killed that

[ppatel223]

BMW has unique interior, Audi and Merc has similar interior design which sucks

[micknugget]

I really liked the Audi when I test drove it but the killer was it's terrible version of iDrive. Everything from adjusting the heated seats to changing the radio station was a multi-step process. It was an annoying process to say the least.