Base Versus Loaded: 2011 BMW 335i Sedan

After downloading all of the pricing information about Ford’s Mustang GT in last week’s BVL, we thought we’d take on a popular German target with BMW’s 3-Series this week. Of course, when looked at from the 328i up through the M3 variants, there are an awful lot of legitimately different cars that wear the 3 for BMW, so, for this session, we narrowed the field down to simply the 335i sedan. As you’ll see, that limitation doesn’t mean that we didn’t find a wide gulf in price, from Base up to Loaded.

Base

Price: $42,050 (335i Sedan) + $875 (destination & handling) + $0 (options) = $42,925

Loaded

Price: $42,050 (335i Sedan) + $27,119 (options) + $875 = $70,044

What Does $27,119 Buy?

Titanium Silver Metallic – $550
Cold Weather Package – $1000
– Retractable headlight washers
– Heated front seats
– Split fold-down rear seat
Convenience Package – $1200
– Rear manual side window shades
– Comfort Access keyless entry
– Power rear sunshade
– Park Distance Control (rear only)
– Anti-theft alarm system
M Sport Package – $3750
– Sport Suspension
– Shadowline exterior trim
– Aerodynamic kit
– Increased top speed limiter
– Sport seats
– M Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters – $100
– 18” light alloy star-spoke wheels, performance run-flat tires (replaced with 19” below)
Premium Package – $2650
– Interior mirror with compass
– BMW Assist with Bluetooth
– Lumbar support
– Auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors
– Universal garage-door opener
– Saddle Brown Dakota Leather
Active Steering – $1550
STEPTRONIC automatic transmission
Active Cruise Control – $2400
Navigation System – $2100
BMW Apps – $250
Harman Kardon surround sound system – $875
iPod and USB adapter – $400
Satellite radio with 1 year subscription – $350
Automatic high beams – $250
BMW Base Support System – $238
BMW Comfort Ski Holder – $188
BMW Roof Box 350 – $560
BMW Ski and Snowboard Holder – $188
BMW Assist Convenience Plan – $199
BMW Apple iPhone Music Snap In Adapters – $197
BMW Phone Snap-In Adapters – $154
BMW Star Spoke 311 in Chrome – $5449
BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade – $2095
BMW Portable Navigation Plus System – $425

Base Model Features

Performance and efficiency

– 3.0-liter, 300-horsepower, dual overhead cam (DOHC), inline 24-valve 6-cylinder engine with aluminum engine block, TwinPower Turbo technology, Valvetronic, piezo direct injection, and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing
– Electronic throttle control
– 6-speed manual transmission

Handling, ride and braking

– Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), including Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off Assistant, Brake Drying, and Brake Stand-by features, with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
– Extensive aluminum componentry, including front suspension components (forged-aluminum lower arms, steering knuckle); subframe; steering rack; and brake components
– Double-pivot type front suspension with dual forged-aluminum lower arms (328i xDrive and 335i xDrive have steel lower arms and a steel subframe, plus an aluminum thrust plate)
– 5-link rear suspension with cast-aluminum upper transverse arms
– Front and rear anti-roll (stabilizer) bars
– Twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers
– 4-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes with Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)
– Engine-speed-sensitive, variable-assist power steering

Exterior

– Multi Spoke (Style 284) light alloy wheels, 17 x 8.0 and 225/45 run-flat1 all-season tires 2
– Tire Pressure Monitor
– Xenon Adaptive Headlights with dynamic auto-leveling and Corona headlight-rings
– Halogen free-form front foglights
– Heated dual power mirrors and heated windshield washer jets
– Chrome-plated exhaust tips

Interior seating and trim

– 8-way power front seats with 2-way manual headrests with Active Head Restraints feature, and driver memory with 2 presets for exterior mirror and seat positions
– Leatherette upholstery
– Dark Burl Walnut Wood trim
– Comfort and convenience
– Engine Start/Stop button
– Advanced Vehicle & Key Memory includes climate-control temperature and air-distribution settings, exterior mirror and power seat settings,3 audio tone settings and radio presets with optional Navigation system, central-locking preferences, and lighting preferences
– Automatic climate control includes micro-filter, automatic air recirculation, left/right temperature control, temperature- and volume-controlled rear outlets, windshield misting sensor, MAX A/C function, heat at rest, and recall of individual user settings
– 2-way power glass moonroof with "one-touch" operation and sliding interior sunshade
– Front-seat center armrest
– Front passenger cupholders (dashboard-integrated)
– Rear-seat center armrest with cupholders
– Tilt/telescopic steering wheel column
– Power front and rear windows with "one-touch" up/down operation
– Dynamic Cruise Control
– BMW Ambiance Lighting front and rear
– Courtesy lights include fade in/fade out, actuation from remote, automatic switch-on when engine is turned off, separately controlled left/right front and rear reading lights,
front footwell lighting, and illuminated vanity mirrors
– Ground-illuminating lights in door handles
– Locking glovebox
– Electric interior trunk release
– Rain-sensing windshield wipers and Automatic headlight control
– Instrumentation and controls
– 3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth® phone controls (if so equipped)
– Service Interval Indicator with miles-to-service readout
– Check Control vehicle monitor system with pictogram display, oil status display, and Condition Based Service indicator
– On-board computer with Check Control provides feedback on the vehicle’s operating status: oil level indicator and distance to next service appointment/oil change, as well as other detailed information, such as spark plug and micro-filter status. It also provides travel information travel range on remaining fuel, external temperature and more
– Audio system
– Anti-theft AM/FM stereo CD/MP3 player audio system with Radio Data System (RDS)
– Auxiliary audio input for portable music players
– HD Radio™ with "multicast" FM station reception
Safety and security

– Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
– Adaptive Brake Lights
– BMW’s Advanced Safety System for integrated deployment of passive and active safety features
– Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
– Active Headrests
– Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
– Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
– Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
– Front passenger seat-occupation recognition with Passenger’s Airbag Off indicator
– Interlocking door anchoring system to help protect against door intrusion in side impacts
– Central locking system with center console switch (leaves gas filler door unlocked), double-lock feature and 2-step unlocking
– Coded Driveaway Protection
– Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child-restraint seat
– LATCH attachments on child-restraint safety installation
– Crash sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of alternator, fuel pump and starter from battery; automatically unlocks doors, and turns on hazard and interior lights
– Programmable Daytime Running Lights