Performance Review: BMW 3 Series 335i F30 - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW 3 Series Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW 3 Series 335i F30 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular BMW 3 Series has a 2979cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The 3 Series shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 3 Series's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1585 kgs (3494 lbs) this makes the BMW 3 Series 335i F30 in the same weight category as the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW 3 Series shares the same bhp with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 2979cc 24V St6 engine produces 302 bhp (225 kW) @ 5800 rpm similar to the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St6 throws out 295 lb-ft (399.9 Nm) @ 1200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW 3 Series you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (215.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series has a Power to weight ratio of 190.5 bhp per ton and 186.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 3 Series competing with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (215.5 bhp per ton) or the 1998 Jaguar XK R Coupe 4.0 V8 Supercharged (215.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW 3 Series generating around 186.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Classic 22B (211.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 1969 Lamborghini Islero 400 GTS (210.9 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.6 secs, this made the BMW 3 Series 335i F30 as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.40 secs) the 2019 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi TCR 2.0 Turbo (5.40 secs) the or the 2019 Jaguar F Type 2.0 Turbo Cabriolet (5.40 secs). This BMW 3 Series 335i F30 is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost (5.50 secs) the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (5.50 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 (5.50 secs) the and the 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (5.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 3 Series and the 2004 Volkswagen-VW Touareg 6.0 W12 Sport

When talking about the performance of the BMW 3 Series on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.19 secs @ 96.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2004 Volkswagen-VW Touareg 6.0 W12 Sport (14.13 secs), the 1993 Aston-Martin DB7 3.2 V6 (14.14 secs), and the 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth (14.14 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the BMW 3 Series 335i F30 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 3 Series equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 BMW 3 Series 335i F30 then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2011 3 Series Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison