Clean, unadulterated performance from diesel technology
#7. For most drivers, the 335d will pay for itself within two years.
Consider the 2010 BMW 335d’s base price of $44,725 and you might be
wondering if it’s worth a $3,600 jump over the 335i. Even when
factoring in an available diesel tax credit, you’re still talking about
a $2,700 gap, though the 335d does come standard with an automatic
transmission instead of the 335i’s manual. But dig deeper into the
numbers and you’ll see that the 335d balances the books in fewer than
23,000 miles, which for many drivers, is traveled in less than two
years. Based on current prices of $2.74/gallon for diesel and
$2.85/gallon for premium unleaded, the 27-mpg (overall) 335d requires
$0.10 of fuel for every mile traveled, whereas the 20-mpg 335i requires
$0.22 of high-octane fuel per mile. That’s a $0.12 per mile savings for
the 335d, which offsets any base price disadvantage in 22,500 miles.
Balance things out by adding a $1,325 automatic tranny to the 335i, and
you’re at a wash within 13,125 miles.
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