01 · Overview
The estate without the M
The Touring arrived six months after the Sedan — premiere at the IAA in September 2005, sales launch on 17 September. It is exactly as long and as wide as the Sedan and shares the same wheelbase. The difference lies in the body: 460 to 1,385 litres of load volume, a nearly flat load floor, rear seat backrest split 60 to 40.
What’s notable is what the Touring did not get: an M3. The Sedan, Coupé and Convertible were all available with the S65 V8 — the Touring was left out. In return, it remained in production longer than all the others: when the Sedan was discontinued in October 2011, the Touring continued to be built for roughly another six months.
Regarding the often-claimed different rear axle: it does not exist. BMW describes the same five-link axle in lightweight steel construction for the Touring as for the Sedan. Likewise, the separately opening tailgate window and a self-levelling rear suspension could not be verified in any BMW or Wikipedia source — we therefore do not list them as fact.
02 · History
Seven years of Touring
- 2005 Premiere at the IAA in September, sales launch on 17 September initially with the 325i and 320d.
- 2005 In autumn, the 330i, 320i and 330d follow.
- 2008 Facelift together with the Sedan, sales launch 20 September.
- 2012 End of production. German Wikipedia states June, English Wikipedia May.
03 · Model overview
The engines of the model line
This table applies to all four body styles. The 335is was only available as Coupé and Convertible, and only in North America.
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 318i | N46B20, ab 09/2007 N43B20 | 1.995 cm³ | 129 PS (95 kW), ab 09/2007 143 PS (105 kW) | 2005–2011 |
| 320i | N46B20, ab 09/2007 N43B20 | 1.995 cm³ | 150 PS (110 kW) | 03/2005–10/2011 |
| 325i | N52B25 | 2.497 cm³ | 218 PS (160 kW) | 03/2005–09/2007 |
| 325i | N53B30UL | 2.996 cm³ | 218 PS (160 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 330i | N52B30 | 2.996 cm³ | 258 PS (190 kW) | 03/2005–09/2007 |
| 330i | N53B30 | 2.996 cm³ | 272 PS (200 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 335i | N54B30 | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW), 400 Nm from 1,300 rpm | 2006–03/2010 |
| 335i | N55B30 | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW), 400 Nm from 1,200 rpm | ab 03/2010 |
| 318d | N47D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 143 PS (105 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 320d | M47TU2D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 163 PS (120 kW) | 03/2005–2007 |
| 320d | N47D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 177 PS (130 kW), ab 03/2010 184 PS (135 kW) | ab 2007 |
| 325d | M57TU2D30 UL | 2.993 cm³ | 197 PS (145 kW) | 2006–03/2010 |
| 325d | N57D30UL | 2.993 cm³ | 204 PS (150 kW) | ab 03/2010 |
| 330d | M57TU2D30 OL | 2.993 cm³ | 231 PS (170 kW) | 2005–09/2008 |
| 330d | N57D30OL | 2.993 cm³ | 245 PS (180 kW) | ab 09/2008 |
| 335d | M57TU2D30 TOP | 2.993 cm³ | 286 PS (210 kW), automatic only | 2006–2011 |
04 · Body variants
Body variants
Five-door Touring
4,520 mm long, 1,817 mm wide, 1,418 mm high (1,442 mm with roof aerial, 1,450 mm with roof rails), wheelbase 2,760 mm. Load volume 460 to 1,385 litres, rear seat backrest split 60:40, nearly flat load floor. The large panoramic sunroof was optional.
05 · Engines
The engines in detail
N54B30 · 2,979 cm³ · 306 PS — 335i up to 2010 verified
BMW's first inline-six with two turbochargers and direct injection. 400 Nm from 1,300 rpm. It made the 335i an unofficial M3 substitute and is at the same time the engine with the longest list of defects in the model line — high-pressure pump, injectors, wastegates.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 306 PS (225 kW) at 5,800 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 400 Nm at 1,300–5,000 rpm |
| Getriebe | Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, seven-speed DCT from 2008 |
BMW PressClub, Wikipedia — BMW N54
N55B30 · 2.979 cm³ · 306 PS — 335i ab 2010 verified
Replaced at the facelift in March 2010: a single twin-scroll turbocharger instead of two, along with the first combination of single turbo, Valvetronic and High Precision Injection. Same power output, around eight percent lower fuel consumption, torque plateau from 1,200 instead of 1,300 rpm.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 306 PS (225 kW) at 5,800 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 400 Nm at 1,200–5,000 rpm |
| Besonderheit | first to combine turbo, Valvetronic and direct injection |
BMW PressClub T0076998EN_GB
M57TU2D30 TOP · 2,993 cm³ · 286 PS — 335d verified
The most powerful diesel in the model line, exclusively with the six-speed automatic. 580 Nm from three litres. A note of caution for research: the German Wikipedia page on the E90 lists the 335d as an N57S with 560 Nm — this is incorrect; the same Wikipedia's own M57 article correctly lists it under M57TÜ2D30 TOP with 580 Nm.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.993 cm³ |
| Leistung | 286 PS (210 kW) at 4,400 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 580 Nm |
| Getriebe | six-speed automatic only |
Wikipedia — BMW M57, BMW PressClub UK
N57D30OL · 2.993 cm³ · 245 PS — 330d ab 2008 verified
Arrived with the facelift in September 2008 and replaced the M57 in the 330d: 245 PS and 520 Nm compared with the previous 231 PS and 500 Nm. The N57 is considered the more mature of the two six-cylinder diesels.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.993 cm³ |
| Leistung | 245 PS (180 kW) at 4,000 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 520 Nm at 1,750–3,000 rpm |
BMW PressClub T0020081EN_GB
06 · Weak points
Known weak points
- Timing chain on the N47 diesels (318d, 320d). The chain sits on the transmission side, meaning the engine has to be removed to replace it. BMW modified the gears, chain and chain tensioner several times and extended the goodwill programme in early 2014 to eight years and 200,000 kilometres. No BMW source acknowledging the defect exists.
- High-pressure pump, injectors and wastegates on the N54 (335i up to March 2010). In October 2010, BMW recalled around 130,000 vehicles from model years 2007 to 2010 and extended the warranty on several of these components in the US. The warranty extensions applied explicitly only to the US market.
- Blower motor control unit. In January 2021, BMW recalled around 430,000 vehicles in Germany and over 500,000 worldwide due to corrosion of the blower motor control unit and the resulting risk of short circuit and fire. All four body styles of the model line are affected.
07 · Engineering
Engineering
What sets the Touring apart from the Sedan
The panoramic sunroof
No M3 — but all other engines
What could not be verified
08 · Motorsport
Motorsport
None. The Touring was the only body style in the model line without an M3 and without a racing derivative.
09 · Buying guide
What to look out for when buying
The same points as with the Sedan.
The 330d from September 2008 with the N57 is the obvious choice in the Touring — 245 PS, 520 Nm and an engine without the N54’s issues.
10 · The competition
The competition
Audi A4 Avant
The perennial rival in this segment — more load space, less driving dynamics.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate (S204)
From 2007, with the largest boot of the three.
Volvo V50
The outsider with its own safety focus and a significantly smaller engine line-up.
11 · Galerie
Galerie
12 · Sources
Sources & Further Reading
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series (T0048254EN)
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, 09/2008 (T0020081EN_GB)
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, 03/2010 (T0076998EN_GB)
- Wikipedia — BMW E90 (production periods, plants, production figures)
- Wikipedia — BMW M57 and BMW N57 (correction of diesel engine assignment)