Long-Term Test: BMW 3-Series Touring: July report

By: Andrew Frankel

16 Jul 07

BMW 335d Touring

Mileage at start of test: 82
Mileage this month: 3,445
Total mileage: 16,411
Fuel economy: 36.8mpg
Faults: None
Costs: Two new tyres, prices tbc
Thumbs up: It's only now that I can't drive it that I'm starting to properly appreciate just how damn good it is.
Thumbs down: Runflat tyres that undoubtedly save lives but are expensive and can't be repaired

IN THIS FEATURE

3-Series vs old nail
One for the price of two
Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone

So while I cuss and swear about my utterly reliable, brilliant, undamaged but currently immobilised BMW, I should perhaps be seeing the bigger picture. Fact is, punctures occur less than once every 100,000 road miles these days, which is once a decade to most people.

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And now, of course, I'm starting to miss the 335d, especially as I have to drive past it parked forlornly at the side of the road every time I need to go somewhere. I miss its response, its economy, its speed, comfort and refinement. I'm even starting to miss its iDrive system, which I thought I hated, and that's really worrying. Annoyingly enough, whoever said you never know what you've got until it's gone was entirely right. I look forward to getting it back very soon.