km : Daily Driver

We have just one month left with our 335d before it goes away. How quickly the time has slipped away. Looking at the logbook today, it’s hard to believe we’ve piled more than 23,000 miles on it in roughly twelve months. The thing is, everyone loves to drive this car, and because it gets such great fuel economy – made even sweeter since diesel fuel has been consistently cheaper than premium gasoline in our area – the 335d has been the go-to car for long trips.

The odometer currently reads 25,738, and as of last night, the on-board diagnostics are telling us it’s once again time for a scheduled service and another round of diesel exhaust fluid. Pulling up the service record, we’re a little surprised by the short interval, as our last service was done just two months and 4000 miles ago. We have an appointment scheduled for next week, and we’re curious to hear the explanation for this. In that time, the car has seen nothing but daily commuting – no track days, no high-altitude driving, nothing else that would cause the car to consume diesel fluid at a high rate. The oil-change period seems to be incredibly short as well, but we haven’t had the kindest of winters this year.

And speaking of winter, it’s turned out to be a good one for Blizzaks. At our last update, we had just installed the new wheels and tires, and not a week later received a blanket of snow on which to test them. The first couple hundred miles were a little tenuous as the newness of the tires wore off, but after that break-in they proved tenacious at biting through the snow and making traction. Deep snow seems to be their forte, and they grip surprisingly well on icy roads as well. Feedback in these conditions can be tough to gauge, but the LM-25s still inspire confidence even when the road surface offers its own numbing effect. Breakaway is progressive when traction is at its worst, and the combination of chassis and tires allows for precise correction once a slide is initiated.

If traction is what you need, the Blizzaks provide it in abundance. If, on the other hand, you feel the need to hang the tail out and work on your Scandinavian driving style, the 335d’s ample (OK, it's far beyond ample) torque can easily overcome the tires’ ability to hang on. Stopping and directional control are always predictable, however, and the decision to break loose is entirely in the driver’s hand (well, actually his right foot). For performance enthusiasts in northern climes, the combination is pretty unbeatable. It supports this driver's belief that would take a rear-drive sport sedan on good winter tires is usually more controllable than an all-wheel-drive car on all-seasons.

With only a month left in the 335d, we’ll be putting together final thoughts for the next update. We’ll give you the full rundown and analysis of our fuel economy and operating costs, as well as our thoughts on whether the diesel decision is more rational or emotional when the numbers all shake out. Until then, we don’t mind if it snows maybe one more time.

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