2009 BMW 335d Long Term Update 4

With just under 14,000 miles on the 335d's odometer, the on-board computer alerted us that our much-loved diesel was due for its first service. BMW of Beverly Hills poured in fresh 5W-30 engine oil, performed a full inspection, and replaced the diesel exhaust fluid, AdBlue. A clear, non-toxic liquid composed of urea and deionized water, AdBlue is added to the exhaust system's Selective Catalytic Reduction to keep nitrogen-oxide levels at legal limits. When the amount of AdBlue was at reserve levels, the 335d's instrument cluster informed us we had 1000 miles of driving left. Unlike gasoline-powered cars, which can be driven well over a recommended service interval, the BMW diesel can't: Drive past that 1000-mile limit, and the 335d won't restart after it's been switched off.

Loaded with a full reservoir of AdBlue, the 335d transported assistant Web producer Nate Martinez and four of his friends to Las Vegas. "Plant the right foot and performance is stupefying," says Martinez. "Take off from a stoplight and the passengers' collective 'Whoa!' is reminiscent of my stints while piloting our long-term M3."

Martinez and crew received some entertaining reactions from passersby who figured the 335d for any ordinary 3 Series. "Everywhere we went, my friend pointed out to people that our Montego Blue 3 was a diesel. 'Really?' was their usual response. We even got looks when I began to shove a green diesel nozzle into its flank."

One of the so-called improvements to the 2009 3 Series is the implementation of second-generation iDrive, and indeed Martinez found it to be an improvement in the 335d. "Since I've had prior experience with the M3's second-gen iDrive, I wanted to put the system to the test with my newbie passengers. When we first jumped in, I asked my front-seat buddy to find the nearest In-N-Out Burger sans my assistance. Remarkably he did it. And fairly quickly too. To me, the small, successful test was another testament to this system's dramatic improvement over past renditions."