Bring it on! 2009 BMW 335i xDrive, Part Two

The system, as we found out in our first week of driving, is not set to act like a nanny. BMW’s default setting assumes the driver knows how to drive the car. If you want a system that straightens out the roads or turns all surfaces into dry pavement, then the BMW may not be for you. It leaves most of the driving chores, and driving fun, to the driver.

2009 BMW 335i xDrive. Click image to enlarge

The xDrive and DSC don’t intervene to rob the driver of a little sideways action when the roads get slippery. It can be a little unnerving, but there are limits. That’s why it is a good idea to take your car to a parking lot where no person or object can come in contact with your car, just to find out where those limits are. It can be a lot of fun, too!

Other than a few early-morning parking lot adventures, most of our time behind the wheel of the BMW 335i has been spent driving back and forth to Toronto from Ottawa on Highway 401, or around town doing the usual chores, from shopping to picking up children.

We’ve come to really appreciate the heated steering wheel, the fast-acting seat heaters, and how quickly the cabin heats up. The front and rear defrosters and windshield wipers are the best that we have experienced. Add in heated windshield washer nozzles and you’ll never need to scrape. Everything starts to melt within seconds of starting the car.

Audio controls on this car are somewhat difficult to use. One never knows if he should be turning a knob or pushing a button, but the choice of satellite radio or plug-and-play iPod, in addition to all the other music sources, makes driving long distances a pleasure. It took a few minutes with the owner’s manual to set up the Bluetooth connectivity with a cell phone, but once done, it never needs to be done again. The phone asks to connect each time the car is turned on.

We’re into March now and despite looking optimistically forward to spring, this month traditionally has some nasty surprises awaiting us. Let’s hope so!

Related posts:

1. Bring It On! 2009 BMW 335i xDrive, Part one
2. First Drive: 2007 BMW 335i Coupé
3. First Drive: 2007 BMW 335i coupe
4. Winter driving test: BMW xDrive
5. Day-by-Day Review: 2007 BMW 335i Coupé