BMW introduced the 335xi as the all-wheel-drive version of the 3 Series performance model for the 2007 model year in North America, beginning with the sedan. It paired BMW’s turbocharged 335 performance tier with the company’s early xi all-wheel-drive system, giving the 3 Series a more traction-focused alternative to the rear-wheel-drive 335i. The badge then expanded to other E9x-era 3 Series body styles, including the coupe, where BMW added a 335xi coupe for 2008, and the name remained in use in some markets through the 2010 model year.
The 335xi belongs to the fourth-generation 3 Series family that brought BMW’s modern twin-turbo inline-six era to the brand’s compact sport-sedan lineup. It is remembered as a transitional nameplate from the period before BMW standardized the xDrive naming convention, when xi identified the all-wheel-drive versions of core model lines. Enthusiasts often view the 335xi as a distinctive blend of the 3 Series’ traditional driver-oriented character with greater all-weather usability, especially in sedan and coupe form. After this era, BMW shifted to the xDrive badge and the 335xi nameplate disappeared from the lineup.