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In 1975 the very first 3 series left BMWs assembly line. Now the former entry model was not only replaced by the 1 series as the smallest car of the company, it even stepped up to be the best selling BMW model with a production share of 40 percent no longer being the company's youngster, but in its fifth generation more composed and ripened than ever.
With all the perfection the fourth generation 3 series already had, the biggest compliment you can pass on to BMWs engineers is that the new 3 series feels as comfortable as a well chosen running shoe from the moment you take your seat behind the steering wheel. It fits snugly and is suitable for powerful sprints as well as for long distance running and easily conveys the joys of movement and speed to the driver. Even with stability and traction control turned off this rear wheel drive car is extremely predictable, only very slightly tends to push over the front wheels in tight fast corners on the test race track and is easy to catch when the rear end finally begins to roll.
Among the models we reviewed the 320d definitely is the most spectacular as it houses the worlds most powerful 4 cylinder engine of the time (closely followed by Seat). Together with the new standard six speed manual gear box its a great pleasure to hammer the sport diesel up tight cornered mountain roads. The only disadvantage compared to the 330i petrol version: naturally the gears had to be spaced more tightly, so the revs cannot be pushed as high. And so you cannot simply kick in third gear and enjoy the show.
Compared to the last generation the new 3 is a bit larger in all dimensions which results mainly in more shoulder and knee room. And the boot is 20 litres bigger, now holding 460 litres in total. BMW adapted the sophisticated front and rear axle system from their high end upper class models. And the six cylinder versions were partly built with light weight magnesium instead of alloy.
There is only one major point to criticise about this new car besides slightly narrow head room in the back row, too few stowing areas for CDs, sun glasses and mobile phones and head rests that aren't adjustable vertically: the price tag starting at 27.100 Euros for the 320i in Germany (the diesel 320d beginning from 29.650 Euros).
Standard for all engine versions from the 320i up: six airbags, stability and traction control, air conditioning, CD radio, multi function trip computer, Isofix child seat hooks. Particulate filter is standard with all the diesel versions.
Optional: Adaptive forward lighting, six speed automatic gear box, navigation system with i-drive, automatic wipers, speed limiter.
Engines
PETROL
318i: 4 cylinders in line; 1800 ccm, 95 kW/129 hp. Starting from September 2005.
320i: 4 cylinders in line; 1995 ccm, 110 kW/150 hp at 6200 rpm, 200 Nm at 3600 rpm, 0 – 100 km/h in 9,0 sec, top speed 220 km/h, average fuel consumption: 7,4 litres (91 octane)
325i: 6 cylinders in line; 2497 ccm, 160 kW/218 hp at 6500 rpm, 250 Nm at 2750 rpm, 0 – 100 km/h in 7,0 sec, top speed 245 km/h, average fuel consumption: 8,4 litres (91 octane).
330i: 6 cylinders in line; 2996 ccm, 190 kW/258 hp at 6600 rpm, 300 Nm at 2500 rpm, 0 – 100 km/h in 6,3 sec, top speed 250 km/h, average fuel consumption: 8,7 litres (91 octane).
DIESEL
318d: starting from September 2005
320d: 4 cylinders in line; 1995 ccm, 120 kW/163 hp at 4000 rpm, 340 Nm at 2000 rpm, 0 – 100 km/h in 8,3 sec, top speed 225 km/h, average fuel consumption: 5,7 litres.
330d: starting from September 2005
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