BMW 3 Series review (2008 onwards)

What – BMW 3-Series
Where – Munich, Germany
Date – September 2008
Price – TBC
Available – September
Key rivals – Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, Honda Accord, Lexus IS

Summary - Subtle visual tweaks, a new engine for the 330d and an updated interior freshen up BMW's class leader

We like - fabulous engine, handling balance, blistering performance, improved iDrive, emissions and fuel consumption
We don’t like - cramped rear-seat accommodation, manual shift quality, numb steering, occasionally fidgety chassis, expensive iDrive

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First Impressions

It must be depressing for BMW's rivals as they try and find an answer to the BMW 3-Series' domination of its sector. Every time they get close - and in their own ways the C-Class and A4 have done just this - BMW casually raises the bar just that bit further. Curse them!Like the class swot who also happens to be great at sports, the 3 Series dominates with great image, a reputation for superb driving dynamics and an engine range offering class leading power, refinement and astonishingly good fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. A pretty solid foundation but BMW has found further room for improvement with this mid-life facelift.

Visually we've got a new bonnet with what BMW calls 'precision lines' endowing the 3 Series with a bit of X6-style aggression. Typically there are also new front and rear bumpers, revised mirrors and restyled light clusters with retina blazing LED indicators front and back. Not that your stereotypical pushy 3 Series drivers will use them of course.The interior gets some detail tweaks too, with subtle chrome surrounds for the switchgear to liven things up a tad. More significant is the arrival of a new generation iDrive system with new graphics and improved interface. Engines are as before, bar detail improvements and an all-new motor for the 330d.

Performance

Always a 3-Series strong point, even the four-cylinder 318i and 320i (and their diesel equivalents) are quicker than most rivals. The all-conquering 175bhp 320d, which accounts for nearly half of 3 Series sales, will doubtless remain the number one choice but for the launch BMW was focusing on its all-new 3-litre diesel engine in the 330d.All new? Well, cubic capacity, bore and stroke are all identical to the 325d and twin-turbo 335d but updated fuel injection and engine management make this the only EU5 compatible six-cylinder diesel in the range. And power is up by nearly 14bhp to 242bhp and torque by 14lb ft to 383lb ft too.

The current 330d isn't exactly noted for being a slowcoach but this new one is just astonishingly rapid. 0-62 has dropped by six tenths to a ballistic 6.1 seconds and a brief stretch of quiet autobahn confirmed the 330d's willingness to fling itself against the 155mph speed limiter with gusto.It sounds great too, BMW the first manufacturer to master the art of making diesel engines as aurally satisfying as they are powerful. With negligible turbo lag and huge in-gear flexibility no aspect of the 330d's performance needs the old "...for a diesel" disclaimer. This is simply a great engine, full stop.

Ride and Handling

Earlier generations of run-flat equipped BMWs took a lot of flak for their punishing ride quality but the revised 3-Series seems to have cured this. Final judgement will have to come away from the smooth Bavarian roads of the test route but, bar an occasionally jittery rear axle, the 3 Series rides firmly but fairly.BMW won't be offering an adjustable damper system such as those seen on the C-Class and A4, pointing out instead that each 3-Series is individually configured in the factory with one of 20 possible spring and damper settings according to the car's spec and the weight of extras such as iDrive and suchlike.

The new 3-Series gets wider track - up to 6mm front and 24mm rear, depending on the wheel and tyre combination - but the fundamental appeal of great weight distribution and rear-wheel drive remain key to the car's attraction. With this much torque going to the rear wheels stability control is welcome but doesn't detract from the chassis' inherent balance either.Steering feel could be better and in this respect the C-Class is probably superior - a measure of how Mercedes has moved its game on of late. But as an all-round driver's package the 3 Series is still hard to beat and that much vaunted natural sportiness remains at the core of the baby BMW's appeal.

Interior

Hardly flamboyant, BMW has attempted to liven up the 3-Series' cabin with the odd chrome flourish here and there. Audi is widely regarded as the class leader here but BMW's clean, minimalist approach is arguably more satisfying and quality is right up there. It's just a pity the rear seat has such poor headroom, although the estate is better.More significant is the revised iDrive, which bows to pressure and adds 'hot keys' for accessing essential functions, much like Audi's rather fussy MMI system. Based on a 80gb hard drive, the top of the range 'Professional' system also offers built-in storage for music files, although BMW's ConnectedDrive internet service won't work in the UK for now.

Economy and Safety

BMW's EfficientDynamics programme is one of the company's great coups of recent years, the various energy saving systems contriving to reduce on-paper CO2 emissions to the point where a 320d costs the same to tax as a supermini and even the seriously quick 330d emits just 152g/km of CO2 and will crack nearly 50mpg.Three of the five diesel engines are EU5 compatible, the 330d even satisfying EU6 with the addition of the BluePerformance measures for US-spec cars. All the petrol engines use direct injection too, with every 3-Series far and above rivals on pretty much every official measure of greenness.

MSN Cars Verdict 5/5

Ubiquity doesn't seem to harm the success of the 3 Series, based on the fact this is simply a damned good car with few real weaknesses. The petrol engines - especially the twin-turbo 335i - are all great but this new 330d is simply fabulous, offering mighty, charismatic performance with relatively affordable running costs.Put simply, why wouldn't you? Well, the competition is getting ever stronger and BMWs retain a pushy, aggressive image some will not want to be associated with. BMW can afford to charge a premium price too, but given the quality of the product few will object to paying it.

Ratings out of five: BMW 330d SE Saloon
Performance *****
Ride & handling ****
Interior ****
Safety ****
Price ***
Practicality ***
Fuel economy *****
MSN Cars verdict *****

Need to know
Petrol engines1.8 and 2.0 four-cylinder, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 six-cylinder
Diesel engines1.8 and 2.0 four-cylinder turbo, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 six-cylinder turbo
Power (bhp)141-302
Torque (lb/ft)140-428
0-62 (secs)9.3-5.6
Top speed (mph)130-155 (limited)
Fuel economy (mpg)31-60.1
C02 emissions (g/km)/tax (%)218/32 -123/15

Also consider

Mercedes C-Class
Audi A4
Honda Accord
Lexus IS