Quality changes for BMW 3 Series

Oct 6 2008 Chris Russon

THE changes may be subtle but BMW has made sure they have maximum effect for the revamp of its top-selling 3 Series.

This is the benchmark BMW and the German car maker has never pulled its punches.

So when it comes to new lamp clusters, a slight tweak to the side skirt and modifying the front end, every little counts.

With LED indicators installed front and rear and the trademark kidney grille now stripped of its top shine, the latest 3 Series has morphed into a car for 2009.

It has been only three years since the current model hit the scene and the makeover is designed to keep it fresh amid stiff competition from Audi and Mercedes.

Ford and Vauxhall, with the latest Mondeo having established itself as a quality performer and the new Insignia promising to follow suit, are also chomping at the bit.

Inside the new BMW it's a similar story. There is some fine tuning to the positioning of the electric window switches which have been moved forward on the driver's door following customers' comments about ease of action.

The colour of the seatbelts has also been brought into play with it now matching the upholstery.

The iDrive information system has been further simplified and now operates from a conveniently sized joystick surrounded by buttons for primary functions.

It now uses a hard disk drive which speeds up operation and enables a very useful 3D map display using a relief projection - so you get a better idea of the route ahead.

In a nutshell it is possibly the next best thing to having Google Earth on display in the cockpit.

But it is the bits of the car which you can't see where the significant modifications have been made.

All versions of the 3 Series now make use of BMW's Efficient Dynamics technology incorporating a stop-start device and other fuel saving measures.

Automatically switching off the engine when the car comes to rest then starting up the moment the clutch is depressed eliminates the need for fancy hybrid power systems.

Average fuel consumption for the entry level 318i for example is 47.9 mpg with CO2 emissions of 142g/km - and that is better than BMW's German competitors can muster.

A new three-litre diesel is also making its debut and it is a very capable performer. It will average a shade under 50 mpg while still having the power to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 6.1 seconds - half a second quicker than the current model.

Emissions are down by eight g/km to 152.

The entry level diesel 318d is now available as an auto while the highly popular 318 petrol remains a competitive package especially for business users with its emissions in Band C for tax purposes.

Prices are slightly up compared to the outgoing model with an overall average increase of 0.6 per cent, or £169.

The SE models take the biggest hit going up by £385 while those in M Sport trim - which is growing in popularity among BMW customers - rise by £85.

The cheapest 3 Series saloon is now £21,475 and the range tops out at £37,060 for the 335d M Sport.