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BMW 3 Series (2005 - 2011)

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BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 82

BMW got back to basics with the E90 generation 3 Series. This was the car that shucked off the gimmicky styling and did what BMWs have always done best - concentrated on the engineering and let form follow function. The results have been spectacularly effective and are a testament to sticking with what you're good at. Used examples are now appearing in decent numbers but they do hold their value well despite industry mutterings of oversupply harming the car's so-called exclusive image.

Modelsword count: 24

Models Covered: E90 generation 3 Series Saloon, Coupe, Touring, Convertible: (318i, 320i, 325i, 330i, 335i, M3 petrol, 316d, 318d, 320d, 325d, 330d, 335d diesel)

Historyword count: 341

Developing an all-new 3-Series was never going to be easy and the E90 generation, as BMW people dub this car, demonstrated clearly that the money men and the stylists had gone head to head in the battle between shifting big numbers and continuing the trend for challengingly-styled BMWs. The stylists blinked first. A good deal more conservatively penned than the rest of the BMW line up, this 3 Series consequently found almost universal acclaim. Although those wearing the black polo necks grumbled, it was a wise choice. With the 3-Series accounting for fully 52 per cent of BMW's UK sales, alienating this bedrock of customers with a wilfully odd-looking car was never going to make a sound business case. After all, this 3-Series was forced to redefine its place in BMW's range. For the first time in 29 years, it was no longer the entry level BMW model, and the range was developed in a way that 1-Series buyers could migrate to a Three on the way to bigger BMWs. At least that's what the suits in Munich were hoping. Bigger in every dimension to its predecessor, the 3-Series appeared in UK dealerships in April 2005 in saloon guise, the existing E46 generation coupes, Tourings and convertibles being sold alongside. Touring models of this car appeared in September 2005 with the Coupes arriving in September 2006, but along the way, the 3 Series range has been fleshed out with the 330i (July 2005), the 330d (November 2005), the 318i (January 2006), the limited run 320Si (June 2006) and the 335i, 325d and 335d (September 2006). In the Autumn of 2007 BMW included its EfficientDynamics package across the 3-Series range with dramatic effects. The technology uses Brake Energy Regeneration and Auto Stop-Start amongst other features to dramatically cut emissions and enhance fuel economy. The headline grabbing model was the 318d which became capable of over 60mpg on the combined cycle and 123g/km emissions. The V8-powered M3 saloon arrived early in 2008 and at the other extreme, September 2009 brought the super-economical 316d.

What You Getword count: 312

Many of the contemporary BMW styling signatures are present, although they were toned down radically. The sill line is bowed, although nowhere near as radically as in, say, a 1-series. Compare how the rear bootlid is a chamfered and smoothed version of that worn by the 5-Series. Even the flanks betray a less aggressive concave contouring, while the rest of the traditional BMW cues such as the 'Hofmeister Kink' at the rear window and the kidney grille are present and correct. Although it's not what you'd call a striking piece of design, it is nevertheless mature and assured. The Touring model follows similar themes although the stylists had a freer brief when it came to the 3 Series Coupe. For a start, it's beautiful in its own right. Contemporary BMW design has been a strangely hit and miss affair but the bullseye was firmly hit in this instance. Taut, sleek, muscular and boasting not a single shared body panel with the 3 Series saloon, the latest Coupe earned whole legions of buyers before they ever clapped eyes on one in the metal. The silhouette is lower and more elongated, giving it an elegance that's singularly lacking in the buttoned-down saloon. The kidney grilles at the front were restyled to give a simpler, cleaner look while the headlamps have a more piercing stare. Move round to the rear and you'll pick out the broad tail light clusters that incorporate horizontal LED rods. On the way, you'll spot the sculpted flanks and should you tap the front wings, you'll find that instead of the high-pitched ring of steel, you'll hear the duller thud of plastic. In a bid to cleave weight from the 3 Series Coupe, BMW used plastic as well as the more traditional method of 'tailored blanks' - panels that are thick where structural rigidity is needed and thin where it's not.

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Pictures (high res disabled)

Statistics (subset of data only)

Min

Max

Insurance group:

12

20

Insurance group 1-50:

21

44

CO2 (g/km):

109

297

Max Speed (mph):

123

155

0-62 mph (s):

4.7

10.9

Urban Mpg:

15.7

56.5

Extra Urban Mpg:

29.4

78.5

Combined Mpg:

22.2

68.9

Length (mm):

4527

4615

... and 6 other stats available

Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: Luxury Saloons and Estates

Performance
60%
Handling
80%
Comfort
70%
Space
60%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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