BMW 3-series. They don't look for good from good

 

BMW 3-series. Price: from 977,800 RUB. On sale: since October 2008.

The BMW "Three" turned out to be such a successful model that the Bavarians were afraid to radically change its appearance and technology. Sometimes better is the enemy of good. Therefore, the restyled version was refined so that at first glance you wouldn't notice the changes. But they are there...

Safety

 

 

The safety of the new "Three" is built on a rigid body, high-strength steel grades, and special deformation zones that absorb impact energy. Passengers are protected by six airbags, three-point inertia seat belts, and head restraints on every seat.

The base also includes ISOFIX anchors for child seats in the rear. The front seats are equipped with active head restraints that reduce the risk of neck injury in a rear-end collision. At the moment of impact, the electronics move the head restraint forward by 60 mm and up by 40 mm. This reduces the distance to the head, making the protection more effective. Without a doubt, the "Three" is not inferior in safety to the older BMW models.

 

Not everyone can immediately list the differences between the updated "Three" and the previous one. Let's go through them in order. At the front, the design emphasizes the width of the car. On the side, the sill line has become more expressive and has risen higher. Two distinct edges have appeared on the side mirrors, continuing the play of convex and concave surfaces.

At the same time, the new mirrors provide a better view. The rear looks more energetic and sporty. The bumper, lights, and trunk lid are styled differently. The rear lights, divided into two parts, have acquired the signature L-shape. LED strips add expressiveness. The widened rear track also adds dynamism. Thanks to the detailing of the side panels, the front and rear visually appear wider.

 

In the cabin, the influence of the older "Five" is strongly felt in places. Of the several trim options, I liked the one with simple dark plastic the most. But the wood imitation, which should add solidity to the "Three," looks too pretentious. The interior creators say they used the concept of convex and concave forms, sporty elegance, and techno-aesthetics. An important detail is the 8.8-inch display, which is larger than the screens of competitors. Thanks to the high resolution, the picture is detailed, and the menu has become simpler and more logical.

 

The huge screen is part of the iDrive multimedia system, which includes navigation.

And here's an important point: Professional navigation is equipped with a built-in 80 GB hard drive, which provides quick access to digital maps. Plus, you can upload thousands of tracks there. But that's not the main thing. The main thing is that the BMW 3 Series was the first in automotive history to receive unlimited internet access via the ConnectedDrive system. True, you can only use it when the car is stationary. Data transmission uses EDGE technology, which covers more territory than UMTS and is three times faster than GPRS.

 

 

The internet is great, but other things are more important for a car, primarily the engine. The most interesting one is the new 6-cylinder diesel 330d, created according to the EfficientDynamics concept. I'll say right away: in terms of dynamics, this three-liter unit with an aluminum block is almost as good as powerful gasoline engines. Judge for yourself: 245 hp at 4000 rpm, and peak torque of 520 Nm is available from 1750 to 3000 rpm. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 6.1 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Probably, you have to pay for such dynamics with crazy fuel consumption? Not at all. The average appetite is 5.7 liters of diesel per 100 km. That's how it is! Owners of the diesel "Three" will fill up rarely. Of course, with active driving, consumption will increase, but the result of the Bavarian engineers is impressive. No hybrids are needed.

The chassis is still one of the best in its class. At the rear, there is a five-link design adapted for powerful and torquey engines. Plus, a double-pivot suspension with trailing arms on struts with a stabilizer, almost entirely made of aluminum. The base includes electromechanical steering with Servotronic, which changes the effort depending on speed. Active steering is optionally available, adjusting the steering ratio to the current speed.

 

Now about prices. The base "Three" costs from 977,800 RUB. But the version with the most powerful engine and all-wheel drive will cost 1,875,200 RUB. The spread, as you can see, is considerable.

 

We've even got to the Internet

BMW is the first among automakers to offer unlimited internet access through the ConnectedDrive system. But only when the car is stationary. Access is offered as an option. Data transmission uses EDGE technology, which covers more territory than UMTS and is faster than GPRS. The basis is a refined iDrive system. It would be nice to also provide a joystick for games, otherwise checking email in a traffic jam is a boring activity.

Technical characteristics of the BMW 3 Series

Dimensions — 4531x1817x1420 mm
Engine — gasoline, 2979 cm3, 306 hp/5800 rpm
Transmission — automatic, 6-speed
Dynamics — max 250 km/h, 5.8 s to 100 km/h
Competitors — MB C-class, Audi A4.

Like — dislike

Familiar
The instrument panel is Bavarian-restrained: everything is clear, precise, without excess. The style almost completely repeats the "Five."

Spacious
If you fold the rear seats in the Touring version, the trunk of the "Three" becomes truly capacious. Even a Caucasian Shepherd can easily fit in such a compartment.

Visual
The updated display is especially impressive when working with navigation. Sometimes you get the feeling that you're not looking at a map, but a live picture.

 

Pros and cons

+ Versatility: confident behavior on the highway and decent off-road capability on dry dirt roads.
– The plastic in the interior spoils the overall impression and clearly doesn't match the price level.

Handling
The behavior of the BMW 3 Series is almost perfect. The car is especially good in maneuvers when the suspension and stability systems work in tandem.
5 points

Interior
The only remark is that the "wood" inserts in rich versions look superfluous.
4.5 points

Comfort
The "Three" is as comfortable as possible for a car of this class.
5 points

Safety
The rigid body guarantees an excellent level of protection.
5 points

Price
The base version of the new "Three" costs less than a million. The top one is twice as expensive.
5 points

Our verdict

The previous "Three," which was already praised without unnecessary words, has reached a new level. But no revolution happened. The Bavarians took an evolutionary path, reducing risks to zero. As they say, don't look for good from good, and better is the enemy of good.