BMW 320D SPORT:It doesn't look much different to the previous model, and some of the expensive extras should have come as standard, but the new BMW 3 Series certainly wins out on sheer performance and is, crucially, fun to drive, writes MICHAEL McALEER, Motoring Editor
The first time I saw this car was at its unveiling in the BMW Welt (BMW World), a sleekly designed two-storey building adjacent to the firm’s famous four-cylinder Munich headquarters. At the Welt, customers get to see a showcase of the firm’s current offerings and its plans for the future. But the building is more than just an ego-massaging exercise; it plays its part in turning customers into loyal advocates and ambassadors.
After a quick tour of the BMW museum across the street, a winding three-storey affair full of the heritage of the brand, buyers can organise to collect their gleaming new cars at the Welt, in a little ceremony on the polished wooden floors at the centre of the building. It’s an impressive affair that adds pomp to the purchase. As the proud new owners drive down a rather plush spiral route in the middle of the building and then off home, youthful Bavarians clad in spotless BMW attire crack gleaming smiles and wave them on their way. All they really need is an anthem and these owners would happily swear lifelong allegiance to the cause.
Yet somehow, even in the Welt of BMW and amongst its loyal citizens, the 3 Series didn’t really stand out as something dramatically different. The new car looked decidedly like the old, with strong hints at the version before that as well. It was smart, but, for all the organised applause of workers and staff, it wasn’t stunning.
Yet, sitting in a car park in Dublin, the look of this 3 Series is quite striking, better arguably than its arch-rival the Audi A4. The 3 Series was such a common sight on Irish roads in the last decade that it became part of the street furniture. It’s only when you take a little time to look more closely that you realise why this car looks like its predecessor: it’s a good look that works, so why dump it?
Dressed in its sports apparel, with smart double-spoke 18-inch alloys (a €745 option) and tinted windows, it will always look like a 3 Series, but seems to have a bit more menace and substance about it.
Car firms are so fixated on economy and clean tech these days you often forget that driving can be fun. It’s been some time since I last got behind the wheel of a 3 Series; in the interim I’ve spent most of the time in eco-fixated superminis, erratic stop/start hybrids or regular-fare family hatchbacks. Yet on a stretch of open road the 3 Series suddenly started to reawaken the dormant car fan in me.
The performance of this car is impressive, but it’s the handling and smooth flow of the car around corners that really put a smile on my face. The 3 Series appeals to the motorhead, while staying relatively green and clean. With emissions of just 118g/km, it falls into the lowest tax band, something that understandably irks fellow motorists in older, less expensive cars who must fork out €400 or more every year on motor tax.
Part of its eco-dynamic pack is the latest electro-mechanical steering system. It manages to leave the driver in control while also contributing to fuel economy. Mixing electronics with the mechanical elements of steering can often be a hit and miss affair – frequently a miss – that numbs the connection between steering wheel and front wheels, but some manage it with aplomb. BMW is one of this select few, particularly with the addition of the Servotronic speed-sensitive system that’s offered as a €250 option. It’s fitted as standard only on the high-end petrol models and as an option for the rest, but if you enjoy driving then this system should be the first addition to your extras list.
All versions of the new 3 Series come with Drive Performance Control as standard – a switch which allows the driver to swap between up to four driving modes, varying from sporty to economical. Unlike many
other systems there is a noticeable difference in the characteristics of the car under the different modes, with comfort softening up
the suspension and making it rather bouncy, while sport hardens up the ride and will have you spinning the back tyres on loose gravel.
The 2-litre diesel engine in this car has the punch to suit the Sport billing as well. Putting out 184bhp, it’s the best engine in this model range by some distance, and you quickly appreciate why so many of its Irish customers have opted for it. The 3-litre diesel might be BMW’s best diesel across the brand, but the 2-litre in this 184bhp guise isn’t far behind. The less-powerful 316d might seem more attractive in terms of price, but if you really want to trade off on power and purse, then the 318d is the best compromise. For those prepared to pay a little extra for fun, then the 320d will not disappoint.
Inside, the new 3 Series measures in with more space than the previous model, but it still feels rather cramped compared to more mainstream family car rivals. The fit and finish is also failing to match up with rivals these days, something that we’ve noticed in BMW’s smaller cars these days. It might seem a quibble but when you pay €40,000 for a car you expect the interior plastics to be better than on a regular family hatchback.
The quality of mainstream cars has radically improved and it’s starting to show up the so-called premium brands.
Owners want to feel a little special inside their new premium cars and that’s not always the case these days, particularly if you look at the lower-grade versions of the 3 Series. Some of the interior features feel rather flimsy for what’s supposed to be a premium car. That’s its greatest failing and one that could easily be rectified if the bean counters in Munich weren’t so fixated on making ever-greater profits. Audi is still the benchmark in terms of interiors and BMW needs to up its game to catch up with its German rival.
Owners will also bristle when they read of the fat profits at the brand while at the same time it’s charging €413 for a reversing camera on the new 3 Series. These cameras now come as standard on a mid-range Toyota Yaris and other superminis and hatchbacks. In fairness, BMW isn’t the only premium brand that doesn’t seem to have its standard features in line with what’s on offer from mainstream brands, but it needs to sort this out.
The 3 Series is a star turn and, even in such a competitive market where it’s increasingly hard to justify a €35,000-plus spend on a new saloon that looks similar to the previous one, it should win fans. How many of the brand’s current crop of Irish owners will choose to fly to the Welt to join the ranks of more ardent followers remains to be seen, but those on the market for a fun drive won’t be disappointed.
Despite some really hot rivals, the new 3 Series is back in front.
Factfile
Engine: 1995cc diesel putting out 184bhp @ 4,000rpm and 380Nm of torque from 1,750rpm
0-100km/h: 7.6 secs
L/100km (mpg): 5.8 (48.7)
Emissions (motor tax): 118g/km (€160)
Price: €40,800
Rivals:
Audi A4 2.0 TDi S-Line 177bhp €44,990 (motor tax: €160);
Mercedes C-Class C220 CDI BlueEfficiency Avantgarde €44,040 (motor tax: €160);
Lexus IS200d F-Sport €39,365 (motor tax: €225);
Volvo S60 D3 R Design €37,937 (motor tax: €160)
Our rating: 8/10