2006 BMW 3 Series

Summary

Is there a driver anywhere who doesn't recognize the BMW 3 Series? It's the car that defines "sport sedan," and the benchmark every luxury car maker from Acura to Volvo aims at when it develops a sport sedan or a smaller luxury sedan. Above all, the 3 Series is a driver's car: accelerating, turning and stopping with remarkable agility and balance, without seriously compromising comfort or common sense. Given mixed reviews following the launch of BMW's current 5 and 7 Series sedans, anticipation for the 2006 3 Series might be exceeded only by the potential for disappointment.

Full Review 2006

If we characterized the new 330i with one word, it might be "stuff," even if BMW would prefer "technology." Technology is everywhere in this compact sedan, some of it first-in-class and some not previously applied in any BMW. The 2006 BMW 3 Series offers Active Steering that actually turns the front wheels without driver intervention, not to mention 150-mile run-flat tires, turning bi-xenon headlights and an optional i-Drive interface inside. It's the first car in its class to offer radar-managed active cruise control, and even the standard cruise control will automatically apply the brakes if the 3 picks up too much speed going down a hill.

The 3 Series accounts for 40 percent of BMW's sales worldwide and BMW is a high-tech brand. The car buying public expects technology in its products. The tires-up overhaul for 2006, including new exterior styling and interiors, more powerful engines, all six-speed transmissions and redesigned suspension, applies only to the 3 Series sedans. The 2006 BMW 325i and 330i sedans accelerate more quickly, stop shorter and turn with more lateral grip than the 2005 models. For entry-luxury market shoppers who put a premium on driving satisfaction, the BMW 3 Series remains the place to start.

Trims and Styling 2006 

Since its introduction in 1977 as a two-door sedan, the BMW 3 Series has evolved into a range of sedans, coupes and convertibles. True to BMW tradition, the 325i and 330i sedans are both powered by a 3.0-liter straight six-cylinder engine. In the 325i sedan ($30,995), the new engine generates 225 horsepower, for an increase of 40 over the 2005 model. The 2006 BMW 325i comes well equipped, with automatic climate and headlight control, a climate-controlled center console, headlight washers, rain-sensing wipers, a power moonroof, 12-speaker AM/FM/CD and the trick new self-braking Dynamic Cruise Control. Burr walnut trim is standard, though the standard upholstery is BMW's Leatherette vinyl. Vinyl upholstery is standard.

Safety Features

Safety features that come standard include dual stage front-impact airbags that deploy at different rates depending on the severity of impact, front side-impact airbags and full-cabin head protection airbags. Active safety features on all 3 Series models include Dynamic Stability Control anti-skid electronics and the latest generation antilock brakes. The Sport Package ($1,600) includes sporting suspension calibrations tuned by BMW's M performance division, 10-way sports seats (power adjustable in the 330i) and a wheel/tire upgrade: 17-inch alloys with V-rated performance tires for the 325i; 18-inch with W-rated tires for the 330i. The Sport package and BMW's SMG electro hydraulic manual transmission will be available for the 330i ($1,500) in the fall. The Cold Weather Package ($1,000) adds electrically heated seats, high-intensity headlight washers and a split-folding rear seat with ski sack.

The previous-generation 3 Series sedans, and the current coupes, have a familiar, distinctive, handsome appearance. For starters, the new sedans are larger. Some reviewers have claimed that the new 3 Series has been spared some of the styling excesses in the BMW 5 and 7 Series cars. This car accounts for nearly half of BMW 's income. Nonetheless, spared is not a word we'd use for the 2006 3 Series sedans.

In profile, the sedan's front and rear overhangs seem even shorter than before. Volume has increased from 10.3 to 12 cubic feet, giving the 3 Series trunk space that's more competitive. The new 3 series is still available with a split-folding rear seat and ski sack, expanding cargo space into the rear of the cabin.

Interior Styling Features 

The cabin takes the best of several ideas introduced in the larger BMW 5 and 7 Series sedans, synthesizes them for a smaller car and improves them in the process.

The 3 Series sedans no longer have a keyed ignition switch, relying instead on a slot-type key fob and a starter button. The Comfort Access option ($500) makes everything automatic. The 10-way power seats that come with the Sport Package are outstanding. The passenger side has a sloped, vertical door pull, while the driver's door lays the door pull horizontally in the arm rest. Moreover, the new doors address one of our biggest gripes with the old 3 Series interior. The soft vinyls and plastics in the new 3 Series sedans are an improvement in both touch and appearance, and they put the car more closely in line with the best cars in this class for materials and workmanship. The new 3 follows BMW's tradition of soft orange backlighting for the instruments. For the first time, the 3's automatic climate control features separate temperature adjustments for driver and front passenger. Audio controls on the steering wheel work well, once they're mastered.

BMW's multi-layer, mouse-style iDrive interface is optional in the new 3 Series sedans, but if you want the DVD-based GPS navigation system, you'll have to take iDrive.

First Drive '06 

BMW's 3 Series has always been about the driving. It has many of the attributes of a sports car with the practicality of a sedan. It offers rear-wheel drive and manual transmissions in a class increasingly dominated by front-drive and automatics. The all-new 2006 BMW 3 Series sedans are true to their predecessors, with a couple of caveats. The heart of any BMW is its engine, and the one in the new 3 Series is first rate. In both the 325i and 330i sedans, the engine is fantastic. The new 3 Series sedans come with a choice of six-speed automatic transmission, six-speed manual or BMW's six-speed electro-hydraulic Sequential Manual Gearbox. The manual transmission works great. The extra gear adds more flexibility to the power band and lowers engine revs at cruising speeds. While the Steptronic is an automatic with a manual feature, the SMG is a manual with an automatic feature. Bottom line, the new 3 Series sedans are great performers, impressive cars and techno tours de force. For the time being, if you want the newest 3 Series technology, you'll have to choose a four-door sedan.

2006 Conclusions

Bottom line, the new 3 Series sedans are great performers, impressive cars and techno tours de force. If price is remotely an issue, don't have a second thought about choosing the 325i. It has as much power as most drivers will ever need, and it delivers the same inherent goodness as the 330i, without much less really useful stuff. Indeed, we wouldn't recommend some of the options like Active Steering or Active Cruise Control, except to die-hard fanatics for the absolute latest technology. For details on all of the 3 Series Models visit BMWUSA.com Remember that through most of calendar 2006, the 3 Series coupes and convertibles will continue as they were for 2005. For the time being, if you want the newest 3 Series technology, you'll have to choose a four-door sedan.