The BMW 3 Series is an icon, the benchmark by which all other mid-size sport sedans are judged. Available with a selection of turbocharged patrol, or plug-in hybrid models, the 3 Series represents the perfect combination of practicality, performance, and comfort in a stylish package.
In a changing automotive world, can a regular BMW still be called the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’? The 330i sure thinks so.
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Italy's Alfa Romeo versus Germany's BMW. Sounds like a soccer match, but it’s much more than that.
Can this Korean upstart beat the Germans at the game they invented? James Ward and Sam Purcell throw the Genesis G70 sedan head to head with the BMW 330i to find out.
Nearly every manufacturer is rushing headlong into EVs, but can plug-in hybrids make sense for Australian new car buyers?
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BMW's facelifted 3 Series is due in Australia next month, with the updated sedan and wagon undergoing a price increase across all grades bar the flagship M340i xDrive.
Sixt Australia will take delivery of approximately 100 BMW iX3s, the fifth electric vehicle available to rent through the NRMA-owned rental car company.
One of BMW's most – if not the most – iconic models is set to ditch petrol engines within five years, as part of a new wave of 'Neue Klasse' electric cars.
BMW’s staple mid-size sedan and wagon range has been treated to its mid-life update, with revised styling and a new twin-screen dashboard.
A guide to navigating the variants and options on offer with the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Medium Luxury car
The funnyman can't drive past a McDonald's.
The point is, the car dares you to hate it, and yet you simply can't.Owner: Max Coultan
It takes corners so well, it feels like you're still going straight. Read the owner review of the quintessential executive sports sedan.
A rear wheel drive convertible with a folding hardtop and a diesel engine is very rare combination however I am glad that I was able to find one. The BMW 320d convertible is a surprisingly likeable offering that turns heads but is easy on your wallet in terms of fuel consumption. Of course the sound of the diesel engine is not in the same league as a BMW straight-six, however once you get going it is barely noticeable, even with the roof down.
Compared to a 325i convertible the efficiency is superior and performance is only slightly down. The torquey engine allows effortless overtaking on the motorway. I get 7-8 l/100km in the city and around 5l/100km on the highway. Having owned both a 325i and a 320d, I must say that I am surprised by the performance of the 320d, saving money on fuel and I don’t have coil packs to worry about anymore. If you wish to have a little bit more fun, the paddle shift and sports mode features are right on hand.
Convertibles are not known for their practicality, but I think that BMW did a great job with this design. 4 people can fit easily and the folding rear seat and ski port are useful. My car is fitted with a ski bag and this allows you to load long dirty items through without having to worry about dirtying the interior. I can even fit my mountain bike in the back seat once the front wheel is removed. The boot is also a decent size and the Comfort Loading function for the roof allows you to partially raise the roof out of the boot in order to gain more access to boot space.
The rigidity of the car is good, not quite as good as a BMW coupe, but still relatively solid. On a smooth road, the ride on the sports suspension is really pleasing, however on typical country roads and over potholes you will feel every bump. On Australian roads, I would say the comfort suspension would be a better choice with the convertible body.
Standard equipment on the 320d was a little bit light, but many original buyers would have at least ticked a few of the option boxes. It is definitely worth finding a highly-specced car with the Innovation Package or at least iDrive with navigation and Bluetooth audio streaming. LED daytime running lights were also an option and does give the car a more modern look, comparable to F30 models.
Overall, the car still receives a lot of compliments even though it is 8 years old. Luxury convertibles have that desirable wow factor and the evolutionary BMW design ensures that the car will age well. The quality of the car is good, with only the rubber windscreen trim deteriorating at this stage. That wind in your hair feeling never grows old!
Ode to a lost love...
Rewind to 2015 a couple years out of Uni, having driven an old beat up Nissan Pulsar and a wee Mazda 121 bubble, I finally had saved a little cash to buy something that I wanted (and far less embarrassing).
With my meagre $6k budget I had limited options, i was looking at Mk4 and 5 golfs, BMW 3 series, or a Mazda 3...
But as soon as I hopped in the e46 I knew she was the one....but she was out of my budget (insert sad music).
I had found a single owner 2001 example, super clean, perfect service record, rare M-sport black leather interior and a low 120k kms on the clock. I asked the guy if i could get it mechanically inspected - the inspector said and i quote "I have never seen one of these cars in such good condition, it's perfect" (Internally I cried, thinking there was no room for negotiation).
Luckily for me, the seller was tired of 'no-shows' and needed the cash for a house deposit so he quickly knocked off $2500 took my money, shed a tear as we parted ways.
(Side note - $6000 felt pretty good, these cars were $75,450 MRSP in 2001 - nearly $120,000 by todays standards.
The relationship
It was love, hate, pleasure and pain! Over time I made small tasteful modifications, tinted windows, 18 inch replica M3 rims, lowering kit, apple car play head unit, boot lip spoiler and some decent rubber (so easy to get parts online and at wreckers).
BUT i also had to redo the entire cooling system, fix sagging roof liner, sump gasket...cooling system again, fix window regulators (more than once).. etc and a whole bunch of other stuff that I have repressed due to financial trauma. Although despite everything, I was never stranded on the side of the road, most of my maintenance was preventative.
Over my ownership I spent more money than the car was worth but as they say "Never buy an old beemer if you cant afford to fix it".
But there was a reason for that. I loved driving it.
One thing I never got tired of is the poise and power of the car, no matter how much you push it around corners, it stuck to the road like glue.
Brand new, she would zoom from 0-100kms per hour in the early 8 seconds (yes I know slow by todays standards), and with that on hand, it made road trips down south of WA more than just a boring drive. I was happy to zoom past a road train without any doubt in her abilities.
The sound and the smoothness of a straight six engine is something to behold, coupled with a willing steptronic gearbox which LOVESSS to be redlined, i could not help but rolling down the windows and feeling the love and care i had put into her rewarded.
The M52b engine has been called one of BMWs best (check google if you don't believe me), there is a certain feeling about driving a classic RWD that very few cars can give today, something I can't put in words. In my time i have driven modern cars, Kia Stinger, RS3 4 5, Golf R....yes, they are so much faster...but still...she was my first love.
The End
Last month, mother dearest borrowed her. A short trip to that ended with the e46 being a complete write off. The hard work, tears and joy came to an abrupt end. The e46s are slowly starting to creep up in value now, with the 330s getting rare! Zero doubt these cars are a future classic. Good by dearest Adeline (yes i name my cars).
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