The New BMW 3 Series Saloon And Touring
Published: 26th October 2001
- Exterior / Interior
- Two new engines: Groundbreaking new engines
- New chassis dynamics
- Rational economics
- New options and changes for MY2002: Features including SSG
- The BMW 3 Series market
- Specifications
- Technical data
Britain's most popular prestige compact executive car, the BMW 3 Series, has been refreshed and improved for the 2002 model year. The changes are sufficient to warrant the title 'new car' with two brand new four cylinder engines, extensive chassis changes, improved standard specification and, for the Saloon and Touring models, discreet new styling.
In short, BMW has not let the grass grow under the wheels of its
class-leading range.
"Many manufacturers would have been satisfied with the
3 Series just the way it was," said Jim O'Donnell, Managing
Director of BMW Great Britain. "In fact 2001 will be an all-time
sales record for the evergreen 3 Series.
"But at BMW we constantly strive to offer more to our customers
and the new look 3 Series, with economical new petrol and diesel
engines, an even more dynamic chassis and higher specification will
be a hard act to beat" he concluded.
New look - familiar but different
All 3 Series Saloon and Touring models have received subtle exterior
changes: BMW would not call it a facelift since the 1998 3 Series
was hardly old enough to have suffered from facial ageing. The changes,
however, do mark a growing distinction between the various body
styles in the range which began with the new Compact.
New curved headlights, incorporating the indicators behind clear glass, and round fog lamps are all distinctive new features. A wider kidney grille leads into a newly styled bonnet 'powerdome' which runs right up to the A-pillars and the new swage line on the front wings, with a teardrop shaped repeater indicator, adds a greater sense of muscularity and purpose to the face of the 3 Series Saloon and Touring.
A new front air dam for both ranges, and a new rear valance and revised rear light cluster for the Saloon, complete the exterior changes.
Under the skin
Whilst these fresh exterior changes are discreet and subtle, the
engineering changes beneath the skin of all 3 Series models are
revolutionary.
Two new four cylinder engines, a new Sequential Sports Gearbox (SSG)
and extensive suspension and steering changes to improve the agility
of the already poised 3 Series chassis are just the start
The new 318i
BMW's best-selling model, the 318i SE, is the beneficiary of a new
two litre, four cylinder, 16 valve engine featuring BMW's revolutionary
VALVETRONIC technology. This is the second engine in the new generation
of BMW fours with VALVETRONIC and is built at BMW's newest engine
plant at Hams Hall, Warwickshire which opened in February 2001.
VALVETRONIC, which has already received an 'Engine of the Year'
award from Engine Technology International, removes the need for
a throttle butterfly and controls valve lift infinitely to control
the fuel air mixture supply. The principle is similar to a human
breathing - we breathe deeply when exerting ourselves and in a more
shallow pattern when taking things more gently. It is the same with
VALVETRONIC.
Faster, quicker acceleration and more economical
The real benefit is an engine which produces 21.2 per cent more
power than its predecessor, 11.1 per cent more torque and an 11
per cent improvement in fuel economy. Carbon dioxide emissions are
down to 175 g/km.
Everyone's a winner with the new 318i models (Saloon, Touring, Coupé, Compact and a new Convertible)?.except the fuel companies and the taxman.
The facts
The new 318i Saloon produces 143 bhp at 6000 rpm, 25 bhp more power
than the outgoing car, with a concomitant torque increase of 20
Nm/14 lb ft achieved lower down the rev range at 3750 rpm. A top
speed of 135 mph and 0-62 mph acceleration of 9.3 seconds are the
results.
Yet the 318i now travels 39.2 miles on every gallon of fuel on the combined EU cycle which is up to 15 per cent more economical than its competitors.
A new four cylinder diesel too
Not satisfied with one ground breaking new engine, BMW engineers
have extensively revised the four cylinder, 16 valve diesel unit
in the 320d. Available in Saloon, Touring and Compact guise, the
new engine delivers over ten per cent more power, 17.9 per cent
more torque and a fuel consumption improvement of 3.6 per cent over
its already parsimonious predecessor.
This remarkable engine produces 150 bhp (the same as the two litre six cylinder petrol engine of 1998) and 330 Nm (243 lb ft) of torque which delivers a hot hatch 0-62 mph acceleration of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 134 mph. Its real coup however is the tidal wave of torque (more than a Porsche Boxster and not that far off a Ferrari 360 Modena) which provides incredible on-road flexibility - 50-75 mph in fifth gear takes only 7.5 seconds.
Anyone for Nice?
Despite its surprising performance the 320d returns an EU average
fuel consumption of 51.4 mpg, whilst extra urban cruising allows
64.2 mpg. Equipped with a 13.9 gallon tank, the out-of-town range
is a staggering 893 miles - enough to drive non-stop from Calais
to Nice with 126 miles for a drive up the Grand Corniche to Italy.
The miracle of Munich's engineers
The secret of the 320d's performance lies in the new second generation, high-pressure common rail fuel injection system that operates at 1600 bar. This is a first for a large scale production diesel engine. Together with a volume-controlled fuel pump, a new Digital Diesel Electronic engine management system, twin balance shafts and an improved Variable Valve Turbocharger, the 320d has what amounts to an entirely new engine.
Three gearbox choices
All 318i and 320d models are supplied with five speed manual gearboxes
as standard equipment that provides service-free lives. As an option
(and for the first time on BMW's four cylinder diesel) a five speed
automatic transmission with adaptive learning and Steptronic (ie
manual control) action is available.
For the 325i and 330i Saloon and Coupé models, BMW will
offer a Sequential Sports Gearbox (SSG) as a further drive option.
SSG - Shift by wire
SSG is an automated manual gearbox with, as its name suggests, its
gears selected in sequential pattern, like those on a motorcycle.
It is the product of Formula 1 technology and enables the driver
to select gears with a flick of the gear lever, via paddles behind
the steering wheel, or lets the gearbox select the gears itself
in automatic mode. There is no clutch pedal so a car equipped with
SSG is a 'two pedal car'.
'C', or 'Cruise' mode, is an automated programme ideal for use
in a city environment to take away the stress and strains of urban
traffic. But it is not intended as a substitute for the automatic
gearbox - the torque converter of which will always offer a higher
level of comfort.
Once out of the city, touching either the gear lever or a paddle
activates the manual selection mode and, at a stroke, the driver
can emulate Juan Pablo Montoya on the back roads !
A 'sport' button behind the gear lever activates faster, more sporting
gear changes and offers a 'launch control' programme to enable perfect
0-60 mph times.
The whole system is failsafe (ie the driver cannot change down from
fifth to first gear at 70 mph) and it delivers satisfying throttle
'blip' down-changes to remind the driver how it should be done.
Dynamic heaven
The poise and balance of the BMW 3 Series has been highly praised
since its launch in 1998. However, customer feedback has revealed
a desire for slightly more sporty settings and BMW has listened.
The answer is thoroughly revised suspension settings for the springs and dampers whilst stiffer rubber mountings for the suspension to body have enhanced the package. Even more agility and 'feel' has been dialled into all 3 Series models. (Note: the new Compact and 330i/Ci models have had these changes since launch in April 2001)
The more sporting suspension settings have been complimented by a faster, more direct steering rack that now requires only three turns from lock to lock.
Rational economics
High residual values, low 'whole life 'costs, good fuel economy
and low service costs make BMW not only an affair of the heart but
also a choice of the head. This is particularly true of the 3 Series
range, which is now in its fifth generation.
BMW identified a market for a compact sporting saloon as an alternative to the humdrum family charabancs back in 1966 and introduced the 1602. Since that time demand for 3 Series models has grown consistently, a fact that hasn't entirely escaped almost every other car manufacturer. Leaders attract followers and a host of imitators have tried to emulate the 3 Series recipe. The fact that BMW has not sat on its laurels and has pursued a policy of continuous improvements is symptomatic of the company's pioneering spirit.
A new competitive battleground is certain to be CO2 emissions.
Company cars - efficiency first
The new company car benefit tax regime, that comes into effect in
April 2002, will place great focus on carbon dioxide emissions which
are a direct product of fuel consumption. The complex 21 band structure
will increase benefit taxation for high business mileage users and
reward drivers of fuel efficient cars. Since around 75 per cent
of 3 Series drivers are business users, this is an important topic.
No one in the industry can predict exactly how the shape of the market will change but Graeme Grieve, BMW Great Britain's Sales Director, is confident that BMW is well placed to benefit.
"We have a range of highly fuel-efficient cars which largely out-perform our competitors in this respect. The new 318i and 320d are supremely well-suited to this new tax regime," he explained.
Buy a BMW and get a case of excellent claret every month
for three years
No, it's not a desperate sales offer but simply the saving which
can be made by selecting a BMW 318i SE instead of a Mercedes C180
Avantgarde. Over three years a 40 per cent tax-paying company car
driver will pay £7,990 for the privilege of driving the Mercedes
(which has CO2 g/km rating of 225), compared to just £4,739
for the BMW 318i SE (which produces just 175 g/km of CO2).
The saving for the BMW driver compared to the Mercedes is £90.31 each month for three years - a case of good claret or membership of a golf club?or a contribution to Gordon Brown's coffers? That is the question that company car drivers are going to have to start asking.
Cash for cars
So will drivers eschew the company cars and take the cash ??if it
is offered?
"I believe this will have a greater impact on the volume
manufacturers than on us" claimed Grieve. "The
trend in all markets, not just cars, is towards greater individualisation
- in other words towards premium products."
"If people choose cash instead of car there is a good chance that BMW will be at the top of their personal shopping lists," he concluded.
Specifications
The already high standard specification of the 3 Series has been
enhanced for the new model year: six cylinder models all have DSCIII
(Dynamic Stability Control), and four cylinder, non-SE models now
have manual air conditioning, both as standard. New alloy wheels
are fitted to four cylinder Saloon and Touring SE models (16 inch)
and 17 inch to 330i and 330d models (17 inch).
New options include a wide screen navigation/TV monitor with split screen viewing and soft scrolling, bi-xenon headlights, integrated hands-off function for business and professional radios and automatic light activation included with rain sensor option.
New colours and new upholstery and interior trims round off this comprehensive change for the 3 series range.
"Everyone is a winner with the new look, 2002 model year
3 Series," said Jim O'Donnell, "company car drivers,
professionals, retirees or simply young people who enjoy driving.
There is something for each of them and I am confident that a record
3 Series year in 2001 will lead to another in 2002" he
concluded.
