The BMW 3 Series
These machines are indeed the ultimate driving experience

The BMW 3 Series cars are the aspiration for every automaker building a sports sedan or smaller luxury sedan. And, there’s a good reason for that. The 3 Series is superb. Whether it’s the standard 325i or the high-performance M3, they are driver’s cars. Dynamically, each is outstanding: a highly refined machine that corners, accelerates, and stops swiftly. They blend luxury and sport with high levels of quality, making living with them a joy. Their interiors are well-equipped and comfortable.

The current-generation 3 Series debuted in 1999. Each model is classic BMW: elegant and refined, but purposeful. If there was a picture in the dictionary of a sports sedan it would be a BMW 330i.

The 3 Series interior is designed for the serious driver. The front bucket seats provide good support without feeling hard, and come standard with six adjustments. Power adjustments come standard on all models except 325i sedans. The 10-way power seats that come with some of the option packages are superb, adding more side bolstering for winding roads, and slide-out thigh support.

In recent years, some of the most noticeable 3 Series improvements have come in the quality of the hard and soft plastics inside. A titanium-finished plastic trim is used around the instrument panel, console, and doors. Genuine Myrtle wood or real aluminum inserts are optional. The instruments feature soft orange lighting, which helps reduce glare at night.

The suspensions are tight on these cars, giving them the feel of finely engineered machinery. You hear and feel what’s going on, though the outside world is muted well enough to ensure comfort. It’s this balance of impressive handling and ride quality that BMW masters, and it’s a characteristic that defines the brand. The stiff 3 Series chassis structure allows the suspension to dampen irritating road vibration, reducing the chance of squeaks and rattles inside the car. The M3 is the tautest of the bunch.

Steering response is more like that of a sports car than a luxury sedan. There’s little play in the steering and the feeling is direct. This car goes exactly where you point it. Unlike the over-boosted power steering found on many luxury sedans, the 3 Series provides good feedback, though the steering feels surprisingly light. These cars handle curves with aplomb, gripping tenaciously during aggressive cornering maneuvers. When the tires finally let go, the resulting slide is still fairly easy to manage. The M3 generates incredible grip, and by incredible we mean more than some premier sports cars like the Porsche 911.

BMW’s 3 Series cars offer a truly satisfying driving experience. They offer rear-wheel drive and manual transmissions, and BMW’s commitment to this combination speaks volumes about its priorities. Subjectively, there is nothing better in the class. There’s no mystery why the 3 Series remains the benchmark for moderately priced sports sedans. It’s been that way since the late 1970s, and we don’t see it changing.

Mitch McCullogh is editor-in-chief for NewCarTestDrive.com.

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