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By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 May 2006
BMW's 3-Series is one of the most popular of all cars with buyers
looking to move up to European class to replace the everyday machines
they have used in the past.
There's plenty to choose from in the 3-Series range;
everything from relatively affordable three-door hatchbacks with
four-cylinder engines, to full-on sports machines in the hot M3 with its
sensational straight-six powerplant. In between there are two- and
four-door sedans (being by far the biggest sellers) and gorgeous
two-door coupes.
The price spread is as big as the model range. You
will be asked to pay three times as much for the topline models as for
the entry-level choices.
These are lovely cars to drive even in what is
apparently their most mundane format. Excellent balance is obtained by
the use of rear-wheel drive and the neutral feeling through the steering
is arguably the most loved feature of these cars. Rear-wheel drive gives
the keen driver throttle control that’s lovely to play with once you
have some training in what it’s all about.
Once you have felt the way a BMW handles when you push
it along hard, you will find it hard to go back to another make of car.
Driving the rear wheels also means the gearbox sits
just in front of the gear lever, rather than way out somewhere under the
bonnet via a series of linkages. This makes for what is arguably the
nicest feeling manual gearshift on any car on the face of the planet.
However, rear-wheel drive means cabin space is
marginal for anyone of much more than average size. That’s because
both the gearbox and rear-mounted differential take up space under the
cabin/boot.
The front and back seats can be tight for legroom and
foot-space, even in the sedan variants. The three-door Compact hatch,
two-door coupe and convertible are even less spacious.
The latest 3-Series, introduced gradually from 1999
onwards, is better for interior room. But it’s still best to invite
any adults, and large teenagers, who may be travelling in the back seat
along on one of your initial test drives.
All BMWs come with beautifully responsive engines,
though in some case the stopwatch may tell you they are not as quick as
your gut feeling tells you. Most engines on older models are
four-cylinder units, with a 1.8-litre being the most common. There are
also 1.6-litre units and 1.9-litre ones, the latter contrarily titled
318 suggesting they are 1.8-litre units.
The four-cylinders provide adequate performance for
most day-to-day buyers. Try the engine for yourself on a decent test
drive in the sort of region where you will be driving the car. Those who
like to pedal along harder should go for one of the six-cylinder models.
The sixes come with capacities of 2.0, 2.5, 2.8 and
finally 3.0 litres. From 2001 the sedans and coupes only used
six-cylinder engines, but the Compacts stuck with fours in most cases as
a price-reduction measure.
Most manual gearboxes originally had five speeds,
late-model sports versions run to a six-speed unit. As mentioned, the
slick, positive nature of the shift makes it a real pleasure to use.
BMW also introduced a six-speed automated manual,
called the SMG, in some models from late 2004. These can be rather rough
in their gear changes, especially in the lower ratios, so try for
yourself before settling on the car.
Full-automatic transmissions had four speeds in the
four-cylinder cars until 2000, before moving up to five speeds, but the
sixes had a five-speed auto in all the models being examined in this
feature.
It pays to try to find a late-model BMW with a full
service history. You will probably be asked to pay more, but it’s
almost invariably worth the money. In any case, you’re likely to
recoup the extra cost when you trade up later. Provided, of course, you
continue to have the 3-Series serviced at an official agent.
The complex nature of the later models in the 3-Series
range means they should be maintained only by specialised BMW
technicians.
Few BMW 3-Series in Australia are driven the way their
maker intended, that is hard and fast, so you should have no trouble
finding one that has been treated gently and serviced by the book. Make
sure to get a quote for even minor items as the repair costs can be
high.
Insurance can be expensive, as can service and
repairs. Shop around if you feel you can do a better deal. Make sure you
fully understand what is, and isn’t, covered by the various policies
you examine.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Engine repairs can be expensive so make sure they
start within moments of turning the key. Preferably arrange to do this
with the engine stone cold after an overnight stop.
During your test drive feel for any hesitation under
acceleration and look for oily smoke from the exhaust when the engine is
worked hard.
Check the paint on older cars for an ‘orange-peel’
finish as there were some problems with the paint system during the
early 1990s. The vertical surfaces are usually the worst.
Look for signs of crash repairs such as mismatched
paint, paint overspray and ripples in the panels. A magnet will tell you
if the material under the repaired area is metal or plastic filler.
Some older 3-Series had air conditioning problems so
check that the air at the outlets appears to be at the correct
temperature.
Make sure the glovebox closes properly and stays
closed even if bumped.
There were troubles with gear selection in some
four-speed automatic transmissions but this was the subject of a dealer
rectification campaign so should have been fixed.
CAR BUYING TIP
Shop around for the best deals on finance and
insurance with as much enthusiasm as you chase the best deal on the car
itself.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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