- coupe 83,474
- Hurst, TX
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- autoshopper.com
2009 bmw 3 series review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Sporting character in every model. introductionthe bmw 3 series cars accelerate, turn and stop with remarkable agility and balance, without seriously compromising comfort or common sense. The 3 series sedans define sports sedan and remain the target for every luxury car brand from acura to volvo. the 3 series comprises a range of sedans, coupes, convertibles and wagons, with different engines, a wide variety of options, and a spread of $35,000 from the bottom to the top of the line. All models share mechanical components and similarly compact exterior dimensions. We all like the top models, but we also recommend the less-expensive 328 models. They have as much power as most drivers will ever need, and they deliver the same inherent goodness as the 335s and most of the key features. for 2009, bmw 3 series gets a new version of that love/hate device known as bmw idrive, the mouse-like interface the driver can use to adjust nearly everything inside the car. The sedans have been freshened with exterior styling updates and small interior refinements. for 2009, bmw has introduced the 335d sedan, with a new-age diesel engine that's as clean as any of its gasoline counterparts. Despite its improved fuel economy, it retains the sporting character that has long defined the 3 series line. bmw sells more manual transmissions in this class than any manufacturer, and that probably says something about the type of drivers choosing the 3. Even the optional automatic transmission is tuned for crisp, sporty shifting. These are rear-wheel-drive cars, though all-wheel drive is available. Handling response is sharp and precise, and braking capability is best in class. The base engine in the 328s, bmw's trademark 3. 0-liter straight six, is more than powerful enough for brisk acceleration and a sinfully good time. The sports wagon adds substantial cargo space and utility. It's great for couples or families who often bring the dog, though it isn't available with the twin-turbo engine. The 328i and 335i convertibles might be the sexiest 3s, with a fully automatic, one-button folding hardtop. the two-door 3 series coupes are the sportiest. The firmer sport suspension, optional with other body styles, comes standard on the coupe, and these are the lightest cars in the line. Exterior dimensions for all models are relatively compact, making them good cars for crowded city centers. Available all-wheel-drive adds extra security in foul weather. All models feature the electronic wizardry that has become bmw's stock-in-trade over the last decade, including one of the auto industry's most complex stability-control systems. Some competitors offer more room, more power, better mileage or maybe better interiors for less money. But aside from subjective price-value analysis, the noteworthy hitch in the 3 series is the downside of its many electronic gizmos. Most are powered by bmw's familiar 3. 0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and all-wheel drive is available. A diesel-powered sedan is new this year. all 3 series variants come standard with automatic climate and headlight control, a climate-controlled center console, heated windshield washer nozzles, rain-sensing wipers, a power moonroof, 10-speaker am/fm/cd and bmw's self-braking dynamic cruise control. Wheel size varies from 16 to 18 inches. All offer a choice of aluminum or different wood interior trims, with vinyl upholstery. A six-speed manual transmission standard, a six-speed steptronic automatic 1,325) is optional. Model designations are consistent across the body styles and standard equipment is similar, though the coupes and convertibles include a few more features in the base price. the bmw 328i sedan 33,600) is powered by a 230-hp 3. 0-liter inline six. The 328i xdrive sedan 35,600) adds bmw's xdrive permanent all-wheel drive system, noted by the x-designation on all 3 series models so equipped. the bmw 335i sedan 40,300) and 335i xdrive sedan 42,300) feature a turbocharged version of the 3. 0-liter six, delivering 300 horsepower. The 335 models also add features, including power front seats with memory and bmw's logic 7 audio upgrade. the bmw 335d sedan 43,900) is powered by a 3. 0-liter turbodiesel six in the same inline configuration. It generates 265 horsepower and a whopping 425 lb-ft of torque, and at 23 city, 36 highway, it delivers the highest epa mileage ratings of any 3 series model. It also qualifies for a federal tax credit of roughly $900. the 328i sports wagon 35,400) and 328i xdrive sports wagon 37,400) offer more load-carrying potential and versatility than the sedan, with a rear tailgate and rear window that can be opened separately. The shapely coupe has two doors, a two-place rear seat and a slightly smaller trunk than the sedan, with a firmer, sport-tuned suspension that's optional on other body styles. the 3 series convertible features a retracting metal hard top that opens and closes with the touch of a button and comes in 328i 44,300) and 335i 50,400) versions. The telemetric package provides safety, convenience and concierge services. The cold weather package adds electrically heated seats, a heated steering wheel, high-intensity headlight washers and a split-folding rear seat with ski sack. The sport package includes sporting suspension calibrations tuned by bmw's m performance division for the sedan, wagon and convertible, more heavily bolstered sports seats and a wheel-performance tire upgrade. Radar-managed active cruise control 2,400) and hard-drive navigation system 2,100) are available as stand-alone options. Sirius satellite radio hardware 595), the logic 7 stereo upgrade 875) and other features are available individually. safety features include front-impact airbags that deploy at different rates depending on the severity of impact, front passenger side-impact airbags and full-cabin, curtain-type head protection airbags. The convertibles add knee airbags that help keep front passengers from sliding under the seat belts. Active safety features, designed to help the driver avoid collisions, include dynamic stability control and the latest generation antilock brakes. The abs preloads the brake pedal when the driver suddenly lifts off the gas pedal, and includes a feature that lightly sweeps the brake discs dry every 1. 5 seconds when it's raining. walkaroundthe big news for 2009 applies to the 3 series sedan. The sedan, wagon, two-door coupe and convertible all look different, but all 3 series variants are immediately recognizable as bmws, and each shares design traits with the others. the model line's high-tech theme is visible from the outside. All have xenon high-intensity discharge headlights, while many models come with adaptive bi-xenon headlights that turn with the steering wheel to aim into a curve. All feature bmw's adaptive brake lights, which are based on the idea that drivers in the cars following a 3 series will know when the 3 is braking hard: the led lights illuminate more intensely, over a larger area, when the driver applies the brakes full-lock or when the abs operates. the similarities between 3 series models start with a 108. 7-inch wheelbase, which is the only obvious hint that under the body panels all 3 series models are nearly identical. By every other exterior dimension, all body styles come within two inches of the other. In general, these are the largest 3 series cars ever. Most of the extra width and length translates into more interior space compared to previous generations, particularly in the back seat. the sedan is the best seller, and perhaps most familiar to the motoring public, though it's been updated for 2009. Bmw's traditional double-beam headlights are now set in chrome tubes, with led surrounds that serve as daytime running lights (drls. AM/FM✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Heated Seats✔ Cruise Control✔ Sport Package✔ Navigation System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Bluetooth
Hurst, TXHurst, TX at autoshopper.com