Description
BMW got back to basics with the E90 generation 3 Series. Developing an all-new 3-Series was never going to be easy and the E90 generation, as BMW people dub this car, demonstrated clearly that the money men and the stylists had gone head to head in the battle between shifting big numbers and continuing the trend for challengingly-styled BMWs.
A good deal more conservatively penned than the rest of the BMW line up, this 3 Series consequently found almost universal acclaim. With the 3-Series accounting for fully 52 per cent of BMW’s UK sales, alienating this bedrock of customers with a wilfully odd-looking car was never going to make a sound business case.
After all, this 3-Series was forced to redefine its place in BMW’s range. For the first time in 29 years, it was no longer the entry level BMW model, and the range was developed in a way that 1-Series buyers could migrate to a Three on the way to bigger BMWs. The kidney grilles at the front were restyled to give a simpler, cleaner look while the headlamps have a more piercing stare. Move round to the rear and you’ll pick out the broad tail light clusters that incorporate horizontal LED rods.
No major faults have been reported with this generation 3 Series, BMW learning their lessons from the old car’s problems with sub-par South African cars and lingering Nikasil cylinder lining grumbles.
The 320i is an engine based on the architecture of the 318i motor in the previous generation 3-Series. With improvements to the induction and VANOS systems, this engine jumps to a round 150bhp. Capable of covering the sprint to 60mph in 8.8 seconds and able to hit 137mph, the 320i can also manage to eke 38.2 miles from a gallon of unleaded.
BMW obviously listened long and hard to customer feedback when designing this generation 3 Series. With more rear legroom, more standard equipment and better safety provision while retaining its position as the driver’s choice in the compact executive sector, it hit all the requisite nails squarely on the head
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