One, Two … Three

by John Graham

So went the advertisement … with the ‘Three’ being a sprinter leaping from the line, just as the newly announced BMW 3-Series was released onto the market.

The Bavarian carmaker doesn’t name its models as other makers do for their teenage drivers as Suburban, Tahoe, Denali, Sierra, Escalade, Avalanche, Trailblazer, Envoy, Rendezvous, Colorado or Canyon. They are known instead plainly by a three number title, the first representing the model size (from 1 to 8) and the next two numbers being the size of its engine. A 325 is a model 3 with a 2.5-liter engine while a 330 is the same model with a 3.0-liter engine.

The 3 series is the core of the BMW line-up. It is updated about every three or fours years, generally then incorporating all the latest improvement in car design, comfort, and performance that have emerged from the company’s research and Formula I racing program.

The car has a great history. The original 328 was built before World War II as a racing machine and it won just about all there was to be won from German hill climbs to the Mille Miglia 1000-mile race in Italy. It survived the war only because of its ardent supporters. One car was buried on an island in the middle of a lake in Bavaria to protect it. A few models of that same 1938 car exist today and it still, to my mind, has the best lines of any car in history.

For a long time the BMW 3-series has been the target for the rest of the industry with Audi making most headway in emulating it's road handling and performance. Mercedes-Benz and Japanese emulators have a long way to go. Unfortunately for them , the new 2006 ‘Three” has left them with more catch-up space to overcome.

For example, since the latest BMW 330 got larger, a little taller and wider, it would have also got heavier if the latest developments had not allowed the engine block to be made from magnesium, a material lighter than aluminum. It is the first engine to be made from magnesium and involved a great deal of research into the interfacing of different materials. Hollow crankshafts also saved weight. As a result the car is a few pounds heavier but still balanced 50:50 between front and back to give the best road handling of any car on the market.

I am a long time 3-series leaser with experience in the 318, 325, 328, 330 and now the new 2006 330i.

I couldn’t resist it.

The car, driven at your whim either in automatic, sports automatic, or manual gearing, leaps from the spot whether the ‘spot’ be at rest, dawdling at 60 mph in traffic or running at a hundred on the freeway. The 255 horsepower with 220 feet of torque gives a electronically limited speed of 155 mph and a whole new world of fun. It doesn’t have the 400 horse power of some specialist cars but neither does it have to be driven only in a straight line.

The new design is like any new design … not quite the old one to which you had become accustomed. Even after a few months I still like the older design better … it seemed to have more front muscle and I did like dark green. However after four dark green cars I opted for Titanium so I have both color and face to become accustomed to. I am making headway because I do look for, and revel in, the car as I cross the Supermarket parking lot.

I could list all the interesting features that it has: a host of three letter options that prevent you from doing something stupid in turning, on ice, at speed, and more, but those are now part of a car and not something to talk about.

Instead, the run-flat tries with no spare, which allow you to run 150 miles at 50 mph, are new and provide more luggage space. The headlights, which look around the corner before you do are new. The outside mirrors, which fold at the touch of a button, are new. The constant connection with BMW emergency services is new (you can speak to the lady at anytime without a phone). The integrated iPod and MP3 connection is new. The 12% less fuel consumption is welcomingly new … I like driving at 35 miles per gallon on the highway and 22 in town.

The best thing about this car is its influence on my mind.

I watch as other cars have difficulty in staying in lane on a twisty road … they lurch over the lines and stagger back to straight when the curve is over. I watch when a young punk accelerates his wing-adorned Honda from the line, knowing that he’s in fantasy-land and not going anywhere. As a consequence my driving has become almost leisurely … no hurry, just a tweak of acceleration when I want to be in that open space, and a careful look at the speed on the open road. It can easily get a way from you and the police don’t like a car that’s exceeding 120 mph in town.

OK … I was only traveling 116 mph and it was a surprise. There were no police around.

For more information and some wonderful glossy brochures go to the company website: http://www.bmwusa.com but better still visit a dealer and take a test drive even if you don’t intend to buy in the next decade. Take care the test drive just might change our mind.