bMW 3 Series (2005-2011)

Transcription

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Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Mar 2005 Class: Large cars
New price: £22,690 - £55,270 Used price: From £3,475
On sale:
Performance:
Ride comfort:
handling:
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
Boot & Storage:
Safety:
★★★★
★★★★★
Reliability:
★★★
Total score:
77%
Excellent handling and good refinement. The diesels are both efficient and fast. Low depreciation reduces running costs.
Standard equipment levels are sparse and the ride can be stiff. Insurance is expensive. The iDrive control system can be confusing. Recommended models
in the range
Which? Car Top Choice Model
320d [184] SE 4dr
New price: £28,020
Used price: £8,695
Fastest Model
M3 4dr DCT
New price: £55,270
Used price: £21,000
4.7 secs
0-62mph:
Most Efficient Model
320d EfficientDynamics 4dr
New price: £27,935
Used price: £8,695
Combined fuel economy:
68.9 mpg
Cheapest Model to buy new
318i ES 4dr
New price:
Overview
It may not be as exclusive as it once was, but the 3 Series is still one of the best family-sized
cars to drive. It’s also surprisingly spacious and frugal. An update to the range in autumn 2008
brought a highly-impressive new 3.0-litre diesel engine and facelifted styling, plus fuel-saving
stop-start technology for the four-cylinder engines. An all-new 3 Series arrived in 2012.
The BMW 3 Series has always been considered the premium saloon with the most
enjoyable driving experience, thanks to a series of generation with rear-wheel drive and
beautifully composed chassis setups. And that still appears to be the case for the fifth
generation of the 3 Series, but it adds a few new feathers to its cap. Standard equipment is upped, pushing it ahead of its closest rivals from rivalling German
brands. But more importantly, BMW introudced a range of ultra efficient engines through the
E90 3 Series’ lifespan that make it as economical as it is good to drive.
A range of Efficient Dynamics engines were introduced in 2007, designed to lower fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions. The standout performer is the 320d EfficientDynamics,
launched in 2010 - with 163bhp, performance is on a par with the standard 320d, yet CO2
emissions fuel consumption is much improved. If you’re more in favour of power over frugality,
there’s the grunty 335d diesel and 335i petrol, or the V8-powered 400+bhp M3.
The two main rivals are the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but other rivals include
the Lexus IS, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.
Read reveiws of more large cars
The 3 Series has a class-leading chassis, no question. Cornering is a joy, thanks to its taut
chassis, while the steering is precise, if a little heavy at times. Stiff suspension means you feel
some bumps, but this is a fair trade-off for the sporty drive. The range of powerful engines
starts with four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrols and diesels, with the 335i 3.0-litre straight-six at the top
of the mainstream line-up. £22,690
Cheapest Model to buy used
320i 4dr
Used price:
£3,475
Cheapest Model to Run (new)
318i SE Business Edition 4dr
New price: £24,480
Running costs: £17,337
(3 years/36,000 miles)
Owner’s View
Excellent build quality,
comfort and styling good. It
is a pleasure to drive, is very
reliable and you feel secure
and safe inside.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
On the road
How we test
The 3 Series handles superbly, and there’s a wide range of powerful engines to choose from. Performance
Performance
★★★★★
The 2.0-litre diesel engine in the best-selling 320d packs plenty of punch, with the benchmark
0-62mph sprint taking just under eight seconds. A little more pulling power from low speeds
would sometimes come in handy, but overall it’s a very good engine, and one that is also
pleasantly smooth and refined. The manual gear change is smooth and precise, and the gear
ratios are well matched to the engine’s performance characteristics. The 335d, meanwhile, is a serious performance car, and the 330d and 325d no mean
compromises; the new 3.0-litre diesel engine fitted from autumn 2008 is even more
impressive, and more refined, than its predecessor. Economy-focused options include the
316d - which can still accelerate 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds - and the specially-modified 320d
EfficientDynamics.
None of the diesels we tested could be called slow, and that includes the entry-level
316d and economy-tuned 320 EfficientDynamics. Later cars include start-stop technology
which cuts the engine while stationary in traffic to save fuel. And all the diesels tested were
impressively smooth and refined, an attribute whose appeal grows over time.
Top-performing petrol model is the 335i, which does 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, followed
closely by the 330i and still-quick 325i, though even the lowlier 320i and 318i are plenty
powerful enough to be enjoyable. If this isn’t enough there’s always the M3, which is more
racing car than family car.
The 3 Series has a slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox as standard, which is easy to
use although a little stiff until you get used to it. The long-travel clutch has quite a heavy action,
so start-stop traffic can be tiresome on your left leg. If this is a problem, go for a Steptronic
automatic version - these work very well and shift smoothly, but they do tend to use more fuel.
Model tested
Acceleration (37-62mph)
diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010)
6.9 secs
6.0 secs
5.1 secs
4.7 secs
4.4 secs
diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 4.9 secs
4.7 secs
diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006)
4.0 secs
3.4 secs
petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005)
3.5 secs
Rating
★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Ride comfort
★★★★
The BMW’s suspension is stiff, meaning that some bumps really make themselves felt, but
ride comfort is generally acceptable; the optional sports suspension lowers and firms up the
chassis further, and can be pretty uncompromising in combination with larger wheels and lowprofile tyres. We use the sophisticated electronic timing
equipment to record standing-start and
in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test
several times.
Ride comfort
Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of
thousands of miles in a myriad of different
models.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
On the road continued...
How we test
Economy and budget variants like the 316d and 320Ed benefit from relatively highprofile tyres which smooth out the ride and make cruising quieter, with very little detriment to
handling.
Model tested
diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010)
Handling
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
On-the-limit handling is explored well
away from public roads to ensure a fair
test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of
the harshest tests in the industry..
Brakes
The Which? Car braking test measures
stopping distance from 62-0mph and is
repeated ten times in quick succession to
highlight any brake fade issues.
Refinement and noise
The Which? Car experts use a decibel
meter to record interior sound levels
at common UK motorway speeds, and
combine this with subjective assessments
to arrive at an overall score.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
On the road continued...
How we test
Cabin and controls
★★★★★
Handling
Where the 3 Series impresses most is in its handling: cornering is a joy, thanks to the taut
chassis. There is very little body roll, and the car feels stable and secure on the road at all
speeds. Stability control (called DSC in BMWs) and traction control, which help to avoid loss of
control in tricky situations, are standard across the range. The steering feels direct, responsive
and predictable — if a touch heavy around town. However, the car is easy to manoeuvre in
tight spaces, thanks to the very small turning circle.
Model tested
Rating
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Brakes
The brakes respond instantly, and stopping power is impressive. They also come with brake
assist, which helps the driver apply maximum braking power in emergency stop situations.
Model tested
Braking distance (62-0mph)
36.0m
36.0m
39.0m
36.0m
35.9m
diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 37.4m
35.5m
36.5m
35.0m
39.0m
Rating
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
Refinement and noise
Cabin noise is well suppressed, even in the diesel and at high speeds. Road noise is more
prominent on models with large wheels.
Model tested
Cruising noise
67dB
66dB
65dB
66dB
67dB
68dB
66dB
65dB
66dB
65dB
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
We penalise cars with difficult controls,
and we look for things like backlit light
switches and easy-to-use heating and
ventilation adjustments.
Visibility and parking
Visibility is a major issue for motorists
today, so each car gets a 360-degree
swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s
eye view and any obscured areas.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Comfort and practicality
How we test
The 3 Series’ cabin is wide with good headroom. Most people should be able to get comfy.
The boot of the saloon is reasonably large, but lacks the adaptability of the Touring estate’s. Getting in and out
Getting in and out
★★★★
Getting in and out of the front of the car is quite easy, although it’s a little harder if you have
the optional sports seats with their bolstered sides. The standard remote central locking also
operates the electric windows, if you’ve forgotten to close them. Another nice touch is that,
after leaving the car at night, the headlights stay on for a short time to help you find your front
door.
Model tested
Seat space and comfort
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
There is plenty of space in the front, even for very tall drivers. The cabin is also wide. Space
in the back isn’t as good, but it’s still reasonable — a six-footer can sit comfortably behind
another six-footer in the front. The rear seat bench is contoured for two passengers, although
a third person can sit, rather cramped, in the middle (a three-point centre seat belt is provided).
In terms of seat comfort, the optional front sport seats are very comfortable (once you’re in),
offering good lumbar adjustment and side support. In the back, under-thigh support is lacking.
Model tested
Rating
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
We take measurements all around the
driver and passenger’s door apertures
and note the height of the seat, door sills
and step down onto the car floor. The
best cars don’t require too much bending
or stretching to get in and out.
Seat space and comfort
We assess seat comfort subjectively,
using our road testers’ expert knowledge
and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to
see how well the car caters for people of
all shapes and sizes.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Comfort and practicality continued...
How we test
Boot and storage
Boot and storage
★★★★
The saloon’s 455-litre boot space is almost identical to that of the Mercedes C-Class. There’s
also extra storage space under the boot floor. The bootlid automatically locks itself when you
drive off - a nice touch.
The saloon’s boot opening is quite narrow, so loading and unloading is not as easy as it
could be, and folding rear seats are only fitted in the Touring estate. Other downsides are few
storage spaces around the cabin, especially in the back. Model tested
Boot space (seats up/down)
405 litres / 755 litres
diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 405 litres / 755 litres
Heating and ventilation
Rating
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★★
Air conditioning is standard, with some versions getting climate control. The heater is
reasonably powerful, although not the best we’ve tested.
Model tested
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
Carmakers give official stats for boot
space, but our tests are more realistic. We
load the boot up with measuring blocks
only as far as the rear window line, so
that luggage is well secured and won’t
obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test
with the rear seats up, and folded down
(where possible).
Heating and ventilation
Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm
each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in
our climate chamber. Starting with a cold
engine, we measure how long it takes to
warm up the front and rear of the cabin.
Diesel cars usually take longer. We also
check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Running costs and depreciation
How we test
The 3 Series is not cheap to buy as a used car, but it does hold its value fairly well. Most of
its engine range is economical. Parts, servicing and insurance can be dear, but the variableinterval servicing rewards those who drive with a gentle touch.
Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption
The 3 Series uses less fuel, model-for-model, than its competitors; most versions are
economical, considering their power outputs. The popular 320d is claimed to return 58.9mpg,
although we achieved a slightly disappointing 45.6mpg in our tests. The economy-optimised
320d EfficientDynamics version is a genuine fuel miser: its official figure is 68.9mpg, and we
achieved 64.2mpg in it, better than many superminis and certainly better than the Toyota Prius
hybrid. The 320i petrol is claimed to get a still-excellent 46.3mpg; four-cylinder models have stopstart technology to cut the engine automatically when idling.
Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)
22.8 mpg - 47.9 mpg
Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)
40.9 mpg - 68.9 mpg
We test fuel economy under strict lab
conditions – using realistic test cycles – to
reveal the facts behind the figures. Our
figures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold
engine, and on the motorway.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Running costs and depreciation continued...
How we test
Emissions
Model tested
Urban (claimed/measured)
52.3 mpg/49.6 mpg
49.6 mpg/44.8 mpg
36.2 mpg/34.9 mpg
47.1 mpg/40.9 mpg
47.9 mpg/49.6 mpg
56.5 mpg/64.2 mpg
37.2 mpg/39.8 mpg
28.2 mpg/27.4 mpg
49.6 mpg/36.7 mpg
22.2 mpg/21.7 mpg
Model tested
Extra urban (claimed/measured)
70.6 mpg/70.6 mpg
68.9 mpg/65.7 mpg
62.8 mpg/61.4 mpg
68.9 mpg/64.2 mpg
70.6 mpg/67.3 mpg
78.5 mpg/76.3 mpg
61.4 mpg/60.1 mpg
47.9 mpg/48.7 mpg
58.9 mpg/56.5 mpg
44.1 mpg/44.1 mpg
Model tested
Motorway (measured)
50.4 mpg
47.1 mpg
45.6 mpg
47.9 mpg
50.4 mpg
51.4 mpg
43.5 mpg
39.2 mpg
43.5 mpg
33.2 mpg
Model tested
Combined (claimed/measured)
62.8 mpg/57.6 mpg
60.1 mpg/53.3 mpg
49.6 mpg/45.6 mpg
58.9 mpg/51.4 mpg
60.1 mpg/56.5 mpg
68.9 mpg/64.2 mpg
49.6 mpg/48.7 mpg
38.2 mpg/38.2 mpg
49.6 mpg/45.6 mpg
32.5 mpg/31.4 mpg
While testing fuel economy, we also
collect exhaust gases to enable us to
measure the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) emitted. We also check whether
particulate filters are effective at removing
sooty emissions from diesel engines.
Safety
We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP
crash test scores (where available),
alongside our own comprehensive safety
checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results
from our accident avoidance test – after
all, it’s far better to steer around a crash
than rely on the airbags...
Security
Security scores come from the security
experts at Thatcham, who break into
hundreds of cars each year. Most modern
cars are very difficult to drive away, but
are still too easy to steal from.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Which? Car Survey results
About our survey
The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In
2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous
12 months (that’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique
feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.
Note: Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages
shown under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem
in the past 12 months.
Brand
Sample size: 3,170 people
BMW ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this brand
Brand reliability
Dealer Sales Service
Dealer Servicing & repair
Model: BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Sample size: 283 people
Overall owner satisfaction for this range
Ease of driving
Comfort
Dash layout and controls
Practicality
Value for money
Running costs
In-car technology
-
Everyone who takes part in the Which?
Car survey tells us about their car and
the dealers who sell and service it. We
analyse this feedback across all cars to
give top-level satisfaction ratings for each
brand, including the brand’s reliability
record over the last eight years. All star
ratings are out of five.
Model ownership ratings
★★★★
★★★
Ownership ratings
Driving enjoyment
83%
Brand ratings
These show how owners score this car
in 12 different areas, from performance to
heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective –
so may differ from Which? Car test scores
– but they give a good idea of what the
car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars
are scored against other cars in the same
class (e.g. for space).
82%
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★★
★
★★
★★
★★★
-
Owner’s View
Good handling, reliable and
economical. Well made,
high quality materials, fit
and finish. Quiet. Good
acceleration and braking.
Owner’s View
Power to overtake safely
and have driving fun
when circumstances
allow, wonderful handling
and ride quality, great
build quality. Practicality
allied to almost supercar
performance.
Which? Car review
BMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Large cars
Which? Car Survey results continued...
About our survey
Reliability ratings
Reliability ratings
Overall Reliability
Petrol cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Diesel cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
All cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
★★★
Up to 3 years old
4-8 years old
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
★★★
5%
£261
★★★★
3%
£227
-
We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts
need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where
the car has been on sale for some time,
and we have numerous survey responses
from owners, we also split scores by the
age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are
out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car.
Most common faults
Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months
Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12
months
Most common faults
Up to 3 years old
-
-
-
4-8 years old
-
-
-
Fuel System (P) Ignition system (P) Exhaust System (P) Lights
Washer / wipers
Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
Want to know what’s most likely to go
wrong as the car gets older? These are
the five most common faults reported by
owners, grouped by age into new, recent
and older cars. A score of 40% means
four out of 10 owners reported problems
with that part of the car over the previous
12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause
more headaches than mechanical parts in
most modern cars.

bMW 3 Series (2005-2011)

Transcription

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