New BMW 3 Series - In Depth

Press Release

Page 1 - New BMW 3 Series Saloon (Short Story)
Page 2 - Concept
Page 3 - Design
Page 4 - Drivetrain
Page 5 - Suspension
Page 6 - Body
Page 7 - Assistance Systems
Page 8 - Interior and Equipment
Page 9 - Accessories
Page 10 - ConnectedService
Page 11 - Production
Page 12 - Technical specifications

The new BMW 3 Series Saloon: Unique Dynamics, Product Substance and Efficiency. (Short Story)

German car fans and aficionados everywhere have something great to look forward to this spring: The new BMW 3 Series is making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Now entering its fifth generation, the BMW 3 Series is once again pushing up the benchmark. Acknowledged for 30 years as the best car in its class, the 3 Series comes with a wide range of innovative, hands-on progress on the engine and suspension, and in terms of motoring comfort.

World debut with four new engines.

The new BMW 3 Series is entering the market with three petrol engines and one diesel. All four of these power units offer a significant increase in output, performance, motoring refinement, and economy. And each of them is a highlight in itself.

Six-cylinder with extra-light magnesium crankcase.

Developing maximum output of 190 kW/258 bhp, the six-cylinder in the top-of-the-range model outperforms its predecessor by a significant 20 kW/27 bhp. Maximum torque of 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) comes consistently between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. This is the most powerful and lightest six-cylinder in its segment.

To reduce the weight of the engine to an absolute minimum, BMW is using magnesium for the first time in volume production, with weight down by 30 per cent versus aluminium. Both the crankcase as well as the crankshaft bearings and the cylinder head cover are all made of this sophisticated ultra-light material.

Another new feature in the six-cylinder is VALVETRONIC masterminding the opening times and lift of the intake valves infinitely as a function of the gas pedal position. The result is even more efficient use of the fuel injected into the engine, with engine response being even more spontaneous than before. This technology comes hand-in-hand with double-VANOS variable camshaft adjustment for the intake and outlet valves. The new BMW 330i accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and its top speed is limited to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Fuel consumption in the composite EU cycle is 8.7 litres/100 km equal to 32.5 mpg Imp.

The BMW 325i is also making its debut in spring 2005: Maximum output is 160 kW/218 bhp at 6,500 rpm, maximum torque 250 Nm/184 lb-ft between 2,750 and 4,250 rpm. Engine displacement, as the model designation indicates, is 2.5 litres.

BMW 320i with high-performance four-cylinder power unit.

The new BMW 320i is the most powerful four-cylinder in the range. Based on the two-litre straight-four so far featured in the BMW 318i, this power unit is also equipped with VALVETRONIC and dual-VANOS variable camshaft adjustment, developing maximum output of 110 kW/150 bhp at 6,200 rpm and maximum torque of 200 Nm/147 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm. This accelerates the BMW 320i from 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and gives the car a top speed of 220 km/h or 136 mph. Fuel consumption in the composite EU cycle is 7.4 litres/100 km or 38.2 mpg Imp. This increase in performance over the previous engine already acknowledged as very dynamic is attributable to detailed optimisation of the intake and exhaust ducts.

The range of petrol engines in the BMW 3 Series will naturally be enlarged step-by-step, a "basic" four-cylinder supplementing the line-up in autumn 2005.

The 320d continuing the successful story of the Sports Diesel.

In the BMW 320d diesel turns into pure dynamics. Featuring BMW's second-generation common-rail technology as well as an exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, this outstanding four-cylinder develops supreme output of 120 kW/163 bhp and equally supreme torque of 340 Nm/251 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm. In terms of both drive comfort and dynamic performance, the 320d is definitely "best in segment".

The car's acceleration obviously reflects this superior power, with acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. Top speed is 225 km/h or 140 mph, and fuel consumption in the composite EU cycle a mere 5.7 litres/100 km or 49.6 mpg Imp. And it goes without saying that the BMW 320d complies in full with the EU-4 emission standard.

Six-speed gearboxes on all models.

All models come as standard with manual six-speed transmission or, as an option, with six-speed automatic. Benefitting from the additional gear, the closer gear ratios, as well as the larger increment between the smallest and largest gear, the driver is able to shift gears at exactly the right point for a smooth, ongoing surge of engine power. This is a particular advantage when setting off, with first gear being laid out for more muscle, traction and pulling force. In all, the new BMW 3 Series is more dynamic, accelerates more quickly, and offers an even higher top speed. And all this is on less fuel than before.

Starting the engine at the touch of a button.

A new feature in the midrange segment is that the driver, benefitting from the comfort start function, just has to briefly press the starter button in order to fire the engine. Everything else is automatic, all processes continuing by themselves until the engine is running smoothly.

Top technology for even greater driving dynamics.

Taking up a great BMW tradition, the new BMW 3 Series naturally comes with all the characteristic features so typical of the brand - that is the engine fitted lengthwise, power going to the rear wheels, and perfect axle load distribution of 50:50. Clearly, all this makes a significant contribution to the superior agility of the new BMW 3 Series.

The double-joint front axle newly developed for the 3 Series and made completely of aluminium ensures an optimum balance of driving dynamics and motoring comfort. Two of its strongest points are superior tracking stability and particularly low roll noise. And despite its low weight, the aluminium front axle is very stiff and stable.

The five-arm lightweight-steel rear axle is the optimum guarantee for supreme agility and sports handling, ensuring precise wheel guidance and a very high standard of roll comfort.

Active Steering: unique in this segment.

For the first time in the midrange segment, the customer has the choice of BMW Active Steering in the six-cylinder models of the new BMW 3 Series as an option. The big advantage of this modern concept is a more direct steering transmission ratio at low speeds and a more indirect ratio at high speeds, thus providing the ideal solution to the old conflict of interests with a conventional steering between agility, stability, and motoring comfort. In the new BMW 3 Series this superiority is further enhanced by a significant everyday benefit: Applying the brakes on surfaces varying in their frictional coefficient, such as roads with patches of ice, snow and asphalt, Active Steering, intervening actively in the car's steering mechanism, stabilises the vehicle more quickly and precisely than a normal driver in such a situation.

Latest-generation DSC.

DSC Dynamic Stability Control featured here in its latest generation also ensures extra safety on the road. In addition, DSC on the six-cylinder models comes with further useful functions such as dry-braking the brake discs on wet roads or brake standby by pre-setting the brake linings for a quick, smooth and firm response. And now the system also prevents the car from rolling back when setting off on an uphill gradient and avoids that usual "dive" effect when braking shortly before the car comes to a standstill. As a result, BMW's Sports Saloon now offers even greater leadership in driving dynamics.

ACC Active Cruise Control: the sheer pleasure of being driven.

ACC Active Cruise Control is far more than just a conventional cruise control system, since it is able to consistently monitor traffic conditions and respond accordingly: Featuring a radar distance sensor, ACC monitors the distance to the vehicle ahead and adjusts the car's speed as well as its distance in specific, pre-selected levels. This makes ACC simply ideal in traffic flowing along at a consistent speed with moderate vehicle density, ACC automatically accelerating the car to the driver's desired speed regardless of external factors and without requiring the driver to intervene. This speed is then consistently maintained and, when necessary, reduced accordingly.

To benefit from this superior comfort, all the driver has to do is set the speed he would like to have by pressing the appropriate control button. This saves and maintains the speed desired until the driver intervenes by giving gas or applying the brakes.

Distinctive design profiling the 3 Series as a dynamic and elegant saloon.

In its design language, the 3 Series makes a powerful statement as a unique, self-confident, dynamic and elegant sports saloon. The new car comes right in the middle of BMW's modern design spectrum, matching the design language of the BMW Z4 or the BMW 1 Series, on the one hand, with the elegance of the 5 and 7 Series, on the other. Characteristic features are the short overhangs, the greenhouse moved far to the back, as well as the long engine compartment lid. Significantly larger both outside and inside, the interior is bright, spacious and generous, reflecting the lifestyle of its target group. In facts and figures, the overall length of the new 3 Series is 4,520 millimetres or 180.0´´ (+ 49 mm/1.9´´ over the former model), width is 1,817 millimetres or 71.5´´ (+ 78 mm/3.1´´) and height 1,421 millimetres/55.9´´ (+ 6 mm/0.2´´). Wheel base measures 2,760 millimetres/108.7´´ (+ 35 mm/1.4´´).

Shaping up the body: lighter, stiffer, safer.

Even stiffer but at the same time lighter than before, the body of the new model makes a significant contribution to the perfect concept harmony of the BMW 3 Series. In this case, "intelligent" lightweight construction means the specific use of enhanced steel and steel-forming technologies. The support bar concept for the car's load-bearing structure increases body stiffness by 25 per cent overall, without increasing the weight of the new model over that of its predecessor.

In collisions from the side: the safest 3 Series the world has ever seen.

Through its design and configuration, the new BMW 3 Series is built for best results in the EuroNCAP crash test. And it is one of the first cars fully prepared for the extremely strict side-impact requirements in the USA as well as the US high-speed rear-end crash test.

Apart from the optimised belt systems, the occupant safety system comes as standard with no less than six airbags: the driver, front passenger, hip, thorax, and curtain head airbags.

Proven technology for extra safety.

Apart from dual halogen headlights featured as standard, the customer also has the choice of bi-xenon headlights with or without the adaptive headlight function with the lights able to "look round" a bend: Boasting this adaptive lights concept, the bi-xenon headlights ensure optimum illumination of the road ahead by consistently and dynamically adjusting the headlight beam to the course of the road and current driving conditions, offering the driver a significant improvement in visibility. This is a particular benefit in bends, with the headlights dynamically following the road and, quite literally, "showing the driver the way", as if by magic.

Also featured as standard, the two-stage Brake Force Display enlarges the brake light area whenever the driver applies the brakes hard or when the ABS anti-lock brake function cuts in. Motorists following from behind will intuitively perceive this as an emergency braking manoeuvre, applying the brakes hard themselves and minimising their stopping distance in the process.

As a further highlight, the new BMW 3 Series comes as standard with runflat tyres enabling the driver to go on after a puncture for up to 250 kilometres or 155 miles at a speed of up to 80 km/h or 50 mph.

Clever solutions in the interior: premium-class space and comfort.

The interior is both modern and harmonious all in one, the generous ambience creating a feeling of controlled dynamics and lightness. So the driver and his - or her - passengers clearly feel the two characters combined so harmoniously by the BMW 3 Series: that of a comfortable midrange saloon and that of a sports driving machine.

Harmonious integration of functions for the driver and passengers.

Reflecting that typical BMW standard, the cockpit is clearly structured and oriented to the driver. The driver zone presents all data and information required for driving purposes clearly and without the slightest risk of confusion. The central area, in turn, serves as the comfort zone within perfect reach for both the driver and front passenger.

Good seats mean good motoring.

The BMW 3 Series offers partifcularly the driver an absolutely excellent seating position with equally excellent side support. Available as an option, the sports seats come complete with backrest width adjustment like in the BMW M3, the backrests thus adjusting in width to the occupant's body, the standard of motoring comfort required, and the driver's style of motoring.

With the BMW 3 Series being a particularly versatile car, the storage and luggage compartment concept must be equally versatile and demanding. Even in standard trim, therefore, the 3 Series comes with practical storage boxes and compartments within easy reach of the driver and front passenger. An additional storage package offers the passengers at the rear all the space they need, and the luggage compartment has been enlarged in size to 460 litres or 16.1 cubic feet. A retracting drawer beneath the parcel shelf featured for the first time in a BMW can be easily removed within a matter of seconds, should the driver and his passengers ever require the full space available within the boot.

Optimum heating and climate comfort.

The new BMW 3 Series has the fastest air conditioning throughout its entire segment, warming up and cooling the interior more quickly than in any other comparable car. Optimum comfort in controlling the system is offered by automatic air conditioning available as an optional extra, providing exactly the temperature desired very quickly and without the slightest draught, then maintaining this climate consistently and without any fluctuations. And last but certainly not least in this context, the new 3 Series is the first car in its class to feature both sunblinds on the rear side windows and an electrically operated sunblind on the rear window.

Easy control and high information density.

The new BMW 3 Series stands for optimum control and ergonomics. Major features such as the air conditioning and radio are within convenient and easy reach for safe and comfortable control. Complex systems with a high level of information density, in turn, are masterminded by BMW iDrive linked directly to the navigation unit and featuring an easy-to-read display placed ideally beneath a binnacle in the middle of the instrument panel.

Presenting the functions of nearly all assistance and communication systems, the Display comes with a main menu subdivided into four functions: Communication, Navigation, Entertainment, and Climate Control. Depending on the car's level of equipment, the driver is able to operate the sub-functions within each of these areas on different levels, using the Controller to select the individual function areas and navigate within the menus. And apart from the Controller, the driver also has the choice of voice entry with an enhanced communication dialogue as well as additional control functions all at his disposal.

Multifunction steering wheel with extra buttons for individual options.

The multifunction steering wheel is a separate assistance system with its own independent functions: Various buttons arranged ergonomically on the steering wheel allow the driver to control and activate major functions as required. And in conjunction with iDrive he is also able to freely program two extra buttons as a special feature never seen before in the midrange segment.

Opening the door and starting the engine without an ignition key.

With iDrive putting an end to the multitude of buttons and switches in the cockpit so typical of a conventional car, Comfort Access available as an option takes the place of a conventional ignition key: The straight-edged key referred to in this case as the 'ID sensor' allows the customer to access the car and start the engine without even having to hold the key in his hand. In conjunction with the Key Memory functions it serves furthermore to adjust the seat position, the mirrors, automatic air conditioning and even the radio station chosen in advance according to pre-programmed driver wishes, to name just some of its functions.

Infotainment systems carried over from the luxury performance class.

The information and entertainment equipment featured by the new BMW 3Series comes straight from BMW's luxury performance range. As an example, the customer has the choice as an option of both the Business or Professional navigation systems, both based on DVD data. The optional Professional LOGIC7 HiFi system, in turn, offers audio quality with all surround sound features.

In conjunction with the telephone also available as an option, the driver is able to use all BMW Assist services in the interest of extra comfort and safety: the emergency call function, BMW breakdown assistance, BMW Info, traffic information, as well as mobility-related enquiry services.

Concept: Perfect Harmony of the Drivetrain, Suspension and Body.

• Concept harmony of the highest standard.
• Tangible progress on the drivetrain and chassis, plus enhanced motoring comfort.
• The best-in-class moves up the benchmark once again.

Going from good to better, from better to best. This is certainly the right way to describe the new BMW 3 Series. But even this description is inadequate, since the fifth(!) generation of the 3 Series is now moving up the benchmark once again over its predecessor already acknowledged as the leader. Be it as it may, the BMW 3 Series is and remains the best car in its class – which has been the case now for no less than 30 years!

Throughout these three decades, the 3 Series has been far more to the BMW brand than “just� a highly successful car: In technological terms the 3 Series has remained an ongoing success thanks to its many innovations proving their qualities for the first time in large-scale series production.

In terms of market strategy, it has been an equally significant success, representing the “small� BMW premium series until the introduction of the 1 Series, in many cases being the first BMW bought by customers and aficionados of the brand the world over. And in economic terms, finally, the 3 Series has been an outstanding success with production and sales of more than three million units so far, making this the absolute best seller in the BMW world: Roughly every other BMW is a 3 Series!

Can the 3 Series become even more perfect?

A great success in technological terms, in terms of market strategy, and economically – these attributes clearly show the challenge BMW’s engineers, designers and other specialists faced in developing the new car. The question was how can such a mature, such a truly outstanding car be enhanced to an even higher standard?

The new 3 Series shows that BMW’s designers and engineers have mastered this challenge to perfection. And they have done so not just through a wide range of technical details enhanced to an even higher level than before. No – what makes BMW’s latest model is so unique and impressive is the immense progress in engine technology, on the chassis and suspension, and in terms of motoring comfort, with all kinds of innovative features benefitting both the driver and the passengers alike. And it is indeed in these three areas of engine technology, suspension management, and motoring comfort that BMW has been the leader in innovation for years.

Now more than three years of thorough development by BMW’s top-notch project team have once again gone into this best-in-class winner. With the result that the 3 Series once again sets a significantly higher benchmark in its class, offering both the driver and his passengers even more driving pleasure than any other 3 Series in the past.

Concept harmony never seen before.

No other car offers the same all-round concept harmony as the BMW 3 Series. BMW defines this kind of harmony as the perfect symbiosis of a powerful drivetrain, a dynamic chassis and suspension, a stiff but spacious body, as well as refined motoring comfort for the driver and passengers alike.

Depending on the model series, BMW’s engineers and development specialists re-align their focus among three characteristics fundamentally of equal value: Uncompromisingly agile like the Z4, supremely comfortable like the 7 Series, or, in the case of the sporting and compact 3 Series saloon, powerful and dynamic in every respect.

A competent car for all purposes.

This successful concept is based on the clear knowledge that the driver of a BMW 3 Series, with his – or her – sporting and dynamic lifestyle, wishes to enjoy the best of life not only in terms of sports motoring, but also for all everyday purposes – driving to work, going shopping, travelling on holiday with the family. In all these cases the driver of a BMW 3 Series wishes to benefit from the perfect car. And now the new 3 Series fulfils these substantial demands even contradictory themselves to a certain extent by offering a wide range of qualities never seen before in this class: Even more sporting and dynamic than its predecessor, the new 3 Series guarantees greater driving pleasure, more safety, and extra comfort.

More than any other premium brand, BMW offers the very best beneath the engine lid at the front: Powerful and refined engines in combination with a “crisp� sports gearbox have become the outstanding feature of the brand. And this applies most of all to the 3 Series: No other BMW model series offers such a wide range of engines combining superior power and performance with muscular refinement of the highest standard.

Making its world debut with four new engines.

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is making its world debut with three new petrol engines and a new diesel, each of which represents a significant innovation in technology in its own right: The new BMW 320i features the world’s only four-cylinder power unit with VALVETRONIC built in large numbers, an engine combining infinite valve control with precise adjustment geared to the position of the gas pedal. In both the 330i and 325i, the straight-six power unit comes for the first time with a magnesium crankcase as well as VALVETRONIC technology. The 320d, finally, features a second-generation common-rail intake system, other highlights of this sports diesel being multiple fuel injection as well as an exhaust turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and electrical adjustment.

All four engines offer significantly more power, an even higher standard of motoring refinement, and superior economy raised to an even higher level than before, thus once again underlining the technological leadership of BMW’s engineers particularly in engine construction.

All new 3 Series with six-speed transmission.

Even the best and most powerful engine requires the right kind of transmission to become a genuine athlete. And by tradition, BMW has always been the leader in transmission technology. Accordingly, the new 3 Series comes with six-speed transmission on all models – a manual gearbox featured as standard, six-speed automatic with Steptronic coming as an option. The fortes of all these transmission units are supreme comfort in control and operation, technical precision of the highest standard, low noise, and superior efficiency in the use of energy.

Top-class technology for an even better chassis and suspension.

With the former 3 Series already being acknowledged as the most dynamic car in its class, the new model now outperforms its predecessor once again. For BMW’s engineers have succeeded in giving the chassis and suspension new features and progressive benefits both the driver and his passengers will feel right away. Featuring the new five-arm rear axle as well as a double-arm front axle and optional Active Steering, the new 3 Series comes with outstanding innovations taken over from BMW’s top models and specially optimised for this new car. As a result, the new 3 Series literally “runs on rails� even under the toughest conditions – none of the 3 Series’ competitors offers similarly perfect driving behaviour. So that the new BMW 3 Series not only maintains its top position, but rather offers even greater leadership above all in the area of chassis technology.

This is also attributable to the latest generation of BMW’s DSC Dynamic Stability Control which, featuring functions and qualities raised to an even higher level on the six-cylinder models, helps the driver come even closer to the absolute limits of physical control. And while the customer will not consciously experience some of these functions, the fact remains that they enhance safety to an unprecedented standard especially when driving to the extreme. The dry-braking function, for example, keeps the brake discs dry at all times for the shortest possible stopping distance.

Warning: This 3 Series causes addiction!

The bottom line behind the many improvements to the chassis is a significant increase in agility the driver and his passengers have never felt before. The standard of driving pleasure is unbelievable. You almost “fear� that you will be addicted to this 3 Series!

Body progress: lighter, stiffer, safer.

The same kind of progress also comes beneath the car’s sheet metal: Even stiffer but specifically lighter than before, the bodyshell makes a significant contribution to the perfect concept harmony of the new BMW 3 Series. In this case, “intelligent� lightweight construction means not only replacing steel by aluminium, but also using high-grade steel and steel-forming technologies exactly where and in the manner required. Innovative solutions of this kind thus set off the increase in weight one would actually expect as a result of the greater demands made of the car and its larger range of equipment.

Bar and support concept reinforcing the body.

While in many areas further progress is only possible by way of detailed improvement looking at the most minute items, BMW’s engineers, focusing on the stiffness and strength of the bodyshell, have directed their attention to age-old traditions while at the same time looking beyond the confines of automobile production alone: Taking up the century-old concept of truss and girder structures, they have introduced a concept for the car’s load-bearing construction incorporating interconnected bars and supports at all points subject to particularly high loads. At the same time they have supplemented the conventional reinforcement of materials by using newly developed high-grade steel previously not available.

As a result, body stiffness is up by 25 per cent over the former model, benefitting also the car’s driving dynamics thanks to the significant reduction of body vibration. And a stiffer body also means a higher standard of passive safety.

Also in collisions from the side: the safest 3 Series the world has ever seen.

The new BMW 3 Series was designed from the start to achieve optimum results in the EuroNCAP crash test. And it is one of the first saloons in the world to fulfill the latest, extremely demanding side crash standards in the USA, with a mass of 1.3 tonnes hitting the front door of the car – that is the most sensitive point – at a speed of 50 km/h. This crash simulates an impact with an offroader, that is a sports utility vehicle with its higher ground clearance, hitting the car above the side sills with their protective effect.

Featuring impact-absorbing multi-phase and high-grade steel, the new 3 Series meets even this extreme requirement without the slightest problem. And the same applies to the new high-speed rear end test required in the USA, the car at rest being hit from behind by another vehicle travelling at 80 km/h and with only 70 per cent overlap.

Larger in size for greater driving stability, enhanced passive safety, and superior comfort.

The new BMW 3 Series has grown both outside and inside, and in particular in its wheelbase, benefitting the rear-seat passengers most of all now enjoying almost 50 per cent more kneeroom. The increase in exterior width also means an overproportional increase in interior space, the new Saloon thus enhancing its leadership over the competition in terms of passenger comfort and enjoyment.

All the space of a modern car.

The increase in length and width translates into superior “roominess� in every respect, meaning not just larger dimensions inside, but also an entirely new experience in space. The interior is light, bright and generous, reflecting the lifestyle and spirit of its young, urban target group.

This increase in size is also the response to a simple but essential trend: With the average height of people these days growing by about one millimetre each year, the cars we drive obviously have to grow accordingly – which means about 7 millimetres with each new generation of cars. So the new 3 Series also meets this requirement in every respect.

Interior harmoniously integrating all functions for the driver and passengers.

The instrument panel has also been re-interpreted. While the cockpit of the former 3 Series was regarded as very driver-oriented, the new interior slightly dilutes this one-directional focus. Now, therefore, functions not restricted exclusively to the driver also address the front passenger more clearly and distinctly, allowing him or her to comfortably operate the radio, climate control, navigation, iDrive, and telematics functions. Naturally, however, the cockpit fully retains that clear structure so typical of BMW and remains oriented towards the driver: Within the driver zone you find all the information you need presented with optimum clarity, allowing you to concentrate on the essential also in the interest of traffic safety. The middle section on the dashboard, by contrast, is defined as the “comfort zone� within easy reach from both the driver’s and front passenger’s seat and subdivided into a control level and the information level higher up.

Comfort options like in the luxury performance class.

Well-conceived design and engineering of the interior allows the new 3 Series to offer its occupants a large number of new, comfort-oriented functions. And at the same time these functions are even easier to control with maximum ergonomic benefits. So the new Saloon offers such a wide range of sensible and helpful features for smooth everyday motoring that it is able to compare in every respect with the luxury performance class. Again clear proof that the old borders between the individual classes and market segments are starting to disappear.

Distinctive design making the 3 Series a dynamic and elegant saloon.

Inside and outside, the exclusive design of the new BMW 3 Series transforms the very substance of the product in its overall complexity into a unique, multi-sensual experience: Through its design language, the 3 Series is different, independent, and full of self-confidence. Clearly reflecting BMW’s modern design spectrum, the new 3 Series is a dynamic and elegant saloon in every respect.

Agile, dynamic and light, the new 3 Series offers perfect harmony of all the values so typical of the BMW brand: powerful fascination, unique identity, strong independence. And all this comes at a level higher than ever before in the 80-year history of the Company.

Design: Dynamic before even Moving.

• Strong expression of concept harmony.
• Unique character with a clear family resemblance.
• Thrilling to behold.

Agility, dynamics, comfort – these are the features borne out by the “package� making this a genuine BMW. A car with that typical design as the fundamental element creating the unique thrill exuded by all cars bearing the white-and-blue logo the world over.

The fifth generation of the 3 Series was a particular challenge to BMW’s designers. Their first task was to establish a perfect balance of sportiness, dynamism, and elegance. At the same time they had the second job to provide a clear signal pointing into the future and harmonising perfectly with the unique look of BMW’s new family. And in its final design, the new 3 Series stands out clearly and impressively as an authentic product personality pointing into the future.

More sporting than the 5 Series – more elegant than the Z4 and 1 Series.

Joining the range as the last new model, the new 3 Series closes the gap in the BMW brand’s design spectrum ranging from the Z4 at one end all the way to the 7 Series at the other end. With its discreet but clear interplay of convex and concave surfaces as well as the powerful, flowing lines of light and shade, the 3 Series comes close to the expressive design language of the Z4 and the 1 Series. But at the same time it stands out clearly from those two models through its greater length, longer engine compartment lid, longer wheelbase, and many other details. And through its more compact proportions, it is more agile and dynamic at first sight than the 5 and 7 Series upmarket and luxury saloons. Through its strategic position alone within BMW’s model portfolio, the 3 Series makes a clear commitment to its eye-opening design: It is more sporting and dynamic than the 5 Series and more elegant and sophisticated than the Z4 and 1 Series.

Over the years and decades, the design of the 3 Series has developed consistently, sometimes in small, sometimes in big, steps. Now, looking at the overall history of the 3 Series, the new model marks a particularly progressive design leap into the future. While only growing moderately beyond the dimensions of its predecessor, the new 3 Series is conspicuously different in its surface design and configuration. In the eyes of the observer, therefore, this is quite clearly a unique new car standing out from the former model in every respect.

Perfect harmony of effect and reality.

The BMW 3 Series has always had a unique agile, dynamic and light appearance, a look the car’s driver and occupants will certainly experience on the road. So it is appropriate to say that the 3 Series offers perfect concept harmony in its effect and reality. This is borne out in particular in the new 3 Series Saloon through the car’s classic three-box design, its coupé character, as well as the authentic visualisation of BMW’s typical drive concept with the engine fitted lengthwise at the front and transmitting its power to the rear wheels.

The three-box design – engine compartment, greenhouse, rear section – so typical of a classic saloon is particularly elegant on the new 3 Series thanks to the car’s unique, flowing lines. The coupé-like impression is borne out above all by the greenhouse appearing small and light in relation to the overall body of the car, with its roof line softly tapering out at the rear. A further touch of dynamism is added once again by the typical “Hofmeister kick�, that reverse curvature at the bottom of the C-pillar so characteristic of all fixed-roof BMWs.

Perfect interaction of the powerful engine and rear-wheel drive promises superior dynamics and sporting performance. This drive concept so characteristic of BMW is visualised by the long and slender engine compartment lid, the distinctive powerdome, the greenhouse moved far to the rear, and the centre of gravity lying optically in the C-pillar behind the rear axle. Further highlights are the clearly contoured rear end as well as short body overhangs.

Harmonious and well-balanced proportions despite the increase in size.

Although the new 3 Series is much longer and wider overall than its predecessor, the proportions of the car as such remain harmoniously balanced, creating that perfect blend of sportiness, dynamism and elegance which has characterised particularly this BMW model series for no less than 30 years. Another feature also to be found as before is the short front and rear overhangs even shorter and more compact, in fact, than on the former model. At the front this compact look is further accentuated by the direction indicators extending round to the side and merging precisely at one point.

From the front: a clear and self-confident pledge to the BMW family.

Seen from the front, the 3 Series clearly displays its membership in the BMW family. Combining the double kidney grille with double round headlights bordered at the top by flowing, curved lines, the new model boasts the front end so typical of a modern BMW. The direction indicators wrapped around at the side emphasize the sheer width of the car, the “concentrated� expression of the front end presenting a look of agility and alertness.

A further feature is the powerdome with its distinct and dynamic contours. Forming part of a complete mould starting right at the bottom in the bumper, the lines of the powerdome extend via the A-pillars and roof contours all the way to the rear. The powerdome also surrounds the double kidney grille re-interpreted at the top by two strikingly wide chrome trim bars giving the sporting front end a particularly elegant and unique character. The top-of-the-range 330i, finally, comes with chrome-plated slats in the double kidney grille.

From the side: sporting, sleek, dynamic.

From the side, the new 3 Series is visually dominated by a clear structure based on three equally clear and powerful character lines interacting with tense surfaces. The first character line starts at the front wheels and extends back along the side-sills. The surfaces directly above this line are convex and concave in shape, thus appearing smaller than they really are, conveying a light and dynamic look in line with the sporting side of BMW’s design spectrum. Moving further back, the surface above the first character line rises up until it merges with the surfaces just in front of and around the rear wheels.

The second character line comes with that typical “waist� so characteristic of every BMW. But here this waistline has been re-interpreted in a unique, very three-dimensional style never seen before. It consists of two tense surfaces facing one another, running powerfully and at a slightly rising angle from the muscular front wheel arches nearly all the way to the rear light clusters where the waistline slowly fades away among the surrounding surfaces. The ultimate message conveyed in this way is one of dynamism, elegance, lightness, and power.

Forming the car’s shoulder, the third character line extends from the headlights at the front nearly all the way to the rear. Positioned as a fine, tense and very precise dividing line beneath the greenhouse, it marks a striking contrast to the relatively large side surfaces, stretching the car visually and interrupting the surface beneath the C-pillar, which as a result appears somewhat smaller. A similar effect is provided by the rear light clusters extending far into the side panel.

From the rear: wide, low, and with those rear lights so typical of the 3 Series.

The rear end is also BMW all the way. With its convex and concave surfaces, it takes up the particular shape and design of the side panels smoothly and harmoniously, creating several horizontal lines to give the rear end a wider and lower look. At the top the rear section starts with a clear light bar merging one level further down into a dominant, concave shade area automatically guiding down the eye of the observer. Beneath the rear lid comes a concave surface merging around the sills into a concave, tense section. In their outer line, the rear light clusters follow the overall shape and design of the car, the individual colour sections re-interpreting the L-shaped design so typical of the 3 Series.

Setting a new standard also in its interior design.

The interior design of the new 3 Series again underlines BMW’s pledge to premium motoring: The interior is modern and harmonious throughout, creating a sense of emotion and added value you clearly feel and enjoy. The generous ambience all round develops a feeling of controlled dynamism and lightness, the occupant firmly sensing the two characters harmoniously combined within the BMW 3 Series: that of a comfortable midrange saloon and that of a dynamic driving machine. Precisely this tangible sense of sporting performance distinguishes the car from the 5 or 7 Series. Reflecting its exterior look and the actual driving experience, therefore, the 3 Series remains the sports saloon in the BMW family also through its interior design.

Continuing the exterior design language also inside the car.

Like the exterior, the interior of the new 3 Series is characterised throughout by the interplay of convex and concave surfaces clearly bearing testimony to the expressive design language of the Z4. The guiding principle of a “rotating ribbon� extends in a flowing motion along all surfaces and panels, the positive and negative “twist� of the surfaces presenting a new and fresh look from every perspective. Through their diversity alone, therefore, they create an ambience of controlled dynamics and lightness.

Driver-oriented cockpit integrating the front passenger.

The main elements of the interior are symmetric and integrated with one another in their design. As before, the powerful horizontal look of the instrument panel places the emphasis on motoring, all secondary controls and displays facing slightly towards the driver. But including the front passenger at the same time, the specific geometric arrangement of the dashboard, together with the horizontal accentuation, creates a generous feeling of space. Precisely this distinguishes the 3 Series most significantly from its predecessors with their far stricter interpretation of driver orientation and the strict separation of driver and front passenger functions. Now the instrument panel is turned towards the driver only by a small but clearly perceptible margin of 4°, while tapering out gently on the front passenger’s side. The centre console, in turn, literally “dives� beneath the dashboard, giving the latter a very light appearance as if it were hovering in the air, particularly due to the contrast of light and shade.

The gearshift lever, in turn, faces clearly towards the driver thanks to the striking “swing� of the centre console. Standing out distinctly from the horizontal form of the cockpit created by the instrument panel, the lines and surfaces of the centre console flowing in the direction of travel as well as the doors add to the flair of dynamism within the car.

To calm down the interior, the number of switches and knobs has been reduced dramatically in a process only possible with iDrive. Together with the driver orientation of the cockpit, the ergonomic design of all controls and displays creates an overall concept quite unique in this class. The clear subdivision of the driver’s zone and the comfort zone, as well as the additional subdivision of the latter into a control and information zone, enables both the driver and front passenger to control a wide range of car functions with optimum comfort and convenience.

Optionally available with a double pinnacle, a monitor and BMW iDrive.

The “High� equipment option incorporates the front-seat passengers and, indeed, all other passengers in the actual process of driving the car even more than the ‘basic’ equipment. This greater involvement is attributable primarily to the monitor beneath a pinnacle right in the middle of the instrument panel as well as the iDrive control concept featured for the first time in this configuration in the 3 Series. While the driver benefits from optimum support through the control and display functions facing his way, the iDrive Display makes general information and comfort functions accessible to the passengers, too.

Materials and colours reflecting the great diversity of the 3 Series.

The various facettes of the 3 Series ranging from sporting dynamism all the way to comfortable elegance are also to be found in the car’s versatile concept of materials and colours. Interior and exterior colours as well as seat materials developed especially for this model series clearly distinguish the new 3 Series within the BMW family. Other colours, the surface grain concept, Dakota standard leather, and the surface touch are shared by the new 3 Series Saloon and the other saloons within the BMW range.

It is the perfect balance and flair of colours, materials and designs, as well as their harmonious interplay, that creates the exclusive, sporting, and dynamic aesthetic quality so typical of a BMW. All this highlights the flowing forms of the interior and supports the feeling of space or “roominess�. The various shades and darker areas coming out particularly on cars with a brighter interior clearly emphasise the focus on the driver. Other design elements adding particular class and style in all models and with all levels of equipment are the surfaces on the dashboard, the centre console and doors with their natural grain as well as the fine grain finish of the injection-cast plastic components. The overall pattern of seams, finally, enhances the car’s design language as well as the sheer value and sophistication of the interior.

624 combinations for your individual style.

The eight equipment colours Black, Grey, Beige, Anthracite, Quartz Grey, Blue, Terra, and Lemon accentuate the interior in their own unique style, offering the customer virtually every option and freedom of choice. So depending on his or her personal taste, the customer can combine any of these interior colours with trim surfaces in titanium matt, aluminium with a fine longitudinal grain, burr walnut or poplar grain to give the interior of the 3 Series a more classic or a more modern touch. Together with four material concepts using fabric, leatherette, fabric/leather, and leather all round, as well as 12 exterior and 8 interior colours and four different trim options, the customer can choose from some 470 recommended and, in all, no less than 624 different combinations. Clearly, this is customisation and personalisation of the highest calibre.

Drivetrain: Innovative Concepts Overcoming Old Barriers.

• Six-cylinder petrol engine with magnesium crankcase and VALVETRONIC.
• Four-cylinder petrol engine with VALVETRONIC and bi-VANOS.
• Four-cylinder diesel with VNT turbocharging and intercooler.
• Six-speed transmission on all models.
• All models with more power and greater fuel economy.

The worldwide reputation and global success of the BMW brand is attributable in particular to the Company’s leadership in innovative engine technology. And throughout these years the focus has always been on BMW’s straight-six power units, the absolute climax in the BMW 3 Series. Offering lots of power, supreme refinement, and optimum smoothness – and all this with weight and engine mass kept to a minimum – the straight-six is simply perfect for this Sports Saloon.

The 3.0-litre straight-six also sets the benchmark in motoring refinement – both in its class and in engine construction in general. And not least, it has consistently won the International Engine Award for years in a row, a prize acknowledged by experts as the “Oscar� in engine construction.

A genuine revolution in engine technology: the new six-cylinder.

But is it possible at all to really improve an engine already acknowledged as perfect? The answer is clear: yes! To do this, however, you need an all- new development from the ground up, and cannot just focus on the details. So in developing the new power unit, BMW’s engineers have queried everything in existence and have found many new solutions. The result is the most innovative engine currently available worldwide.

The new 3 Series is making its world debut with precisely this masterpiece in engineering: Featured in the 330i, the 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine offers the absolute highlight. And with the highest output per litre, the best power-to-weight ratio, and the lowest level of specific fuel consumption, both the engine and the car as such lead the competition far and wide.

More power and performance – greater fuel economy and cleaner emissions.

In the world of BMW, progress in engine technology naturally means more than “just� power and torque – it also means greater efficiency in the conversion of energy as well as environmental protection. And again, the six-cylinder lives up to these demands in every respect: Developing 190 kW/258 bhp at 6,650 rpm, it outperforms its predecessor by 20 kW/27 bhp or 12 per cent. Output per litre is up from 57 to 63 kW. And maximum torque of 300 Nm/221 lb-ft comes consistently from 2,500–4,000 rpm.

The world’s lightest six-cylinder in its performance class.

Despite this increase in power and torque, engine weight is down by 10 kilos or 7 per cent to just 161 kilos or 355 lb, making this the world’s lightest six-cylinder in its class. In conjunction with the increase in engine output, the power-to-weight ratio is now an even more impressive 1.18 kW/kg. And the engine also uses its fuel more efficiently, with fuel consumption down another 12 per cent from the high standard of efficiency already offered by the former model. Complying with the European EU4 and the US ULEV II emission standards, finally, the engine is an outstanding performer also in terms of environmental care.

Magnesium crankcase: lighter than aluminium.

In the interest of minimum weight, the 3.0-litre six-cylinder uses not only aluminium, but also – for the first time in volume production – magnesium another 30 per cent lighter. This revolutionary material is used for the water-cooled crankcase, the new bedplate, and the cylinder head cover.

Made of a composite magnesium/aluminium structure, the ultra-light crankcase, given its dimensions as the largest single component in the engine, makes a substantial contribution to the reduction of weight. Ultimately, indeed, this is the decisive solution in further enhancing the qualities of the Ultimate Driving Machine, considering that it is not just power and torque, but also the weight to be moved, that gives a car its agility and dynamism.

For comparison, the new crankcase weighs just 57 per cent of a comparable grey-cast iron block. This lower weight also serves to reduce fuel consumption, the weight saved on the magnesium crankcase making a 10 per cent contribution to the overall improvement of fuel economy.

Carrying over cutting-edge technology from motorsport.

So far the “bedplate� engine structure has been used almost exclusively in motorsport, providing the supreme structural and torsional stiffness as well as the durability required for the high engine speeds in racing. Now, since the six-cylinder power unit of the 330i develops its maximum output of 190 kW at an engine speed of 6,650 rpm very high indeed on a production engine, the bedplate structure is also the best option in this case. And making the cylinder head cover out of magnesium, too, BMW has consistently continued along the path of intelligent lightweight construction.

VALVETRONIC – now also on the six-cylinder.

VALVETRONIC, BMW’s throttle-free load management system presented for the first time in 2001, already features in BMW’s four-, 8- and 12-cylinder power units. Now making its debut in the six-cylinder 330i, this award-winning BMW patent proves its qualities in all BMW brand power units.

VALVETRONIC ensures infinite control of the opening and control times of the intake valves as a function of the gas pedal position. On a conventional engine output is controlled by the throttle butterfly quite literally “throttling� the flow of intake air and ultimately losing power in the process. By contrast, VALVETRONIC technology reduces load change resistance to a minimum, thus guaranteeing particularly efficient use of the fuel supplied and a much better engine response.

Racing-level engine speeds.

Conceived and designed for a particularly sporting style of motoring, the 3.0-litre power unit excels through a higher level of engine speed and fast-revving response. Clearly, this requires the VALVETRONIC control system to be even stiffer and more resistant than before. Second-generation VALVETRONIC technology now featured for the first time in the 330i therefore enables the engine to run smoothly up to speeds in the region of 7,000 rpm, previously the domain of the thoroughbred sports engine. This gives the valves an acceleration speed quite comparable to that of cup tappet valve drive systems.

In the new six-cylinder BMW VALVETRONIC interacts with BMW dual-VANOS, variable camshaft adjustment for the intake and outlet valves also allowing infinite operation and adjustment flexibility. As a further improvement over dual-VANOS in the former model, the VANOS-adjusters are now made entirely of aluminium, just as the adjuster sprocket is also made of aluminium in order to capitalise on weight benefits.

Advantage customer: even more sporting and dynamic.

The customer benefits from second-generation VALVETRONIC through an even higher level of sporting performance expressed by the greater agility and enhanced responsiveness of the engine translating the driver’s commands on the gas pedal even more precisely and directly into engine power and acceleration. In this respect BMW VALVETRONIC comes very close to the individual throttle butterfly technology used in motorsport, significantly enhancing the qualities of the Ultimate Driving Machine so typical of the 330i and reducing fuel consumption at the same time.

The electrical water pump, a fully autonomous unit.

The electrical water pump is yet another innovation in technology. Operating fully autonomously, the water pump is controlled exclusively as a function of the engine’s actual cooling requirements, regardless of current engine speed. This provides a significant reduction of fuel consumption, BMW’s system taking up a maximum of 200 W engine output as opposed to the power uptake of a conventional water pump of up to 2 kW.

Last but certainly not least, a new three-stage resonance intake system replacing the former two-stage unit ensures even more torque at lower engine speeds. Introduction of the third resonance pipe, the so-called vibration pipe activated by means of resonance flaps, broadens the speed range covered by the self-charging effect.

Intelligent lightweight technology for more dynamic performance.

The wide range of further innovations giving the engine huge progress in its output and efficiency confirms the many detailed improvements benefitting the latest addition to the BMW family. Two good examples are the two lightweight camshafts, each serving to reduce weight by 600 grams. Valve drive by a chain and the aluminium chain tensioner, as well as single-belt drive for all ancillaries, are further customer-friendly solutions helping to save weight and doing without even the slightest maintenance. Specifically in this area, the omission of the second belt-drive level makes the entire system even more dependable and again helps to reduce weight. And since the sound of an engine is very important to the aficionado of a sporting power unit, the six-cylinder also offers everything it requires in this respect, the exhaust emission flap operated by engine management giving the engine a throaty and sporting sound both under full load and part throttle.

Offering a new level of efficient performance.

The 330i sets a very high standard in terms of both performance and efficiency: Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in 6.3 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than on the previous model. And the 330i completes the interim dash from 80–120 km/h (50–75 mph) in fifth(!) gear 0.3 seconds faster than before in just 8.5 seconds. At the same time fuel consumption is down by 12 per cent or 0.6 litres/100 km to a remarkable 8.7 litres/100 km or 32.5 mpg Imp. Top speed, finally, is cut off electronically at 250 km/h or 155 mph.

BMW 320i featuring an even more powerful four-cylinder.

BMW’s engine developers have given the same detailed attention to the two-litre petrol engine entering the market in the 320i. Being based on the two-litre straight-four previously designated the 318i, the engine and the actual model designation now correspond perfectly to one another in terms of both engine size and nomenclature. Marking the debut of the new BMW 3 Series, the four-valve power unit has been thoroughly revised and updated with an increase in both output and motoring culture, while fuel consumption and exhaust emissions have been reduced to an even lower level than before. To express this improvement in facts and figures, the new four-cylinder now offers 5 kW more power, that is 110 kW/150 bhp at 6,200 rpm. Maximum torque, in turn, is now 200 Nm/147 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm.

Power and torque of this kind accelerates the 320i to 100 km/h in just 9.2 seconds, with the car completing the interim dash from 80–120 km/h (50–75 mph) in fifth(!) gear in just 11.3 seconds. Top speed, finally, is a superior 220 km/h or 136 mph.

Best-in-class driving dynamics and impressive motoring refinement.

The actual impression you get when driving the car is even more thrilling than these outstanding facts and figures: Pulling smoothly with lots of muscle, the four-valve power unit develops consistent performance on the road, offering a standard of driving dynamics never seen before in a four-cylinder of this size. Particularly at lower engine speeds, the driver will feel the increase in torque by up to 23 Nm versus the previous model. And at the same time the engine is extremely smooth and refined at all speeds, the exhaust system offering acoustic progress for the aficionado of the sports engine: Thanks to the asymmetric dimensions of the front pipe cross-sections and the silencers carefully geared to the ignition frequency, the engine and exhaust system generates a truly sporting but sophisticated sound on the road. Listening exactly, you will even hear the first and second engine order resulting from the different reflection behaviour of the advance pipes. So that ultimately the 3 Series stands out from its competitors also through its special sound.

Exemplary fuel economy and emission management.

Compared with the former model, average fuel consumption, despite the increase in engine output, is down by approximately 2 per cent to a very low 7.4 litres/100 km or 38.2 mpg Imp in the new European driving cycle. At the same time the engine also fulfils the demanding EU4 European emission standard, making it an exceptional performer also in this respect.

The main reasons for the engine’s outstanding performance are above all the fully variable VALVETRONIC valve control as well as infinitely variable bi-VANOS camshaft management on both the intake and outlet sides. The DISA intake system comes additionally with a switching unit varying the length of the oscillating pipes as a function of engine load. In conjunction with modified engine management, this gives the 320i greater spontaneity in its response to the gas pedal, a quality previously only seen in sports engines with individual throttle butterflies.

VALVETRONIC technology used the world over.

Practical reasons alone speak clearly in favour of BMW VALVETRONIC: This technology does not necessarily require sulphur-free fuel, nor does it depend on any particular kind of catalyst. Focusing on the need for “efficient dynamics�, the Company is therefore looking not only at the progress provided by VALVETRONIC in terms of performance, engine power, and fuel consumption, but also at the possibilities of using this technology the world over as the best method to optimise engine dynamics, fuel efficiency, and emission management all in one.

The 320d continues the successful story of the BMW Sports Diesel.

BMW can rightly regard itself as the inventor of the Sports Diesel: Ever since the Company launched its first diesel engine back in 1983, the typical virtues of this self-ignition power unit – a long running life, high torque, superior fuel efficiency – have been supplemented by another substantial benefit previously provided only by the petrol engine: the joy of sheer driving pleasure.

The new 320d proves that BMW does not rest on its laurels, but rather sees the acknowledgement of existing achievements as encouragement for the future. Hence, the diesel engine in the BMW 3 Series is a true expression of pure dynamism. Featuring second-generation common-rail technology, this outstanding power unit develops equally outstanding output and torque from its four cylinders, placing the 320d right at the top in every respect: engine dynamics, drive comfort, engine output and torque are all best-in-segment.

Modified common-rail technology as the guarantee for efficient dynamics.

BMW’s new diesel pushes up the benchmark significantly in terms of both refinement and efficiency. So it is not only the extra power that counts, but also – and, indeed, in particular – the elegant, quiet and efficient way the engine develops this power. This is attributable to both the engine’s balance shafts and common-rail technology developed to an even higher standard of perfection. Inter alia, this common-rail system interacts with a new volume-controlled high-pressure pump atomising the diesel fuel more finely and precisely than before. The result is more power on less noise and, at the same time, a further improvement in fuel economy.

Developing up to 1,600 bar system pressure, second-generation common- rail technology provides the foundation for the extra power and performance, enhanced emission management and engine noise control meeting the requirements of BMW’s engineers.

So-called MI-injectors allow multiple injection, ensure a smooth, linear injection process, and keep injection volumes within very strict tolerance limits. As a result, the combustion chambers are filled even faster than before with exactly the right amount of fuel in a more highly atomised state, ensuring optimum combustion under the respective operating conditions. And injection of fuel up to four times per operating cycle (double-pilot, main, and after-injection) solves the old conflict of interests between engine output and noise control. Last but not least, double-pilot injection makes the entire combustion process smoother and more harmonious while after-injection improves the oxidation of particles and reduces emissions in the process.

Exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry.

In the interest of high engine output per litre, the exhaust gas turbocharger comes with electrically variable turbine geometry. Referred to as VNT (Variable Nozzle Turbine) technology, this concept adjusts the characteristics of the exhaust gas turbocharger perfectly to the engine’s current running conditions. The electrical adjuster modifies the turbine blades instantaneously with a very high level of accuracy and minimum delay.

Blade geometry and the intercooler have also been optimised for a further improvement of turbine and compressor efficiency. The intake system, in turn, comes with a connecting duct deactivated on demand in order to optimise engine output, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions. Variation of the combustion air swirl effect and level, finally, controls the fuel combustion process in exactly the right manner.

To suppress the second-order mass forces – that is vibrations and oscillations – typical of a four-cylinder, the engine featured electronic smoothness control as well as balance shafts. Running in the opposite direction to the crankshaft, the balance shafts housed in the oil sump and driven by the crankshaft significantly improve the engine’s high level of running smoothness with vibrations reduced to a minimum.

Sports Diesel with even more power and muscle.

Benefitting from the new four-cylinder, the driver of the BMW 320d now enjoys maximum output of 120 kW/163 bhp at 4,000 rpm, an increase by 10 kW/13 bhp. Already substantial before, maximum torque is up from 330 Nm/243 lb-ft to 340 Nm/251 lb-ft at a low 2,000 rpm, giving the car substantial boost from just above idle speed. Acceleration to 100 km/h is correspondingly impressive in just 8.4 seconds.

Thanks to its very wide and “beefy� torque curve, the diesel now also provides outstanding flexibility at all speeds, accelerating from 80–120 km/h (50–75 mph) in fifth(!) gear in just 8.5 seconds. This is almost equal to the elasticity of the top-of-the-range 330i petrol model, proving that BMW diesel engines quite rightly bear the name “Sports Diesel�. Top speed is equally impressive: Achieving a top speed of 225 km/h or 140 mph, the 320d measures up with sporting petrol-engined models also in this respect.

Setting the benchmark for the leader in engine innovation.

The engine can meet every competitor particularly when it comes to fuel economy: Offering supreme fuel economy of just 5.7 litres diesel (49.6 mpg Imp) in the New European Driving Cycle, the 2.0-litre diesel is a real miracle in austerity. Benefitting from optimised exhaust gas recirculation, the oxygen sensor positioned up front of the catalyst close up to the engine, and swirl flaps in the intake manifold, the 320d outperforms the strict EU4 emission standards, making this one of the cleanest and most economical diesel engines in the world.

Starting the engine at the touch of a button.

At normal temperatures it is virtually impossible to tell the petrol and diesel engine apart through their sound. Even at low temperatures, the diesel no longer has that typical “rattling� or “hammering� noise characteristic of a conventional diesel. And a further great advantage is that the engine starts smoothly without a noticeable delay even at 20 °C below zero.

This is because the rapid-action spark plugs supporting the start-up process in cold weather start to operate as soon as the driver opens the door and not only when he fires the engine. In addition, the system incorporates six-volt spark plugs warming up only the tip to peak temperature. And thanks to the comfort starter, finally, all the driver has to do to start the engine is briefly press the starter button, the remaining start-up process being fully automatic until the engine is running smoothly.

Six-speed transmission on all models.

Short gearshift, superior refinement and precise gear lever control with operating forces remaining smooth and consistent – these features are typical of every BMW transmission. And now shifting gears in the new 3 Series is even greater fun, all models coming as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox for the first time in the history of the 3 Series.

Thanks to the additional gear, the closer increments between gears, as well as the wider gear range between the lowest and the highest gear, the driver is able to adjust the gearshift process perfectly to engine and road speeds, each gear merging smoothly into the next. In everyday motoring this is a particularly benefit when setting off, the lowest gear providing even more muscle and pulling force than before. As a result, the new 3 Series drives even more dynamically than its predecessor, enabling the driver to capitalise even more on the power and performance of the engine. Acceleration is even quicker and top speed even higher – up by 9 km/h or 5 mph on the 320d.

Focusing on the petrol-engined models, BMW’s engineers have sought to reduce fuel consumption to an even lower level than before, lower engine speeds cutting back fuel consumption by approximately 4 per cent. Top speed comes in fifth gear, with sixth gear serving as an economy overdrive function to reduce both engine speed and noise. And finally, new technologies serve to keep the overall weight of the transmission at the same level as before, despite the addition of a sixth gear as well as extra power and torque. This again makes the 3 Series even more powerful and dynamic on the road.

Gearshift – now even more precise and smoother than before.

The transmission specialists have considered virtually all technical details to the practical benefit of the customer: The gearshift, for example, is a new development supplemented by an internal shift gate for even greater precision and smoothness in shifting gears. The new synchromesh, in turn, enhances gearshift comfort. The gear flanks themselves are straight and upright, come with a particularly large helical angle and have optimised overlap for even lower transmission noise than before to the advantage of the customer.

Another example is the main bearings crucial to the smoothness and precision of the gearshift process. To avoid any change in tolerance and play caused, for example, by differences in temperature or ongoing running conditions in the course of time, grooved ball bearings are used on both the output drive shaft and the helical ball bearing on the layshaft. Designed as clean bearings, the main bearing units come with a special cover protecting them from dirt. This keeps the lubricant inside the bearings clean and enhances operating safety and durability in the process. And since the transmissions are filled with lifetime fluid not requiring any change in gear fluid even throughout a long running life, they are maintenance-free despite their significantly longer lifecycle.

Automatic transmission with Steptronic: shifting gears either automatically or by hand.

Automatic transmission offers motoring comfort of the highest calibre: The additional sixth gear increases the gear range between the lowest and highest gear by 22 per cent and the gaps between gears are smaller than before in the interest of enhanced driving dynamics and greater fuel economy. A further forte of the automatic transmission is the very harmonious transition between gears. Top speed comes in sixth gear. And since the entire transmission is up to 10 per cent lighter, fuel consumption, depending on the overall configuration of the car, is down by up to 4 per cent.

Whenever the driver wishes to take over and shift gears himself, all he has to do is switch to Steptronic: In the Steptronic mode he merely has to briefly “flick� the selector lever to shift gears after moving the lever to the appropriate shift lane.

Saving fuel with easy-run final drive.

The easy-run final drive made of aluminium and offering a significant increase in efficiency serves in particular to reduce fuel consumption to an even lower level than before. A further technical highlight in the car, the easy-run final drive comes together with a new double-helical ball bearing concept introduced by BMW as the first manufacturer worldwide. These special ball bearings reduce operating temperatures on the final drive, thus enhancing both their function and service life.

Oil flow losses have been reduced at the same time, with the gear pattern being adjusted to the change in bearing conditions and optimised for efficiency. And last but certainly not least, torque capacity of the final drive is up by 10 per cent without the slightest increase in weight.

Tailor-made transmission for each model.

One of the secrets of the outstanding driving dynamics of the new BMW 3 Series is most certainly the transmission ratio tailored to the respective combination of engine and transmission. Indeed, this gives the entire drivetrain the final touch, offering that extra bit of driving dynamics on truly outstanding fuel economy.

Adaptation of the propeller shaft to the transmission should also be mentioned in this context, the propeller shaft itself being extra-light thanks to a new production process allowing optimum adjustment of the wall thickness of the hollow shafts to their exterior diameter. These hollow shafts save not only up to 1 kg in weight versus the solid shafts used in the past, but also reduce unsprung masses and thus enhance roll comfort to a new standard never seen before. And to reduce gear running noise, finally, the new BMW 3 Series for the first time comes with propeller shafts connected to the final drive by a universal disc.

Suspension: The Domain of the 3 Series – now even Better Than Before.

• By far the best chassis in its class.
• Lightweight front axle and five-arm rear axle.
• Second-generation Active Steering.
• DSC with extended functions.
• Innovative cruise control systems.

Throughout its entire history, the BMW 3 Series has been acknowledged as particularly agile and dynamic. The car stands for excellent driving qualities and performance combined with equally excellent motoring comfort. By tradition, the 3 Series has always set the standard in its class for chassis and suspension performance. Indeed, it is fair to say that driving dynamics is the 3 Series’ greatest forte.

Considering this supreme standard, the success of BMW’s engineers in raising the entire chassis and suspension, in combination with the drivetrain and body, to an even higher standard, is all the more remarkable. And indeed, this progress is so significant that the driver and the car’s occupants really feel the improvement with even greater agility than before. In practice, this means that BMW has pushed the limits of physics even further than before.

Absolutely ideal: perfect axle load distribution and rear-wheel drive.

Perfect balance of axle load provides the foundation for genuine leadership in chassis and suspension engineering. Acting in combination with rear-wheel drive for optimum driving dynamics as well as the steering unaffected by drive forces, this is the prerequisite for that proverbial sheer driving pleasure so typical of every BMW.

Depending on the level of equipment and the load the car is carrying, rear axle load in the 3 Series varies from 48–56 per cent, thus keeping very close to the ideal of 50:50 front-to-rear. Together with rear-wheel drive, this gives the car excellent traction, equally outstanding directional stability, a very good response to the steering, and optimum braking qualities particularly in bends.

Fast laps on Nurburgring.

When it comes to handling and agility, the 3 Series once again sets a new standard in its class. This is borne out clearly by timed laps on the famous Nurburgring Northern Circuit acknowledged as one of the toughest race tracks in the world. It is one of BMW’s traditions to put all our cars to the test on Nurburgring under racing conditions, requiring them to prove their performance and, in particular, the potential of their chassis and suspension.

Lapping the Northern Circuit in 8:49 minutes, the 3 Series is a substantial 9 seconds faster than its predecessor, which as such was everything but slow. This is a huge improvement in motorsport terms and clear proof of the enormous progress made by BMW’s engineers concentrating on the chassis and suspension of their youngest “baby�.

Longer wheelbase, wider track.

With wheelbase up by 35 millimetres or 1.38 ´´ and track wider by 29 millimetres or 1.14 ´´ both front and rear, the new BMW 3 Series has everything it takes right from the start for this supreme performance and roadholding. The factor absolutely crucial to the car’s excellent chassis and suspension is however the ongoing optimisation and harmony of the axles, springs, dampers, steering and chassis control systems forming one harmonious blend and interacting perfectly with the drivetrain and the car’s body. This is where BMW’s typical configuration with the engine fitted lengthwise and the drivewheels at the rear offers the greatest potential right from the start – an important reason why more and more competitors are now following our example and using the same benefits.

Lightweight front axle with enhanced dynamic performance.

Focusing on the front axle of the new 3 Series, BMW’s engineers were able to use innovative concepts carried over from the brand’s luxury performance class, where the 7 Series and 5 Series currently set the absolute benchmark. And now the 3 Series benefits from this superiority, its double-joint tiebar axle with spring struts ensuring optimum kinematic qualities in terms of both agility and driving dynamics. And at the same time the entire configuration guarantees supreme stiffness on minimum weight, the tiebars, track control arms and pivot bearings all being made completely of aluminium.

Intelligent lightweight of this calibre on the axles is of utmost significance, with every gram of unsprung masses saved significantly benefitting the car’s handling and agility. And this, in turn, improves the qualities of the highly responsive steering with its sporting and direct features so typical of BMW. With the entire front axle subframe also being made of aluminium, front axle loads are reduced accordingly, ensuring favourable weight distribution with the entire front end of the car retaining its optimum stiffness. Compared with various competitors’ models also using multi-arm axles in most cases, BMW has shown the most consistent approach in the uncompromising use of lightweight aluminium.

Moving on to the engine mounts, the new 3 Series again proves its progress: Two hydraulic bearings taking the place of the usual rubber/metal mounts serve to optimise both noise control and vibration management separately from one another. This, in turn, offers significant advantages in motoring comfort, for example when it comes to engine noise while idling. In addition, the two engine bearings come with an integrated impact case reducing any unwanted movement of the engine and other components in a collision at relatively low speeds. The big advantage for the customer is the reduction of accident damage to a minimum and, as a result, cheaper insurance premiums.

Newly developed five-arm rear axle.

The five-arm rear axle is an all-new development giving the 3 Series perfect qualities in terms of driving dynamics plus supreme agility on the road. As opposed to a conventional double wishbone axle with the track rod at the rear, the upper and lower triangular arms are replaced in this case by two individual arms on each side allowing free definition of virtual kinematic points regardless of the dimensions and space available.

Together with the broad support base on the wheel mounts for wheel camber and custor, the extremely stiff track control arms, the stiff rear axle subframe, and the tiebars linking the suspension to the body of the car, this allows superior elastokinematics providing exactly the right wheel guidance over a wide range of spring action in the interest of excellent driving characteristics in every situation. And thanks to its small effective leverage, the rear axle hardly responds to any interference or adverse forces.

Best solution in combining driving dynamics with motoring comfort.

The large rear axle support base is crucial not only to the car’s driving characteristics, but also to the standard of noise control and insulation. And since the five-arm rear axle offers a very high standard of roll comfort, it is the ideal solution in combining dynamic driving performance with superior comfort on the road. A further asset is the very harmonious spring/damper setting underlining the active driving character of the BMW 3 Series.

Sports suspension available as an option.

A sports suspension lowering the entire car by 15 millimetres is available as an option for the true enthusiast dedicated to sports motoring. The lower centre of gravity provided in this way allows even higher speeds in bends. And in conjunction with Active Steering, the sports suspension comes for the first time with steering characteristics tailored to this specific suspension set-up.

BMW all the way: precise steering with equally precise feedback.

The driving pleasure, motoring comfort and driving safety so typical of a BMW are largely attributable to the accuracy of the steering system with its precise feedback to the driver. The BMW 3 Series comes with rack-and-pinion steering combined with hydraulic power assistance. Remaining unaffected by drive forces thanks to rear-wheel drive, the steering gives the driver a smooth, direct response, superior steering precision, and clear feedback, that is further qualities typical of a BMW.

Active Steering with an enhanced range of functions.

Only an active steering system is really able to solve the conflict of interests between agility, stability, and motoring comfort. Introducing Active Steering, BMW has already presented such a superior system in the 5 Series: an electronically controlled steering system with variable transmission ratios and additional driving dynamics and stability functions. Now this innovative system is available in the 3 Series as an option on all six-cylinder models.

Active Steering comes in combination with Servotronic. It differs significantly from conventional steering by its ability to adjust the steering angle required perfectly to the current road speed of the car. With Servotronic varying steering forces as a function of road speed and the steering angle, Active Steering and Servotronic have different effects and qualities, but form a perfect team.

Perfect steering and control ensured at all times.

Active Steering is based on conventional rack-and-pinion hydraulic steering technology. Its additional feature is the overriding transmission in the steering column allowing an electric motor to modify the steering angle predetermined by the driver. This function is geared to various sensor signals such as the rotational speed of the wheels, the steering angle, yaw rate and lateral acceleration. With the electric motor being shut down and cut off in the event of a defect, the steering retains its full qualities at all times, since the steering wheel and the front wheels are always connected mechanically with one another.

Significantly greater driving pleasure.

Under regular driving conditions Active Steering modifies the steering lock of the front wheels determined by the driver as a function of road speed and without any repercussions on the steering wheel. Given the small steering angle, the car becomes even more agile and easier to handle. Particularly in the lower and medium speed range up to approximately 100 km/h or 60 mph, that is in the particularly dynamic, active range, Active Steering, with its more direct transmission ratio than a conventional steering, offers significantly greater driving pleasure. At high and very high speeds, by contrast, Active Steering becomes more indirect in the interest of better directional stability, without forfeiting its particular precision. And apart from being related to road speed, Active Steering also optimises the reaction of the car to the driver’s steering commands in the interest of greater precision.

No more crossing over your hands on the steering wheel in everyday motoring.

In city traffic Active Steering ensures optimum motoring comfort wherever you go, lock-to-lock operation of the steering wheel at a standstill dropping from more than three to less than two full rotations. This means that under everyday conditions the driver is hardly required any more to cross over his hands on the steering wheel and is therefore able to operate the steering wheel buttons much more conveniently.

Technology transfer from the luxury performance class.

Active Steering is a good example of the transfer in technology between BMW’s model series: Originally presented in the 5 Series, this innovative BMW development now also benefits BMW drivers in both the 6 and 3 Series. In other words, BMW’s engineers do not hold back their achievements until the next luxury performance car enters the market, but rather introduce innovative technologies as quickly as possible throughout the entire range. With the next model series thus benefitting from such progress in technology, all BMW model series are always up-to-date in technical terms, regardless of their class or segment.

In the 3 Series this kind of innovation is expressed inter alia by the driving stabilisation function adding an important everyday benefit to the car’s Active Steering: Whenever the driver applies the brakes on surfaces with varying frictional coefficience, yaw forces are set off by active intervention in the steering. In practice this allows the motorist to drive the car more smoothly and safely to its physical limits – which means that you still have a safety margin even when capitalising on the outstanding agility of the 3 Series. And should the stabilisation function of Active Steering not be sufficient to keep the car steady in an extreme situation, DSC Dynamic Stability Control will take over.

Active Steering counteracting the risk of swerving.

For the first time the combination of Active Steering and DSC with enhanced brake functions on roads varying in their frictional coefficient allows active intervention in the steering in order to stabilise the car. Should the driver apply the brakes with the car aquaplaning on one side, for example, the ABS function will choose different levels of brake forces on the front wheels causing the car to react. So far this yaw momentum, as it is called, required the driver to countersteer in keeping the car on track. Now, in combination with Active Steering, active intervention in the steering system in such a situation is faster and more precise than the manual intervention of a “regular� driver.

The very best in steering technology.

Offering these optimised stabilisation functions, Active Steering ensures even greater driving pleasure and safety on the road. Whenever the car tends to oversteer, intervention in the steering independent of the driver serves to stabilise the car and keep it on track. Steering action of this kind reduces the less comfortable intervention of DSC Dynamic Stability Control on the brakes, allowing the driver to maintain a smoother and more comfortable style of motoring.

Stability behaviour in the DTC (a sub-function of DSC) mode has also been improved. Activation of the DTC mode moves the response thresholds for intervening in the brakes further back, the stabilisation effects provided by Active Steering keeping the driver in control at all times, even with the car itself reacting more sharply.

DSC – the core system in vehicle electronics.

BMW’s own DSC Dynamic Stability Control is increasingly becoming a core system covering the entire range of vehicle electronics. While initially, over and above the ABS brake function, DSC was “only� required to enhance driving safety on a slippery road – for example in an abrupt manoeuvre or with the car starting to become unstable in bends, DSC applying the brakes specifically on individual wheels in order to regain stability – the system now covers a much wider range of functions in terms of both safety and comfort. ASC Automatic Stability and Traction Control intergrated within DSC, for example, controls the spin of the drivewheels by applying the brakes selectively on a drive wheel about to spin and stabilising the car accordingly. Using the DTC mode, in turn, the driver is able to enhance traction on snowbound roads, in sand or on gravel simply by pressing a button. And he may also enjoy the sporting qualities of a quasi differential by slightly raising the response thresholds of DSC brake intervention in the interest of enhanced traction and drive force.

Yet another function of DSC is CBC Cornering Brake Control reducing any oversteer of the car when applying the brakes slightly in a bend by asymmetric control of brake pressure.

A first-time achievement: ongoing brake lining wear display.

DSC incorporates further functions such as BMW’s two-stage brake lining wear indicator including calculation of remaining mileage as well as a direct connection to the car’s electrical steering column lock. The customer benefits from both of these functions, first through greater precision in determining when the brake linings will have to be replaced next, second through innovative anti-theft security with the electromechanical steering wheel lock not being opened until receiving clearance from the Car Access System.

DSC in the six-cylinder with additional functions.

Over and above its standard functions, DSC offers supplementary functions in the six-cylinder 330i enhancing both driving safety and motoring comfort. First, DSC ensures an even higher standard of precision and smoothness in ACC Active Cruise Control, building up, determining and modulating pressure on the wheel brakes with even greater accuracy. On the road this gives the customer even better deceleration and greater comfort in applying the brakes. Second, DSC compensates any tendency of the brakes to fade at high temperatures by increasing brake pressure as a function of temperature, keeping deceleration and stopping forces consistent under the same level of pressure on the brake pedal.

Gaining time when braking in an emergency and in the wet.

A very practical improvement is the brake standby function pre-setting the brake linings. Whenever DSC recognises an anticipated braking manoeuvre, for example when the driver quickly lets go the gas pedal, it bridges the gap to the brake linings by reducing volume feed to the brake calipers, giving the driver an even faster brake response.

Safety in the wet is enhanced by the dry braking function: Receiving information from the rain sensor or windscreen wipers, DSC moves the brake linings up to the brake discs after a certain, predetermined period in order to remove the film of water from the discs and ensure an immediate brake process without the slightest delay whenever necessary.

Extra comfort when coming to a stop.

The Soft-Stop function reduces that well-known “jolt� when coming to a stop, a phenomenan encountered above all in cars with automatic transmission: With the system building up exactly the right level of pressure shortly before the car comes to a stop, the entire process is soft and smooth, without the slightest jolt.

A further comfort function is provided by the Setting-Off Assistant: This system enables the driver to set off comfortably and smoothly both in a forward and reverse gear on a gradient, without rolling back and without having to use the handbrake, the Setting-Off Assistant holding the car in position for a short while after the driver has released the brake.

Lightweight brakes with optimum power.

It goes without saying that the brakes have been optimised to reflect the enhanced performance of the new BMW 3 Series. In particular they have been modified in terms of weight in order to minimise unsprung masses, the 330i, for example, featuring swing-calliper brakes made of aluminium.

All brake systems ensure fading-free durability and optimum long-distance qualities. Incorporating BMW’s Demand-Oriented Service (DOS), the 3 Series is able to consistently forecast the remaining distance the brake linings are able to cover. This information is then used for Conditioned-Based Service informing the customer in good time of when his car needs to be checked.

BMW is the first manufacturer to offer this function described in greater detail on Page 7.

Punctures are a rare event – but scary an unpleasant all the same.

With tyre damage being relatively uncommon in statistical terms, but with punctures being one of the most unpleasant experiences for the motorist, BMW is the first manufacturer in the world to offer the Runflat System Component (RSC), a tyre safety package meeting both the statistical risk as well as any feeling of apprehension on the part of the driver.

RSC is a combination of RSC tyres on EH2 wheel rims and the TPI electronic warning system. Under loss of pressure, RSC immediately warns the driver but allows him to continue for a certain distance even when suffering a complete loss of air, the tyres remaining safely on the rim. Accordingly, there is no further need for a spare or an emergency tyre, a repair kit and car jack. And there is no need any more to change tyres by the roadside. But at the same time RSC still offers 100 per cent safety, as required.

Informing the driver of a loss of pressure – and allowing him to go on.

With their specially designed rim hump, EH2 (extended hump) rims prevent the tyres from “jumping off� the rims under a sudden loss of pressure. An RSC tyre differs from a conventional tyre through its runflat features, reinforced side walls, additional insert strips and a rubber compound with a higher level of thermal resistance enabling such self-supporting tyres to run another 50–250 kilometres at a maximum speed of 80 km/h or 50 mph without even the slightest pressure, depending on the load the car is carrying.

The RSC tyre is its own spare tyre.

Only 20 per cent of all tyre damage involves tyres losing air suddenly or in a quick process. In other words, loss of pressure is a slow-gradual process in 80 per cent of all cases, enabling the driver with RSC tyres to continue for up to 2,000 kilometres or 1,200 miles. So it is fair to say that an RS tyre is its own spare tyre. And this significantly improves the level of safety, also because ABS, ASC and DSC remain fully functional at all times.

The Tyre Pressure Indicator (TPI) included in the system monitors air pressure in all the tyres by permanently comparing tyre rotation speed. The driver is informed of any irregularities by a warning light and a sound signal, the system giving the driver a warning as of a speed of 15 km/h (9 mph) and with a drop in tyre pressure by more than 30 per cent.

It is nevertheless important to note that TPI does not replace the regular supervision of tyre pressure by the driver. And in a simple, convenient process, the driver is required each time after changing tyre pressure and after fitting a new tyre to re-initialise the system in order to save the tyre’s data.

Accident risk reduced to a minimum.

RSC technology ensures enormous progress in both safety and comfort. Enabling the driver to continue in his car at a moderate speed even after suffering a complete loss of pressure, RSC makes it unnecessary to pull over and stop the car because of a puncture at, say, narrow and dangerous points, in bends, in a construction area on the motorway, or in a tunnel, etc. The driver saves time and avoids inconvenience in changing a tyre, since he can have the job done without problems at a workshop not too far away (which need not necessarily be the nearest workshop). And last but not least, there is no need any more for a spare wheel, a car jack and tools, which means a reduction of weight enhancing the car’s performance and reducing fuel consumption.

The BMW 330i comes as standard with 225/45R17 tyres on cast aluminium rims, the 320i and 320d run on 205/55R16 tyres. A wide range of both cast aluminium and hand-forged wheels in all kinds of design, finally, enables the customer to personalise his – or her – 3 Series as he or she desires.

Cruise control – the sheer pleasure of being driven.

Cruise control with active intervention in the brakes available as an option replaces conventional cruise control on the six-cylinder model. An alternative also available in the new BMW 3 Series is ACC Active Cruise Control. Both of these systems are a significant innovation in this segment, in both cases offering the driver much greater convenience. So with enhanced systems of this kind, cruising in that typical BMW style comes with the superior pleasure of being driven in a most enjoyable manner.

Cruise control with brake function.

The first of these options enhances conventional cruise control by adding a brake function, with the display and operating functions being upgraded accordingly. What this means in practice becomes clear under typical driving conditions, automatic intervention of the brakes when driving downhill, for example, keeping the speed set at a consistent level. Should the driver choose a speed below the speed level currently activated, in turn, the system quickly slows down the car to the new, desired speed.

In a car with manual gearbox the driver can even change gears without deactivating the function. So that by and large the driver remains in control of many driving situations without even having to apply the brakes himself – all he has to do is choose “his� speed by pushing the control lever.

This enhanced level of functions becomes even clearer when the driver uses the control lever actively: In such a case, operating the system at a specific level, the driver is able to call up pre-set acceleration and deceleration data, driving his BMW “by hand�, as it were, in the dynamic and active style typical of the marque.

ACC Active Cruise Control keeping a close eye on traffic conditions.

ACC Active Cruise Control available as an option adds automatic distance control to the brake function control just mentioned. Indeed, this distance control function is so comprehensive that one might by all means call this active system “intelligent�.

ACC Active Cruise Control incorporates a radar unit determining the distance and speed of vehicles driving ahead in the same lane. The system gives the driver the choice of four distances: As soon as the actual distance deviates from the desired distance set in advance, ACC adjusts the speed of the car to that of the vehicle ahead by slightly giving gas or applying the brakes. If there is no car directly ahead in the driver’s lane, ACC will accelerate to the desired speed and operates the same way as cruise control with its braking function.

ACC Active Cruise Control is particularly convenient for cruising on the motorway or a main road, allowing the driver to “flow along� in style and comfort. The driver no longer has to constantly change from the gas to the brake pedal, and therefore benefits from a far higher level of convenience. And he is naturally able to intervene at any time, giving gas or applying the brakes as desired.

Body: Bigger, Stiffer, Safer.

• Lightweight bodyshell with multi-bar concept.
• Designed for optimum results in the EuroNCAP crash test.
• Best marks in the US standard side and rear crash test.
• Enhanced restraint system for optimum occupant safety.
• More precise activation of airbags and belt tensioners.

The new BMW 3 Series offers even greater presence and comes with an even more powerful look than its predecessor. This is attributable, first, to the greater emphasis of the car’s “muscles� and, second, to the larger dimensions. And indeed, BMW’s new Sports Saloon has grown in every respect: Length is up by 49 millimetres or 1.92´´, width by 78 millimetres or 3.07´´, and height by 10 millimetres or 0.39´´.

These larger dimensions benefit both passenger comfort and driving dynamics, with the car’s longer wheelbase reducing any vibration of the vehicle. The most important point, however, is the enhancement of passive safety, with BMW’s new model being the safest 3 Series of all times. And at the same time the new 3 Series is lighter than before or at least not heavier despite the car’s larger dimensions and higher level of equipment: Taking the higher level of equipment into account, the body-in-white is 30 kilos or 66 lb lighter than on the former model.

The benefits provided by this achievement in engineering are quite dramatic in terms of both driving dynamics and fuel economy: A change in weight by 10 per cent speeds up or slows down acceleration from 0–100 km/h by no less than 7 per cent. And when it comes to fuel consumption, 10 per cent more or less weight adds up to 1 per cent cost of fuel at the filling pump.

All-round safety strategy.

BMW’s engineers have pursued their quest for concept harmony also in developing the car’s safety system: Applying an all-round safety strategy, their objective in designing the body structure was to ensure maximum safety for the driver and his passengers through optimum interaction of the suspension, drivetrain and equipment, without impairing the car’s dynamics and comfort in any way.

Taking a thoroughly new approach.

The new BMW 3 Series offers noticeably more space, comfort and safety with even better performance and greater fuel economy. To reach all these objectives at the same time, it was not sufficient to merely “lean down� the body-in-white or replace steel by aluminium. Rather, the only solution was to take a thoroughly new approach.

Capitalising consistently on progress in steel technology.

In this process BMW’s engineers benefitted from innovative breakthroughs achieved in the meantime in steel and steel moulding technology. The steel grades available today, for example, offer enormous strength and stability on relatively small cross-sections. Multi-phase steel, for example, is able to withstand far higher loads and forces than conventional steel and is therefore simply perfect for body components relevant to safety. Other types of modern steel are more pliable than before, appropriate drawing processes thus serving to make even very intricate and complex parts and components.

Support bar concept for extra body stiffness.

Looking back at old traditions and beyond the usual horizon in automobile production, BMW’s engineers focusing on the new 3 Series also had another idea: Taking up the concept of building trusses and girders going back centuries, the engineers created a support bar concept for the load-bearing structure of the new 3 Series. This provides for reinforcement bars between points subject to a particular load such as the engine mounts at the front as well as the points connecting the engine to the longitudinal arms, and the connection points on both the B-pillars and at the rear.

At the same time the engineers enhanced the conventional reinforcements on the car’s body by switching over to high-strength and multi-phase steel, innovations not available before.

As a result of these improvements, body stiffness over the former model is up by 25 per cent. In a collision the forces generated are absorbed by the structure of the car and are taken up or passed on in a defined process via so-called load paths. This, in turn, reduces the degree of deformation and, in conjunction with improved passive safety features, gives the car’s occupants maximum safety on the road.

Top results in crash tests.

Through its innovative and trendsetting safety concept, the new BMW 3 Series consistently capitalises on new materials technologies. The safety concept is therefore a major factor in giving the new car truly outstanding results in various crash tests, the new BMW 3 Series offering a standard of passive safety never seen before in this class.

The best-known crash tests today are the NCAPs in Europe, the USA, and Japan. In the toughest of all these tests, the EuroNCAP Frontal Offset Crash, the car is driven against a deformable barrier head on at a speed of 64 km/h and with 40 per cent offset. A side crash is simulated, in turn, by an impact against a deformable barrier at 50 km/h on the side of the car being tested. Then there is also the side pillar test with the car impacting a rigid pillar from the side at 29 km/h in order to simulate an accident involving a post or a tree.

The BMW 3 Series is designed and built to provide optimum results in these currently most demanding crash tests in the world. This makes the 3 Series one of the safest passenger cars in all classes the world over.

Also in a collision from the side: the safest 3 Series of all times.

New side and rear-end crash requirements in the USA also call for passive safety of the highest standard – and the BMW 3 Series is one of the first production cars to meet these tests: The US IIHS side-on crash defined only a few months ago provides for a mass of 1.3 tonnes impacting the car directly into the side – that is at its most sensitive point – at a speed of 50 km/h or 31 mph. In particular, the crash simulates an offroader or SUV, that is a relatively high vehicle hitting the front door of the car at an angle of 90° above the side-sill with its protective effect. Again, the BMW 3 Series meets this extreme test with flying colours.

Hit from behind at 80 km/h.

Performance of the new BMW 3 Series is equally good in the new FMVSS 301 US high-speed rear-end impact test simulating a crash from behind against the stationary vehicle. Under the strict test conditions, a rigid barrier hits the rear end of the car at 80 km/h or 50 mph, in an impact with 70 per cent overlap. One of the requirements is that the fuel system does not start to leak or lose any fuel – and again, the new 3 Series also meets this enormous challenge. Low cost of repair reducing insurance premiums. Apart from these simulated accident scenarios, everyday, “regular� accidents were taken into account as a significant factor in developing the new BMW 3 Series. Tests of the kind conducted by the Allianz Zentrum für Technik (Allianz Centre of Technology/AZT) in Munich, for example, are crucial to factors such as the car’s insurance rating. One of the tests requires an impact at 40 km/h (25 mph) and with 40 per cent overlap against a solid barrier. Another test is a collision from behind, with a rigid one-tonne barrier hitting the car from behind at a speed of 15 km/h and again with 40 per cent overlap.

The results show that the cost of repairing the new 3 Series after such an accident is relatively low, the structure of the body remaining free of damage in a frontal and, respectively, rear-end collision at up to 15 km/h with 40 per cent overlap at the side. The big advantage for the customer is a low insurance rating with correspondingly cheap premiums or, respectively, low cost of repair.

Occupant safety of the highest calibre.

The new BMW 3 Series raises occupant safety in this class of vehicle to a new, unprecedented level of excellence, offering all occupants greater safety than ever before. So once again, BMW is moving up the benchmark also in this respect.

Efficient, easy-to-wear seat belts.

The seat belts have always been the fundamental feature of a car’s restraint systems. But while the seat belts used to be the only safety feature inside a car, they are now part of a complex occupant safety system incorporating special electronic controls coordinating additional vehicle functions.

Within the new BMW 3 Series, the all-round system of seat belts features belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters at the front. The belt latch is now fitted directly in the seat frame, giving the belt even better geometry and bringing it to rest even more efficiently on the occupant’s body. This also gives the customer the advantage of extra comfort, with the belt, thanks to its optimised pivot points, running even more smoothly and free of friction. And in the event of an accident the belt latch fitted firmly to the seat, together with the belt latch tensioner, ensures better restraint travel and, as a result, reduces the risk of injury.

Conducting comprehensive ergonomic studies, BMW’s engineers have determined the optimum belt pivot point for occupants of all sizes and all seating positions. This avoids the need to adjust bolt height and rules out the risk of unwanted misadjustments. The two occupants on the outer rear seats also benefit from optimised belts with latch tensioners, while the centre seat comes with a conventional three-point belt and a folding headrest.

Front passenger airbag remaining out of sight.

The front passenger airbag now activated in two stages in the 3 Series as a function of accident severity is housed beneath a cover in the instrument panel and is therefore kept out of sight when not in use. The driver airbag also operating in two stages is housed in the steering wheel, new low-pollutant gas generators reducing the development of smoke in pyrotechnical ignition of the airbags. Both the driver and front passenger also benefit from seat-integrated hip/thorax airbags for even better protection in an accident. Placed in the seat and not in the inner door padding, these airbags follow the position of the occupants with every adjustment of the seat, thus maintaining their optimum position at all times. And compared with the airbag integrated in the door panel on the former model, airbag volume has been reduced by 50 per cent while providing an even better safety function than before.

Window curtain from the A- all the way to the C-pillar.

Head airbags protect both the front and the rear occupants. Inflating within just 22/1000ths of a second, these head airbags form a window curtain extending along the windows from the A- all the way to the C-pillar. Here again, the focus was on providing optimum safety and protection regardless of the passengers’ seating position.

The 3 Series for three: three Isofix child seat fastenings.

Using the Isofix safety system standardised the world over, the driver of the BMW 3 Series is able to fit special child seats quickly and safely on firm points within the car, offering young passengers optimum safety in an accident. For the first time in this class, the new BMW 3 Series offers Isofix child seat fastenings on no less than three seats, and not “just� on one or two seats, as before. The seats prepared for this purpose are the front passenger’s seat as well a the outer seats at the rear. Whenever a child seat is fitted at the front, the frontal airbag on the seat involved must be deactivated by means a key switch on the seat itself.

Central safety electronics coordinating the car’s protection systems.

Apart from the availability and ideal arrangement of the various safety features, their reliability and operating safety are crucial to optimum occupant protection. And given the need to minimise the cost of an accident, only the components really required should be activated if the worst comes to the worst. Precisely this function and specific control is ensured by the central safety electronic concept featured in the 3 Series.

Sensors operating with a high degree of accuracy ensure that only the pyrotechnical components really required to protect the occupants are activated in a specific situation. These sensors are housed both in the car’s control centre as well as in the B-pillars and the doors. They also serve to detect an impact at the earliest possible point, thus offering decisive fractions of a second in inflating the safety components without the slightest delay.

Even after a crash the danger is not over.

After a crash and the functions triggered immediately to protect the occupants, the electronic safety system activates the so-called post-crash functions enhancing safety and rescue options following the event itself. One example is the function automatically opening the car’s central locking, another is automatic operation of the hazard warning flashers and activation of the interior lights. As of a predetermined impact force, the system also switches off the fuel pump and the safety battery terminal intervenes in the on-board power network to avoid a possible short circuit. A separate power connection serves at the same time to maintain important functions such as the car’s lights, hazard warning flashers, or automatic telephone emergency system.

Assistance Systems: Reliable Friends Just in Case.

• Adaptive Headlights.
• Two-stage brake lights (Brake Force Display).
• Wide range of telematic functions.
• iDrive control concept.
• Multi-function steering wheel with additional buttons for individual use.

Looking in particular at a car’s assistance systems, we see that traditional “class differences� in the world of motoring are a thing of the past. For premium cars these days have to offer everything available in technical terms, regardless of the individual class or segment. To be specific, this means that the 3 Series features assistance systems previously to be found only in the luxury performance class. So that now, proceeding from a wide range of standard equipment, the customer is able to configure his or her BMW 3 Series according to individual, personal preferences.

Three headlight systems for optimum visibility.

The headlights are a good example: In this area of technology becoming increasingly significant in terms of safety, comfort and use of the car’s dynamic potential, the purchaser of a 3 Series can choose from no less than three different systems. The standard technology is dual halogen headlights in progressive free-form configuration featuring high-intensity H7 low-beam and high-beam bulbs consistently and homogeneously lighting up the road ahead. This offers the customer very effective low- and high-beam illumination characterising BMW cars together with the striking dual headlights.

Static bi-xenon dual headlights with maximum low- and high-beam illumination are available as an option. Parking illumination is provided exclusively by two light conductor rings so far to be found only in BMW’s luxury performance class. So now this characteristic feature is provided for the first time also in the 3 Series.

Adaptive Headlights, the absolute climax in headlight technology.

Bi-xenon headlights with an adaptive light function are the absolute climax in headlight technology. And the BMW 3 Series is the only car in its class to offer this advanced adaptive headlight system.

Adaptive Headlights significantly enhance driving safety in the dark, ongoing, dynamic adjustment of the headlights to the car’s current direction of travel ensuring optimum illumination of the road ahead and giving the driver much better visibility. This is a particular advantage in bends, where the driver restricted by static headlights always looks into a kind of “black hole�. Now Adaptive Headlights dynamically following the road ahead literally guide the driver along winding roads like a magic wand.

In technical terms, this “magic wand� is a closely networked safety system consistently adjusting the headlights to the current steering angle. Controlled in their movements by the angle of the steering wheel, the yaw rate of the car, and road speed, the bi-xenon headlights light up the road ahead like eyes automatically moving in the right direction. To avoid the risk of dazzling oncoming traffic, in turn, the Adaptive Headlights feature dynamic headlight range control and incorporate a headlight cleaning system.

Two-stage brake lights to prevent collisions from behind.

Two-stage brake lights, a BMW innovation officially called the Brake Force Display, ensure an enormous improvement of traffic safety. These two-stage lights are based on the recognition that accidents from behind can be reduced dramatically if motorists following the car are informed clearly and in good time about how hard the driver is applying the brakes. And precisely this information is provided by the Brake Force Display: As long as the driver is applying the brakes with “normal� force, the brake lights at the rear and the third brake light in the middle come on the usual way. Whenever the driver applies the brakes hard, on the other hand, or with ABS intervening, the brake lights coming on at the rear cover a larger area. Motorists following from behind will intuitively interpret this larger surface as indicative of an emergency braking manoeuvre, applying the brakes harder themselves and gaining important stopping distance in the process.

BMW Assist – the ideal electronic helper for many purposes.

BMW Assist, another important innovation, features an emergency call function, BMW Breakdown Assistance, the BMW Info customer information system, the V-Info traffic information service, as well as BMW’s mobility-based enquiry service. Offering this range of features as well as a data return function in response to enquiries, BMW Assist is currently quite unique in the market.

These services offer the customer a wide range of benefits in terms of both comfort and safety – extending from practical assistance in looking for a specific restaurant or film at the cinema all the way to the announcement of the driver’s next service at the dealership, the car transmitting data on possible defects to the BMW Service Partner in advance. Certain telematic services are fully automatic, such as the emergency call function whenever an airbag is activated.

Rarely used, but indispensable: the emergency call function.

A BMW Assist feature fortunately required only on rare occasions is the emergency call function: Whenever an emergency call is placed automatically (by the airbag being activated) or manually (by somebody pressing an emergency call button), the car establishes a voice link to the local service provider. Once that link has been set up, the service provider receives a text message with the GPS satellite navigation coordinates of the car specifying its current location as well as the customer’s number. As long as this voice connection is in place, the user is able to cancel the alarm if it has been set off by mistake. And if the emergency is serious, the service provider will immediately inform the local police and rescue services, ensuring that they are guided to the scene of the accident precisely and without the slightest delay.

BMW Breakdown Assistance helping to avoid problems.

Another BMW Assist function required only rarely but nevertheless of importance when needed is BMW Breakdown Assistance with both automatic and manual teleservice. This function places an automatic service call with the dealer as soon as the car’s electronic “brain� recognises that the car will require maintenance in the near future. The dealer then contacts the customer to arrange an appointment, for example to change the oil. In many countries (but not yet in Germany) the driver is also able to send a service call manually by text message to his dealer and then automatically receives the telephone connection required.

Should the customer contact BMW Breakdown Assistance via the BMW Hotline, additional information on the car and the data on a possible defect is transmitted by text message to the BMW Mobile Service or the Customer Hotline in the respective country, the system then establishing a telephone connection with the BMW Service Partner. This gives the dealer advance information on any defects and allows him to prepare the remedy required. The advantage for the customer is personal planning of convenient service dates and shorter service periods.

All the car’s data saved in the key.

The Key Reader function also serves to optimise service procedures and cut back service periods to a minimum: As soon as the customer gives his BMW Service Partner the key to the car, the dealer is holding everything he needs to know about the car in his hands, since the key comprises all relevant data on the car in the interest of efficient and speedy service. A reader then reads this data into the dealer’s computer, such automatic acquisition and transfer of data ruling out mistakes and misunderstandings. This also helps the customer to save time, since it is no longer necessary to record all data and possible defects in the usual manual process.

“My Info� going from the internet straight into the car’s on-board system.

The “My Info� service offers a convenient internet application for the first time transmitting navigation destinations and telephone numbers directly from the http//www.bmw-assist.de website into the car in geo-coded form. This saves the driver the trouble of entering such data manually into the navigation system or the telephone on board his BMW.

V-Info plus: Immediate processing of traffic information by the navigation system.

V-Info plus traffic information is another very convenient and practical tool making life a lot easier for the driver. Using this function, the car regularly calls up the latest traffic information on the driver’s planned route or around the current location via text message from a service provider. This data then goes straight into the navigation system, which is able to determine and calculate alternative routes, for example to avoid traffic congestion on the motorway.

BMW Online: Checking out the stock exchange and listening to the radio.

Using BMW Online, the driver is able to access an internet service selected in advance from a wide range of internet-based service options. Typical examples are the news, reception and transmission of e-mails, hotel reservations, and a ticket ordering service. Other on-board infotainment functions are available at the same time, allowing the customer, say, to listen to the radio and simultaneously check out the stock exchange.

To keep the websites available clear and readily accessible for the customer, the various offers are pre-selected. The customer is also able to configure or change his personal starting page at home or in the office, with separate starting pages being set up for other users. And incorporating a firewall, filter functions and access codes, BMW’s safety concept prevents unauthorised access and protects the system from viruses.

When it comes to telematics, BMW is two years ahead.

Although telematics already offer a wide range of functions, the potential of this sophisticated service is still far from exhausted. Indeed, BMW Online and other telematic services just mark the starting point for further, far more comprehensive multi-media functions and offers. Wireless communication between the on-board computer, the car’s telephone and the mobile phone, for example, is already reality – and there are already visions extending all the way to dynamic parking space navigation with an automatic parking fee function as well as exclusive BMW Online Shops. BMW customers are the first to benefit from these achievements, since their brand is the leader in telematics, experts claiming that BMW’s leadership in technology over the competition is equal to a period of at least two years.

Assistance as an offer, not an obligation.

Offering appropriate assistance systems, BMW’s philosophy is that the customer should decide himself whether to use the support provided by a specific system or not. Clearly, a philosophy of this kind accepts back-up systems intervening on their own accord only where such systems are absolutely essential to the driver and his passengers, as is the case with many suspension assistance systems or with the automatic emergency call function following the activation of an airbag. Given the complexity of many assistance systems, on the other hand, system control and operation must be intuitive or at least easy to learn, ergonomic and with a rapid response in due respect of the driver’s self-responsibility.

iDrive combining high information density with easy control.

BMW iDrive is certainly the perfect and most feasible concept in achieving this goal. No other system offers the same density of information combined with excellent intuitive operation via the Controller. A further advantage is that iDrive enables the front passenger to control and use nearly all functions, while the passengers at the rear are able to follow up visual and text information via the Display in the middle of the instrument panel.

Taking up BMW’s iDrive philosophy, the 3 Series is now pioneering the concept of on-board information and ergonomics in the midrange segment. Most functions crucial to motoring are arranged on or directly around the steering wheel, that is within optimum reach for the driver. The basic comfort functions, in turn, are located in the centre console for simple control by both the driver and front passenger. And all other settings and services are at the disposal of both the driver and front passenger via the Controller as well as the Display.

Display with transflective surface.

The Display housed conveniently within a binnacle in the middle of the instrument panel serves as the control and operation surface for nearly all assistance and communication systems. The Stage I version of the Colour Display measures 6.5 inches, Stage II 8.8 inches. The transflective surface is easy to read from all seats even in bright sunshine, transflective technology passively reflecting the incoming daylight to make the Display clear, brilliant and easy-to-read. In bad weather or in the dark transmissive background illumination again ensures optimum readability, a further advantage being individual control of Display brightness. There is even a special feature incorporating this individual setting in the Car & Key Memory function, Display brightness adjusting automatically to the setting chosen by the customer in advance.

One Controller for all purposes.

The main menu presented on the Display is split up into four areas – Communication, Navigation, Entertainment, and Climate. Depending on the car’s level of equipment, the sub-functions within these individual areas may be controlled on various levels by the Controller. Moving this central control element in the four directions of the compass, the driver chooses the function area desired and then navigates within the various sub-functions. To confirm the menu item currently marked by the cursor, all he has to do is press the Controller.

Voice entry for a wide range of functions.

Apart from manual control by the Controller, voice entry is also available as the second option for operating and controlling the telephone, BMW Assist, BMW Online, the navigation system, the telephone directory, the radio, the CD, DVD, and MP3 audio services, as well as automatic air conditioning. A new feature seen for the first time in this class is the text-to-speech engine enabling the user to read out texts. This significantly enhances the level of motoring comfort and safety especially in receiving the names of radio stations and similar information. The language dialogue is also enhanced and there are a number of new functions.

A navigation system with ears.

Particularly the navigation system benefits from these modifications, thus maintaining its leading role versus the competition. An additional feature is the presentation of points of interest, the navigation system telling the driver, for example, which local sights might be worth visiting or the address of the nearest BMW Service Station.

Multifunction steering wheel with additional buttons for further purposes.

The optional multifunction steering wheel is an independent assistance system in its own right. Apart from its main function, the steering wheel incorporates several ergonomically arranged buttons for controlling major functions frequently required. So to operate these functions, the driver need not take his hands off the steering wheel nor move his eyes from the road. The functions controlled in this way are “louder� and “quieter�, the telephone, audio operation and source, station search, traffic messages off, and voice entry. The optional high-end multifunction steering wheel comes furthermore with two additional buttons for individual programming by the user – a feature never seen before in the midrange segment.

Interior and Equipment: For even more Driving Pleasure.

• Larger dimensions benefitting all passengers.
• Sports seats with backrest width adjustment.
• ID sensor replacing the ignition key.
• Best-in-class heating and air conditioning.
• Sunblinds for additional comfort.

While growing in size, the BMW 3 Series remains a compact Sports Saloon. And since only a relatively small share of the larger dimensions serves to provide an increase in passive safety, the extra space offers significant benefits for all the car’s occupants. Indeed, the new BMW 3 Series offers almost the same space inside as the former BMW 5 Series. The new model thus stands out clearly from its predecessor in terms of space and comfort and thus builds up its leadership over the competition.

A car with the right space for today’s requirements.

The interior is a convincing commitment to the “roominess� appreciated so much by people in our day and age: This means not only the sheer size of the car, but rather the “feeling of space� as such: The BMW 3 Series conveys an impression of brightness and generosity, clearly reflecting the way of life of its young and young-at-heart customers.

This increase in size is no coincidence: Quite generally, our flats and houses, our workplaces and leisure time facilities are larger today than they used to be. And the generous feeling of space is also borne out increasingly by modern architecture creating large and bright rooms and spaces for the human being. At the same time the interior of the new BMW 3 Series is the response to a simple fact of life: Human beings are growing on average by about one millimetre a year. So our cars have to grow accordingly, meaning approximately 7 millimetres in each generation of cars. Particularly the space provided at the rear has been enlarged in the 3 Series, young people often growing taller than their parents.

Ergonomics and comfort becoming increasingly important.

A further point is that people these days spend more time in their car than they used to. Ergonomics, ease of control, seating and entertainment comfort as well as the flair and appeal of all features and materials are therefore becoming increasingly significant. So ultimately, these are the factors crucial to the occupant’s well-being. And since virtually every feature added means extra weight, BMW’s development engineers focus consistently on intelligent lightweight technology also inside the car. This keeps extra weight within very tight limits easily compensated by technical improvements and modifications of the drivetrain, the running gear, and the body.

Good seats for good motoring.

Particularly the driver of the new 3 Series benefits from an excellent seating position. The driver’s seat is sporting and low, ensuring very ample headroom and excellent side support. All controls and switches relevant to the driver are within very easy and convenient reach. And the driver has an excellent overview of all instruments and displays in all situations and under all light conditions.

The new 3 Series comes as standard with fabric upholstery, a further range of upgraded fabric as well as fabric/leather combinations and all-leather upholstery being available as an option. A further option is electrical adjustment of the driver’s seat fore-and-aft, together with electrical adjustment of seat height, seat angle and backrest angle. A memory function serves to pre-set the personal seat positions of one or two drivers. Seat heating is also available as an option covering the entire seat bottom and backrest including the side supports on the seat itself and again on the backrest. The result is very consistent and well-balanced heating of the entire contact area.

Sports seats with backrest width and lumbar adjustment.

The sports seats come additionally with individual adjustment of backrest width, a feature so far only available in the BMW M3. This allows the customer to adjust the width of the backrest by means of air cushions electropneumatically to his body contours, thus meeting this personal comfort requirements and reflecting his personal style of motoring. The seat literally cocoons the driver, intensifying his contact with the car.

Electropneumatic lumbar support also serves to provide optimum comfort, adjusting the backrest on the level of the lumbar spine to the driver’s personal requirements. Featuring this four-way horizontal and vertical adjustment, the new 3 Series now ranks equal to BMW’s luxury performance models also in this respect and is far superior to the competition.

The centre armrest available as an option for the driver adjusts fore-and-aft according to individual requirements. The large storage compartment beneath the padded armrest conveniently houses odds and ends such as beverage cans without any rattling noise. And if the car is fitted with automatic air conditioning as an option, the storage compartment is even ventilated.

More shoulder width and kneeroom at the rear.

Particularly the passengers at the rear enjoy much larger and more generous dimensions, benefitting from more than 50 per cent of the increase in length. Despite the coupé-like roofline, headroom is just as generous as on the former model. Shoulder width and kneeroom, in turn, are up significantly.

Whenever the centre seat at the rear remains unoccupied, the centre armrest offers the passengers a significant improvement of motoring comfort to an even higher level. In basic trim the rear-seat backrest is fitted firmly in position, while as an option it comes with a 60:40 split folding down as required. In that case a cupholder and ski-bag are integrated in the armrest.

With the new 3 Series being a very versatile car, it obviously requires a particularly large range of storage and luggage options. So even in standard trim, the car comes with several convenient open storage boxes as well as storage recesses within easy reach of the driver and front passenger. An optional storage package offers additional facilities, nets in the seat backrests as well as two power sockets in the centre console.

Larger luggage compartment with practical details.

The luggage compartment is 20 litres larger than before, offering total capacity of 460 litres or 16.1 cu ft. This is sufficient for two large and one small Samsonite cases or three 46-inch golf bags.

The storage package available as an option comes with folding hooks for hanging up bags, a power socket, nets on the side panels, a net with lashing points on the floor of the luggage compartment, an umbrella holder as well as a two-piece storage trough at the bottom of the luggage compartment. The wet compartment protects the luggage area as a whole from wet or dirty objects and may also be used as a transport bag.

The highly innovative drawer beneath the parcel shelf is extremely practical in everyday use: Extra-large and able to carry a load of up to 5 kilos, it can hold two full office files and helps to keep the luggage compartment tidy and uncluttered at all times. And should the driver require the full capacity of the luggage compartment from time to time, the drawer is easy to remove within a matter of seconds. This is the first time that BMW has such a feature.

Another option is the modular ski-bag. “Modular� means that the bag may be removed completely, for example to dry it outside the car. In that case it may be replaced by a storage box, cupholders for the rear-seat passengers, or a cooling box.

Cockpit with BMW’s classic two-eye instrument cluster.

The cockpit in the new BMW 3 Series comes in the look and with all the functions so typical of the brand: The instrument cluster in its classic two-eye combination of the speedometer and rev counter is naturally featured in all models from the ground up. And in comparison with the former model, Check/Control now comes with a wider range of functions as on the BMW 5 Series.

Apart from the standard steering wheel, the customer has the choice of two multifunction steering wheels or a sports steering wheel, the latter also with multifunction buttons where required. Finished in leather, the sports steering wheel is made up of a steel rim cast into a magnesium skeleton to ensure specific, predetermined deformation of the spokes in the event of a collision.

The new 3 Series makes the conventional ignition key a thing of the past.

The new BMW 3 Series does without a conventional ignition key and has no ignition lock for starting the engine. Instead, these functions are performed by a modern remote control key with smooth edges all round – which, incidentally eliminates the old problem of a sharp-edged key making a hole in your trouser pocket. In particular, however, this new key technology offers two optional features in the interest of much greater motoring comfort – keyless access to the car and a keyless engine start.

On models with this feature and to start the engine without using a key, all the driver has to do is insert the remote control key into the slot next to the steering wheel and press the start/stop button to fire the engine – while pressing down the brake in an automatic transmission model or the clutch in a manual gearbox car. To switch off the engine he again just presses the start/stop button. And on a car with automatic transmission the remote control key can only be removed with the transmission set to park.

On cars fitted with optional Comfort Access the new key concept puts an end to the tedious process of looking for the key: In this case the driver does not even have to hold the key now referred to as the ID sensor in order to open, start, drive and switch off the car. Rather, all you have to do is carry the ID sensor somewhere on your body, for example in your jacket, in your briefcase, or in a bag.

Keeping the “key� in your pocket while entering the car.

Walking up to his BMW properly locked and secured, all the driver has to do with Comfort Access is pull the door handle in order to open the door. Then, as he is taking his seat at the wheel, the Personal Profile functions serve to adjust, say, the driver’s seating position, the automatic air conditioning and the radio station according to the driver’s personal requirements.

Over and above these three functions, Car & Key Memory (CKM) also sets the interior and exterior mirrors, the central locking and interior lights, the audio system sound effects and, in a car appropriately equipped, the presentation on the Control Display as well as the voice entry setting.

Once the driver is ready to go, he simply presses the start/stop button. Once he has reached his destination, in turn, he presses the same button to switch off the engine. Then, placing his finger on the marked surface on the door handle after getting out and closing the door, he automatically locks and secures the car without requiring any further action. If he has forgotton the ID sensor in the car the doors will not lock and the driver will receive an appropriate warning. And should the electronic key control system ever fail to operate, the driver can insert the ID sensor into a slot in the instrument panel in order to drive the car just as conveniently the “conventional� way.

Many functions also for the front passenger.

The control concept of the new 3 Series integrates the front passenger more actively than on the former model. Most of the comfort and additional functions, for example, are controlled from the middle in the centre console, with convenient access from both seats. This control area referred to as the Centre Stack forms the intersection between the driver zone (left) and the comfort zone (right) as well as the information level (top) and the control level (bottom). This subdivision is highlighted in particular by the binnacle in the instrument panel with the Display just below, whenever the customer has his car fitted with a navigation system. But we also find the same allocation of functions on the basic model as such.

Optimum heating and air conditioning.

Heating and air conditioning are becoming increasingly important in a modern car these days. The objective BMW’s engineers gave themselves for the new 3 Series was to have the fastest heating and cooling response of all cars in this segment, together with enhanced noise control and a wide range of individual settings and adjustments. To reach this goal they optimised the throughput of air, increasing the flow volume to a level never seen before in this class: In theory the entire amount of air within the passenger compartment can be completely replaced three times a minute. And the consistent left/right separation of temperature settings ensures a high level of personalisation.

Automatic air conditioning available as an option offers optimum climate comfort and control at all times. Without causing the slightest draught or noise, the system builds up the temperature required very quickly indeed, then consistently maintaining that temperature without any fluctuations. This high standard of climate control is further refined by a micro-activated carbon filter, a harmful gas sensor, individual control maps for the automatic air conditioning, automatic anti-misting, as well as a solar sensor. So again, these sophisticated components contribute to the 3 Series’ significant leadership in the area of climate management and control.

Glass roof for a genuine convertible feeling.

Opening the glass roof available as an optional extra, the driver and passengers will enjoy a genuine convertible feeling in BMW’s Sports Saloon. With its sliding/vent functions and large opening, the sunroof literally floods the interior with bright light. Moved back in or in its vent position, the glass roof perfectly rounds off the effect of the air conditioning venting the interior even faster and more effectively. With the roof closed, in turn, a special sliding film in the grooves closes the roof seam for perfect visual and acoustic insulation. The roof lining sliding to-and-fro closes completely into position, without leaving any air vents or slots open. This ensures optimum protection from high and low temperatures and helps again to keep the noise level to a minimum.

Keep the sunshine out – sundim glazing and sunblinds.

Direct sunglare sometimes has a dazzling effect and is quite generally unpleasant. So sundim glass available as an option on the rear side windows as well as the rear window itself is able to prevent any such unpleasant effects, filtering out more than 50 per cent of the light and heat irradation while at the same time naturally fulfilling all safety and security requirements.

A further advantage appreciated by many customers is that sundim glass ensures much greater privacy inside the car. The same effect is provided by the optional sunblinds on both sections of the rear side windows opening and closing by hand. The sunblind on the rear window, in turn, opening and closing electrically, helps to keep high temperatures outside of the car. The BMW 3 Series is incidentally the only car in its class to currently offer sunblinds on the side windows.

Interior illumination – important for the occupants’ well-being.

The interior illumination has an often underestimated influence on the feeling of roominess and well-being. Precisely this is why the BMW 3 Series comes with a separate light at the front and rear of the roof liner ensuring very good illumination throughout the interior. Further features are the illumination of the glove box as well as the luggage compartment.

An additional lights package available as an option illuminates the interior even more homogenously and without the slightest dazzle, thus providing an even better feeling of space and roominess. Use of ambient light diodes enhances both the feeling of security as well as ease of control in the dark and the occupants’ general feeling of well-being. Further features included in the package are footwell lights at the front, two lights in the vanity mirrors, cutout lights in the doors, and complete illumination of the outside door area.

Door area illumination now also in the midrange segment.

The BMW 3 Series is the only car in its class to offer illumination of the area around the doors. The LEDs used for this purpose are fitted in the door handles at the outside and are activated by remote control or, respectively, Comfort Access together with the interior lights. The effect is bright illumination up to approximately 1.5 metres in front of the door once the customer approaches the car in order to get in.

Park Distance Control for easier parking.

Ultrasound distance measurement by PDC Park Distance Control makes the process of parking the car much easier by warning the driver both graphically and through sound signals of any obstacles. Available as an option, PDC starts to emit its warning signals as soon as an obstacle is only 1.5 metres (front) and, respectively, 2 metres (rear) away from the car. The graphic display presents the car from above as well as any obstacles, which are shown as coloured spots for exact location by the driver. Again, the new 3 Series is the only car in its class to provide both an optical and an acoustic warning.

Audio system with luxury sound quality.

The audio system offers a high standard of home quality sound and reception. A complete stereo unit with a radio and CD player comes as standard, four loudspeakers ensuring high-quality sound.

The HIFI and HIFI Professional stereo systems are available as optional extras, featuring the same loudspeakers as in the 6 Series with the same level of performance. The two central woofers are housed beneath the front seats to ensure a consistent, steady quality of deep bass sound within the car. The woofer volume required for this purpose is provided by integrating the side-sills. The HIFI Professional system, in addition to all these features, also boasts the amplifier fitted in the 6 Series.

Additional sub-woofers included in this system ensure excellent surround sound also at the rear. Road noise, finally, is efficiently compensated in fine stages by a speed-dependent equalising effect in the deep bass band.

LOGIC7 – not only one, but rather all the world’s concert halls in your car.

The HIFI Professional system uses the LOGIC7 concept, a special audio signal processing method for two-channel stereo signals and multi-channel multi-media signals. The result is a surround sound effect coming very close to the original. To provide this effect, a matrix circuit breaks down every analogue or digital stereo signal into 7 individual signals then processed according to the specific vehicle involved and its requirements.

Featuring the LOGIC7 concept, HIFI Professional offers the occupants not only one, but rather all the world’s concert halls in their car: To develop a surround sound effect as true as possible to the original, LOGIC7 uses the spatial information included in every stereo signal and splits up this information into two sound dimensions: The place where the sound was generated in the first place and the acoustic surroundings or the room where the sound is now able to develop. The effect for the listener is a very “spatial� sound experience together with precise sound resolution. It is also much easier to pinpoint the respective sources of sound, particularly moving sources coming out far more impressively and with a much more plastic effect.

Receiver for analogue and digital television.

BMW is the first car maker to offer a hybrid TV receiver able to receive and process both analogue and digital television signals. This offers significant advantages in terms of both quality and control, especially because the customer no longer requires an additional box for digital reception.

In most large European cities and densely populated areas, digital television currently allows reception of up to 30 TV channels in brilliant quality, offers a videotext function and comes with an electronic programme guide. For legal reasons the TV image is blackened while driving, but the sound remains.

Integration of the telephone with a Bluetooth interface.

Equipped with a universal mobile phone preparation kit, the 3 Series is open for various mobile phones featuring Bluetooth technology. Since the mobile phone is networked to the car’s electronic system through a wireless connection, it may be operated from the multifunction steering wheel allowing all control functions as well as hands-free use even if the mobile phone is not in its cradle. All it has to do is remain within a radius of approximately 10 metres around the car.

Accessories: Tailor-Made for Every Taste.

The customer can choose from various equipment packages giving his BMW 3 Series even more individual style and character. The wide range of special equipment, in turn, makes the car even more personal and functional, ranging from styling-oriented design features all the way to the latest technologies in mobile communication.

For sheer driving pleasure in your own individual style.

Original BMW Parts and Accessories are tailored precisely to the BMW 3 Series and naturally fulfill all quality and safety criteria also applicable to the car itself and its equipment packages.

Light-alloy wheels are among the highlights within the wide range of BMW Parts and Accessories, giving the 3 Series an even more dynamic look. And since Original BMW Light-Alloy Wheels are already included in the 3 Series’ homologation, the customer is not required to enter such wheels subsequently in his car’s documents.

Bigfoot: 19-inch light-alloy wheels.

The 19-inch light-alloy wheels in 199 star-spoke and 179 star-spoke design are absolute highlights in terms of both looks and their technical features. Combined with 225/35 tyres up front and 255/30 tyres at the rear, they are the largest combination of wheels and tyres approved for the 3 Series. Star-spoke 199 is a cast aluminium wheel with visible wheel bolts. The two-piece star-spoke 179 wheel, in turn, stands out through its titanium bolts and high-polish rim.

18-inch wheels in two spoke design options.

The 18-inch cast aluminium wheels featuring visible wheel bolts – double-spoke 195 and radial-spoke 196 – are somewhat smaller. Like the 19-inch wheels, they come with runflat technology interacting with EH2 rims to prevent the tyre jumping off the wheel under a loss in pressure. This enables the driver to go on driving his BMW with certain restrictions even on a completely empty tyre.

Dark tail lights.

Not only does the new BMW 3 Series offer striking night-time design – there is also the additional Black Line design option for the tail lights distinguishing the car clearly from its “regular� brothers. On these very sporting rear lights, the direction indicators and reversing lights are finished in grey, the brake and tail lights come in a darker red than usual.

M3-style front air dam and rear spoiler.

The BMW M3 is the epitome of the sports saloon. Which means it is no surprise that many a driver of a 3 Series would like to give his car the same look. So BMW’s wide range of Original Parts and Accessories offers ideal options for precisely this purpose, such as an add-on element for the front air dam and the rear spoiler. The front element is made of carbon, an ultra-light racing material. Optimised by BMW’s engineers in the wind tunnel, this special feature is finished in clear paint to visually highlight the special look of carbon-fibre. The rear spoiler finished in body colour fits on to the bootlid of the car, providing exactly the right counterpart to the front air dam.

Retrofittable parking aid.

To park the car more safely and to avoid problems when approaching an obstacle, BMW PDC Park Distance Control is also retrofittable. The four PDC distance sensors are fitted, respectively, in the numberplate supports front and rear.

Welcome!

“Welcome to the 3 Series� – that is the message presented by the illuminated model designation on the entry strip featured for the first time in this model series and adding a particularly individual touch. Illuminated by an electro-luminescent film within the stainless steel trimstrip, the model designation is clearly visible at dusk, while in bright light the designation stands out just as clearly in its chrome look.

Selector lever and handbrake handle in wood and leather.

Wood and leather are simply inimitable in their look and touch. Exuding an aura of luxury and sportiness, these materials are available as accessories in the 3 Series: The gearshift lever knob or selector lever come in burr walnut or grained poplar as a perfect match for the interior trim. This is combined with black Nasca leather on the gaiter, while the handbrake lever is made completely of wood.

Snap-in adapter for the Siemens S65 mobile phone.

The original BMW snap-in adapter, for example for the Siemens S65 mobile phone, offers an even higher standard of comfort and convenience, enabling the user to place this popular phone where it belongs in the centre console. This automatically charges the battery and connects the phone to the car’s aerial, offering the customer perfect reception in this BMW.

Retrofittable DVD for the car, your hotel room and leisure time.

The retrofittable portable DVD system in high-quality BMW design makes every trip on holiday with your children, time spent at the airport or at a hotel a genuine cinema experience: The system consists of a DVD player with a 10.2-inch TFT monitor for playing DVD, CD, MP3 and WMA formats inside and outside the car. Playback is by cordless infra-red headsets or via built-in loudspeakers.

ConnectedService: Transparent and Efficient.

Introducing the unique ConnectedService concept, the BMW 3 Series is setting new standards in service, maintenance, and repair. The most advanced telecommunication technology in ConnectedService ensures optimum clarity, transparency and efficiency, offering the customer even clearer and easier- to-plan service schedules, shorter service times with his Service Partner, and lower cost of service. The service system is made up of Condition-Based Service, TeleService and the KeyReader.

Condition-Based Service uses existing systems and control units within the car permanently monitoring various components subject to wear as well as operating fluids by means of special, intricate algorithms. A new feature is that Condition-Based Service not only informs the driver on the current state of his car, but also ‘thinks’ for and on behalf of the driver: The driver is automatically informed four weeks in advance of a forthcoming service appointment, for example in order to replace the brake linings or exchange the engine oil.

The data relevant to such service requirements is saved on a chip in the key to the car. Via an electronic reader, the KeyReader, this information then goes straight into the Service Partner’s computer, which issues a specific, job-related order on this basis. The big advantage for the customer is greater clarity on the work to be done and a better understanding of his car’s requirements. There is no risk of mistakes or misunderstandings, and service reception is both quicker and simpler, the Service Advisor having more time for personal talks with the customer.

Your Service Partner is already waiting for your car.

The new 3 Series nevertheless offers even more: As soon as Condition-Based Service determines the need for service in the foreseeable future, the data registered is transmitted by BMW TeleService through a text message to the driver’s BMW Service Partner. There the Service Advisor knows immediately what kind of service the car requires without even having seen the car before. The only prerequisite is that the car must be equipped with the optional BMW Business mobile phone preparation kit (option 633) and must be covered by a BMW Assist contract.

BMW TeleService allows the Service Partner to determine the work required on the car in advance and with a very high level of precision, enabling him to order any parts possibly required. This keeps the time spent in the workshop to a minimum, the customer’s only job being to agree on an appointment at the workshop when he receives a call from his Service Partner.

Precise service appointments saving time and money.

Instead of rigid, distance-related service intervals, BMW has offered customers the BMW Service Interval Indicator ever since the ’80s as a system reflecting the actual use of the car far more precisely. Now, in the new BMW 3 Series, Condition-Based Service determines service appointments even more precisely, measuring the current state of parts subject to wear and tear as well as the condition of the car’s operating fluids. Sensors and complex algorithms determine the service required, focusing on components subject to wear as well as time- and distance-related requirements.

As a result, Condition-Based Service is able to remind the customer exactly of his service appointments by means of an information signal in the instrument panel and, at the driver’s request after having made the necessary settins, through the Display as well as warning signals should the driver for some reason fail to observe a service appointment.

Production: Networked and Flexible.

The BMW Group uses networks to optimise its own resources. For only a high-performance production network allows a quick and flexible response to customer wishes and market conditions constantly changing in the course of time. Networking knowledge at an early point and ensuring an outstanding commitment of associates within the production network, the BMW Group is able to build cars the world over according to individual customer requirements and with the high standard of quality people expect.

The production concept.

The high standard of flexibility in production of the new BMW 3 Series is based on close cooperation of development engineers and production specialists right from the start. Looking at the development of model variants throughout the last two generations of the 3 Series, we quickly see the ongoing improvement of flexibility: All derivatives of the new BMW 3 Series share one and the same identical front body section – and this is quite sufficient to meet all customer demands. On the former model there were three different body sections at the front, and on the generation before no less than 30 different front sections.

In vehicle assembly the “neutral main assembly line� forms the focal point in the production concept: Using so-called “integration modules� – for example the cockpit, the front-end and the doors – BMW production reduces the number of job processes and variants on the main line. These integration modules are completed in the process of pre-assembly and go just-in-sequence to the main line.

Developments of this kind in body production and assembly provide the foundation for highly flexible production structures not only within one plant, but rather throughout the BMW Group’s entire production network. Flexible working time concepts, the separation of personal working hours from machine operating times, as well as production machinery flexible in terms of variants and production volume also serve to quickly set off seasonal fluctuations, changes in the economy, as well as ups and downs in the product lifecycle. In all, these modules provide the foundation for the profitable production of individual premium cars.

The production network.

Production of the new BMW 3 Series will start out at the four BMW plants in Munich, Regensburg, Leipzig, and Rosslyn, with Shenyang in China following somewhat later. These plants will build different variants of the new 3 Series and in some cases additional models in other series. This gives the BMW Group’s production network sufficient freedom to adjust production capacities flexibly to market conditions. And to maintain a high level of efficiency and quality at all locations right from the start, the production concept rests on the following features and criteria:

• Identical plant concepts with flexible main lines and specific sub-groups.
• Single-tooling at the central press shop: Large body components such as the doors, lids, roof or side-frame are transported from a central production facility to their points of assembly.
• Identical testing and coding systems for the car’s electrics/electronics.

The BMW Group’s network philosophy serves furthermore to promote the successful cooperation of all locations. The old philosophy was to have all plants compete internally against one another, each plant striving for the best solution. Today the mission for each plant is to find the best solution for the network as a whole.

BMW Munich Plant.

BMW’s Munich Plant is the original plant within the BMW Group’s global production network of great historical significance. Initially both BMW aircraft engines and motorcycles were built in Munich prior to the first production of cars in the 1950s. Since then more than 7 million cars have come off the assembly line in Munich, where today 11,000 associates from more than 50 countries build approximately 800 cars and more than 1,200 engines a day.

The new BMW 3 Series will be built initially at the Munich Plant. Associates in Munich were prepared for the ramp-up of the new 3 Series at an early point, specialists from the Bodyshop, Paintshop and Assembly working from the start in the Pilot Plant at BMW’s Research and Innovation Centre on the first prototypes. Now, given their experience, they are making a significant contribution to streamlining the ramp-up process at BMW’s other plants.

Fully integrated within the BMW Group’s global production network, the Munich Plant now builds the new BMW 3 Series Saloon flexibly according to customer requirements. Other highlights in Munich are the production of BMW’s six-, eight- and 12-cylinder petrol engines, eight-cylinder diesel engines, as well as high-performance engines for BMW M Cars.

BMW Regensburg Plant.

In preparing for production of the 1 Series in a general process of expansion and reorganisation, the Regensburg Plant was also prepared for production of the new 3 Series. Benefitting from skilful production planning, standardised processes and highly qualified associates, the Regensburg Plant builds the BMW 1 Series, the new BMW 3 Series Saloon, as well as the Coupé and Convertible versions of the former model including the BMW M3 in a single-line system, that is on one main assembly line. Flexibility of this standard is quite unique throughout the global car industry.

The Bodyshop in Regensburg ensures a high standard of flexibility in building different models and series. The new floor plan assembly facility, for example, is able to build cars varying significantly in length. Rebuilt and enlarged dramatically in the last two years, the Paintshop is now one of the most modern and innovative facilities of its kind the world over: Following the Dingolfing Plant, the Regensburg Plant is the BMW Group’s second production facility to use powder clear paint technology particularly beneficial to the environment.

New assembly lines have been established or existing lines lengthened in all assembly areas, focusing in all cases on optimum ergonomic design of the workbays and job areas.

The Central Bodyshop focusing particularly on the doors and lids is close to the plant premises, supplying doors and lids to all BMW plants which build the 1 and 3 Series. Taking metal panels pre-formed at the Press Shop, the Central Bodyshop makes front and rear lids as well as doors in highly automated facilities. BMW Leipzig Plant. Starting in spring 2005, the new BMW 3 Series will also be built at BMW’s new plant in Leipzig. Using flexible working time concepts, BMW’s Leipzig Plant is able to build cars between 60 and 140 hours a week, responding very flexibly and quickly to specific demands and requirements in the market. And being perfectly connected to the road network, the railways and the airport, Leipzig is able to interact quickly and efficiently with the BMW Group’s car plants in Bavaria.

Through its inherent structure, Leipzig has flexible options for expanding in all areas of production: The Bodyshop, Paintshop and Assembly are arranged around the Central Building like a kind of star offering growth options in several directions.

The Production Divisions in Leipzig are among the most advanced of their kind the world over, the Leipzig Paintshop using powder clear paint technology right from the start. The Assembly area, in turn, has a kind of “comb structure�, a floor plan allowing direct transportation of supply parts to the production lines over the shortest possible distance.

To supply Assembly efficiently with pre-manufactured components and modules, suppliers pre-assemble their parts and components in a Supply Centre on the plant premises: Modules such as the seats or the complete cockpit are built up here in all variants required and with all special features in exactly the right sequence for subsequent production and are then transported to the assembly lines by means of automated conveyor technology.

BMW Rosslyn Plant.

BMW’s Rosslyn Plant is about 30 kilometres north of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. Opened by BMW in 1973 as a CKD (completely knocked down) plant, Rosslyn built all BMW model series only for the local market until 1996. After South African production was opened up for exports, production capacity was increased from 70 units a day in one shift to more than 200 units a day in two shifts, the current status in Rosslyn.

By 1997 the BMW Group had developed the Rosslyn Plant step-by-step into a fully fledged plant for the production of the BMW 3 Series Saloon, cars from Rosslyn going mainly to the USA, Japan and Sub-Saharan countries.

To prepare production of the new 3 Series in Rosslyn, a number of associates in South Africa moved to Germany for a period of almost three years. Cooperating closely with specialists in Development and Planning in Munich, they were able to acquire the know-how required for efficient processes from the start maintaining BMW’s high standard of production quality.

The BMW 3 Series in CKD production: developing the market in key regions of Asia.

The BMW Group’s strategy of internationalisation is reflected by a growing number of foreign sales subsidiaries and production plants. Despite increasing deregulation of global sales markets, however, access to markets in key regions such as South-East Asia is still obstructed today by trade barriers. Import duties on cars in Malaysia, for example, are up to 300 per cent.

For many years CKD (Completely Knocked Down) production has been a successful tool for developing these markets, above all in the case of premium cars. With import duties on parts and components generally being far lower than on completely built-up cars, local production ensures competitive prices

and allows larger sales figures. Hence, the BMW Group operates CKD production plants and joint ventures in car production in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Russia. And following the start of 3 Series production at the BMW Group’s car production plants, the new model will also enter CKD production in these countries.

Specifications BMW 3 Series Saloon