Read the BMW 330i's real-time logbook entries.
Is the all-new 2006 BMW 3 Series the final evolution of the sport sedan? Is it the best four-door conveyance in a market already bursting with near perfect cars? As automotive journalists we're not allowed to make such extreme statements as "the 2006 BMW 330i is perfect." That would be unprofessional. That would show a lack of critical analysis. After all, no vehicle is truly perfect, right?
Except for this one. The 2006 BMW 330i is perfect. Go ahead and revoke our automotive journalist license…just leave us the car!
After declaring the 3 Series a winner in shoot-outs with the heavily revised and similarly stellar 2005 Audi A4 and all-new 2006 Lexus IS 350, we recently added an Electric Red 2006 BMW 330i to our long-term test fleet. We've been thrilled with the car during each of our short-term encounters, including our first drive experience, but the true test of any car's desirability comes from living with it and experiencing everything from daily commuting to dealership service.
Our 3 Series showed up well equipped, sporting the requisite Sport Package (18-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension and aggressive front-seat bolsters), as well as the Premium Package and Cold Weather Package. It also had Sirius Satellite Radio, further extending the capabilities of its AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit. As expected, these features come at a cost, taking the 330i's base price of $37,295 up to $42,685 (both prices include destination charge). One staffer was even heard balking at the final tally. "Forty-two grand for a 3 Series? I know it's a great car and all, but $42,000?"
A reasonable question to be sure. Even at 2006 prices you can get a lot of car for $42,000. The competition from Acura (TL), Audi (A4), Infiniti (G35) and Lexus (IS 350) can all be had for less — substantially less when similarly equipped. And two of those models, the G35 and IS 350, create considerably more horsepower with their 3.5-liter V6s. The 330i's 3.0-liter inline six produces a healthy 255 horsepower, but the G35 manages 298 hp, and the IS 350 generates 306 hp.
Of course it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. If you shop by spreadsheet you'll likely never even take the 3 Series for a test-drive. That's a shame, because it requires quality time behind the wheel to uncover this car's true magic. Edmunds.com Editor in Chief Karl Brauer got plenty of seat time during the car's first month in the fleet and came away even more impressed than he expected to be. "How does BMW keep making this car better? I figured the last-generation 3 was pretty much 'it' in terms of driving dynamics. Sure, the new model would have more power, greater interior space, improved control layout, blah-blah-blah. All the things you expect in a redesign. However, it was inconceivable to me that BMW could make it drive better…but it did!"
Inside Line Editor in Chief Rich Homan had a similar take on our long-termer. "Sitting in our new long-term 3 Series reminds me of how these cars feel compared to the bulk of their competition. Every 3 Series I've driven feels like a destination, whereas every C-Class has felt like it was built for the guy who can't swing an E-Class, but wants the three-pointed star. A C-Class feels like a transitional step to the destination, but the 3 is the destination."
Rich continued to sing the 330i's praises when describing the car's interior design and driving dynamics. "The interior makes you believe that a sporty car can be luxurious and that a luxury car can embody sport. The inline six is one of the sweetest engines in the world, with a roll-on of power that's smooth and authoritative. The six-speed manual is mated, not just matched, to the engine. The steering is crisp and clean; the brakes are positive in pedal feel and performance."
Among the items included in the Premium Package is a Bluetooth system that can "pair" with a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Karl tried out this technology for the first time in our long-term 3 Series and was immediately smitten. "OK, I officially love Bluetooth. It's easy to set up, and it makes using a phone while driving a seamless activity. Better still, it provides exceptional voice quality. I could hear the person on the other end of the line clearly through the 3 Series' audio system, and they consistently told me that I sounded great. No bulky, geeky headsets required."
In spite of the car's seductive driving dynamics and luxurious interior we did find a few nits to pick. First, why does the radio's tuning knob only switch between preset stations rather than manually tuning the frequency? Yes, you can hit the small "m" button to make it manual, but after a few seconds it defaults back to "preset" mode. With so many other ways to select the preset stations (memory buttons on the head unit and a toggle switch on the steering wheel) why does BMW feel this knob should also serve this purpose? We further noticed that the center console's display couldn't be seen with polarized sunglasses — surprising in a car dubbed "the ultimate driving machine."
On the upside, our 3 Series' driving nirvana doesn't require a hefty fuel bill. Our average mileage for the first 2,000 miles was over 22 mpg, and we weren't exactly babying the throttle. The EPA estimates are 20 city/30 highway, and considering our mileage and driving styles we think mid-20s would be easy to achieve — if you can avoid driving the car the way it begs to be driven.
We've got another 11 months to experience the 3 Series, and it's clear the keys won't be getting dusty. Actually, "keys" is a misnomer, as the new 3 Series now uses the same Smart Key system as found on the 5 and 7 Series. This means shoving the entire key fob into the dash before pressing an "engine start" button, rather than the traditional method of inserting a metal key and twisting. Regardless, Mr. Homan probably said it best when he succinctly stated, "The 2006 BMW 330i is a welcome addition to our long-term fleet."
See, we can be professional when discussing the 3 Series.
Current Odometer: 1,796
Best Fuel Economy: 24.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 20.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 22.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None.
Read the BMW 330i's real-time logbook entries.
Is the all-new 2006 BMW 3 Series the final evolution of the sport sedan? Is it the best four-door conveyance in a market already bursting with near perfect cars? As automotive journalists we're not allowed to make such extreme statements as "the 2006 BMW 330i is perfect." That would be unprofessional. That would show a lack of critical analysis. After all, no vehicle is truly perfect, right?
Except for this one. The 2006 BMW 330i is perfect. Go ahead and revoke our automotive journalist license…just leave us the car!
After declaring the 3 Series a winner in shoot-outs with the heavily revised and similarly stellar 2005 Audi A4 and all-new 2006 Lexus IS 350, we recently added an Electric Red 2006 BMW 330i to our long-term test fleet. We've been thrilled with the car during each of our short-term encounters, including our first drive experience, but the true test of any car's desirability comes from living with it and experiencing everything from daily commuting to dealership service.
Our 3 Series showed up well equipped, sporting the requisite Sport Package (18-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension and aggressive front-seat bolsters), as well as the Premium Package and Cold Weather Package. It also had Sirius Satellite Radio, further extending the capabilities of its AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit. As expected, these features come at a cost, taking the 330i's base price of $37,295 up to $42,685 (both prices include destination charge). One staffer was even heard balking at the final tally. "Forty-two grand for a 3 Series? I know it's a great car and all, but $42,000?"
A reasonable question to be sure. Even at 2006 prices you can get a lot of car for $42,000. The competition from Acura (TL), Audi (A4), Infiniti (G35) and Lexus (IS 350) can all be had for less — substantially less when similarly equipped. And two of those models, the G35 and IS 350, create considerably more horsepower with their 3.5-liter V6s. The 330i's 3.0-liter inline six produces a healthy 255 horsepower, but the G35 manages 298 hp, and the IS 350 generates 306 hp.
Of course it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. If you shop by spreadsheet you'll likely never even take the 3 Series for a test-drive. That's a shame, because it requires quality time behind the wheel to uncover this car's true magic. Edmunds.com Editor in Chief Karl Brauer got plenty of seat time during the car's first month in the fleet and came away even more impressed than he expected to be. "How does BMW keep making this car better? I figured the last-generation 3 was pretty much 'it' in terms of driving dynamics. Sure, the new model would have more power, greater interior space, improved control layout, blah-blah-blah. All the things you expect in a redesign. However, it was inconceivable to me that BMW could make it drive better…but it did!"
Inside Line Editor in Chief Rich Homan had a similar take on our long-termer. "Sitting in our new long-term 3 Series reminds me of how these cars feel compared to the bulk of their competition. Every 3 Series I've driven feels like a destination, whereas every C-Class has felt like it was built for the guy who can't swing an E-Class, but wants the three-pointed star. A C-Class feels like a transitional step to the destination, but the 3 is the destination."
Rich continued to sing the 330i's praises when describing the car's interior design and driving dynamics. "The interior makes you believe that a sporty car can be luxurious and that a luxury car can embody sport. The inline six is one of the sweetest engines in the world, with a roll-on of power that's smooth and authoritative. The six-speed manual is mated, not just matched, to the engine. The steering is crisp and clean; the brakes are positive in pedal feel and performance."
Among the items included in the Premium Package is a Bluetooth system that can "pair" with a Bluetooth-enabled phone. Karl tried out this technology for the first time in our long-term 3 Series and was immediately smitten. "OK, I officially love Bluetooth. It's easy to set up, and it makes using a phone while driving a seamless activity. Better still, it provides exceptional voice quality. I could hear the person on the other end of the line clearly through the 3 Series' audio system, and they consistently told me that I sounded great. No bulky, geeky headsets required."
In spite of the car's seductive driving dynamics and luxurious interior we did find a few nits to pick. First, why does the radio's tuning knob only switch between preset stations rather than manually tuning the frequency? Yes, you can hit the small "m" button to make it manual, but after a few seconds it defaults back to "preset" mode. With so many other ways to select the preset stations (memory buttons on the head unit and a toggle switch on the steering wheel) why does BMW feel this knob should also serve this purpose? We further noticed that the center console's display couldn't be seen with polarized sunglasses — surprising in a car dubbed "the ultimate driving machine."
On the upside, our 3 Series' driving nirvana doesn't require a hefty fuel bill. Our average mileage for the first 2,000 miles was over 22 mpg, and we weren't exactly babying the throttle. The EPA estimates are 20 city/30 highway, and considering our mileage and driving styles we think mid-20s would be easy to achieve — if you can avoid driving the car the way it begs to be driven.
We've got another 11 months to experience the 3 Series, and it's clear the keys won't be getting dusty. Actually, "keys" is a misnomer, as the new 3 Series now uses the same Smart Key system as found on the 5 and 7 Series. This means shoving the entire key fob into the dash before pressing an "engine start" button, rather than the traditional method of inserting a metal key and twisting. Regardless, Mr. Homan probably said it best when he succinctly stated, "The 2006 BMW 330i is a welcome addition to our long-term fleet."
See, we can be professional when discussing the 3 Series.
Current Odometer: 1,796
Best Fuel Economy: 24.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 20.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 22.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None.
Read the BMW 330i's real-time logbook entries.
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