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Ken Gratton21 May 2015
REVIEW

BMW 3 Series 2015 Review

Its archrival is getting all the press, but the mid-life revival of the 3 Series proves it's still a strong contender

BMW 328i M Sport
Road Test

The 328i that's the subject of this review was finished in a vibrant metallic colour (Estoril Blue), one of several options specified to bring its purchase price up from $70,400 to the as-tested $77,860.

Sadly, one of those options was the combination of adaptive headlights with high-beam assist (for no extra charge). This option makes the most of the bi-xenon headlights and would be welcome as standard in a car priced above $70,000, although it's still worth a tick on the order form, even at $723.

The top-shelf four-cylinder 3 Series in the range, the Aussie-spec 328i for 2015 rose in price by $1000 back in February. New or upgraded features fitted as standard include 19-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, adaptive M suspension, DAB+ digital radio, Comfort Access, Head-Up Display, Driving Assistant, Lane Change Warning, reversing camera, Surround View cameras and six-speaker stereo loudspeaker system.

On balance, that's a fair amount of added equipment for a grand. But it's a sign too that BMW is unsettled by the arrival of the new 205-series Mercedes C-Class - and with good reason. There's a significant mid-life update not too far off, but the F30 generation soldiers on in the meantime, fielding the same general specification as the car that launched here early in 2012.

The steering is a glaring example of that. It's direct enough, but the feedback doesn't approach the same level as the C 250 until you've selected Sport or Sport+ modes through the Driving Experience Control, which also adjusts dampers, engine management and transmission shift points through four different driving modes.

Despite that, the BMW can be placed very precisely on the road, and it encourages being flung around in ways the Benz doesn't. The F30 sits on a taut chassis that's very amenable to driver input; the driver can pretty much dial up whatever cornering attitude he or she wants from the 328i. Gentle power on through the bends will ultimately lead to loss of adhesion at the front, but power oversteer can be provoked, as can neutral handling on a trailing throttle. In other words, it's a $70,000 family sedan that's actually fun to drive.

Boosting the enjoyment factor is the engine and transmission combo. The 328i engine provides decent torque from low revs for just cruising, but the power cranks up exponentially from around 2500rpm with the right foot buried in the carpet. As the engine approaches the redline, with the throttle wide open, it emits a thrilling, sporty note that is more enjoyable than the Benz's. At lower revs it's a warmer, bass burble, and at highway speeds the engine can't be heard at all.

There's a ZF eight-speed automatic bolted to the engine, delivering gear changes that are smooth but efficient, whether the engine's revving its head off or pulling up hill at low speeds. Using the shift paddles provides faster response for those occasions when kick-down can't come soon enough.

On that point, turbo lag seems to have been reduced and kick-down happens sooner now. We're not seeing major gains in fuel efficiency however. Over the course of the week, the 328i posted an average fuel consumption figure of 11.8L/100km.

In ECO PRO mode, the transmission will still shift down for additional engine braking on hills, because it's not using any extra fuel to do so, but it will also hold lower gears longer during acceleration in the Sport and Sport+ modes. Basically, the transmission has all the fundamentals for BMW to exploit, calibrating it to suit a wide range of needs for the 328i owner.

The car's ride comfort is usually compliant in Comfort and ECO PRO modes, but there's initial impact harshness present with the standard Bridgestone run-flats fitted. In the Sport and Sport+ modes, the ride is undeniably firmer, but the impact harshness seems no worse, and the hard-core driving modes will still cope well enough with longer and slower bumps. Ride comfort is not the tyres' only failing, they're pretty noisy too - and particularly in contrast with our long-term C 250 Estate.

At the 3 Series launch in 2012, every car tested required a hefty slam for the doors to seal effectively. That is very much a thing of the past, with the 328i's doors closing with a muffled thud from an easy push. It may not mean all that much, but it's a significant improvement, nonetheless.

After a bunch of mini people movers and small Euro hatches, the BMW feels like it sits very close to the road as you climb (fall?) into the driver's seat. It even feels like the 328i's hip point is lower than that of the C 250's. As it turns out, it is. The car's M Sport suspension leaves the upgraded 3 Series riding 10mm lower than before - and that seems to be just enough to notice entering the car.

The instrumentation and controls are pretty standard fare for a BMW. There's a wide open view of the instruments through the wheel, and mostly the placement and operation of the controls is self-explanatory after no more than five minutes of exploration. It's a minor surprise to see BMW persevere with a lever handbrake in this day and age. Right up close to the driver's left thigh - where it should be in a right-hand drive car! - it's clearly there for the odd occasion when the driver feels the urge to execute some drifting manoeuvres...

In fact, plenty about the 328i suggests it's still designed with track work in mind.

The front seats aren't among them, however. I found the seat base too flat and wide. These are supposedly the sports seats that come with the 328i's M Sport package, which was a $2000 option. You can adjust the length of the base for more support under the thighs, but they're not a patch on the C 250's for general comfort and snugness. In my review of the F30 model at its local launch I noted that the standard seats were a better compromise than the sports seats.

Rear-seat accommodation is adequate for adults of average size. There's wriggle room under the front seats for toes, and knee room is fine, but headroom may be marginal for those over 180cm tall, although that is with an optional sunroof ($2245) fitted.

Funny thing then, the 328i would seem to be a better car with fewer options fitted. Irrespective of that, the 328i is still an enjoyable 'driving machine' that is different enough from the C 250 to warrant consideration by those in the market.


2015 BMW 328i M Sport pricing and specifications:

Price: $77,860 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 180kW/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 147g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2012)

What we liked:   
Not so much:
>> Lusty but undemanding engine >> Run-flat ride
>> Fabulous handling >> And tyre noise
>> Agreeable styling and presentation >> C-Class has better seating

Also consider:
>> Mercedes-Benz C 250 (from $68,900 plus ORCs)
>> Audi A4 S Line (from $67,800 plus ORCs)
>> Jaguar XE (when it arrives)

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Written byKen Gratton
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