ashran2

hey
so i test drove a new 3series bmw. it to me just felt like the old car nothing much special about it.

it was more powerful but on the low revs at high revs it just felt like that engine was make more noise than power . i can't say much about handling and stuff cause i am no pro driver and dont give damn about it cause up here we only got straight roads to me winter driving is more important and it felt bit skittish when driven around corners. the interior was ok no idrive in the one that i drove also there was start engine button kinda like in s2000.

ne how here are the pics (i drove the silver one - other pics are from my friends) the cars had swedish registration plates on them so. these are the car that are going to be sold no more changes are going to take place i guess

liloj

i DONT like the interiors.....

1killercls

I just dont care for the 5 series...kind of mundane styling.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

That just is not an attractice car. What the hell was BMW thinking...

einsatz

I know the new 3 and 5 have some similar features, but, umm yeah.
I think the interiors are classy but look a bit too minimalistic.
Steering wheel is fugly, too much silver trim.

And you know, the outside really isn't bad. I'm not sure about the taillights, I think the later model E46s really had nice tail lights with the LEDs and all. I guess it'll just take time for us all to get used to the change. Personally, I think the new 5-series' exterior has grown on me. I wouldn't buy one, but it's no longer painful to watch.

Thanks ashran2 for posting the pics!

alpswd

nice pictures!

M TYPE X

Excellent photography.

It's arguable that the new Lexus IS looks better than the new 3-Series and the Audi A4.
Now, if Lexus is serious about doing an IS coupe ...

Water-S

holy cow if it was -22C doesn't that mean it's like -75 F. I complain when it gets down to -10 F. I can't Imagine -75 F. I'm surprised it even started. my car cranks hard when it's real cold(like -10 F)

SeCsTaC

fuck that i bitch and whine when its 55 degrees and under lol (which is only in the mornings) anyways i think the car looks pretty good

phile

The interior design looks as cold as the outside scenery.

Nice pics, kind weird to see a BMW without the angel eyes.

Crazy88

BMW interior=cold, edgy
MB interior=warm, rounded and easier on the eyes


BMW has pretty much abandoned wood trim and now they use brushed aluminum, that is the main factor in why BMW interiors are so cold and plain. black buttons and plastic with brushed aluminum just doesent do it, compared to chrome stylings, wood, and just cozier interiors of the benzes

ashran2

all the cars over here are fitted with motor warmers...so that the engine is not damaged.

u have to warm the engine atleast 2hrs before use when the temp is below -10C

i have honda accord (tsx) i manage to start it in -34C without any problem, even after it was standing for 2days.....




i think my accord(tsx) has better built quality and also i think bmw choice of interior plastic is very bad.
the 3 series rooflining was very weird if u kind of knocked on it u would feel just metal, i think they are not using a good sound damping stuff.

F900

when i asked about the new 3series they told be the base price will be $5000 more than what it is now.

biker

You got your conversion a bit off -22C is about -8F.

I should have my test drive on the 16th.

1killercls

My point was they look EXACTLY ALIKE. FUGLY.

Shawn S

Anyone else curious how is this car so CLEAN sitting in the snow like that?
Did they pack a mobile wash system in the trunk?
Or maybe AIR-LIFT the car?

ashran2

at-22C the snow never sticks to the car and..since there is no mud on the roads.
the car doesnt get dirty.

i think now u can stop wondering

M TYPE X

The Brit rags like to dump on the Euro Accord.
Such tools for BMW and Mazda. The EU Accord has to be nicer than the Avensis and Primera, and even with the 325i and Mazda 6.

M TYPE X

Maybe Svedish snow is different. Cars here get dirty as all out when it's subzero Fahrenheit.

dabuda

nice pictures

after seeing this, if i get a beemer in my lifetime its gonna be the current 3series gen

Dan Martin

What tires are on this car?

ashran2

those are spiked winter tyres from goodyear- ultragrip

i was surprised to see them use that tyre cause almost everyone uses Nokian - Hakkapeliitta 2(spikes) which are very good winter tyres





the magnified view

Dan Martin

Nice.

jdone

I don''t think the Swedes put down two inches of salt for every half inch of snow like the road dept. does around here.

ostrich

Ashran2, thanks for the great pics!

I must say that it looks incredibly similar to the old 3, in fact, a bit too similar?

With the current 3 series, I really resented the fact that the nice, thick chrome trim around the windows was just for the 330 only, while there was no chrome trim for the 325. Is it still the case for the new 3 series?

The interior is very clean-looking, but a bit cold and sterile, if you ask me....

Belzebutt

Great pictures!

Gotta love the short front overhang on the 3-series. The interior seems kind of crappy though, the black part where the stereo is seems early 90's style...

biker

So I got to drive the new E90 325 today. Here are some of my impressions.

The car I drove is very different in configuration than one you would find in the US. It had letherette with cloth inserts on the seats. Although the car had the sport package the seats were manually adjustable. The car was of the double hump variety with NAV. Oddball combo for the US (actuall you can't get that combo) but probably typical for Europe.

It was silver on the outside with black interior. The first thing that is noticeable is the room in the back seats - three kids were able to sit back there comfortably - and had the rear vents to play with - when they weren't requesting something be changed on the display.

I'm not sure what takes place of the area around the Idrive button without NAV but the thing has no cupholders. This Euro version didn't have the unit sliding out of the pass side. It had one inside! the compartment between driver and pass. WTF? The seats were very nice - it would be nice to be able to get that combo in the US - the combination of manual adjustments cloth/ette material and just the right amount of bolstering was great. And this wasn't some one or two way manual adjustment - everything could be adjusted - you just don't have motors doing all the work for you.

The demo was a 6MT. Push the fob into the slot in the dash (it sort of clicks in) push the clutch in and then hit the START botton. The sound of the 2.5L I6 is pretty nice but muted. I would describe the cabin as "sterile". Other than the climate controls there's nothing on the center stack. There's three stalks behind the fat steering wheel. Most functions can be done via the buttons on the wheel. The French woman's voice coming from the NAV was a bit annoying but hey that's the locality. The Idrive sems to be much improved over the one in the E60 5 series I tried out almost 2 years ago. Some dedicated buttons for certain functions would be an improvement yet.

The most disappointing thing about the car is the combination of CDV (clutch delay valve) and the drive by wire. That would be the first thing I would change if I got this car. There's just something I don't like about the take off. The 6MT shifting is great and short. Accelaration is quite good with 218HP under the hood. Handling is great - as they say - it's like on rails. The brakes were a bit grabby but I assume one can get used to that - the car only had 140km on the odo. Highway ride is very stable and at 140kph is a nice effortless cruise.

It's been quite some time since I drove the Euro Accord so I can't compare them much. Interior room is about the same and the 325 seems faster - with 218HP it should be. I'll have to take it out on a longer drive after the initial rush dies down.

phile

What double hump?

biker

One hump is standard, two humps with NAV - humps on the dash.

CLpower

I love it!