?BMW?s Sixth Gen 3-Series: All new ? but pleasingly so?
Familiarity Breeds content
?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?328i
Monterey, CA.- As usual, BMW has gone and improved an existing series to the point where it seems to surpass, or at the very least, to equal, the Series lineup above it. If that?s confusing, simply stated, the 6th generation 3-Series is all-new, yet is on a par with, if not better than earlier 5-Series models. Technically, the 2012 stable of 3-Series vehicles might well be termed the 61/2 or seventh generation, if one were to include the iconic 1600 and 2002 models.
This latest iteration 3-Series ? code-named F30 is truly a marvel that is offered in several forms. First of all, there are two basic models based on two engine variants: the 328i powered by a 2.0-liter, DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinder with TwinPower Turbo technology, High Precision Direct Injection, Valvetronic, and Double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing. The four-cylinder coded as N20 produces 240 horsepower in a range from 5,000-6,000 rpm, along with a torque rating of 255 pound feet from 1,250-4,800 rpm. This represents a healthy increase over the old N52 six-cylinder, which delivered only 230 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 200 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,750 rpm.
?Next is the 335i that draws its motive force from a 3.0-liter (coded N55) DOHC 24-valve inline six-cylinder with TwinPower Turbo technology, High Precision Direct Injection, Valvetronic, and Double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing. The inline six-cylinder makes 300 horses from 1,250-4,800 rpm while generating a like amount of torque (300 lb.-ft.) from 1,300-5,000 rpm. Both engines come with an engine Auto Stop/Start feature, and both models may be coupled to either a Turbo six-speed manual gearbox or an electronic 8-speed automatic which may also be shifted manually. For now, both the 328i and 335i are configured as rear-wheel drive sedans, with an X or All-wheel Drive to come later. Look for an M version to bow later as well.
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The 335i outweighs the 328i by 133 pounds. It tips the scales at 3,416 pounds when fitted with the ZF 8HP45 eight-speed automatic, or 3,406 with the I-350 Turbo six-speed manual.
There are significant design modifications that make up the all-new 3-Series, not the least of which is the flowing connection of the headlamps into the twin-kidney grille. There is also a connection made between the pronounced wheel wells by a strong character line just above the lower rocker panels. Strong shoulders are?readily apparent, as is the broad and athletic stance. The 3 Series will be available in four levels of trim: a Base trim, which has no specific line designation; a Sport line package; a Luxury line package; and a Modern line package.
The base model is actually a far cry above an entry level, delivering an impressive inventory of standard features and equipment. It is actually much more than simply adequate in the performance department ? it is a ?kick-in-the-pants? to pilot on the street or on a track.
To properly evaluate members of the 3-Series stable, members of the national journalist corps were split into two groups to experience both the car?s road manners and track capability. The drive formats had one group hitting the road from Monterey, down Highway 1 and over Nacimiento Road, through the Hunter-Liggit military reservation and Salinas to Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, while the alternate group hit the track first. Groups then traded venues following lunch at Laguna. On hand for hot laps were BMW GT team drives Bill Auberlin and Joey Hand. There were also members of the BMW Performance Driving Center in Spartanburg South Carolina to offer instruction to those who wanted to improve their on-track skills. I took a couple of hot laps with Joey Hand who delighted in rotating the a 335i- automatic through even the famed ?cork-screw?.
My driving partner and I began our driving with the on-road exercise in a 328i equipped with the 8-speed automatic and in Modern Line trim, finished outside in Imperial Blue metallic and inside in Dakota leather with Oyster trim accents. The base price was set at $34,900 while optional extras and destination charges upped the final sticker to $49,870. Midway through the road trip, we traded for a 335i also with the automatic with a Black Sapphire exterior and Venetian Beige Dakota leather interior base priced at $42,400 which with options and destination fees elevated the final sticker to $53,545. I later drove away a 328i automatic finished in Mineral Gray metallic with a Black Dakota leather interior, with an MSRP of $34,900 and a final sticker of $49,445 after tacking on for options, etc.
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SUMMARY: ?The 2012 BMW 328i is more than enough car for most driving enthusiasts, even with the 8-speed automatic, and especially on the road. Dyed-in-the-wool ?Hot Shoes? will of course probably opt for the added horses served up by the 335i ? for bragging rights if for no other reason. On the track, the 328i was perfectly capable of holding its own with the 335i. Auberlin and Hand put both cars to the test in a track shoot out. The 335i exhibited longer legs with more?pulling power on the straight sections of the track, with a more robust exhaust note through its split dual outlets, while the 328i (featuring dual left-side outlets) was capable of catching up on entering and through the turns.
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?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?335i
Factoring the weight differences and variances in power output, the 328i was perhaps overall the most fun to drive. Both cars share the same 130 mph top speed while the 335i trims only half a second off the 0-60 time of the 328i which is 5.9 seconds. EPA estimates give the nod to the 328i with 24-mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The ? ? ? ?335i delivers an estimated 23-mpg city and 33 mpg on the highway.
There are lots of new technological features packed into this latest 3-Series iteration, including a new treatment for the Driver Dynamics Control which consists of a console-mounted switch that allows the driver to select from a Comfort mode, Sport mode, Sport Plus mode and a new ECO PRO mode. All modes provide varying levels of? throttle response, engine mapping, power steering feel and Dynamic Stability Control intervention, as well as different shift points for the automatic transmission. The ECO PRO mode tends to minimize the performance quotient while focusing on maximizing economic operation ? what?s the fun it that for ?the Ultimate Driving Machine??
In any case, what this latest sixth generation 3-Series has to offer, ranks it as the best 3 Series produced to date. It?s certainly as much fun to drive as ever ? actually more so than before. It looks great, and now with its EfficientDynamics, it?s also more economical to operate (if you want it to be).
SPECIFICATIONS:
2012 BMW 3-Series – 328i & 335i sedans
?Base Price:?????????????? ??????????? 328i – $34,900. / 335i – $42,400.
Price as Tested: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?328i – $49,870. / 335i ? $53,545.
Engine Type and Size: ? ? ? 328i ? N20 – 2.0-liter DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinder with TwinPower Turbo technology, High Precision Direct Injection, Valvetronic, and Double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing.
335i ? N55 – 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve inline six-cylinder with TwinPower Turbo technology, High Precision Direct Injection, Valvetronic, and Double VANOS steplessly variable valve timing.
Horsepower (bhp): ? ? ? ? ? 328i = 240??????????? @ 5,000-6,000 ??????????? rpm
335i = 300???? @ 1,250-4,800??????????? rpm
Torque (ft./ lbs.): ? ? ? ? ? ? ?328i = 255??????????? @ 1,250-4,800??????????? rpm
335i = 300??????????? @ 1,300-5,000??????????? rpm
Transmission: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Six-speed manual or 8-speed automatic with paddle ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? shifters.
Drive Train:??????????? Longitudinally mounted front engine / Rear-wheel Drive.
Suspension:??????????? ?Front – Double-wishbone pivot strut-type front ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? suspension with aluminum components on rear-wheel ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? drive models for reduced unsprung weight.
?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rear ? 5-link system
Brakes: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Power-assisted four wheel vented discs, ABS,
Tires: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Goodyear EfficientGrip run flats ? P225/45 R18 91V ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? mounted on 10-spoke alloy wheels (328i) / 7-spoke ?alloy wheels (335i).
Wheelbase: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 110.6??????????? inches
Length Overall: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 182.5??????????? inches
Width: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?71.3??????????? inches
Height: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?56.3??????????? inches
Curb Weight: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 3,461 lbs. -328i / 3,594 lbs. ? 335i
Fuel Capacity: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 15.8??????????? gallons
EPA Mileage Estimates: ? 24??????????? mpg city / 36 mpg highway ? 328i
23 ? ? ? ? ? ? mpg city / 33 mpg highway ? 335i
Drag Coefficient: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Not listed.
0 – 60 mph: ? 5.9?? seconds 328i / 5.4 seconds 335i / ? Top speed ? ??130 mph.??? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
