BMW - The Vehicles Range From the City BMW
One Series to High Flying Seven Series Luxury.
Trying to cover the BMW 3 Series is a daunting task. Please follow the article via the dark blue linked words to navigate to your section of interest.
The current BMW range essentially breaks down into eight categories, or BMW Series. These include: BMW Series 1, Series 3, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7, X3, Z4, and M.
In 2000, the E36 was officially discontinued and now we have the E46 model.
In 2002 the 'E46' 3-Series received new front and rear lights, bonnet grille and a new style bonnet. Suspension and steering were improved for driving enjoyment, and the introduction of a new Valvetronic 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine delivered more power and economy to the range.
Also new was the Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG), a semi-automatic triggered by steering wheel mounted buttons. Upgraded diesels completed the picture, along with detail improvements, including standard DSC skid control and headbags. Satellite navigation was rather tedious to use / operate and an aftermarket one would be your best option here. Road holding in the E46 model improved every couple of years and so did the quality of the gearboxes. Suspension is great if you're in a less sporty model so going straight for the "is" model should warrant some thought as our British roads are not that well cared for! Pedals are a tad close together and always were. Men with size 10 shoes beware if you're wearing boots with wide soles, your feet are likely to straddle the accelerator and clutch pedal at the same time. Fuel economy has improved year after year and the late 320d performs with a staggering 65mpg! The 330d really is a performance diesel and it can dig really deep for passing manoeuvres. The six cylinder petrol engines are very smooth, and most feel that the 330d has an overall performance advantage over the 330i in the mid-range.
Equipment levels in the BMW models from 2001 up include front-seat side airbags and head airbags, as well as traction control and dynamic stability control and many models attained a 4 star NCAP rating
Between 2004 and 2006 BMW build the BMW 320D Cabriolet. It has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with 150bhp. This turbo diesel is Euro VI compliant, with its 167g/km CO2 emissions and has a combined fuel consumption figure of approximately 44mpg! The very slick six-speed manual transmission and ample Torque make this car great for almost every type of driving, in town and the open road. Unfortunately there is still the obligatory road and wind noise you get with a soft top convertible. Unfortunately for families this car has rear bucket seats meaning only 2 in front and two in the rear. At £28,000 for the SE model and £30,675 for the Sport you would have to think very seriously before you dismiss the £29,675 325Ci SE which has a 2.5-litre straight-six petrol engine at its heart. Here what you get for your money with the BMW 325Ci SE. - A beautiful Coupe
- Choice of 5 speed manual or Automatic transmission
- ABS brakes
- Air Bag
- Anti-Theft System,Immobiliser, Remote Alarm system
- Traction Control
- Remote Central Locking
- Power Steering & Cruise Control
- Climate Control
- Full / Partial Leather
- Trip Computer
- CD Player
- Self-levelling Suspension & Stability Control
- Front Fog Lamps
- Parking Sensors
- Height Adjustable Seats & Curtain Airbags
- Multi-function Steering Wheel including Audio Controls
- Xenon Headlamps
- Automatic Lights, AUTO DIM REAR VIEW MIRROR, Rain Sensing Wipers & Park Distance Control
- Brake Assist
- Colour Coded Body work & Metallic Paintwork
- Alloy wheels, Wood Trim, Electriic Memory Seats and Front Fog lights
and more!!! This car has a 260 litre boot, accelerates to 6o miles per hour in 8 seconds and a top speed of 145 mph. This car can be picked up second hand for between £8500 and £12 000, so the question really is how much more could you really get for your money?
Some Known Issues When Buying Older Models Discussed >>
Heater / Thermostate Failure - early E46 models: Heater and thermostat failure was not that common, but its worth testing the system beofre buying the car.
Turbo Failure / Ignition Problems - early E46 models: There were accassional problems with 320 diesel and 330 fuel injection models, ignition coil problems and some failures at high mileages from the automatic gearbox models.
Copyright © 2012 Click4Warranty
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily held by the Click4Group unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.
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