Facelifted 3-Series

Facelifted 3-Series

Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr

Image via Wikipedia

Here’s one for facelift fetishists – the revamped 3-Series coupe and convertible. Get a good squint going, perhaps attach a monocle, and you’ll notice the changes.
Or if you can’t be bothered, allow us to summarise. The kidney grilles are slightly different. The lights now have ‘white LED corona rings and illuminated eyebrows’, or ‘severe eye infection’ as your optician would call it. And below all that there’s a gobbier air intake that makes the car look wider and lower so more people will get out of your way. Or get scooped up. The sideskirts have a new twist and the back bumper is also new. Underneath all that, BMW’s efficiency pixies have been working hard. The grunty 335i now emits 10 per cent less CO2 and consumes 8 per cent less petrol. And the 320d has now has more oomph – 0-62mph now takes 7.5 seconds rather than 7.9 – while managing a righteous 60mpg. The Coupé starts at £27,845 for the 320i SE, rising to £52,730 for the full-fat and wonderful M3 (£32,905 to £56,740 for the Convertibles).
BMW is all about high-performance while staying true to its luxurious standards. Distinctive features, high-tech programming, and alarmingly smooth drivability are attributes that all BMW models share. Any incarnation of this famous family is a true pleasure from the sporty but fashionable 1 Series all the way to the executive and gallantly built M6. CARiD is excited to be able to share with you our complete inventory of perfect form-fitting
BMW Accessories that will enable your "Beemer" to establish an identity of its own with class as well as precision. Don't trust just anyone when it comes to top-quality BMW parts: it's too important.
Whatever your pleasure, CARiD is here to serve you right. Only the best quality and value for all BMW accessories from the manufacturers who specialize in knowing exactly what fits and what doesn't. Do not settle for false promises and second-rate upgrades. You deserve better than that.

When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more.
CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with car accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you're searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Billet grills, spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, tail lights, chrome trim - basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.

BMW 3-Series the best sport sedan.

Image by davipt via Flickr

The 2010 BMW 3-Series ranks 2 out of 15 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 100 published reviews and test drives of the BMW 3-Series, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Many in the automotive press consider the BMW 3-Series the best sport sedan built today. If you're interested in an entry-level luxury sedan that will serve as a family car day-to-day, and a corner-hugging sports car when a winding road presents itself, the 3-Series may be the best you'll find.

Image via Wikipedia

The BMW 3-Series has won more awards that its trunk can hold. More than we can list. Put it this way - this car has been one of Car and Driver's "10Best" cars for 18 consecutive years. Nothing else has.

This car loves a curvy road. It offers balanced handling that is almost unparalleled, with near 50/50 weight distribution and suspension tuning biased more toward the sporty end of the scale than most similarly-priced cars. It also offers a selection of powerful engines, allowing buyers to decide how much to spend on speed. There is even a strong twin-turbo diesel that offers tremendous off-the-line torque with good fuel economy.

That sporty suspension, however, is what shoppers need to think hard about before parting with upwards of $30,000. The automotive press tends to fall in love with cars that perform well in track testing - which means cars that are firmly sprung. The result is a fast lap time and a car that will hold a hard turn while losing little momentum to body roll...but that can translate to a choppy ride in day-to-day driving. The 3-Series may not be the right car for those most interested in a luxurious ride. A softer-tuned alternative, like the Lexus ES, may make sense for buyers who don't actually like to drive hard.
Even those who do have alternatives. Reviewers now consider the Inifiniti G37 a viable alternative to BMW's car. The G's V6 offers more low-end grunt and feels a bit less refined that the BMW's base engine, but some say the Coupe version of the G37 actually outcorners the 3-Series coupe.

The 2010 BMW 3-Series is available as a sedan, a coupe, a wagon or a hardtop convertible. Coupe and sedan models come in rear-wheel drive 328i and 335i models, and all-wheel-drive 328i xDrive and 335i xDrive editions. 335 models feature twin turbochargers not available on the 328s.
When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more. CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with car accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you're searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Car grills, spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, tail lights, chrome trim - basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.

2012 BMW 3-series

Could this be the next design for the best seller in the BMW family, the 3 series? The current E90 BMW 3-series has only been on the market since 2005 but details about the next-gen model are already circulating with most agreeing that the next model will feature styling lifted from the Concept CS.

Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr

Due in 2012, the next BMW 3-series will be the first of a family of BMW cars with a more recognizable face derived from the original styling of the Shanghai concept.
With the new 3-series, designers will attempt to address criticisms of the current car’s awkward styling and lack of interior space. These renderings, compiled using information from sources close to the project show that the new car will have a pronounced kidney-grille with the air-intakes positioned on either side of the bumper just below the headlights.
New options for the 2012 3-series will include hybrid variants as well as the latest version of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics. The X-Drive AWD system is likely to gain favour thanks to a redesign of the system to reduce weight, which will only increase fuel consumption by 0.5L per 100km over RWD models.

Other features that may make it to production include night-vision devices, a heads-up display and radar safety systems.
BMW is all about high-performance while staying true to its luxurious standards. Distinctive features, high-tech programming, and an alarmingly effective drivability are attributes that all BMW models share. Any incarnation of this famous family is a true pleasure, from the sporty but fashionable 1 Series all the way to the executive and gallantly built M6. Powerful yet comfortable, any model has the capability to rise to the occasion, which makes finding the right BMW accessories an electrifying possibility. CARiD is excited to be able to share with you our complete inventory of the perfect form-fitting BMW accessories that will enable your "Beemer to establish an identity of its own with class as well as precision. Don't trust just anyone with your BMW parts: it's too important.
Whatever your pleasure, CARiD is around to serve you right. Only the best quality and value for all BMW customizing options from the manufacturers who specialize in knowing exactly what fits and what doesn't. Do not settle for false promises and second-rate upgrades. You deserve better than that.
When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more. CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with car accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you're searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Custom grilles, rear spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, led tail lights, chrome trim - basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.

Next-gen BMW 3-series.

The current E90 BMW 3-series has been on the market since 2005, so it's only fitting that details about the next-gen model are beginning to circulate. Most agree that the next model will feature styling lifted, at least in part, from the Concept CS, though also expect to see a healthy dose of the new corporate styling debuted on the latest 7-series.

Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr

Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr

Due in 2012, the next BMW 3-series will pay special attention to efficiency and it will achieve that goal through extensive use of BMW's EfficientDynamics technology. Low drag aerodynamics, smaller engines, and high-tech electronics will combine to make the next 3-series a step above the current car.
Aesthetically, designers will attempt to address criticisms of the current car's awkward styling and lack of interior space. The bonnet will likely sit much higher than on the current model to improve pedestrian safety, while the sides will be marked with a prominent character line and high beltline. Proportions will remain much the same as the current model but weight will be reduced thanks to the increased use of aluminum and other advanced materials in its construction.
A huge change for the 2012 car could be the addition of three-cylinder engines to the lineup, according to Autocar. Though these wouldn't likely be seen in the U.S. during the first half of the next 3-series model life, they could eventually make their way across the pond if fuel efficiency and emissions regulations continue to tighten past 2016.


With a single turbo and 1.5L of displacement - effectively half of the current twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine - the cars would be good for anywhere from 150-170hp and 150-220lb-ft of torque, with the gasoline models weighing in lower on the torque scale than the diesel models. Paired with an ultra-efficient 8-speed transmission and more efficient auxiliary systems such as heating and cooling, the next-gen 3-series is expected to deliver some seriously impressive economy. One of the new advanced EfficientDynamics technologies to make its way into the next 3-series will be a so-called 'air curtain'. Using a special series of ducts and vents, the system directs air in a manner such that it slips neatly over the wheels, which are normally an area of high turbulence, and therefore energy-sapping drag. In addition to making the car more efficient overall, BMW is looking to make the next 3-series less expensive to build and therefore to buy as it aims for larger volumes. Whether that will mean compromises in terms of total feature set or simply a lower-end range of models to entice entry-level luxury buyers is not clear, but pushing the 3-series so far down-market could step on the toes of the 1-series range and any future city cars coming from the Project i initiative.
Finally, as yet another measure to enhance efficiency while still delivering a BMW driving experience, expect to see the hybrid technology debuting on the X6 and 7-series to eventually make its way to the 3-series, albeit in somewhat reduced form. This technology will likely be especially targeted at U.S. buyers, since even by the car's mid-cycle revamp in 2016, there isn't likely to be widespread adoption of diesel-engined cars. Of course, all of these details are still speculative at this point, but it's clear that BMW is pushing its mainstream offerings in a more efficient direction while still trying to maintain their engaging, driver-focused character. It is a difficult balancing act, but one that enthusiasts will enjoy seeing played out over the years to come.
When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more. CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with auto accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you're searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Billet grilles, spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, tail lights, chrome trim - basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.

2010 BMW 3-Series

The 2010 BMW 3-Series ranks 2 out of 16 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 100 published reviews and test drives of the BMW 3-Series, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. Many in the automotive press consider the BMW 3-Series the best sport sedan built today. If you're interested in an entry-level luxury sedan that will serve as a family car day-to-day, and a corner-hugging sports car when a winding road presents itself, the 3-Series may be the best you'll find.

Image by davipt via Flickr

The BMW 3-Series has won more awards that its trunk can hold. More than we can list. Put it this way - this car has been one of Car and Driver's "10Best" cars for 18 consecutive years. Nothing else has. This car loves a curvy road. It offers balanced handling that is almost unparalleled, with near 50/50 weight distribution and suspension tuning biased more toward the sporty end of the scale than most similarly-priced cars. It also offers a selection of powerful engines, allowing buyers to decide how much to spend on speed. There is even a strong twin-turbo diesel that offers tremendous off-the-line torque with good fuel economy.
That sporty suspension, however, is what shoppers need to think hard about before parting with upwards of $30,000. The automotive press tends to fall in love with cars that perform well in track testing - which means cars that are firmly sprung.

Image by jburns00 via Flickr

Image by jburns00 via Flickr

The result is a fast lap time and a car that will hold a hard turn while losing little momentum to body roll...but that can translate to a choppy ride in day-to-day driving. The 3-Series may not be the right car for those most interested in a luxurious ride. A softer-tuned alternative, like the Lexus ES, may make sense for buyers who don't actually like to drive hard.
Even those who do have alternatives. Reviewers now consider the Inifiniti G37 a viable alternative to BMW's car. The G's V6 offers more low-end grunt and feels a bit less refined that the BMW's base engine, but some say the Coupe version of the G37 actually outcorners the 3-Series coupe. The 2010 BMW 3-Series is available as a sedan, a coupe, a wagon or a hardtop convertible. Coupe and sedan models come in rear-wheel drive 328i and 335i models, and all-wheel-drive 328i xDrive and 335i xDrive editions. 335 models feature twin turbochargers not available on the 328s.
When you own a vehicle, you always want it to be at its best. And that takes more than just oil changes and the occasional car wash. You need more. CARiD.com specializes in providing drivers with car accessories and truck accessories that add a distinctive touch. Whether you're searching for style, protection, or comfort, we host a wide array of premium-made options for you to choose from. Every major aftermarket manufacturer is on display at CARiD.com. Car grills, spoilers, wheels, floor mats, body kits, tail lights, chrome trim - basically all things automotive that unveil beauty and style.