Image by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr
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To quote from BMW's press materials, "With the new 3-Series, advances in side-impact safety are such that it is no longer necessary to offer rear side airbagsImage by SOCIALisBETTER via Flickr
. Those riding in the rear are appropriately separated from side impacts . . . ."The next-generation of BMW's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is offered, as well as a number of new brake features.
Most unusual is the Brake Drying System. When the rain sensor (used for the automatic wipers) determines it is raining, the brake pads periodically move close to the rotors—just close enough to eliminate any film of water on the rotors without actually applying the brakes.
Another unique feature is the Brake Standby System, which moves the pads closer to the rotors when the accelerator gets released suddenly. This action is often followed by hard braking, so having the pads closer to the rotors allows the brakes to activate quicker in the event of an emergency stop.
On the Road (and Track).
The predecessor to the new 3-Series (the fourth generation) was a great car, and there are those who think it's the best 3-Series ever. Handling, power and comfort were all outstanding. But after spending a day in the new fifth-generation 3-Series, we were convinced that the best can get even better.
Our group of journalists drove on a wide variety of roads, from highway miles to twisting roads with less-than-ideal surfaces. We also spent a bit of time on the track at the new BeaveRun Motorsports complex in western Pennsylvania.
What impressives most about this car is its ability to handle all situations with aplomb.
On the highway, the new 3 accelerates strongly when needed, but is very comfortable and stable cruising at 75 mph. On winding roads it digs in and sticks to the pavement, even when the surface is less than ideal. The ride gets a bit bumpy, but never jarring. When many cars would skip across the road while cornering on uneven road surfaces, the new 3-Series just stays planted exactly where you expect it and goes exactly where you point it.
At the track this same car's limits are even more impressive. The 3-Series is extremely easy to control at high speeds, remaining stable even as the speedometer reaches triple digits.
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