- sedan 90,737
- 8,900 high price
- Rexburg, ID
- 5 years
- autoshopper.com
2006 bmw 3 series review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The benchmark redefined. introductionis there a driver anywhere who doesn't recognize the bmw 3 series? The 2006 3 series may require a double-take, at least until we get used to it, because bmw has launched the first all-new 3 series models in six years. the 2006 bmw 325i and 330i sedans comprise the fifth-generation of a car that created a concept, or at least cemented that concept indelibly in the buying public's awareness. For 40 years the 3 series had delivered a special mix of sporting performance, practicality and european luxury in a compact package. It's the car that defines 'sport sedan,' and the benchmark every luxury car maker from acura to volvo aims at when it develops a sport sedan or a smaller luxury sedan. Above all, the 3 series is a driver's car: accelerating, turning and stopping with remarkable agility and balance, without seriously compromising comfort or common sense. Finally, the 3 series has embodied consistent product character and values, defining what has become one of the most respected brands among automobile enthusiasts. Given mixed reviews following the launch of bmw's current 5 and 7 series sedans, anticipation for the 2006 3 series might be exceeded only by the potential for disappointment. as consumers we certainly are not disappointed, but as enthusiast drivers we're pensive about the 2006 325i and 330i sedans. At their core these remain true sport sedans, but their sporting heart is a bit more difficult to find. if we characterized the new 330i with one word, it might be 'stuff,' even if bmw would prefer 'technology.' technology is everywhere in this compact sedan, some of it first-in-class and some not previously applied in any bmw. The 3 series accounts for 40 percent of bmw's sales worldwide and bmw is a high-tech brand. The car buying public expects technology in its products. The tires-up overhaul for 2006, including new exterior styling and interiors, more powerful engines, all six-speed transmissions and redesigned suspension, applies only to the 3 series sedans. Coupes and convertibles are still available, but for now they are built on the previous-generation 3 series platform, and are more closely related to the 2005 models. make no mistake. The 2006 bmw 325i and 330i sedans accelerate more quickly, stop shorter and turn with more lateral grip than the 2005 models. They are roomier, with more standard and optional equipment and more sophisticated electronic controls. For entry-luxury market shoppers who put a premium on driving satisfaction, the bmw 3 series remains the place to start. For the 2006 model year, the line should include at least 10 different models, and the opportunity for confusion may be even greater than usual. The six 2006 coupes and convertibles are still the e46 3 series that's been in production since 1999. True to bmw tradition, the 325i and 330i sedans are both powered by a 3. 0-liter straight six-cylinder engine. Yet their engines are new, and different from those in the coupes and convertibles. in the 325i sedan 30,995), the new engine generates 225 horsepower, for an increase of 40 over the 2005 model. The 2006 bmw 325i comes well equipped, with automatic climate and headlight control, a climate-controlled center console, headlight washers, rain-sensing wipers, a power moonroof, 12-speaker am/fm/cd and the trick new self-braking dynamic cruise control. Burr walnut trim is standard, though the standard upholstery is bmw's leatherette vinyl. Lighter poplar trim and aluminum are available as no-charge options. the 330i sedan 36,995) has a more powerful version of the 3. 0-liter six, producing 255 horsepower, or an increase of 30 from 2005. The 330i comes with more standard equipment than the 325i, including eight-way power seats with memory, an auto tilt-down feature for the right side mirror when reverse is engaged, xenon adaptive headlights that turn into a curve with the car, and 13-speaker logic 7 stereo with two subwoofers and surround-style digital sound processing. Vinyl upholstery is standard. safety features that come standard include dual stage front-impact airbags that deploy at different rates depending on the severity of impact, front side-impact airbags and full-cabin head protection airbags. The abs preloads the brake pedal when the driver suddenly lifts off the gas pedal, and includes a feature that lightly sweeps the brake discs dry every 1. 5 seconds when its raining. the most popular option will no doubt be the new six-speed automatic transmission 1,275). There are also three major option groupings. The premium package adds dakota leather upholstery to the 325i 2,900) and 330i 2,200) along with other conveniences, including a bluetooth cellular phone interface, the tilt-down right side mirror on the 325i, power folding side mirrors, a digital compass in the rear-view mirror and hardware for bmw assist, the telemetric package that provides safety, convenience and concierge services. the sport package 1,600) includes sporting suspension calibrations tuned by bmw's m performance division, 10-way sports seats (power adjustable in the 330i) and a wheel/tire upgrade: 17-inch alloys with v-rated performance tires for the 325i; 18-inch with w-rated tires for the 330i. The sport package and bmw's smg electro hydraulic manual transmission will be available for the 330i 1,500) in the fall. The cold weather package 1,000) adds electrically heated seats, high-intensity headlight washers and a split-folding rear seat with ski sack. bmw's active steering system 1,250) and radar-managed active cruise control 2,200) are available as stand-alone options for the first time on the 3 series. Sirius satellite radio hardware 75) and power rear-window and manual side rear-window sunshades 575) are available as stand-alones, as are most of the individual components of the three packages, including the split-folding rear seat 475) and. walkaroundthe previous-generation 3 series sedans, and the current coupes, have a familiar, distinctive, handsome appearance. The 2006 325i and 330i sedans are certainly recognizable as bmws in an evolutionary way, but they are also substantially different from their predecessors. for starters, the new sedans are larger. They're more than two inches longer and three inches wider, and wheelbase has increased 1. 4 inches. Most of the increased exterior dimensions translate into more interior space, particularly in the back seat. Moreover, bmw claims the new body is stronger, in that it is more resistant to twisting or bending from road shocks. A rigid structure is crucial to its success and performance in virtually every other respect. some reviewers have claimed that the new 3 series has been spared some of the styling excesses in the bmw 5 and 7 series cars. Certainly the approach with the 3 series has been more conservative, and it's easy to understand why. This car accounts for nearly half of bmw 's income. Nonetheless, spared is not a word we'd use for the 2006 3 series sedans. the predominant theme in front is bmw's traditional double beam headlights, now under clear covers that wrap around the corners and taper to a point to emphasize the car's width. In profile, the sedan's front and rear overhangs seem even shorter than before. The hood line continues past the windshield pillars all the way to the rear, while the roof line is rounder than before. design is the most subjective of all automotive traits, and clearly the 325i and 330i retain some basic bmw qualities or character. Yet in certain respects they also look more generic than their predecessors. The sides are basically flat planes with a single crease below the door pulls and above the wheel wells, but the ends of the car are busier, and we've yet to discover cohesion to the design. Particularly in rear view there are lots of lines, and in this aspect the 3 looks as if it might have been designed in asia rather than munich. In short, we're not sure we like it, or at least we're still getting used it. one thing is certain. Larger wheels and tires filling the wheel wells are almost always a good thing for appearance's sake, and we like the new wheel upgrades (to 17-inch on the 325i and 18-inch on the 330i). The 330i can be distinguished from the 325i by more than its wheels. The 330i's windows and grille slats are trimmed with chrome, while slats across its lower front air intakes are body colored rather than black. anoth. Power Seats✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Heated Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Cruise Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Sport Package✔ Bluetooth
8,900 Rexburg, IDRexburg, ID 5 years at autoshopper.com