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The BMW M3

Poster: Charlie Flindt 01/10/2005

Cast your mind back 30 years. Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party, the United Kingdom voted to join the European Economic Community and Bill Gates first used the term Microsoft. In the motoring world, the British Government took control of British Leyland, OPEC put up oil prices by 10 per cent and BMW launched the 3 series.

It’s fun to look back at these events, and reflect on where those involved with them are now. For BMW, it must be particularly satisfying to look back and realise that, while the rest of the world has been undergoing upheaval and chaos, the 3 series has been quietly and consistently setting the standard in the compact executive car class. At relatively constant intervals (1982, 1990 and 1998), and just as the opposition have got to think they are catching up with BMW, the boys from Munich have re-launched the 3 series, resetting those standards, and reminding us all just what consummate producers of cars they are.

This year saw the launch of the fifth generation 3 series. Wisely, BMW have stuck to what works – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So the new 3 keeps BMW’s much favoured front engine/rear-wheel drive layout, the only way to build cars for ultimate driver satisfaction. The exterior styling has changed, but – once again – only slightly. At the official launch, BMW helpfully parked an example of each of the 3 series models in the hotel car park. It was amazing to see just how gradual the changes have been over the last 30 years. The same goes for the interior: it’s as fundamental as ever, but an absolute joy. No superfluous trendy stuff; it’s all purely functional and practical. Let’s have a closer look under the metalwork. In the bonnet there’s a choice of four engines.

Two of them are four-cylinder (one petrol and one diesel), and there are two straight-six petrol engines. The 330i unit is one of those cutting edge power plants that comes with a long list of superlatives: in its class, it has the highest power output per litre, the best power-to-weight ratio and the lowest level of fuel consumption. It gives a 0 to 100 kph time of only 6.3 seconds and very respectable combined fuel consumption of around 9 litres/100km. And, perhaps most importantly, it sounds terrific. But BMW haven’t neglected the more humble engines. Take the new two-litre petrol. This develops the sort of power and performance that needed six cylinders in the 1990 3 series, but with the economy figures of yesterday’s diesel engines. And as for the diesel engine: it’s a 16-valve, direct-injection, second-generation common-rail unit, with a 0 to 100 kph time of 8.3 seconds and a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.7 litres/100km. For me, this engine was the star of the launch. My Welsh co-driver actually stopped talking for a moment as we were driving it, and listened in silence for a short while. “This is the diesel we’re driving, isn’t it?” he asked. It helps to have a co-driver on these car launches; it means that one can drive while the other can look around and enjoy what’s on offer. In the BMW’s case, this means that lovely interior.

It makes you wonder why anyone builds dashboards in any other way: big clear dials, and the fewest possible buttons and switches, clearly and obviously labelled and laid out. You know that the seats are good because you don’t notice them. We just happened to be on a very long drive from Sevilla airport up towards the Sierra Nevada, and neither of us had a word to say about the seats. We had plenty to say about the car’s magnificent handling as we raced along Andalucia’s pristine motorways, and wound our way up into the hills. Just a hint of over-steer from the traditional rear-drive layout, but always controllable and rewarding. The tight corners and short straights gave the driver plenty of opportunity to enjoy the light, short-throw six-speed gearbox.

Being the passenger was no chore; this part of the world is a delight with its beautiful white villages and tortoise shell coloured hills. Little improvements in interior space, cabin noise and build quality tended to go unnoticed on the long drive. Mind you, we had a good laugh, the Welshman and me, as we drove past signs for Ronda. And signs for Moron… There’s no doubt that BMW have raised the bar. Once again, in this highly competitive sector of the car market, the BMW 3 series is the one to beat – if you’re the opposition – and the one to buy – if you’re serious about your driving. If BMW keep on like this, I wouldn’t bet against the 3 series still setting the pace in another 30 years.

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