Enjoy yourself... (From The Northern Echo)

Enjoy yourself...

1:42pm Thursday 25th February 2010 in

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The latest BMW 3-Series touring is a cracker, says Nigel Burton.

BMW 320d: THE M3, M5 and the X6 may grab all the headlines forBMW, but it’s the 3-Series that makes the real money. Introduced to the world’s press in 1975 in the Munich Olympic arena, the 3-Series established the template for all future BMWs.

The short overhangs and the wide track gave the car a muscular stance on the road. The suspension was set up for the enthusiast and the cabin had a centre console angled towards the driver – all common traits on today’s Beemers, but pretty revolutionary 35 years ago.

Almost exactly six years after the start of production, in May 1981 the millionth 3-Series came off the production line, making it the most successful BMW ever.

Six years later the range was extended – in the most unusual of circumstances. Back in 1984 an engineer wanted a compact car which combined driving pleasure with the normal day-to-day practical requirements of a growing family practical value. His motive was entirely selfish – his wife was expecting a new baby.

After informing his superiors of his plan, he drove his 3-Series saloon into his garage in October 1984, and set to work chopping up his pride and joy. He sliced off the roof, extended the lid down to the tail lights and fitted a new rear window.

From beginning to end, this took six months of hard graft, but the result was worthwhile. When the engineer presented the finished result to BMWmanagers they were so thrilled they put the Touring design into production.

Once again the 3-Series created a new niche: until the Touring, no one expected an estate car that was good to drive and easy on the eyes. Soon other manufacturers were following suit and today the days of the old-style, boxy estate car are numbered.

The requirements which led to the creation of the original Touring remain as relevant today as they ever did. And the 3-Series never received the controversial “flame surfacing” styling that polarised opinions about the 7-Series and the 5- Series.

Changes are fairly modest: two additional raised precision lines on the bonnet create a more muscular look, the iconic BMW kidney grille has been re-profiled, while the headlights feature twin corona side lights as standard.

At the side, the valance now features a new crease line for a more sporting look and the wing mirrors have been increased in size for better visibility.

Perhaps more importantly, the track of the car has been increased by 24mm for enhanced driving dynamics.

The rear light cluster has been changed and is now monochrome in colour with LED technology as standard, while the rear valance and boot lid have been re-styled.

As is the case these days, the latest 3-Series Touring is larger in every dimension. With the 60:40 split folding rear seats in place, 460 litres of boot space is now available. With the seats folded, 1,385 litres are available for larger, bulky items.

The boot’s hatchback opens to bumper level and reveals a large practical load bay – with a handy net pocket for fragile items. There’s a large well under the boot floor, too.

The new bodyshell is 25 per cent stiffer than its predecessor, making an already frisky drive even better. The steering is heavier than non- BMWowners will be used to, but it’s accurate and unsullied by the corrupting influence of front drive. Over poorly surfaced roads the stiff suspension shows its mettle – never bouncing or crashing.

The clutch remains a tad heavy and selecting reverse is always a stretch, but the latest 3-Series is easier to drive around town than its predecessors.

It’s still no Toyota, though.

The 2.0-litre diesel is a world-beating TDI and not for nothing the best selling powerplant in the range, accounting for 46 per cent of sales. It’s quick, quiet and impressively economical – we travelled down to Scarborough and back on one quarter of a tank. BMW’s boffins have been busy trying to make the 320d even more frugal.

The Auto Start Stop Function was presented for the first time in spring 2007 in the new BMW 1 Series and in theBMW320i Coupe/Convertible.

As soon as the driver puts the gear lever into neutral and removes his foot from the clutch, the engine is automatically switched off. Dip the clutch again to select a gear and the powerplant starts back up again before you move smoothly away.

This system monitors power-sapping kit like the air-conditioning and turns it down when the engine is off. If it decides a switch-off would be a bad idea (if, say, the battery level is falling precipitously) then it over-rides the command to kill the engine.

The 3-Series can lay claim to having created the whole “lifestyle” estate thing more than 20 years ago. It’s latest stab at the genre is every bit as nice to drive, only with more boot space and a bit more legroom inside the impressively trimmed cabin.

The 2.0-litre aluminium diesel is a cracker and the driving experience every bit as enjoyable as you would imagine.

I suspect BMW will have no problems selling the 9,000 or so examples it plans to import next year.