October 20, 2005

Test Drive:
2006 BMW 330i
Review and photos by Jil McIntosh
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When putting together a story, a writer is always expected to be up front with any bias. So here's mine: I think the BMW 3-Series is the best sport sedan on the planet. Of course, I'm not alone on that; it's the best-selling premium car on the globe. So when I was offered the all-new 2006 version, there was no question: it was going to be a fun week.

The new model is the fifth generation of the 3-Series, and for 2006, it's offered as a sedan or wagon; you'll have to wait for the drop-top. My test car was the 330i sedan, at a base price of $47,500; options, including a premium package, sport package, metallic paint and BMW's Active Steering, pushed it to $56,800.

A number of my friends who saw the car remarked that it was a considerable price-tag for its size, and it is a fair chunk of change. If you view a car as simply an appliance to get from Point A to Point B, you won't understand why anyone would pay so much for a somewhat cramped midsize sedan.

But perhaps you've known that feeling: the moment when your hands and feet transcend wheel and pedals and become one with the drive-train, when your breathing and the rpms completely coincide, and you move into that elusive secondary plane, where there is nothing in the world beyond the car wrapped around you, and the slice of road that's in your headlights. If you have, then you know why people spend what they do to have this car.

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The 330i's new angular styling brings it more in line with the company's larger cars; it's modern and edgy, with deeply sculpted doors that draw the eye up from the classic nose and out to the muscular rear flanks. Park it against the last generation, and the 2005 model suddenly looks old. The sport package's 18-inch, seven-inch spokes really make the car, filling the wheel wells and giving it a commanding stance.

The 3-Series is larger inside, but with slightly less headroom than the previous series. Even so, it's a driver's car; it feels close and tight, and there isn't a great deal of room for rear-seat passengers, especially if tall folks up front have moved the well-bolstered seats back a bit.

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Despite their number designations, both the 325i and the 330i share a 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine, but the 330i makes 255 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque to the 325i's 215 and 185, thanks mostly to the 330i's variable valve lift and timing, and a three-stage intake manifold. The 330i loves to be driven hard, and really struts its stuff around the 4,500 rpm mark, with a throaty growl. My tester had the six-speed manual (a six-speed automatic is available), with BMW's typical short-throw shifter and creamy-smooth clutch.

The 3-Series is still the same well-balanced, deliciously responsive machine that it has always been, but my tester was enhanced with $1,500 Active Steering. It's a system that adds a step motor to the steering box; it cuts back on the steering angle and power assist at higher speeds, while reducing the effort required at lower speeds. I've driven it on the 645, where it really makes a difference in manoeuvring that monster through parking lots and quiet streets; while it does tighten up beautifully at high speeds, the smaller 3-Series works fine without it, and I probably wouldn't pay the extra if I were outfitting with my own money. The 330i's ride proved a bit choppy on my rough rural roads, which might be partly attributable to its run-flat tires, and was much better behaved at higher speeds on more conventional asphalt.

Inside, the 3-Series sports a handsome dash, although the dials for the climate control feel somewhat flimsy and cheap. The ignition is a silly, two-stage affair: push the key fob into a slot in the dash, and then push a button to start or stop the engine. I got used to it after a while, but then, I'm used to jiggling the bathroom handle too, and that doesn't make it right. Either give us a key to turn, or if we must have a keyless fob, do as Volkswagen does with the new Passat, and let us simply push it in all the way to engage the starter.

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Mercifully free of iDrive (although ordering the navigation system changes all that), the 330i's controls are simple to operate. The centre console box contains a ventilated cupholder that can be switched on to keep a drink cold; unfortunately, it pretty much fills the storage box, and CD cases must be stashed in the glove box (the owner's manual suggests putting them in the tissue box holder in the trunk, but that really defeats the purpose of music-at-your-fingertips). Small-storage space is at a premium in these tight quarters. Cupholders swing out of the right side of the dash; they work much better than they look, but it's doubtful a cashmere-clad passenger will be comfortable with two cups of Timmy's hanging over her knees. The instrument cluster is uncluttered, with red-illuminated tach and speedometer.

This being a BMW, my tester offered all sorts of niceties: tiny lights that illuminate the outer door handles, a rechargeable flashlight in the glove box, pull-out thigh supports to lengthen the seats, a control to regulate the upper vent regardless of the heater temperature, and a residual heat button that warms the interior when you're sitting with the car turned off. The trunk is 98 cm long, with a locking pass-through in the rear seat; the trunk floor panel lifts to reveal a deep storage compartment below.

The tank fills with premium fuel, and in a week of spirited driving, I averaged 10.4 L/100 km, which was better than I'd expected, given the weight of my foot.

BMW knows that you really can't mess with success, and it couldn't stray too far from the original 3-Series' premise and still expect to control the market as it does. To that end, this fifth generation is an evolution: sweeter styling, more power, a tweaking of the handling and a tightening up of the chassis. But it hasn't forgotten its roots, delivering an exhilarating driving experience that comes with four doors and a cargo-friendly trunk. My Point-A-to-Point-B friends think I'm nuts, but I've been to that place where it's all about tires and asphalt and nothing else in the world. Would I buy this car? Yes. Yes, I would.

Technical Data: 2006 BMW 330i Sedan

Base price	$47,500
Options	$9,300 (Premium package of universal garage door opener, auto-dimming mirror, lumbar support, compass mirror, Harman/Kardon sound system and Dakota leather, $4,200; sport package of sport suspension, sport steering wheel, high-speed maximum, 18-inch alloy wheels and sport seats, $2,800; Active Steering $1,500; metallic paint $800)
Freight	$1,595
A/C tax	$100
Price as tested	$58,495 Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives
Type	4-door, 5-passenger midsize sedan
Layout	Front engine/rear-wheel-drive
Engine	3.0-litre inline 6, DOHC, 24 valves
Horsepower	255 @ 6600 rpm
Torque	220 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
Transmission	6-speed manual
Curb weight	1550 kg (3417 lbs)
Wheelbase	2760 mm (197.8 in.)
Length	4526 mm (108.6 in.)
Width	1817 mm (71.5 in.)
Height	1421 mm (55.9 in.)
Trunk capacity	460 litres (16.2 cu. ft.)
Fuel consumption	N/A
Warranty	4 yrs/80,000 km
Powertrain Warranty	4 yrs/80,000 km

Jil McIntosh's automotive work and her garage includes cars both old and new; she writes for The Toronto Star Wheels, Old Autos, and Canadian Street Rodder.

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