Taking one look at it one would easily think this looks a bit longer, wider probably much more spacious with a bit more leg room in the back for the kids to play with their uncle who plays basket ball for the Maasai in Kenya, barefoot.
Well, you are totally right It is actually longer and wider with more leg room for your tall uncle who plays basket ball with a coconut shell filled with water in Kenya; however you need to have taken a long hard look at the F30, in the sun, with a magnifying glass to spot the difference as the overall design is still very much similar to the E90. That’s if you could shake off the feeling that you are looking at a cheap 5 series made in Hong Kong confiscated at port destined for the black market in China City or Marabastad, if you only took a glance at the front view. You need to have a total view of the car to appreciate the new 3 series. Every angle had been designed to complement the other, probably to discourage those that would want to sell the vehicle in parts to build shacks in Gugulethu, one would end up with a very ugly shack if that was the case from this model.
Nevertheless it is not the Z4 front end look that makes it the best innovative 3 series by far but the twin turbo technology that underlies all saloon models of the new 3 series that makes it what it is. There had been more capacities that had been added to the list of the 3 series drive train ranging from a 116 Bhp 2.0d four cylinder engine up to a 306 Bhp 3.0 twin turbo straight six engine that springs from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds with a governed top speed of 250km/h. In some markets we will see the reintroduction of the 316 and 318 in diesel. The 316d produces a 116 Bhp and the 318d about 143 Bhp respectively.
All models are fitted with 17” very light alloy wheels with run flat tires linked to a Tire Puncture Warning System, this is with the exception of the 320d Efficient Dynamics model which has 16 aerodynamic alloys on Non-Run Flat tires. The M Sport package includes lowered and stiffened sports suspension, unique aerodynamic body styling and 18-inch M light alloy wheels.
The interior is trimmed in Aluminium Hexagon with a Blue finisher. The sport seats are covered in Dakota leather, and the door trim, steering wheel and shortened gearshift reflects the car’s position as the sportiest 3 Series Saloon.
The popular ES and SE models are again in the launch list for pregnant mothers and priests while the Sport and M Sport will be reserved for the more enthusiastic and loyal drivers who knows how to hog the overtaking lane with no consideration to other road users.
I think BMW marketing can do better in creating the hipe around it though, it seems too quite for a 3 series, afterall this is their mass production model it is supposed to put the numebers on the balance sheet.
However, the other thing besides the fancy looks and computerized gadgets and hair trimming and coffee making mechanisms of the new 3 series, the real question still remains whether BMW has addressed the previous challenges experienced with the past two models, whether they managed to bring back the original robustness of the 3 series as we know it.
The general mechanical feeling is that the E46 and E90 models have been marred by challenges as overheating and immature smoking especially on the E90 the latter model. When the F30 model was first introduced to me I was listening out for those solutions or at least hints that says we are trying to address those concerns from the predecessors, however all I keep hearing is a regurgitation of the E90’s features and an aggravation of the elephant with light aluminum engine components and twin turbo technology, which says to me that we’ll be going faster and lighter regardless of the cost of ownership. I guess the 3yrs 120 000 maintenance plan will go a long way in this case for the first owners of the model. Unless if you are one who likes cars with high maintenance you can wait until you get yourself one with 121 000km on the clock at a much discounted price.
The entry price of the new 3 series is around R 370 000 for the petrol models and around R 430 000 for the Diesel
TMakhubedu- Editor- Autozeen
It is here, the 2012 3 Series
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