BMW 3 series 320i/323i 2009 Review

There is an off-camber corner near home with a hump at the apex that sorts out the well-suspended from the also-rans.

It also causes my wife alarm as some test cars register their compliance to the laws of physics.

I'm pleased to report that, despite a few minor styling changes, the new BMW 3 Series still rides that corner better than most cars. My wife also attests to that by a lack of screaming.

Good to see that nothing has changed. My wife is still a good gauge of suspension and this is one top-handling car, albeit with a harsh ride these days from the run-flat tyres.

What has changed is also good news.

The annoying iDrive is now far easier and more intuitive to use and better news still, there is slightly more kit and a lower price - in some models, it's about $1400 cheaper.

That's quite an achievement against the dramatic exchange rate shift with the Euro over recent months.

BMW Group Australia corporate communications manager Toni Andreevski recently said they had resisted the annual factory price rise.

However, he did suggest there could be a rise later in the year, so now is a good time to consider a 3 Series.

Additional standard kit now includes leather trim, power-adjustable front seats, alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, fog lamps, park assist, USB/audio interface, automatic airconditioning, trip computer, trick door lighting and Bluetooth connectivity.

I recently drove a 320i Executive sedan, which is the "entry level" vehicle in the range, and a 323i Touring (wagon).

Both cars handled that infamous corner with a settled suspension, keeping all wheels firmly on the ground, no slip, no tyre squeal, no steering kickback, no screaming wife.

There are also no rattles or scuttle shake as you crest that hump. These are solid cars where the doors close with a pleasant and satisfying "thump" that spells good engineering and high build quality.

The wagon handles the same as the sedan, despite the extra weight, although there really isn't that much of a wagon area back there. It's almost like what we used to call a fastback or liftback in the 1970s.

BMW has always made the 3 Series around the driver with responsive handling and good ergonomics. My only complaint about cockpit ergonomics are that the brake and throttle are too close for my size 11s.

BMW cars use run-flat tyres which negates the need for a spare wheel, providing more cargo room. The downside is that the steering feels heavy and the ride is harsh and noisy.

Where these cars obviously differ, aprt form the wagon rear, is in the engine.

The little 320i with its 1995cc four-cylinder is no match for the in-line 2497cc six-cylinder 323i. Obviously the six has more power and torque and better acceleration.

But even if outright performance is not your thing, the four-cylinder is simply annoying as the transmission hunts, flares and constantly changes its mind among the six available ratios as it searched for the correct cog to match your right-foot expectations.

On paper, the four-cylinder offers lower fuel economy than the six.

The combined highway/city fuel consumption figures for the four-cylinder sedan are 7.9 litres per 100km and 8L/100km for the wagon, while the 323i sedan is rated at 8.5L/100km and 8.9L/100km for the wagon.

Yet in reality, because you push the 320i harder to get forward momentum, the figures are a lot closer than that.

It hardly seems worth putting up with the annoying transmission indecision and jerkiness for the marginal fuel economy benefits.

Which brings me to the greatest achievement in the new 3 Series; the new and improved iDrive.

Don't get me wrong. You still have to perform several distracting manoeuvres to achieve a simple operation such as swapping between FM and AM on the radio; a one-touch operation in most cars.

However, the future of on-board entertainment and information systems requires a computer and subsequently comprehensive controls. And the best way to deal with these is a centralised control.

BMW went out of its way to minimalise this control, but have now relented and added a few buttons around it like their German compatriots. In fact, there are now more buttons surrounding the central controller than its competitors.

It is a little confusing at first and certainly not intuitive, but it's a great leap forward.

The split-screen facility also makes navigating through the various complex menus much easier.

But god bless their hearts, the biggest leap forward is the "back" button so you can return to the previous step if you have screwed things up.

The iPod integration is a little strange. Despite it working just fine in the super-cheap Hyundai i30, this one doesn't supply track names but garbled names such a "ghkd".

Surely if Hyundai can get it right...

A couple of other grumbles are the seats which feel like the leather is pulled too tight and the centre console which intrudes into the back making it really a four-and-a-half seater, rather than a five-seater.

Otherwise, there is good accommodation in the back, a nice big flat boot, plenty of safety equipment and driver aids and I just love the moody blue door handle lights.

Despite the extra standard kit, there are, as ever, add-on packages including navigation, DVD, 80GB hard disc drive, TV and M Sport styling and suspension kits which will drive the final price skyward.

The 320i sedan costs $54,500, but with metallic paint ($1700), electric glass sunroof ($2920), and navigation system with TV and voice recognition ($6750), the test car cost $65,870.

Similarly, the 323i wagon costs $67,400, but the test vehicle, with optional metallic paint, navigation, panorama sunroof glass ($3080), wide tyres ($2200) and aluminium interior trim ($920), cost $82,050.

Snapshot

BMW 320i sedan

PRICE: $54,500 ($65,870 as tested)

BODY: 5-seater sedan

ENGINE: 4-cylinder, 1995cc

POWER: 115Kw @ 6400rpm

TORQUE: 200Nm @ 3600rpm

ECONOMY: 7.9L/100km

CO2 emissions: 191g/km

BMW 323i Touring

PRICE: $67,400 ($82,050 as tested)

BODY: 5-seater wagon

ENGINE: 6-cylinder 2497cc

POWER: 140kW @ 5900rpm

TORQUE: 230Nm @ 3250rpm

ECONOMY: 8.9L/100km

CO2 emissions: 215g/km