BMW 3 Series never ending package options

About two years ago I bought an iPod. Now, our family of four has six, no seven. Hang on, wait until after Christmas and I'll do another count. What's more amazing is that I own three of them and my wife doesn't have any.

Furthermore, every single one of the iPods is different. Not just different in colour, but different in size, capacity and/or capability. There are handy little iPods that fit into your pocket and play podcasts of The Chaser while you're on the train.

There are bigger iPods that are flat and have massive memory and battery capability.

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And there is my first iPod, a fat and now antiquated second-generation 40GB unit that plays more songs than I have in my entire CD library and, I'm sure, on the playlist of any of the FM stations that claim 'no repeat workdays.'

Apart from video capability, they are all there to provide musical entertainment.

So why do we need so many?

Not sure how that happened, but they just seem to accumulate. Of course, now everyone has one (except my wife, that is) and we don't know what we would do without them. Not only have we all got one (again excluding my wife), but we all want the latest one.

I'm sure someone at Apple is employed to simply come up with different designs, sizes and colours of iPods just to make us go out and buy another one. And do we really need all this variety when my 40-gig iPod still works and does exactly what the others do? Which brings me to the just-as-ubiquitous BMW 3 Series.

Since they began in 1975, when I was a pimply faced, long-haired, nose-picking git, I've wanted one, mainly because it was the entry point for the aspirational brand. That is, before the baby 1 Series came along in 2004.

In 2000, I almost bought an E46 3 Series, but realised it would be too expensive to maintain on my wage. More than 40 years have passed since I first lusted after a 3 Series and now we are up to the fifth generation.

And, of course, now I am a motoring journalist I seem to be driving a 3 Series every second week on test.

Yet they are never the same.

There are at least five different petrol and diesel engines each available in sedan, convertible, coupe and wagon, plus a variety of various packages of extras.

In fact, there is only one breed of car that has more varieties than the 3 Series and that's its sworn enemy, the C-Class Mercedes-Benz.

It seems you can go into a BMW dealership and say, “I want a 3 Series and this is how much I have to spend.” And it doesn't matter if it's $51,000 or $300,000, the salesperson will find a 3 Series to suit you from a pov-pack 320i to an M3 with all the fruit. Now, with salary sacrificing and user-chooser packages, it seems every aspiring blue, white and no-collar worker can afford a 3 Series.

And benevolent BMW can supply you one that will fit you right down to your inside leg measurements. Even the basic model can be tucked here, let out there, this gizmo added and that one coloured and leathered a little differently. But watch out, because BMW, like Benz, charge a small fortune for any extras. It would not be impossible to double the cost of your 320i with the addition of sat nav, TV, M pack suspension, etc.

This is either Germany's expression of capitalism providing the customer with exactly what they want, or some Teutonic plot to drive us all stark raving mad.

One of the most recent 3 Series I tested was the middle-of-the-pack 325i auto sedan.

This came shortly after I experienced the hot 335i at the Carsguide Car of the Year testing.

That car cost $104,500, but after the extras, the real price was $113,550.

The 325i I drove with six-speed auto normally costs $76,400.

However, this one had the $3300 'Innovations Package,' which includes Bi-Xenon adaptive headlights with washer system and high-beam assist, USB audio interface for MP3 integration, colour monitor and Professional Navigation System including TV and voice recognition.

On top of that, BMW has kitted this out with a multi-function sports leather steering wheel ($200), metallic paint ($1600), glass electric sunroof ($2750), 17-star spoke alloys with with run flat tyres ($300).

That means the car actually cost $84,550.

I wouldn't have got the TV, although it comes with the sat nav as part of the Innovations Package.

The voice recognition system was fun, but a gimmick that takes a long time to set up. If you really can't deal with the complex iDrive system, this is going to be easier, if you can work out how to set it up.

I also wouldn't bother with the run-flat tyres which make the ride harsher, nor the fancy headlights although they are safer.

Nor would a true Queenslander, especially one with no hair like me, bother with a sunroof.

But I would definitely have the USB interface which gives complete control of your iPod through the sound system. Very safe and convenient.

However, it rankles that you have to either pay $3300 for the 'Innovations Package,' which includes MP3 connectivity or pay $650 separately for the function.

Meanwhile, it is standard across the model range in the budget Hyundai i30, one of many reasons it won Carsguide's Car of the Year. Are you listening, BMW?

So, how did the 325i go?

Like most other 3 Series, pretty good. Better than the 320i and not as good as the 335i.

Although, I believe the new C-Class now has its measure in many aspects.

In fact, Benz has even copied the overly complicated and utterly annoying iDrive control.

Snapshot

BMW 325i sedan

Price: $76,400 ($84,550 as tested)

Engine: 4 stars

Creamy smooth and lusty

Handling: 4 stars

Exemplary, but ride is compromised by run-flat tyres

Safety: 5 stars