Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: £50,935 to £50,935
Performance, handling, quality, styling, practicality, value retention
Pricey, not quite as much fun as the original 1986 M3, slightly too vulgar for some. CSL very expensive; SMG transmission flawed; Convertible has less rear room and smaller boot
One of the great performance cars, and so easy to live with
The 3-Series has scored four stars in the NCAP crash tests, and enjoys a heap of driving aids intended to prevent you from having an accident in the first place. Besides anti-lock brakes and emergency brake assist, you get skid-countering ESP stability controls and traction control. These last can be switched off in stages, allowing the more ambitious and competent driver to slide the car, though the roadholding is such that you'll need to be travelling at a considerable speed. The airbag count includes driver, passenger, side and head 'bags as standard, while thief-proofing runs to an immobiliser and deadlocks. The Convertible has pop-up roll-over bars to protect occupants in the even of the car overturning.
Latest Readers' Drives About the BMW 3 Series Coupe
wrote on 21 09 2007