BMW 3-Series

LOOK hard at BMW's 3-Series range. Subtle, cosmetic changes to the saloon and touring versions have made them fresher-faced cars but the tweaks are so gentle that you could be forgiven for missing them. Not so much a facelift then, more a touch of Botox applied to plump out the cars' facial curves, three years on from the current models' launch.

There is a new bonnet with a touch more muscle to its lines, a wider grille, revised headlamps incorporating teardropshaped indicators, plus a shortening of the crease along the body sides to leave a cleaner space over the front wings.

The changes echo the style of the 3-Series compact launched earlier this year. They do not, however, affect the coup and convertible variants, which remain unaltered. So there is now a visual differentiation, splitting the five body styles of the 3- Series range into two distinct camps.

BMW's best-seller offers bewildering choice: as well as five bodies there are now eight engines and five transmissions to choose from. In total, there are 79 different 3-Series variants.

The choice of models has been swelled by the arrival of two new engines, a petrol and a common rail diesel, both twolitres, with four cylinders and 16 valves.

They have BMW's award-wining Valvetronic technology, which removes the need for a throttle butterfly and controls valve-lift to infinitely vary the fuel-air mixture supply. These engines are built at BMW's Hams Hall factory in Warwickshire, which opened in February on a site acquired during BMW's Rover ownership.

Confusingly, the two-litre petrol model is badged as the 318i. The diesel is badged 320 TD. There is a petrol 320i in the range, but it has a 2.2 litre engine.

On the road, these cars are impressive, smooth performers with high levels of refinement. The diesel is surprising, deceptively quiet and pleasant.

The small Achilles heel of the 3-Series range remains, however. The pedals are offset to the right, not in line with the steering wheel, and the footrest provided beside the clutch pedal is intrusive.

A BMW for all: see page 7 BMW 3-Series Price from 19,930 to 23,365 Engine four cylinders/petrol or diesel 1995cc BHP 105-150 Top speed 131-135mph 0-62mph 8.9-10.5 secs (318i) CO2 emissions 148-199

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