- sedan 48,735
- 17,986 high price
- Springfield, IL
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- autoshopper.com
2011 bmw 3 series review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. What bmw does best. introductionthe bmw 3 series cars are the quintessential bmws. They accelerate, turn and stop with remarkable agility and balance, without seriously compromising comfort or common sense. The 3 series sedans define the term sports sedan and remain an aspirational target for every luxury automaker, from acura to volvo. the 3 series comprises a range of sedans, coupes, convertibles and wagons, with different engines, and a wide variety of options. All models share mechanical components and similarly compact exterior dimensions. We like the top models, but we also recommend the less-expensive 328i models. They have as much power as most drivers will ever need, and they deliver the same inherent goodness and most of the key features as the 335 models. for 2011, all 3 series body styles get minor design changes. for 2011, bmw 335i features a single turbo instead of a twin turbo, and a new performance tuned twin-turbo model called the 335is has been added. The 2011 bmw 335is is available with bmw's dual-clutch automated manual transmission (dct), which was previously only offered on the m3. the bmw 335d features a new-age diesel engine that's as clean as any of its gasoline counterparts. Despite its improved fuel economy, it retains the sporting character that has long defined the 3 series line. The diesel generates a whopping 425 pound-feet of torque, and at 23 city/36 highway, it delivers the highest epa mileage ratings of any 3 series model. All-wheel drive is available, however, for improved traction in wintry conditions. Bmw sells more manual transmissions in this class than any manufacturer, and that says something about the type of drivers choosing the 3 series. Even the optional automatic transmission is tuned for crisp, sporty shifting. Handling response is sharp and precise, and braking capability is best in class. bmw 328i models come with bmw's trademark 3. 0-liter straight six, and we found it's more than powerful enough for brisk acceleration and a sinfully good time. The upgrade turbo six in the 335i is one of the most viscerally satisfying engines in production. exterior dimensions for all 3 series models are relatively compact, making them good cars for crowded city centers. The sports wagon adds substantial cargo space and utility. It's great for couples or families who often bring the dog, though it isn't available with the turbocharged engine. The 328i and 335i convertibles might be the sexiest 3s, with a fully automatic, one-button folding metal hardtop. The firmer sport suspension, optional with other body styles, comes standard on the coupe, and these are the lightest cars in the line. Some competitors offer more room, more power, better mileage or maybe better interiors for less money. aside from subjective price-value analysis, we think the most noteworthy hitch in the 3 series is the downside of its many electronic gizmos. Vinyl upholstery is standard with leather optional. the bmw 328i sedan 33,150) is powered by a 230-hp 3. 0-liter inline-6. The 328i xdrive sedan 35,150) adds xdrive permanent all-wheel drive. A 6-speed manual comes standard, and most models are offered with a 6-speed steptronic automatic 1,375). (all new car test drive prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.) the bmw 335i sedan 40,600) and 335i xdrive sedan 42,600) feature a turbocharged version of the 3. 0-liter inline-6, delivering 300 horsepower. Model designations are consistent across the body styles and standard equipment is similar, though coupes and convertibles include a few more features in the base price. the 3 series convertible features a retracting metal hard top that opens and closes with the touch of a button and comes in 328i 45,000), 335i 51,200) and 335is 58,200) versions. the 335is coupe and convertible have a twin-turbo engine that makes 320 horsepower. The 335is models have equipment otherwise offered in the m sport package, including the bmw m sport steering wheel, m sport seats, an anthracite headliner, 18-inch wheels, and stiffer engine mounts. The 335is comes standard with the 6-speed manual and is available with a double-clutch 7-speed automated manual transmission 1,575). options include dakota leather upholstery 1,450); navigation system 2,100), sirius satellite radio hardware 350), logic 7 stereo upgrade 875), active steering 1,550), smartphone integration 150). The cold weather package adds heated seats, heated steering wheel, headlight washers, ski sack, and in the sedan, a split-folding rear seat. The sport package includes sporting suspension calibrations tuned by bmw's m performance division for the sedan, wagon and convertible, more heavily bolstered sport seats, sport steering wheel, shadowline exterior trim, increased top-speed limiter, and a wheel-performance tire upgrade. safety features include front-impact airbags that deploy at different rates depending on the severity of impact, front passenger side-impact airbags and full-cabin, curtain-type head protection airbags. The convertibles add knee airbags that help keep front passengers from sliding under the seat belts. Active safety features, designed to help the driver avoid collisions, include dynamic stability control and the latest generation antilock brakes. The abs preloads the brake pedal when the driver suddenly lifts off the gas pedal, and includes a feature that lightly sweeps the brake discs dry every 1. 5 seconds when it's raining. walkaroundfor 2011, all 3 series models get some minor styling changes. 2011 3 series coupes and convertibles are an inch longer in than the 2010 versions due to revisions to the front bumper and lower fascia. The twin-kidney grille is wider, the headlights add the led corona rings we become accustomed to seeing on the 5 series and other bmws, and there are now led brows above the headlights. 2011 3 series sedans and wagons get a bolder front end with a larger air intake, sharper lines on the hood, and more prominent side character lines. The headlights are reshaped for 2011. Models with xenon high-intensity discharge headlights now use the round corona rings as daytime running lights. At the rear, leds now adorn the redesigned taillights. The 3 series sedan has a new trunk shape for 2011, and the track is 0. 6 inch wider. the new bmw 335is features a modified front end without fog lights to allow more air intake. Along the sides, it gets lower aero skirts. The rear features a unique bumper, black chrome exhaust tips, additional air ducting, and a black lower diffuser. The diffuser's shape helps air flow over the rear axle. the 3 series sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible all look different from one another, but they have a family appearance and are immediately recognizable as bmws. the model line's high-tech theme is visible from the outside. Many models come with adaptive bi-xenon headlights that turn with the steering wheel to aim into a curve. All feature bmw's adaptive brake lights, which are based on the idea that drivers in the cars following a 3 series will know when the 3 is braking hard: the led lights illuminate more intensely, over a larger area, when the driver applies the brakes full-lock or when the abs operates. all 3 series body styles ride a 108. 7-inch wheelbase, and by every exterior dimension, they're all within two inches of each other. In general, these are the largest 3 series cars ever. Most of the extra width and length translates into more interior space compared to previous generations, particularly in the back seat. the sedan is the best seller, and perhaps most familiar to the motoring public. The coupe is a bit longer and lower than the sedan, and not as wide. With standard xenon headlamps, its front light clusters are smaller. The coupe's hood looks longer, and it's fashioned with a subtle dome that suggests a powerful engine underneath. The windshield flows into a roofline that's long and curved in a continuous arc, and lower than that on the sedan. With extensive use of plastic composite materials for parts such as the front fenders, the coupes are also the lightest cars in t. AM/FM✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Heated Seats✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Sport Package✔ Navigation System
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