Exterior changes of the 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan are relatively minor. The kidney has been modified as have the front bumper, headlamps and tail lamps. The tailgate is a little larger. The only changes to the car’s internal appearance is a redesigned iDrive and starter button.

There are three engine options:

o 328i 230 bhp – 200 lb-ft. of torque from 2,750 rpm, six-speed manual or automatic gearbox; with rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive xDrive with rear wheel bias.
o 335i turbocharged 300 bhp – 300 lb-ft. of torque from 1,400 rpm with gearbox and drive options as above.
o 335d 265 bhp turbodiesel – 425 lb-ft. torque from 1,750 rpm with six-speed automatic gearbox.

The BMW iDrive system is included for the first time in 3-series cars. controls are positioned around the steering wheel for indicators, windscreen wipers, lights, audio and communication. Remaining functions, for instance climate control, navigation, and suspension settings are controlled via a single turn-and-push dial in the centre console.

Eclectically powered front seats with memory functions are standard.

Options include leather upholstery, Bluetooth, BMW Assist, a Sport Package which included sports seats, improved steering wheel and, sports suspension. Paddle shift gearbox is also available with the automatic suspension.

Also available is adaptive cruise control, enhanced audio, and Active Steering, which responds to car speed giving lighter steering at slow speeds.

Dimensions are:
o Length: 454.2 cm
o Width: 181.6 cm
o Height: 142 cm
o Wheelbase: 276.1 cm

If you are looking for a BMW 3 Series Sedan or alternative format then you will find a large number of them available all over the UK at www.motors.co.uk.

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BMW has been at the heart of German manufacturing since 1916. It produces some of the highest quality premium cars on our roads none more so than the BMW 3 Series. The 3 series has achieved a nearly iconic status becoming the benchmark for top quality high performance small saloons.

The 3 Series has a price tag of £20,000+ so its sales are testament to the cars superior quality. It isn’t common for a car with this price tag to become so universally popular.

The 3 Series is available in 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder petrol engines. The petrol versions are good but the diesels exhibit some of the best motor engineering in the world. The 335d Twin Turbo offers impossible levels of performance: 286bhp, 0-62 in 6 seconds, 155mph top speed and an incredible 42.2mpg. These levels of performance and fuel economy are unparalleled in the motor industry. The cheaper 320d achieves 50mpg, a figure you may associate with a small runabout type vehicle.

The BMW is a saloon car but if you didn’t know you could well be driving something far sportier. Its excellent steering allows the road to feedback to the driver perfectly and the rear wheel drive really gives it traction and venom through the bends.
Some may see the 3 Series shape as unexciting, possibly due to its populous nature on our roads. The 3 Series is as recognisable as most cars on the road and probably the most recognisable premium saloon ever.

The 3 Series qualities lie in the fact that it’s a real driver’s car – a sports saloon made for the driver who wants affordable performance. The 3 Series is one of the most popular second hand buys on the market. It regularly outperforms the Audi and Mercedes offerings in consumer tests.

The 3 Series looks set to be a mainstay on our roads for years to come and is every inch the modern classic.

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The BMW 5 Series GT was launched in 2009 and is almost a cross between the standard 5 series models and the BMW 7 series. It is designed to offer a compromise between a saloon car, an estate and an off-roader.

A particular design feature is the car’s tailgate which is constructed of two pieces and opens both as a hatchback and an estate.

There are a number of models in the BMW 5 Series GT range. There are listed below along with fuel type engine capacity and CO2 emissions expressed as BIK%.

Models equipped with petrol engines

550i Executive GT 4395cc 35%
535i Executive GT 2979cc 31%
535i M Sport GT 2979cc 31%
550i M Sport GT 4395cc 35%
535i SE GT 2979cc 31%
550i SE GT 4395cc 35%

Models equipped with diesel engines

530d Executive GT 2993cc 27%
535d Executive GT 2993cc 28%
530d M Sport GT 2993cc 27%
535d M Sport GT 2993cc 28%
535d SE GT 2993cc 28%
530d SE GT 2993cc 27%

The highest spec 5 Series GT models in terms of the 0 to 62 mph acceleration time are the 550i SE GT, M Sport GT and Executive GT equipped with the 4395cc petrol engine. These all have a 0 to 62 mph time of 5.5 seconds. The models with the smaller petrol engine have acceleration times of 6.3 seconds, whist the acceleration rimes of the diesel models are 6.1 to 6.9 seconds.

Fuel consumption ranges from 25 mpg (largest petrol engine) to 43.5 mpg for the lowest power diesel.

Top speeds range from 149 mph to 155 mph.

The dimensions of all models in the range are: length: 4998 mm; width 1901 mm; height 1559 mm. Weights range from 1960 KG up to 2060 kg.

The wheelbase of all models is 3070 mm and the luggage capacity is 590 litres.

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The BWM 5 xDrive30d is a 4×4 crossover SUV with all the performance of a sports saloon whist delivering a very impressive fuel economy and relatively low CO2 emissions. Certainly the car has a very upmarket image, it is very robust with a superb quality of build, and a firm ride.

On the downside, although it does perform reasonably well off-road, by no means can the car be considered a true off-roader, though for occasional off-road it is fine and with the potential of adding additional seats it can easily transport seven occupants on the daily school run.

Taking the whole of the BMW 5 series there are a number of engine options but by far the most popular are the diesel powered models which account for over 90% of sales. There are two of these which deliver 235 bhp and 386 bhp. There are also a 272 bhp 3 litre and a 355 bhp V8 4.8 litre petrol engines available.

The BMW 6 xDrive35d was launched in 2008. This model moved on a little from the 30d and is less bulky and a little lighter. It also handles better than the previous model and of the two Motors it generally has a higher level of performance. Out of the total BMW 6 range the 35d is the most popular. In fact this uses a very similar engine to 30d but the latter has a single turbo charger whilst the former has twin turbochargers and produces 286 bhp.

Bothe the BMW 5 30d and the BMW 6 35d are luxurious cars with very high levels of comfort. The driving experience is excellent and there is good all-round visibility.

In 2010 BMW added the X3 xDrive30d and the X3 xDrive35d to the BMW 3 series range. Both have 8 speed automatic gearboxes and several additional features including 18 inch alloy wheels. Maximum power output is makes 313 bhp and the 0 to 62 mph acceleration time is 5.8 seconds.

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Firstly the M5’s engine – a V8 4.4 litre capacity one – is smaller than the V10 5.0 litre engine in the previous M5 model, but is equipped with two turbochargers to compensate for this. These turbochargers, which utilise the twin scroll system specifically developed by BMW, are positioned between the cylinder banks of the engine. What this means is that torque of 501lb is available even at 5,750 rpm, compared to the maximum 383lb available at 6,100 rpm in the previous M5 model.

Furthermore the new M5 model is more financially and environmentally friendly thanks to greater fuel efficiency. The fuel consumption is reduced to 28.5 mpg, which represents a 30% reduction on that of the previous M5 model. In addition the car has an 80-litre tank, rather than 70 litres, which means that you can expect to be able to make 400 miles at a time before needing to refuel.

The car is styled with as great a degree of subtlety as can be expected from a big car, although compromises with the appearance are necessary in order to accommodate performance improvements. For example, below the front grille there are three large air intakes, which are not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but which are essential in order to provide air to cool the engine and brakes. The internal space provided is good, with plenty of room for four or five people, plus luggage, making it suitable for families.

The overall performance is superior to that of other cars in the BMW 5-series. However there are some issues in this area, with the car having a propensity towards over-steering, requiring the driver to be able to read the road surface excellently, while the relentless speed of the car can make traction challenging even on a dry road. The other big downside of the car is the price tag: the current cost of the M5 is £73,040 – putting it outside the price range of most.

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BMW’s can represent excellent second hand buys. Twinned with reasonable used car insurance deals from companies you can unearth great value. Endsleigh cheapest car insurance is a great place to start looking.

In a recent “best used buy” survey the BMW 1 series ranked top. It offers cheap running costs – good fuel economy and reasonable insurance – as well as excellent depreciation and solid reliability. BMW’s entry level car is pound for pound one of the best of its product range and even better value second had.

The BMW 3 series is similarly good value when it comes to used cars. A model of 2007-08 could sell for between 10-15,000 pounds which offers good discounts on what is a compact executive car. Running costs and average second hand insurance rates make it another high ranker.

The BMW 5 series came in third. It was voted CarBuyer’s best large executive car in 2011. The 5 series is large elegant saloon which is reliable and has good depreciation rates for the buyer to benefit from.
The BMW X3 made the list as the forth best BMW on offer. Again you can benefit from hefty discounts. This is a 4×4 Sports Utility Vehicle which is costly as new – upwards of £30,000 – but as a second hand buy you will benefit from the huge discounts that go towards its ranking as one of the best used BMW’s.

The BMW X5 is another large SUV. This big engine, high performance 4×4 is also relatively fuel efficient due to BMW’s state of the art diesel engines. It’s impressive all round performance and costs rank it fifth amongst the best used BMW’s.

You may initially think that a used BMW is out of your reach due to things like expensive insurance costs but there are numerous sites ready to offer competitive used car insurance deals. The cost of the car is factored highly into any insurance deal so when you buy second hand you save a good amount.

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Ask a group of people what their all-time favourite BMW Motors are and you will get a diversity of replies, but one that seems to be in everybody’s list is the M3 CSL.

So why do so many people love this M3? Perhaps one of the reasons is that only 1.400 of these sports coupes were ever manufactured. Incidentally, CSL stands for Coupé Sport Leichtbau and leichtbau is German for lightweight. The objective of making this car was to take the M3 coupe and strip it down to produce a car with a very low kerb weight and consequently a very high power weight ratio. All non-essentials such as air conditioning and sat nav were removed and much of the construction was replaced with carbon fibre. Some of the styling was replaced with aerodynamic sections and the car was supplied with a super lightweight exhaust system.

Improvements were made to weight distribution, suspension and steering and the 3.2 litre engine was tunes to deliver and extra 17 bhp.

So how did this beauty perform? Well, it certainly did not disappoint. The 0 to 62 acceleration time was 4.9 seconds and the 0 to 100 mph acceleration time was 10.9 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph and the car could complete a lap of the Nürburgring race circuit in 7 minutes 5 seconds.

Another hot favourite amongst BWM fans is the Z8. This little two seater convertible roadster was manufactured from 2000 to 2003 and was based on a concept car, the Z07. It has an all aluminium body and packs in a 4.9 litre V8 engine with 32 valves and which delivers 400 bhp. Unsurprisingly this little beast is spectacularly fast. 0 to 62 mph acceleration time is 4.7 seconds and top speed is limited to 155 mph.

The beauty of the Z8 is the handling and on the track with the speed limiter removed it is quite capable of achieving speeds of 190 mph. If you are thinking of buying one then there is no need to be concerned regarding spare parts; BMW has undertaken to keep a full spare parts inventory for the Z8 for fifty years.

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BMW started life as an aerospace company manufacturing aero engines. The company itself was created in 1917 and specialised in high altitude engines. Following the end of the First World War the company was prevented from producing aero engines and was effectively closed down, bur remerged as an engine and pneumatic brakes manufacturer for motorcycles and trucks, followed by the manufacture of motorcycles (the famous R32) in 1923 followed by its first cars (the Dixi, which were essentially rebadged Austin 7s) in 1928. During this period they also produced aero engines for Russia.

However during Germany’s rearmament in the 1930s BMW again became pivotal in aero engine manufacture for the Luftwaffe. However during the war BMW was a target of allied bombing and most of it was destroyed. Wheat remained was seized by the conquering forces and all production was closed down for three years.

In 1948 motorcycle manufacture recommenced with the R4 and car manufacture recommenced in 1952. It produced two models, the 502 which was a luxury saloon car and the highly acclaimed 507 sports car, though neither of them was a commercial success. It also produced the Isetta which was designed by the Italian company Iso SpA. This micro-car was very inexpensive and proved to be a commercial success in the era of post war austerity.

After the Isetta came the BMW 700 which was a rear engine car powered by a 697cc air cooled motorcycle engine. This was successful both commercially and in motorsport and was produced in a range of formats including a saloon, coupe and open top. Production continued until 1965.

BMW 700 sales effectively saved BMW from ruin and launched a new era in the company as it began focusing on up-market models. First there came the BMW New Class, of which the 2002 is the most well known example, followed by the BMW 3 Series that was first seen in 1975 and heralded the beginning of BMW as we know it today.

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US BMW fans, here’s great news for all of you! BMW is preparing special BMW 3 Series units for the United States market. These special units we are talking about are all M3 Coupes, designed with special exterior paint color, added features, specially designed automatic transmission, and only 30 exclusive units for first class individuals.

The automatic transmission used in this BMW M3 coupe version is exceptional nonetheless. It is a DCT gearbox that offers automatic transmission at its best. Couple the transmission technology with M3’s V8 engine and you will have a superb car capable of going from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 4.5 seconds. That is 0.2 seconds faster to the original M3 with manual transmission; quite exceptional indeed.

The car comes in special color called Frozen Gray. If you get your hands on one of the released 30 units, you will be among a select group of people who get to use this special color. The interior is no less special, featuring carbon fiber accents, red and black leather interior, and added features you will certainly enjoy.

If you look at the special M3 Coupe in details, you will also notice how this car is also lower compared to the original M3; the suspension is lowered by 10mm. You will also find a special set of 19 inch alloy wheels installed as one of the special features added to this version. The car is truly beautiful and capable in every way; make sure you get to be the owner of one to enjoy this special edition of BMW M3 Coupe.

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Buying a previously owned car instead of a new one is a good idea for a lot of people, and has a very large number of benefits. Whilst there are numerous benefits to buying a second hand car, there are certain issues that need to be addressed by the buyer before the sale is actually completed. There are a lot of things that people should make sure of, before they hand over money in exchange for a second hand or used car.

One of the very first things that should be done on local used cars is a history check, so that the buyer will know straight away all the details of the car that they are spending money on. Buyers should make sure they get all the paperwork before they enter into a deal, because this paperwork and the history check will tell them everything that they need to know. Details included will show all the past repairs that the car might have needed, the past performance, and where the car originally came from –whether it has ever been imported or exported in the past, for example.

Used and second hand cars are also a very good idea for young or newly qualified drivers, for a large number of reasons. There is the general financial aspect –used and second hand cars are likely to be a great deal cheaper than new ones, which is obviously much better for a younger driver who might not have a full income. There is also the issue of insurance, which will be less with a used car than with a brand new one.

Possibly one of the best advantages of having a used car is the fact that it will offer much better value for money than a brand new car. In a lot of cases the car will be in a very good condition, and will not be that different to a car that is new –it is highly likely that it will only be a couple of years old, if not even newer.

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