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Writer's Notes
Curb Appeal: It may be entry-level, but it's a Bimmer in every sense of the word.
Asphalt Rating: Some competitors offer more power, but either engine will give you enough pep for your needs.
Real World: For those looking to enter into the foray of BMW, the 3 Series is a great place to start no matter what body style you prefer.
Handling: Tracks cleanly and with the improvements to the Dynamic Stability Control, you're likely to stay on the road even if the elements are not in your favor.
Safety: Rear side airbags are now available on the coupes and convertibles.
Comfort: Nice up front, the back seat is a bit cramped for even moderately sized adults.
For 2002, the sedans and sport wagons, the "oldest" siblings in the 3 Series lineup received a subtle facelift. Up front, BMW's famous "kidney" grille has been widened and the character lines of the hood sweep out and back from the grille's outer corners.
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You might say that BMW's philosophy toward the lineup of its 3 Series is similar to the mantra of a home developer---"We will build to suit." With 10 variations in its entry-level line, BMW has made it easy to please a wide array of drivers.
After its debut in 1999, the BMW 3 Series saw significant changes as well as new models for 2001 and was freshened yet again for the 2002 model year. Currently, there are 10 models in the 3 Series family---a combination of two engines, an all-wheel drive configuration and four body styles---which have been mixed and matched in a variety of enticing combinations.
For 2002, the sedans and sport wagons, the "oldest" siblings in the 3 Series lineup received a subtle facelift. Up front, BMW's famous "kidney" grille has been widened and the character lines of the hood sweep out and back from the grille's outer corners. The headlight clusters were restyled with new cutouts below the headlights and wraparounds that have an upward-sweep. The front fenders now feature more prominent flares at the wheel wells, giving the lines a bit more character. In the rear, the proportions for the taillights have been changed, giving the main taillights a larger area of illumination, while both front and rear bumpers have been streamlined for a cleaner look. From the design perspective, coupe and convertible models remain largely unchanged.
Our test model, a 330i sedan, was Gray Green Metallic, a color new to the sedans and sport wagons for this year. It featured the 225 horsepower, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder model, which replaced the 193 horsepower, 2.8-liter unit in 2001. The base model 3 Series comes with a 2.5 liter, in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 184 horsepower, up from 170 horsepower. Both engines were new for the 2001 model year and are proving popular with buyers. Driving the 3.0-liter was a pleasant experience, magnified by a sweet exhaust note, which could be heard distinctly when all was quiet in the passenger cabin. Some may expect a quieter cabin, but the engine noise was less of a distraction and more of a pleasant reminder of the increased power under the hood.
While our test model featured BMW's rear-wheel-drive system, an all-wheel drive system, designated as xi after the engine notation, is also available for those who living in a climate where a rear-wheel-drive car is impractical.
While our test model featured BMW's rear-wheel-drive system, an all-wheel drive system, designated as xi after the engine notation, is also available for those who living in a climate where a rear-wheel-drive car is impractical. A Dynamic Stability Control system is standard on all models and has been refined yet again to include Dynamic Traction Control, allowing engine intervention at higher speeds to improve stability while leaving the moderated traction-control effect at low speeds. On the all-wheel drive versions, the Dynamic Stability Control system also adds Hill Descent Control for 2002. By simply pressing a button on the dashboard, Hill Descent Control gently applies the brakes as needed to maintain slow speed and stability on steep downhill terrain.
Other features new for 2002 include optional bi-xenon headlights with high-intensity discharge on both high and low beam. On the premium package of the 330 models, automatic headlight control, which activates exterior lighting in low ambient light conditions, is also new. 330i models also receive two new optional wheel and tire combinations. As part of the Sport package, one combination features 18-inch wheels in a new M V-spoke design. A run-flat tire and wheel package is also available on 17-inch wheels for 330 models.
On the inside, our test model had the optional leather interior (leatherette is standard) and a leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel with fingertip controls for the cruise control, audio functions and optional cellular telephone. Soft orange ambiance lighting is pleasant at night and provided enough light for the front passenger to read a map without being a distraction to the driver. Other standard features include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, multi-speed and speed sensing windshield wipers, a multi-function keyless remote now with memory for radio presets and a 10-speaker audio system. All 330 models add automatic climate control with microfilter and automatic recirculation as well as rain-sensing windshield wipers.
New for 2002 are the optional rear side airbags for the coupe and convertible models---they have previously been offered only on the sedans and sport wagons. All 3 Series models come with dual "smart" front airbags, front seat side airbags and a front seat head protection system as standard equipment.
Minor refinements for 2002 also include an "automatic" setting for the headlights and a single-disc, in-dash CD player as standard (instead of a cassette), while the cassette is available as a no-cost option. The optional navigation system has been redesigned with a larger, easy-to-read color monitor, reconfigured control to ease usage and a panel that pivots downward to access the cassette player. One drawback to the navigation system is that it takes up considerable real estate in the dashboard and is therefore not available with the in-dash CD player.
---Story by Tara Baukus Mello
© 2002, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved.
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