The 3-series has always been recognized as the small sports car of choice. In Egypt, entry-level engines have been standard, until now.
We live in a world where marketers play a big part in everything we do, from the food and beverages we consume to what type of apartment or villa attracts us, to the clothes we choose to wear. Unfortunately, in the car industry, listening to marketers does not always yield the best results. Marketers have their say in how luxurious, comfortable, safe and easy-to-drive a car should be, which is great when getting from point A to B. The downside of this is that these cars become bigger and heavier with every passing generation as marketers drum up demand for larger models, instigating the need for bigger engines, more horsepower and better safety systems, which interfere whenever the driver tries to have fun. With every passing generation these models also become more computer-controlled and cut the driver out of the equation a bit more and real driving enthusiasts give a cry of despair.
Despite the fact that things are not improving in the driver involvement department less steering response and more automated systems a category known as executive saloons still provides the optimal balance between practicality, sportiness, luxury and relative affordability. This category is a tough one to compete in, and has long been dominated by the Mercedes C-class, BMW 3-series and Audi A4.
Cars in this class must be elegant yet imposing, spacious without appearing cumbersome, comfortable when covering long distances, yet entertaining for a highway trip on mountainous roads like the Red Sea coast and Sinai.
In Egypt, where small, low-tech engines are the norm, since the 1990s, the BMW 3-series has failed to live up to this title for several reasons. Its greatest equipment flaw includes a lethargic four-cylinder engine, coupled with an obligatory automatic gearbox that only serves to magnify the slow engine problem. The introduction of the Mercedes C200K and C280 whose power rivals the 3-series only served to highlight the less-than-superior performance of the BMW.
A shift, however, may be on the horizon, as Bavarian Auto Group is set to launch its fresh-faced 2009 models, adding to the lineup the 330i with a new 3.0L engine, 272 horsepower, and the power to go from 0-100 kilometers per hour in 6.1 seconds; as well as the 318i, a model which BMW added to fit the gap in price and performance between the imported 316i (manual gearbox) and the locally assembled 320i.
A Slight Facelift
While BMW hasn't made any significant changes to its signature sharp, sporty look, the improvements to the 2009 models are visible. Seeing this freshened 3-series is like looking in the mirror after hitting the gym for a week; it is still you, but a slightly more athletic, leaner you.
The most obvious change is in the rear lights; the original cars featured a tri-color (yellow, red and white) unit that has been replaced by solid red with narrow slits, which light up when you reverse using cleverly designed LED units that are extremely clear when in use, and nearly invisible when not.
From the front, BMW has made more significant changes, but only a car enthusiast would notice them. The side indicators have been subtly converted to LED units, the headlights and front bumper have been redesigned to look more aggressive, and the entire front end feels more muscular. The most apparent new feature comes from two 'power lines' that trace along the bonnet and give the front end a more distinctive look than the older model.
From the inside, the standard version remains with the only changes being a new, user-friendly iDrive system similar to the one fitted to the 7-series with seven shortcut buttons. Leather seats (standard on the 330i), a leather steering wheel, and an ergonomic, low seating position more oriented toward spirited driving all tell the driver to press on.
Pressing On
"The Ultimate Driving Machine," "Sheer Driving Pleasure" and "Engineered Emotion" are all slogans BMW has associated with its line. For driving enthusiasts, BMW is the original maker of small, fast cars, and for every other manufacturer; BMW is the benchmark when it comes to driving pleasure so the latest 330i has to deliver.
In mechanical terms, the 2009 330i is like last year's model; the engine still retains the straight-six configuration, making BMW the only passenger car manufacturer to offer such a straight-line configuration. Horsepower has been bumped from 256bhp up to 272bhp and torque from 220lb-ft to 236lb-ft, resulting in a more power-oriented, rather than a torque-oriented engine. Top speed remains electronically limited to 250 kilometers per hour but acceleration from 0-100 kilometers per hour improves by a couple of tenths of a second to 6.1 seconds.
Turning on the engine, the power coming through the steering wheel is immediately noticeable to the driver. Pressing the throttle slightly, the initial lunge is gentle, but when the pedal is squashed to the floor, the progressiveness of the engine is very impressive with a continuous flow of acceleration as the revs climb. Meanwhile, the six-speed automatic gearbox compliments the engine brilliantly and is always in the right gear at the right time. Oddly enough, there is no 'hammer effect', or sudden slug of torque thrusting you backward in the seat during kick down or rolling acceleration this is due to combined effects of the maximum 4250rpm torque and the power cut-off at 6700rpm, meaning that the ultimate power band is narrow. But don't mistake this to mean that the car is sluggish; you will reach indecent speeds if you are not careful. Thankfully, the brakes and sporty tires shed speed with ruthless efficiency, and the progressive brake pedal makes brake modulation smooth, no matter what the speed.
The combination of these driving features coupled with the heavy feeling steering means that you can enjoy driving this car quickly on any sort of road with or without disengaging the traction control system. The car flows smoothly around corners and is so easily controlled in tricky or emergency situations that you begin to wonder how you were able to drive other cars at such high speeds.
Unfortunately, all this control means that the sporty setup of the suspension will prove a challenge on our infamously broken tarmac roads. The sensitive suspension means it will not crash into potholes, but might become uncomfortable when that continuous stream of acceleration is constantly interrupted by having to travel more carefully over bumps and cracks.
Day of Reckoning
Mercedes and BMW have been at each other's throats ever since most would care to remember. The competition spans their entire lineup and is at its fiercest in the executive saloon sector with the C280 and 330i.
The numbers are remarkably similar. Both have 3.0L engines and six cylinders, and both cost between LE 400,000 and LE 450,000. The BMW has more power and more torque than the Mercedes (272bhp versus 231bhp, and 236lb-ft versus 221lb-ft), while the C280 produces its torque at 2500rpm compared with 4250rpm for the BMW. This 1750rpm difference gives the C280 driver an aggressive reaction whenever he or she hammers the throttle, while the 330i is much smoother. Both have automatic gearboxes, and opt to go without paddles on the steering for F1-style manual shifting, but the 7G-tronic (7-speed) of the C280 retains a slight edge over the default six-speed autobox fitted to the 330i because the former does not take as many shifts to accommodate sudden changes in driving moods.
In terms of speed, the C280 loses one second to the 330i in terms of acceleration to 100 kilometers per hour (7.2sec for the Merc versus 6.1sec for the BMW) and falls nearly 10 kilometers per hour short in the top speed department. In terms of sensations, the C280 feels more urgent, but the BMW will be faster.
If you are brand neutral and want the best car to drive on any road, you can't go wrong by choosing either car maker. The BMW is a stiletto, the Merc is a hammer both can kill, so choose your weapon wisely. bt
By Tamer Hafez
© Business Today Egypt 2009
