BMW 3 Series 2006 review

The ubiquitous 3 Series has never been so popular with young executives salary sacrificing to get into one of the iconic luxury cars.

Just because someone owns a BMW, does not necessarily mean they earn a lot of money these days. Salary sacrificing has put the car within easy reach of many middle-class motorists.

And these motorists still have to watch their pennies and will be mindful of fuel economy.

Therefore, I reckon the 320d is going to be a sales winner for BMW.

And so it should.

It drives and handles like any 3 Series; and that's damn good.

It is put together just as well and, of course, it looks the same.

But the diesel difference is also noticeable.

There is that slight clatter at idle. Not intrusive, but it's there. It goes away under a few revs, to be replaced by quite a masculine gargling and a deep-throated roar on full noise.

There is also a good amount of torque launch off the line, with easy overtaking acceleration, without the six-speed gearbox having to kick down as you would normally expect in a petrol-engined car.

On the spirited launch drive through the Adelaide Hills a couple of months ago, the on-board computer claimed fuel economy was 7.6l/100km, which is more than the claimed 6.7l/100km of combined tests, but still pretty good.

After a week of driving in peak-hour traffic, suburban errands and a small amount of highway running, it returned a more realistic 6.9l/10km.

On a highway run, you would just about get from Brisbane to Sydney without having to refuel.

It comes in six-speed automatic with Steptronic sequential shift and no manual option, plus cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, automatic climate control, trip computer, cloth seat trim and multi-function steering wheel. The Executive, which I drove, also gets 16-inch alloys, leather and fog lights.

Standard safety features include ABS, six airbags and a host of driver aids such as brake controls for added assistance and braking in corners, plus traction and stability controls.

An option is active steering, which is different from speed-sensitive steering which changes the load according to speed. Active steering varies the load according to understeer and oversteer to aid the driver who overcorrects or doesn't respond strongly enough.

The feel is simply neutral, which is good.

BMW Group Australia managing director Dr Franz Sauter predicts BMW will sell 3000 diesel-powered vehicles in Australia this year.

Six months after the 530d was released with expectations of 10-15 per cent of 5 Series sales, it is accounting for more than 20 per cent.

Dr Sauter conservatively expects the new 320d to represent only 7 per cent of 3 Series sales; about 280 units this year, but I think he's wrong.

If I am right and Dr Sauter is wrong, he said there should be no supply problems as the more technical, time-consuming and expensive diesel production processes had been streamlined.