3 Series (F30/F31/F34/F35) [Official] BMW F30 3-Series LCI [2015-2019]
- Thread starter donkeykong
- Start date
-
- Tags
- bmw
The sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series consists of the BMW F30 (sedan version), BMW F31 (wagon version, marketed as 'Touring') and BMW F34 (fastback version, marketed as 'Gran Turismo') compact executive cars. A long-wheelbase sedan version (model code F35) was sold in China. For this generation, the coupé and convertible models were spun off to create the new BMW 4 Series nameplate. It was succeeded by the G20 3 Series, and the G26 4 Series Gran Coupé (F34). Production: October 2011 – October 2018
hoffmeister_fan
Kraftwagen König
I want that Touring.
klier
Premium
With some margin. Great looking, very agressive.
Rainer271
Kraftwagen König
BMW North America releases the pricing for the 2016 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid
One of the North American premieres at the 2015 LA Auto Show was the all-new and first BMW 3 Series plugin hybrid – 330e. When it goes on sale this year, the 2016 BMW 330e will have a base MSRP of $44,695, including destination and handling.
Continuing BMW’s commitment to efficient dynamics, the new 330e combines a turbo four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor and battery. This combination makes a vehicle capable of up to 25 miles all electric yet still provides the dynamics that BMW customers expect.
The immediate benefit of this plug-in-hybrid and its 7.6 kWh battery, is the possibility of pure electric local trips of up to 25 miles (40 km) and speeds up to 75 mph. The hybrid powertrain can reach 0-100km/hr (0-62) in just 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph. Range anxiety wont be problem with the 330e it has a range of 373 miles in every day driving.
The rear wheel drive only 330e is powered by two motors. First there is an in-line turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder engine producing 184 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The 330e’s electric motor is capable of producing 88 hp and184 lb-ft. The 330e seamlessly switches between either motor or can combine them for a stout 252 hp with 310 lb-ft of torque.
The electric motor is situated just behind the motor and in front of the transmission. This means the electric motor sends power through the eight-speed transmission. Helping save weight, the torque converted is removed as it is no longer needed. The 330e uses a J1772 charging plug and does not have a DC charging option.
Despite all the complexities of the plug in hybrid powertrain, BMW has managed to keep a 50/50 weight distribution.
BMW North America releases the pricing for the 2016 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid
One of the North American premieres at the 2015 LA Auto Show was the all-new and first BMW 3 Series plugin hybrid – 330e. When it goes on sale this year, the 2016 BMW 330e will have a base MSRP of $44,695, including destination and handling.
Continuing BMW’s commitment to efficient dynamics, the new 330e combines a turbo four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor and battery. This combination makes a vehicle capable of up to 25 miles all electric yet still provides the dynamics that BMW customers expect.
The immediate benefit of this plug-in-hybrid and its 7.6 kWh battery, is the possibility of pure electric local trips of up to 25 miles (40 km) and speeds up to 75 mph. The hybrid powertrain can reach 0-100km/hr (0-62) in just 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph. Range anxiety wont be problem with the 330e it has a range of 373 miles in every day driving.
The rear wheel drive only 330e is powered by two motors. First there is an in-line turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder engine producing 184 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The 330e’s electric motor is capable of producing 88 hp and184 lb-ft. The 330e seamlessly switches between either motor or can combine them for a stout 252 hp with 310 lb-ft of torque.
The electric motor is situated just behind the motor and in front of the transmission. This means the electric motor sends power through the eight-speed transmission. Helping save weight, the torque converted is removed as it is no longer needed. The 330e uses a J1772 charging plug and does not have a DC charging option.
Despite all the complexities of the plug in hybrid powertrain, BMW has managed to keep a 50/50 weight distribution.
BMW North America releases the pricing for the 2016 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid
Rainer271
Kraftwagen König
2016 BMW 3 Series receives marginal IIHS score
The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) recently implemented a new test, called the Small Overlap Front test, a few years ago. It has become one of the more important crash tests since its implementation, as it tests what a more realistic crash will do to a car, not just driving straight into a wall in near perfect conditions. This test demonstrates what happens when the car is hits something with one of the front corners, which can be especially devastating, as there isn’t much there to protect passengers.
In the test, the car is sent crashing into a barrier at 40 mph, but the barrier only contacts 25 percent of the front width of the vehicle. The test helps determine how much intrusion there is into the passenger cabin during a crash like this. The 2016 BMW 3 Series, which has been recently refreshed with BMW’s LCI treatment, didn’t do as well as we’d like in this test.
The 2016 BMW 328i that was tested had shown signs of serious leg or foot injury for the driver of the vehicle and received a ‘marginal’ score. “The dummy’s right foot was trapped between the brake pedal and toepan, and the pedal had to be cut off to free the foot,”according to IIHS. Oddly enough, the test scores are better on the 2012, pre-LCI, BMW 328i.
The European NCAP safety tests also describe similar results. NCAP testing is a bit stricter and more thorough than that of the IIHS, though. In the NCAP testing, Frontal Offset test proved that the driver would have adequate damage to their lower left leg, while the front passenger would have the same level of damage to both legs. Lateral impact was shown to have good protection if it were struck by a car, but if it were to hit a pole or something slimmer, that protection would drop to adequate.
Overall, however, the 2016 BMW 3 Series is still an IIHS Top Safety Choice and received four or five stars on all other accounts. The frontal overlap crash test is a very difficult one to pass and receiving a marginal score isn’t too bad, considering how well the 3 Series did in all other tests. It’s also worth noting that the 3 Series received an Advanced score in its crash prevention systems.
2016 BMW 3 Series receives marginal IIHS score
The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) recently implemented a new test, called the Small Overlap Front test, a few years ago. It has become one of the more important crash tests since its implementation, as it tests what a more realistic crash will do to a car, not just driving straight into a wall in near perfect conditions. This test demonstrates what happens when the car is hits something with one of the front corners, which can be especially devastating, as there isn’t much there to protect passengers.
In the test, the car is sent crashing into a barrier at 40 mph, but the barrier only contacts 25 percent of the front width of the vehicle. The test helps determine how much intrusion there is into the passenger cabin during a crash like this. The 2016 BMW 3 Series, which has been recently refreshed with BMW’s LCI treatment, didn’t do as well as we’d like in this test.
The 2016 BMW 328i that was tested had shown signs of serious leg or foot injury for the driver of the vehicle and received a ‘marginal’ score. “The dummy’s right foot was trapped between the brake pedal and toepan, and the pedal had to be cut off to free the foot,”according to IIHS. Oddly enough, the test scores are better on the 2012, pre-LCI, BMW 328i.
The European NCAP safety tests also describe similar results. NCAP testing is a bit stricter and more thorough than that of the IIHS, though. In the NCAP testing, Frontal Offset test proved that the driver would have adequate damage to their lower left leg, while the front passenger would have the same level of damage to both legs. Lateral impact was shown to have good protection if it were struck by a car, but if it were to hit a pole or something slimmer, that protection would drop to adequate.
Overall, however, the 2016 BMW 3 Series is still an IIHS Top Safety Choice and received four or five stars on all other accounts. The frontal overlap crash test is a very difficult one to pass and receiving a marginal score isn’t too bad, considering how well the 3 Series did in all other tests. It’s also worth noting that the 3 Series received an Advanced score in its crash prevention systems.
2016 BMW 3 Series receives marginal IIHS score
Porsche Guy
Kraftkurve King
Smart. How do you do that search?
Mr Robert
Kraftwagen König
I go by Swedish insurance company Folksam. They compile every crash in Sweden and publish how well every mark and model fare.
nikola1984
Kraftkurve King
Mit dem BMW 3er Facelift 2015 wurde auch das Topmodell unter den Selbstzündern aufgefrischt. Der BMW 335d xDrive (F30 LCI) ist mit seinem 313 PS starken Biturbo-Diesel genau wie seine Vorgänger ohne direkte Konkurrenz unterwegs, weder Audi noch Mercedes bieten in der Mittelklasse ähnlich starke Diesel an. Auf einigen neuen Fotos sehen wir den ausschließlich mit Allradantrieb erhältlichen BMW 335d mit M Sportpaket und auffälliger Lackierung in Estorilblau Metallic vor verschneiter Alpen-Kulisse.
Dass die schon ab 1.500 Umdrehungen pro Minute anliegenden 630 Newtonmeter Drehmoment dabei einigen Schnee aufwirbeln und dem Fahrer ein breites Grinsen ins Gesicht zaubern, ist alles andere als überraschend. Wie souverän der Biturbo-Diesel schon vor dem Facelift mit der Mittelklasse-Limousine aus München gespielt hat, haben wir bereits in unserem BMW 335d Fahrbericht von 2014 beschrieben.
Dank der Traktion des serienmäßigen Allradantriebs xDrive genügen dem BMW 335d auf griffigem Untergrund 4,8 Sekunden, um aus dem Stand auf 100 km/h zu beschleunigen. Mit diesem Wert unterbietet der Power-Diesel sogar den neuen BMW 340i, der auch mit xDrive eine Zehntelsekunde länger benötigt. Noch deutlich größer fällt der Vorsprung des BMW 335d xDrive beim Verbrauch aus, im Gegenzug punktet der 340i mit dem besseren Ansprechverhalten des Motors und natürlich einem noch sportlicheren Klangbild.
Die beeindruckende Kombination von Power und Effizienz lässt man sich in München allerdings auch gut bezahlen, denn mit einem Grundpreis von 51.800 Euro ist der 335d teurer als alle übrigen AG-3er. Die umfangreiche Serienausstattung, die neben dem Allradantrieb auch das Achtgang-Automatikgetriebe umfasst, spielt hierbei natürlich eine wichtige Rolle – und ist zugleich ein Wermutstropfen für den einen oder anderen Puristen, denn den 335d gibt es weder mit klassischem Hinterradantrieb noch mit manuellem Getriebe.
Übrigens: Wer den BMW 3er mit einem über 300 PS starken Diesel fahren möchte und dabei keinen Wert auf Allradantrieb legt, sollte sich den ebenfalls frisch überarbeiteten Alpina D3 Biturbo genauer ansehen. Mit 350 PS ist der edle 3er-Ableger aus Buchloe seit Jahren stärkster Mittelklasse-Diesel der Welt.
Dass die schon ab 1.500 Umdrehungen pro Minute anliegenden 630 Newtonmeter Drehmoment dabei einigen Schnee aufwirbeln und dem Fahrer ein breites Grinsen ins Gesicht zaubern, ist alles andere als überraschend. Wie souverän der Biturbo-Diesel schon vor dem Facelift mit der Mittelklasse-Limousine aus München gespielt hat, haben wir bereits in unserem BMW 335d Fahrbericht von 2014 beschrieben.
Dank der Traktion des serienmäßigen Allradantriebs xDrive genügen dem BMW 335d auf griffigem Untergrund 4,8 Sekunden, um aus dem Stand auf 100 km/h zu beschleunigen. Mit diesem Wert unterbietet der Power-Diesel sogar den neuen BMW 340i, der auch mit xDrive eine Zehntelsekunde länger benötigt. Noch deutlich größer fällt der Vorsprung des BMW 335d xDrive beim Verbrauch aus, im Gegenzug punktet der 340i mit dem besseren Ansprechverhalten des Motors und natürlich einem noch sportlicheren Klangbild.
Die beeindruckende Kombination von Power und Effizienz lässt man sich in München allerdings auch gut bezahlen, denn mit einem Grundpreis von 51.800 Euro ist der 335d teurer als alle übrigen AG-3er. Die umfangreiche Serienausstattung, die neben dem Allradantrieb auch das Achtgang-Automatikgetriebe umfasst, spielt hierbei natürlich eine wichtige Rolle – und ist zugleich ein Wermutstropfen für den einen oder anderen Puristen, denn den 335d gibt es weder mit klassischem Hinterradantrieb noch mit manuellem Getriebe.
Übrigens: Wer den BMW 3er mit einem über 300 PS starken Diesel fahren möchte und dabei keinen Wert auf Allradantrieb legt, sollte sich den ebenfalls frisch überarbeiteten Alpina D3 Biturbo genauer ansehen. Mit 350 PS ist der edle 3er-Ableger aus Buchloe seit Jahren stärkster Mittelklasse-Diesel der Welt.
nikola1984
Kraftkurve King
The new 2016 BMW 330e gets a new photoshoot
The next BMW plug-in hybrid to hit the road is going to be the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid building on top of X5 xDrive40e’s already …
The next BMW plug-in hybrid to hit the road is going to be the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid building on top of X5 xDrive40e’s already impressive tech.
Some reviews of the 330e have started circling the interwebs today and we’ve learned quite a bit about the way it drives.
Along with the reviews also comes a new set of photos showcasing the 330e in the beautiful Munich.
The BMW 330e uses the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as in the 320i and pairs that with an electric motor to create a total output of 248 hp. That power is routed through the familiar eight-speed ZF automatic to the rear wheels. This allows the 330e to get from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
The immediate benefit of this plug-in-hybrid and its 7.6 kWh battery, is the possibility of pure electric local trips of up to 25 miles (40 km) and speeds up to 75 mph. Range anxiety wont be problem with the 330e it has a range of 373 miles in every day driving.
The 330e uses a J1772 charging plug and does not have a DC charging option.
Despite all the complexities of the plug in hybrid powertrain, BMW has managed to keep a 50/50 weight distribution.
When it goes on sale this year, the 2016 BMW 330e will have a base MSRP of $44,695, including destination and handling.
The new 2016 BMW 330e gets a new photoshoot
BMW 3-series 330e (2016) plug-in hybrid review
At a glance
Handling5 out of 5
Performance4 out of 5
Usability4 out of 5
Feelgood factor3 out of 5
CAR's Rating4 out of 5
CAR Review
Specs
Rivals
Other Models
Gareth Evans
Contributor and deputy road test editor on our sister website Parkers.co.uk
More info on BMW 3-Series
The BMW 3-series has traditionally been the Bavarian firm’s best-selling model; it’s certainly one of its best known and it’s one of our favourites too. This stalwart saloon represents all that is good and proper in the company car park.
And that’s the obvious market for the car we’re driving here – a production plug-in hybrid (we drove a prototypetowards the end of 2014) that borrows parts and tech from the i8, and uses a drive concept BMW calls ‘permanent excited synchronous machine’. The upshot of all this tech are CO2 emissions of just 44g/km, so benefit-in-kind tax will be less than half as much as a 320d SE. Impressive stuff.
The eDrive – remember this phrase, it’ll appear on many a BMW over the coming years, from 2-series Active Tourer to the mighty 7-series – layout is slightly different in the 3-series compared to the i8 we’re so fond of.
It features the firm’s ‘cluster architecture’ and employs a set of lithium ion cells under the 370-litre boot floor (a regular 3er’s luggage space is 480 litres so you’re not sacrificing too much) that feed power to an 87bhp electric motor situated in the car’s gearbox casing.
This can work on its own in silent, pure EV mode, or in conjunction with the 182bhp petrol engine – the same as in the 420i - under the bonnet, which also feeds its thrust through the same eight-speed auto. That’s right, driving fans: despite two sources of go, this 3 remains rear-driven.
So is the 330e still a driver’s car?
Even as a hybrid, the 3-series is an engaging experience because the purity of its rear-drive platform shines through and its ride and handling are still top drawer. We found the body control remarkable on our drive around BMW’s heartland in Bavaria but we were most impressed with the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this car.
It drifts silently (and relatively comfortably) along in electric mode when you’re in the city but prod the throttle on a roundabout in Sport+ mode with the traction control disabled and, once again, it drifts – but in an altogether more entertaining manner.
Despite this PHEV’s 160kg weight penalty over the equivalent 330i, the firm has managed to retain almost equal weight distribution between the two axles (49% at the front plays 51% at the rear) – and this is where the handling balance comes from.
As the rear end loses traction it does so in a measured, predictable fashion. Just like a 3-Series is supposed to. Keep the safety systems engaged and it’s rewarding, balanced and user friendly. They might not officially be Ultimate Driving Machines anymore, but they’re still impressive.
But this is a 3-series hybrid so it can’t be that quick, right?
With a total of 249bhp at your disposal, its performance is as decent as the chassis. The engine note isn’t going to win any awards, sounding more generic than potent, but its speed can’t be disputed. Switch to Sport or Sport+ to unleash its potential and you can expect aBoxster-baiting 6.1-second dash to 62mph thanks to its 332lb ft of maximum torque.
You’ve got three driving modes for the electric drivetrain at your disposal via the eDrive button under the air-con controls – Auto, Max eDrive and Battery Save – and all are pretty self-explanatory. Pick Battery Save to retain electricity for low-speed city driving or low-emission zones, Max eDrive when you want to force the car to run as much as possible on electric power alone, and Auto when you want the car to take care of things for you.
While we preferred the latter for ease of use, the other two modes are going to come in handy too. Theoretical range for travelling on electric power alone is around 25 miles, which is going to sate most commuters’ requirements. Let’s just hope take-up isn’t too quick or there will be fistfights at dawn for those precious few fast-charging points at work.
Our only criticism here is the transition between electric and petrol power – it’s a pronounced step as the internal combustion engine wakes up, which can feel like severe turbo lag if you catch it off guard with a sharp poke of the throttle in the more relaxed Comfort mode. Keeping it in Sport gets around this but you won’t be making the most of the fuel economy benefits of the hybrid system. Far better to play a game of drive on electric for as long as possible.
Does the 330e take all day to charge? What’s its range?
Using a fast-charge system means you can top up the battery to 100% in a couple of hours, or use a three-pin plug to charge it in around 3.5 hours. Either way, thanks to this car’s ability to remain on electric power for up to 25 miles, or at speeds of up to almost 75mph (but not at the same time), it’s surprising just how little fuel it uses.
Forget BMW’s claimed NEDC figures; they’re next to useless because fuel consumption depends heavily on how you use the car. You won’t use any at all if you can make do with the batteries’ range alone, for instance. Imagine only visiting a petrol station once a month.
Clearly with diminutive 16-inch alloy wheels hidden in those arches this is a company car first and foremost, so it’s been specified with that in mind. You can expect standard kit to include sat-nav, air-con, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, Bluetooth and DAB radio – all staple requirements of the business driver.
And as ever with BMW, you can spec yours up to the nines – or indeed the nineteens, where alloy wheels are concerned. Adding flashy headlights, driving assistance kit and better infotainment are all on the menu for extra dosh.
Verdict
Despite the Government’s £2500 contribution to the list price, the 330e is still a relatively expensive car to buy outright – but who does that these days anyway?
It’ll make far more sense for fleet drivers paying benefit-in-kind tax (who don’t qualify for the grant anyway) based on CO2 emissions, but the key here is you don’t miss out on any of the things which make the 3-seriessuch a compelling car. It’s green, but still great.
Specs
Price when new: £33,935
On sale in the UK: March
Engine: 1994cc 16v 4-cyl, approx 182bhp, 214lb ft and electric motor (87bhp, 184lb ft), combined output approx. 249bhp, 332lb ft
Transmission: eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 6.1sec 0-62mph, 140mph (74mph in EV mode), 148.7mpg, 44g/km CO2
Weight / material: 1660kg/steel
Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4633/1811/1429
BMW 3-series 330e (2016) plug-in hybrid review
The next BMW plug-in hybrid to hit the road is going to be the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid building on top of X5 xDrive40e’s already …
The next BMW plug-in hybrid to hit the road is going to be the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid building on top of X5 xDrive40e’s already impressive tech.
Some reviews of the 330e have started circling the interwebs today and we’ve learned quite a bit about the way it drives.
Along with the reviews also comes a new set of photos showcasing the 330e in the beautiful Munich.
The BMW 330e uses the same 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as in the 320i and pairs that with an electric motor to create a total output of 248 hp. That power is routed through the familiar eight-speed ZF automatic to the rear wheels. This allows the 330e to get from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
The immediate benefit of this plug-in-hybrid and its 7.6 kWh battery, is the possibility of pure electric local trips of up to 25 miles (40 km) and speeds up to 75 mph. Range anxiety wont be problem with the 330e it has a range of 373 miles in every day driving.
The 330e uses a J1772 charging plug and does not have a DC charging option.
Despite all the complexities of the plug in hybrid powertrain, BMW has managed to keep a 50/50 weight distribution.
When it goes on sale this year, the 2016 BMW 330e will have a base MSRP of $44,695, including destination and handling.
The new 2016 BMW 330e gets a new photoshoot
BMW 3-series 330e (2016) plug-in hybrid review
At a glance
Handling5 out of 5
Performance4 out of 5
Usability4 out of 5
Feelgood factor3 out of 5
CAR's Rating4 out of 5
CAR Review
Specs
Rivals
Other Models
Gareth Evans
Contributor and deputy road test editor on our sister website Parkers.co.uk
More info on BMW 3-Series
The BMW 3-series has traditionally been the Bavarian firm’s best-selling model; it’s certainly one of its best known and it’s one of our favourites too. This stalwart saloon represents all that is good and proper in the company car park.
And that’s the obvious market for the car we’re driving here – a production plug-in hybrid (we drove a prototypetowards the end of 2014) that borrows parts and tech from the i8, and uses a drive concept BMW calls ‘permanent excited synchronous machine’. The upshot of all this tech are CO2 emissions of just 44g/km, so benefit-in-kind tax will be less than half as much as a 320d SE. Impressive stuff.
The eDrive – remember this phrase, it’ll appear on many a BMW over the coming years, from 2-series Active Tourer to the mighty 7-series – layout is slightly different in the 3-series compared to the i8 we’re so fond of.
It features the firm’s ‘cluster architecture’ and employs a set of lithium ion cells under the 370-litre boot floor (a regular 3er’s luggage space is 480 litres so you’re not sacrificing too much) that feed power to an 87bhp electric motor situated in the car’s gearbox casing.
This can work on its own in silent, pure EV mode, or in conjunction with the 182bhp petrol engine – the same as in the 420i - under the bonnet, which also feeds its thrust through the same eight-speed auto. That’s right, driving fans: despite two sources of go, this 3 remains rear-driven.
So is the 330e still a driver’s car?
Even as a hybrid, the 3-series is an engaging experience because the purity of its rear-drive platform shines through and its ride and handling are still top drawer. We found the body control remarkable on our drive around BMW’s heartland in Bavaria but we were most impressed with the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this car.
It drifts silently (and relatively comfortably) along in electric mode when you’re in the city but prod the throttle on a roundabout in Sport+ mode with the traction control disabled and, once again, it drifts – but in an altogether more entertaining manner.
Despite this PHEV’s 160kg weight penalty over the equivalent 330i, the firm has managed to retain almost equal weight distribution between the two axles (49% at the front plays 51% at the rear) – and this is where the handling balance comes from.
As the rear end loses traction it does so in a measured, predictable fashion. Just like a 3-Series is supposed to. Keep the safety systems engaged and it’s rewarding, balanced and user friendly. They might not officially be Ultimate Driving Machines anymore, but they’re still impressive.
But this is a 3-series hybrid so it can’t be that quick, right?
With a total of 249bhp at your disposal, its performance is as decent as the chassis. The engine note isn’t going to win any awards, sounding more generic than potent, but its speed can’t be disputed. Switch to Sport or Sport+ to unleash its potential and you can expect aBoxster-baiting 6.1-second dash to 62mph thanks to its 332lb ft of maximum torque.
You’ve got three driving modes for the electric drivetrain at your disposal via the eDrive button under the air-con controls – Auto, Max eDrive and Battery Save – and all are pretty self-explanatory. Pick Battery Save to retain electricity for low-speed city driving or low-emission zones, Max eDrive when you want to force the car to run as much as possible on electric power alone, and Auto when you want the car to take care of things for you.
While we preferred the latter for ease of use, the other two modes are going to come in handy too. Theoretical range for travelling on electric power alone is around 25 miles, which is going to sate most commuters’ requirements. Let’s just hope take-up isn’t too quick or there will be fistfights at dawn for those precious few fast-charging points at work.
Our only criticism here is the transition between electric and petrol power – it’s a pronounced step as the internal combustion engine wakes up, which can feel like severe turbo lag if you catch it off guard with a sharp poke of the throttle in the more relaxed Comfort mode. Keeping it in Sport gets around this but you won’t be making the most of the fuel economy benefits of the hybrid system. Far better to play a game of drive on electric for as long as possible.
Does the 330e take all day to charge? What’s its range?
Using a fast-charge system means you can top up the battery to 100% in a couple of hours, or use a three-pin plug to charge it in around 3.5 hours. Either way, thanks to this car’s ability to remain on electric power for up to 25 miles, or at speeds of up to almost 75mph (but not at the same time), it’s surprising just how little fuel it uses.
Forget BMW’s claimed NEDC figures; they’re next to useless because fuel consumption depends heavily on how you use the car. You won’t use any at all if you can make do with the batteries’ range alone, for instance. Imagine only visiting a petrol station once a month.
Clearly with diminutive 16-inch alloy wheels hidden in those arches this is a company car first and foremost, so it’s been specified with that in mind. You can expect standard kit to include sat-nav, air-con, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, Bluetooth and DAB radio – all staple requirements of the business driver.
And as ever with BMW, you can spec yours up to the nines – or indeed the nineteens, where alloy wheels are concerned. Adding flashy headlights, driving assistance kit and better infotainment are all on the menu for extra dosh.
Verdict
Despite the Government’s £2500 contribution to the list price, the 330e is still a relatively expensive car to buy outright – but who does that these days anyway?
It’ll make far more sense for fleet drivers paying benefit-in-kind tax (who don’t qualify for the grant anyway) based on CO2 emissions, but the key here is you don’t miss out on any of the things which make the 3-seriessuch a compelling car. It’s green, but still great.
Specs
Price when new: £33,935
On sale in the UK: March
Engine: 1994cc 16v 4-cyl, approx 182bhp, 214lb ft and electric motor (87bhp, 184lb ft), combined output approx. 249bhp, 332lb ft
Transmission: eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 6.1sec 0-62mph, 140mph (74mph in EV mode), 148.7mpg, 44g/km CO2
Weight / material: 1660kg/steel
Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4633/1811/1429
BMW 3-series 330e (2016) plug-in hybrid review
nikola1984
Kraftkurve King
SCOTT27
Lap Time Luminary
Winter Tyres my friend.Looks daft with those old pre-LCI seventeeners on an M-Sport body kit.
martinbo
Staff member
Winter tyres for F30 don't come in 18"?
Touring
Precision Tuner
Yes, it does.
Similar threads
- Article
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, abbreviated as BMW is a German multinational
manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of aircraft engines, which it produced
from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945.
Official website: BMW (Global), BMW (USA)
Official website: BMW (Global), BMW (USA)
