3 Series 2011-2015 320d Luxury Plus Review
BMW is one of the world’s biggest as well as oldest luxury and pristine car makers. Their fleet of cars is marvelous and each one of them is immaculately done with scintillating design and loaded interiors with best in class features. The 2012 BMW 3 Series launch was a much awaited event in the country and now that this new impressive luxury sedan has been launched, the competitors are surely going to have sleepless nights. This latest BMW f30 India has brilliant exteriors and the company has also blessed this premium sedan with many sophisticated features. The BMW 3 Series was first launched in year 1975 and it was a compact executive car. But now gradually this luxury sedan has undergone quite a few changes to its exteriors as well as the insides and now looks scintillating. This model lineup is said to have been produced in five different body styles and this F30 3 Series India is the sixth generation sedan. This sedan series is one of the top selling models from the company and have done incredible business for BMW Group, since the time they were launched in the global car markets. This new BMW 3 Series India is being offered in both petrol and diesel engine options for the Indian customers to choose from. This new 3 series is equipped with a powerful 2.0 litre engine with a sophisticated eight speed automatic gear box transmission. This latest 2012 3 series has superior and refined safety features integrated in it, which are top of the line, while the exceptional comfort features are best in class and luxuriant.
Exteriors
The exteriors of this new 2012 3 Series are captivating and urbane with a signature BMW kidney shaped front grille that has eleven slats and are finished in glossy chrome. The air intakes are black in color with a high gloss finish and in a line specific design . The broad and aggressive head light cluster is powered with Xenon headlamps with low and high beam, which comes with a head light washing feature and four LED light rings as well. Apart from these, there are horizontal inserts in the front apron, which are with line specific design. The front body colored bumper has a pair of luminous fog lamps and has a high gloss finish to it. The bonnet looks elegant with a smooth and lustrous finish and character lines. The side profile is enchanting with body colored outside rear view mirrors, which are integrated with a side turn indicator. The body colored door handles and the neatly carved out wheel arches that have been fitted with a swanky set of newly designed 17 inch light alloy wheels with multi spoke style. The tubeless radials are of 255/50 R17 size . Apart from these the sides also have precise contours along with ascending lines, which stretch this premium sedan optically and enhances its dynamic character. This all new BMW 3 Series luxury sedan has the same classical three box design with a long bonnet and then the short front overhand along with a long and wide wheelbase and the rear set of green house pure dynamics. The side window frames as well as the window recess finishers are finished with high gloss chrome. This premium sedan also has luxury lettering along the sides as well. The B-Pillars as well as the window uprights are in black color with a high gloss finish. The rear end has a large wind screen with a stylish and neatly carved boot, which has a prominent BMW insignia on the lid. The dynamic braking light cluster comes with a flashing function to help the traffic behind tell the difference between a light tap of the brake or a hard stop. The tail pipe trim is also finished with high gloss chrome, which makes it look sportier. The overall dimensions of this BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus are very impressive with a total length of 4624mm and an overall width of 2031mm and a total height of 1429cc.
Interiors
The interiors of this amazing luxury sedan are scintillating and impresses with its top quality selection of materials. The in-cabin space is extremely comfortable and so is the seating arrangement, which can easily accommodate five passengers. The leg room is apt and so is the shoulder and head space, which gives a very relaxed driving experience for the passengers. This new BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus has a lot of other impressive features as well, which will surprise the customers. To start with the interiors of this premium sedan are a fine wood trim burled walnut with inlays along with an accent trim in pearl gloss chrome. The door sill finishers are in an aluminum finish with BMW Luxury lettering at the front. The premium upholstery integrated in this BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus has a few options, to begin with the seats are covered in Move cloth Amber or the buyer can opt for a Dakota black leather with exclusive stitching, Dakota leather saddle brown that will have the lower half of the instrument panel in saddle brown color and the other option being a Veneto beige with exclusive stitching or just black colored leather upholstery. The sporty power steering is covered with leather along with the gear shift lever and the hand brake area as well. The interior illumination has a couple of options like Orange-Red or white, which can be selected through the iDrive controller with an additional light source on the B-Pillar. There is a chrome trim for the automatic air conditioning unit as well as for the radio controls and additional exclusive chrome trims for the centre console. The smart car key comes with a pearl gloss chrome trim. The floor mats are in velour, while the roller sun blinds for the front windows are mechanical whereas the rear windows have electric sun blinds. The instrument cluster comes with 4 analogue displays, which comprises of the speedometer, a rev counter, the fuel gauge, oil temperature and other information display along with outside temperature as well as other on-board computer functions. The manually adaptable standard front seats can be adjusted in fore/aft positions, the backrest angle can be customized and the head rest height can also be changed. There are storage compartments in the front as well as the rear doors with a lidded storage compartment in the center console. There is an open compartment under the front center arm rest as well as the rear center console and there are a couple of cup holders, a storage tray and also a glove compartment.
Engine and Performance
This latest BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus is equipped with a BMW Twin Power Turbocharged 4 cylinder diesel power train, which is skillfully mated with an eight speed automatic transmission gear box. This powerful engine has the capacity to displace 1995cc and can churn out a peak power output of 184Bhp at 4000 Rpm along with a maximum torque yield of 380Nm at 1750 to 2750 Rpm. This power train has a common rail direct injection along with a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. The mileage of this BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus is claimed to be close to 18.88 kmpl under standard driving conditions , which is quite remarkable. The top speed of this beautiful luxury sedan is said to be close to 230 to 235 kmph, while this commanding 2.0 litre engine has the capacity to propel this sedan from 0 – 100 kmph in just about 7.6 seconds .
Braking and Handling
This all new superb premium sedan BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus has a powerful and well balanced suspension and braking system. The front as well as the rear tyres has inner vented disc brakes along with some advanced and top class safety features such as an antilock braking system with brake drying and fading compensation . The other vital features include a cornering brake control along with a dynamic stability control and a traction control as well. The suspension system is very impressive and perfectly balanced and takes care of all the pothole ridden roads and bumps to give a smooth and pleasurable driving experience to the driver as well as the other passengers.
Safety Features
The company has fitted this fascinating luxury sedan, BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus with some top of the line safety features. The long list of these protective features comprise of multiple airbags that include driver and front passenger airbags, front and rear curtain head airbags with splinter protection and also side airbags for the driver and the front passenger, which are integrated in the seat backrests. A run flat indicator with run flat tyres and a safety body shell. An ergonomic seat belt system for the rear seats that comes with a 3 point seat belt for all the seats. The front seats have an inertia reel seat belts that comes with belt latch tensioners and a belt force limiter. Other features like ABS with brake drying and fading compensation along with dynamic traction control, DSC and also a cornering brake control. A central lock switch with central locking that comes with an advanced engine immobilizer with a crash sensor and also an integrated side impact protection in all the doors. This sedan is also equipped with the sophisticated ISOFIX child seat fastening system for the two outer rear seats. This BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus also comes with a warning triangle with a first aid kit as well.
Comfort Features
This top class sedan comes with a horde of exciting comfort and convenience features, which has been cleverly integrated in it. The list includes a powerful yet efficient two zone automatic air conditioning unit, which cools the cabin within a few seconds, a panoramic electric glass roof, a lights package, a multifunctional sport steering wheel with mounted controls, a rear view camera for parking assistance, an automatic start stop button with keyless engine start for enhancing the fuel efficiency, a storage compartment package, a powerful music system with speakers and Bluetooth connectivity along with a USB interface with BMW Apps and a Hi-Fi loud speaker system as well . The sophisticated BMW navigation system professional is also integrated in this luxury sedan, which has a 22.3 centimeter color display along with a DVD drive and a 12 GB hard drive that is incorporated in it for the maps and the audio files. There is a music interface for Smartphones and this premium sedan also has an on-board computer, which includes a check control as well. This sedan also has rain sensing wipers and also automatic driving lights control. This BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus has all power windows with an advanced driver side window that has a pull press switch, tap release and also an open/close toll booth feature as well. There is also a front fixed arm rest for enhancing the comfort level and also a personal profile option, which helps in the personalization of vital operating functions. This BMW 3 Series 320d Luxury Plus also has a BMW secure advanced package that includes tyres, alloys and a hydrostatic lock and 24x7 road assistance as well.
Pros
Arresting exteriors and bodyline, luxuriant and extremely comfortable interiors, powerful engine and advanced safety and comfort features.
Cons
Price can be competitive, mileage can be improved and engine sound can be decreased.
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