Wheels Magazine 
February, 2001
BMW has shoehorned a new 170kW 3.0 litre straight (of course) six into the 3 series, added more luxury gear than you can wave a platinum Amex card at, and produced one of the finest sports coupes money can buy.
It can reach 100km/h in 7.9 seconds and dispatch 400m in 15.4 seconds. In a straight line that's good enough to frighten a serious Aussie V8. When it comes to a corner, sorry Aussie, but you're sunk.
BMW grew the 3.0 litre M54 from the previous 2.8 litre M52 by increasing the stroke from 84.0 to 89.6mm and then tweaked the valve timing and valve lift, modified the Vanos Variable valve-timing system, replaced the electromechanical throttle with a fully electronic unit and streamlined the exhaust and intake plumbing to come up with the 170kW number. Maximum torque of 300Nm is produced at 3500rpm but 90 percent of this is available from just 1500rpm.
The widespread of torque translates to superb on-road flexibility. The engine is so tractable that the manual is almost like driving an auto, so infrequent is a gear change needed. Below 2000rpm the engine is purposeful. From 2000 to 4000rpm it's seriously responsive, while from 4000 to 6000rpm (6500 cutout) it's something else again. Is there a sweeter, smoother, more efficient or better sounding six anywhere?
The five-speeder is smooth changing and positively gated, but after driving the 330Ci convertible with the five-speed Steptronic I'd opt for the auto.
It almost goes without saying that the 330's chassis lives up to the engine's extremely high standards by offering communicative steering, prodigious grip and its trademark poise and balance.