BMW 3 Series 100 Year Edition 2016 Review

BMW 3 Series 100 Year Edition
Quick Spin

What's it all about?
BMW is celebrating its global centenary, and to help kick off proceedings (and boost the company coffers) the Bavarian marque has launched a 100 Year Edition version of the 3 Series.
Available in sedan (330i) or Gran Coupe (430i) formats, the special edition is based on BMW's most popular mid-size engine offering, the 330i, a variant that has measured well against our judging criteria in the past.

The car tested offers identical 185kW/350Nm outputs courtesy of an unchanged 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder. You can have it in either the Luxury Line or M Sport trim tested here.

Entry into BMW's centenary special isn't cheap, with the 330i M Sport starting at $75,855 (plus on-road costs) – a $6000 hike over the regular model. BMW counters this with the fact the special edition brings up to $13,000 worth of added equipment as standard, including alpine white exterior paint, extended 'Merino' leather upholstery, wood trim with pearl gloss chrome highlights, leather-trimmed instrument panel, 16-speaker harmon/kardon sound system, front sports seats with electric lumber support, LED fog lights, 19-inch alloy wheels, M Sport brakes and a commemorative 100 Years Edition certificate.

You'll also get the usual suite of standard equipment comprising sat-nav, Bluetooth, adaptive suspension, digital radio tuner, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Full airbag coverage and the latest acronyms in safety are also included, with the exception of the full autonomous emergency braking offered in some rivals.

In terms of maintenance costs, BMW offers a condition-based servicing program which dictates the level and frequency of servicing (no estimated cost is supplied).
Why should I buy it?

The 100 Year Edition blends all the favourable attributes of the regular 3 Series, namely with fluid and enjoyable rear-drive dynamics and a sumptuous and practical living space.

The 2.0-litre engine belies its overall capacity with useable levels of tractable low-down torque, and is also a willing device on twisty roads thanks to an official 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds. It teams beautifully with the accompanying eight-speed automatic transmission, revving cleanly to the 6500rpm rev ceiling in sporty driving or pushing for efficiency in more conservative settings, spinning the engine at under 2000rpm during highway speeds. The engine also offers a strangely enamouring four-pot warble.

The car's rear-drive handling is something to savour, with excellent body control and steering that is well weighted but tends to become artificial in sportier driving settings. The sporty bias equates to a firm yet liveable ride that is accentuated by run-flat tyres.
When is it available in Australia?

The 330i is limited by production month and is available from dealerships now. BMW hasn't provided details on how many special edition models it will be bringing to local showrooms.

The car maker is expected to continue the roll-out of centenary models with more versions in the coming months, though no local details are available.

Aside from BMW aficionados, the 100 Year Edition should appeal to the regular professional demographic of the mid-size luxury set. Its cabin is furnished in sumptuous leather and quality wood trims, punctuated by a black headlining and metal highlights. The driver's seat is uber comfortable and low set for sporty endeavours and, to this tester's ears, the centenary model seemed to be less affected by tyre roar than other 3 Series variants previously tested.

You wouldn't rule the 3 Series out as a family car either, thanks to a rear seat which will comfortably accommodate two adults, 480 litres of boot space and split-folding seats which lend a strong element of practicality. The biggest packaging criticism comes from the outer bolstering on the rear seats, which impinge shoulder room for larger passengers.

The 3 Series wedges firmly into the middle of a five-way tussle comprising the new Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Jaguar XE and Lexus IS. While it is still at the pointy end of the segment in terms of driving dynamics, BMW's long-standing sedan cannot match the likes of the Audi's suite of infotainment technology, or the Benz's interior refinement. But, as a whole, it is a polished and fun-to-drive offering.
So, what do we think?

Put it this way: if you were set on a 3 Series, the make-up of this latest centenary edition really bodes well. It offers the right amount of performance, pedigree and in-car panache. In saying that, the 3 Series isn't the freshest offering going, so check out the available options before making a commitment.

2016 BMW 3 Series 330i M Sport pricing and specifications:
Price: $75,855 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 185kW/350Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 136g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: 5-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Audi A4 (from $69,900 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz C250 (from $68,900 plus ORCs)
>> Jaguar XE 25t (from $64,900 plus ORCs)