New 2007 BMW 3-Series Exterior Review [ 2009 , 2008 , 2008 ]
BMW 3-Series Exterior Review
Exterior - 9.0 (Excellent)
The 2007 BMW 3-Series is generally regarded as a very attractive car, with a look Motor Week characterizes as "streamlined aggression." MSN praises the car for a "crisp, angled style and a feeling of forward motion." It is available as a coupe, sedan or hardtop convertible.
BMW has embarked on a new design direction with its current fleet of cars, and automotive writers receive the new designs with mixed feelings. "To be writing about a new BMW without first questioning the way it looks is a welcome change from recent history," comments Car and Driver. "For the company's most important model, there is a comfortable familiarity, a gentle evolution." CNET says the new body style is "influenced by, but toned down from, recent BMW offerings." The design can be seen as an evolution of the last 3-Series and is widely received as the most successful of the new generation of BMWs, aesthetically.
Exterior Trims
BMW 328i RWD Sedan, BMW 335i RWD Sedan
BMW 328xi AWD Sedan, BMW 335xi AWD Sedan
The four-door sedan is the most common 3-series model -- each year since its introduction, BMW has sold more 3-Series sedans than it does any other model of vehicle. Part of the secret to its success is that it's an attractive car, so designers have added "some of the new flair, but the body isn't as dramatically changed," says Cars.com. Most reviewers liked the results. "Overall, we like the 3's new styling, with three sharp pleats ironed onto its profile," praises Car and Driver. 328 Sedans come standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, while 335 sedans get 17-inch alloy wheels.
BMW 328i RWD Coupe, BMW 335i RWD Coupe
BMW 328xi AWD Coupe
"The Coupe, because it has a more sporty stance than the Sedan, is much more appealing to true sports-car enthusiasts," says About.com. The coupe is longer, narrower, and has a lower roofline than the sedan. Auto Mall USA explains, "In fact, the only exterior component the coupe shares with the 3-Series sedan is door handles, and the coupe needs only two of them, so right there, one segment of the component weight is cut in half." The headlights of the coupe are smaller, and its hood is built with a subtle bulge to suggest the powerful engine it hides. Coupe models get standard 17-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlamps.
BMW 328i 2 dr RWD Convertible, BMW 335i 2 dr RWD Convertible
The convertible is a hardtop, designed to look like the coupe when the top is raised."With the top down, the 3 Series convertible offers clean, uninterrupted lines," according to Edmunds. The convertible uses plastic quarter panels up front in order to maintain the same weight as the coupe while accommodating the hardtop's heavy mechanism. Convertibles come with standard 17-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlamps.
