2008 BMW 3-Series Safety Review [ 2008 , 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 96 3-Series reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 3-Series is an extremely safe car, with a long list of active safety systems to help avoid an accident and passive safety systems to help survive one. It has also performed well in government and insurance industry crash tests.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 3-Series four out of five stars for protecting both driver and front passenger in frontal collisions, and five out of five for protecting all passengers in side impact collisions. In addition, the 3-Series has a four-star rollover rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2008 3-Series the highest possible rating, "Good," in both frontal offset and side impact tests.
Accident Avoidance
Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control help keep the car stable and in contact with the road through evasive maneuvering. Both come equipped on every 3-Series. Car and Driver found that "a workout on an artificially slippery handling track did prove the value of DSC+, BMW's latest electronic stability-control system."
Edmunds explains that "the stability control system integrates several features designed to improve braking performance, such as periodically wiping the brake rotors when the windshield wipers are in use (wet brakes don't stop too well) and snugging the pads to the rotors when the driver lifts off the throttle, which increases brake responsiveness." Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard and include Adaptive Brake Lights that glow brighter the harder the driver steps on the brake pedal.
Crash Protection
The 3-Series includes virtually every technology availible to protect passengers in a collision. "Different materials, including high-strength steel, are used in varying locations of its unibody structure," according to CNET. All four outboard seating positions include automatic seatbelt pretensioners and automatic locking retractors. Both driver and passenger are protected by dual-stage front air bags that can inflate at three different speeds, depending on the severity of a collision. Weight sensors turn off those air bags if a seat is unoccupied.
With this generation of the 3-Series, BMW has standardized on the familiar air bag system common to vehicles of this class. For years, BMW has provided four door-mounted side air bags. For this car, the manufacturer has dropped that system in favor of seat-mounted side air bags for front seat occupants. BMW says, "With the new 3-Series, advances in side-impact safety are such that it is no longer necessary to offer rear side air bags. Those riding in the rear are appropriately separated from side impacts." Head curtain air bags protect both rows of seats in the event of a side impact.