BMW boosts top 3 Series sedan economy

BY TERRY MARTIN | 30th Nov 2009

BMW Australia is continuing to roll out more economical models under its EfficientDynamics eco label, announcing today that its range-topping petrol and diesel 3 Series sedans – the 330d and 335i – will have greener tinge, but higher prices, when revised versions arrive next month.

Launched just four months ago, the high-performance 330d features an all-aluminium 3.0-litre common-rail straight-six turbo-diesel engine that produces 180kW of power at 4000rpm and 520Nm of torque from 1750-3000rpm.

None of that, including 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.2 seconds, has changed, although the revised 330d now has a fuel consumption rating of 6.2 litres per 100km – down from 6.8L/100km, or 8.8 per cent, on the current model.

The improvement, which has featured on the 330d coupe and convertible models since August, is due to the fitment of electric power steering and BMW’s brake energy regeneration (BER) system, the latter using energy generated from braking to charge the car’s battery without consuming engine power, thus saving fuel.

Pricing will increase $2900 as a result, with the 330d starting from $90,150 (plus statutory and dealer delivery charges).

Also following an EfficientDynamics (that is, BER) upgrade to the 335i two-door models, the 335i sedan – which uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine producing 225kW at 5800rpm and 400Nm at 1300rpm – now returns 9.2L/100km on the combined average fuel consumption rating, down from 9.6L/100km. This equates to a 4.2 per cent improvement.

Pricing for the 335i sedan now starts from $107,800, up $500.

“Premium brands must set the pace when it comes to sustainability,” said BMW Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis.

“BMW’s EfficientDynamics roll-out continues to deliver improvements in fuel consumption across a wide range of models, whilst retaining the typical BMW driving pleasure customers expect.”