BMW 2006 3 Series

The 2006 BMW 325i and BMW 330i sedans comprise the fifth-generation of a car that created a concept, or at least cemented that concept indelibly in the buying public's awareness. For 40 years the 3 Series had delivered a special mix of sporting performance, practicality and European luxury in a compact package. It's the car that defines "sport sedan," and the benchmark every luxury car maker from Acura to Volvo aims at when it develops a sport sedan or a smaller luxury sedan. Above all, the 3 Series is a driver's car: accelerating, turning and stopping with remarkable agility and balance, without seriously compromising comfort or common sense. Finally, the 3 Series has embodied consistent product character and values, defining what has become one of the most respected brands among automobile enthusiasts. Given mixed reviews following the launch of BMW's current 5 and 7 Series sedans, anticipation for the 2006 3 Series might be exceeded only by the potential for disappointment.

As consumers we certainly are not disappointed, but as enthusiast drivers we're pensive about the 2006 325i and 330i sedans. At their core these remain true sport sedans, but their sporting heart is a bit more difficult to find.

If we characterized the new 330i with one word, it might be "stuff," even if BMW would prefer "technology." Technology is everywhere in this compact sedan, some of it first-in-class and some not previously applied in any BMW. The 2006 BMW 3 Series offers Active Steering that actually turns the front wheels without driver intervention, not to mention 150-mile run-flat tires, turning bi-xenon headlights and an optional i-Drive interface inside. It's the first car in its class to offer radar-managed active cruise control, and even the standard cruise control will automatically apply the brakes if the 3 picks up too much speed going down a hill.

Technology is not a bad thing, mind you. The 3 Series accounts for 40 percent of BMW's sales worldwide and BMW is a high-tech brand. The car buying public expects technology in its products. Yet after a good test drive we're left to wonder how much technology is appropriate in a 3 Series, and at what point it detracts from the car's original pureness of purpose.

For this year at least, buyers have the unique opportunity of comparing the new with the old. The tires-up overhaul for 2006, including new exterior styling and interiors, more powerful engines, all six-speed transmissions and redesigned suspension, applies only to the 3 Series sedans. Coupes and convertibles are still available, but for now they are built on the previous-generation 3 Series platform, and are more closely related to the 2005 models.

Make no mistake. The 2006 BMW 325i and 330i sedans accelerate more quickly, stop shorter and turn with more lateral grip than the 2005 models. They are roomier, with more standard and optional equipment and more sophisticated electronic controls. For entry-luxury market shoppers who put a premium on driving satisfaction, the BMW 3 Series remains the place to start. We simply recommend that you compare these cars with and without all the new stuff.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

Six-hundred-and-twenty-six horsepower is to Mercedes-Benz what the amp that "goes to 11" is to Spinal Tap. The German maker has so many cars that go to nine or 10, you almost have to wonder about the reason for the SLR (Sport, Light, Racing) McLaren.

AMG's 5.4-liter supercharged SL55 V-8 as well as the SL600 twin-turbo V-12 are rated at 493 horsepower, with the SL55 making 516 pound-feet and the V-12, 590. And the upcoming SL65 AMG's 6.5-liter twin-turbo V-12 ups horsepower to 612. The SLR, assembled only in left-hand-drive versions by McLaren in Woking, England, retunes the SL55 supercharged V-8 to 626 horsepower and 575 pound-feet.

Is that extra thrust worth three times the price of the SL55, which only takes another 0.6 second or so to reach 60 mph? That's too rational a question for this car. The point (besides to link itself with McLaren, a decade after archrival BMW did) is to shave a half-ton-plus off those heavy-metal Benzes with a high-tech carbon-fiber body. Ninety-five percent of the body structure is carbon fiber, and curb weight is 3733 pounds. The SLR is the closest thing to a Formula One McLaren Mercedes MP4 you can buy. Or, as Mercedes says, the SLR "easily keeps pace with a roadgoing race car," while carrying a couple of golf bags in its trunk.

That dual nature is confusing. The car's styling is, to use a euphemism, controversial. Its long dash-to-axle distance, low two-seat cabin, short rear deck, and F1-inspired nose trades good looks for functional style. Other details, like the scissors-style doors (a practical reference to the legendary 300SLR Uhlenhaut coupe's gullwings), single-piece carbon-fiber bucket-seat shell, and pop-up rear-deck spoiler/airbrake, suggest something that might require an F1 pilot's license to drive smoothly--until you get behind the wheel, flip up a cover on the gearshift knob to press the starter button, and shift it into drive. A five-speed electronically controlled automatic, with TouchShift, is the only transmission available.

Acura TL

Acura TL is a midsize, front-wheel-drive, four-door sedan powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine. Acura offers the TL in only one trim level ($32,900). Nearly every luxury feature comes standard and there are few options.

For 2006, the horsepower numbers have been revised downward due to a new testing procedure used by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Although the engine offers the same performance as last year, the revised horsepower and torque numbers are 256 horsepower and 233 pound-feet, respectively.

TL buyers choose between two transmissions: five-speed automatic or six-speed manual; the cost is the same. Included with the manual transmission is a limited-slip differential, Brembo four-piston front brake calipers and larger front brake rotors. Leather is standard and trims the seats and door panels and wraps the shift knob and steering wheel. Also standard: the DVD/CD/cassette/AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio system with DVD-Audio 5.1. Hands-free, wireless, cellular telephone capability employing Bluetooth technology is built in. The TL comes with dual-zone, dual-mode automatic air conditioning with micron filter, power everything, xenon high-intensity discharge headlights, green-tinted glass and a long list of other features.

The optional navigation system ($2,000) is bundled with 3D Solar Sensing Climate Control. High-performance tires are optional ($200) with the six-speed manual transmission only.

Safety features: seat-mounted side-impact airbags and full-cabin side curtain airbags are standard. The side-impact airbag sensors note the seat occupant's height and position to minimize potential injury to out-of-place and smaller-stature individuals. Frontal airbags are dual-stage and dual-threshold, meaning they deploy at different rates depending on the severity of the crash and whether the front seat occupants are belted in. A weight sensor incorporated in the front passenger seat senses if the total weight on the seat is less than 65 pounds (the weight of a small child or a car seat); if it is, the passenger airbag won't deploy in a crash. On the driver's side, a position sensor activates a more gentle dual-stage airbag mode if the seat is within half an inch of the most forward position. If the seat is farther than a half inch from the forward position, the airbag deploys in either single or dual-stage mode based on the severity of the collision. LATCH child seat anchors are included.

Active safety features include anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist and Vehicle Stability Assist electronic stability control. A tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) notifies the driver if tire pressure sinks to dangerous levels.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

The most impressive are the power ratings. The SLR's AMG-developed engine, hand-assembled by a single engineer, is a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 churning out 626 horsepower and 575 lb.-ft. of torque, the latter available across a flat band between 3,250 and 5,000 rpm. Every SLR McLaren engine sports a plaque signed by the engineer who assembled it. If that doesn't astound your friends, perhaps this will - the V8 possesses enough kinetic energy to move the 3,732-pound carbon fiber-bodied coupe from zero to 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds. Top speed is over 207 mph; the usual European 155-mph limit has been waived, since the SLR will be assembled by its F1 racing partner McLaren in England and not on a Mercedes-Benz production line.

Distributing the SLR's impressive power to the rear wheels is a five-speed automatic transmission that offers three settings: Comfort, Sport or Manual. Should you choose Manual mode, three more settings (Sport, SuperSport and Race) offer you exacting control over the gears. As the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz technology, the SLR is not to be regarded as a mere straight-line muscle car; it was bred as a racecar, and its undercarriage is constructed accordingly. For example, exhaust pipes on each side of the car allow the Mercedes SLR to have a completely smooth undercarriage for greater aerodynamic efficiency. Double wishbone suspension components are located at all four corners, the geometry allowing for a slight negative camber for the best traction during high speed maneuvering. Stopping the vehicle are super-lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic 14-inch disc brakes that are heat resistant to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing the SLR to halt from 62 mph in a scant 114 feet. Aiding deceleration is an adaptive rear spoiler that flips up when the brakes are pressed at over 60 mph, providing extra downforce. Physics geeks, rejoice.

Attending to your well being are a slew of safety nannies, including a tire pressure monitor, stability control, six airbags and even a BabySmart feature. Furthermore, the SLR McLaren is composed almost exclusively of carbon fiber composite, which serves well the aeronautics industry with its incredible strength and ultra-light mass - it's weight is claimed to be half that of steel but it's possessed with the ability to absorb four or five times more energy than traditional automotive body materials.

Unlike a typical racecar, however, you'll find civilized fare inside the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, with leather upholstery covering most surfaces including the dashboard. Carbon and metallic accents brighten the interior, including an aluminum center panel embossed with the letters SLR and covering the controls for the Bose audio system.

And looks? Well, let's just say that with its shapely hood, two-seater cab-rearward body design and gullwing doors, it's even more beguiling than the sexy Mercedes-Benz SL500. McLaren will produce 500 SLRs annually for seven years, and the waiting list is reportedly full through the middle of the decade, so don't get your hopes set high on owning one anytime soon. It will be the rarefied few, including Jay Leno who is the first North American customer for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, who will be driving this technological marvel.

2007 CLS 63 AMG MERCEDES

Stylish, sporty, and seductive, the CLS63 AMG with its 507-horsepower V-8 ensures that every trip is nothing less than express delivery. And with its distinctive styling — from the prominent 3-rib grille, chiseled front apron, and side sills and subtle rear lip spoiler — it serves as a visual warning to all that cross its path.

MSRP $92,975*
Engine AMG-built 6.3L DOHC 32-valve V-8
Net Power 507 hp @ 6,800 rpm
Net Torque 465 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm

BMW 330CI Convertable

Performance and Efficiency
3.0-liter dual overhead cam (DOHC), 24-valve, 2251 horsepower inline 6-cylinder engine
Electronic throttle control
Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing
Dual resonance intake system
6-speed manual transmission
Handling, ride and braking
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), with All Season Traction
Strut-type front suspension with forged-aluminum lower arms
Multi-link rear suspension with cast-aluminum upper transverse arms
Front and rear anti-roll (stabilizer) bars
Twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers
Engine-speed-sensitive, variable-assist power steering
4-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes with Dynamic Brake Control
Exterior
17 x 7.0 Double Spoke (Styling 98) alloy wheels, 205/50R-17 all-season tires
Flat Tire Warning Indicator
Space-saver spare wheel and tire
Chrome3 and body-color detail trim
White turn-signal indicators
Halogen free-form foglights
Heated dual power mirrors and heated windshield washer jets
Fully lined fabric softtop with glass rear window and electric rear-window defroster
Black-finish trim on headlight panels and front bumper and air inlet
Interior
10-way power front seats(includes 2-way headrests)
3-driver memory for exterior mirror and seat positions; automatic tilt down of passenger's side-view mirror when vehicle is shifted in reverse gear
4-way power lumbar support for front seats
Seatback easy-entry feature with memory and 2x-speed power fore-aft control
Montana leather upholstery
3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel with fingertip cruise, audio and accessory phone7 controls
Front-seat center armrest with storage compartment
Myrtle wood trim
Audio System
Harman kardon AM/FM stereo/CD/MP3 audio system with 11 upgraded speakers (including subwoofer) upgraded amplification, and vehicle-speed sensitive equalization; pre-wired for 6-disc CD changer8 and compatible with auxiliary audio input adaptor8 for audio connection of portable music players
Instrumentation and Controls
Service Interval Indicator with miles-to-service readout
Check Control vehicle monitor system with pictogram display
4-function on-board computer
Titanium-finish instrument rings
Comfort and convenience
Vehicle & Key Memory
Remote entry, including 2-step unlocking and remote trunk release
Automatic climate control with micro-filter and air recirculation
Tilt/telescopic steering wheel column
Automatic-dimming inside rear-view mirror
Power front windows with "one-touch" up/down operation; power rear window with "one-touch" open
One-button lowering and raising of all windows
Cruise control
Front map-reading and footwell lights
Locking glovebox with rechargeable take-out flashlight
Fully automatic softtop
BMW Universal Transceiver (integrated remote garage-door opener)
Electric interior trunk release
Expandable cargo space with top raised
Fully finished trunk with drop-down tool kit
Rain-sensing windshield wipers and Automatic headlight control
BMW Ambiance Lighting
Pre-wiring for cellular phone, alarm, garage-door opener, 6-disc CD changer and auxiliary input
Safety and Security
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Adaptive Brake Lights
Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with “smart”dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment and sensor to help prevent unnecessary passenger’s airbag deployment
Front-door-mounted side-impact airbags
Rollover Protection System
Interlocking door anchoring system to help protect against door intrusion in side impacts
Battery Safety Terminal with automatic fuel cut-off triggered by airbag deployment, crash sensor that automatically turns on hazard lights and interior lights, and unlocks doors
Central locking system (including glovebox door) with center console switch (leaves gas filler door unlocked), double-lock feature and 2-step unlocking
Coded Driveaway Protection
Seat-integrated front safety belts with automatic tensioners and force limiters
Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child restraint seats
Daytime running lights (via Vehicle Memory system – programmed at BMW center)
LATCH attachments on child-restraint safety installation
Crash sensor that automatically turns on hazard lights and interior lights, and unlocks doors
Daytime running lights (via Vehicle Memory system – programmed at BMWcenter)
BMW Ultimate Service™
BMW Ultimate Service is a collection of services that comes with all new BMWs, at no charge, for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. It includes the BMW Maintenance Program, which covers all factory-recommended maintenance and items that need replacement due to normal wear and tear; unlimited-mileage Roadside Assistance; and a New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

If your vehicle is a model year 2007 or later and is equipped with the BMW Assist™ and Bluetooth® system either as an option or as part of the Premium Package, you’ll also receive a four-year, unlimited mileage subscription to the BMW Assist Safety Plan. Among the features is TeleService, an exclusive benefit that allows your vehicle to contact your BMW center directly when it needs service or maintenance.

Learn more about BMW Ultimate Service

Learn more about BMW Assist, including TeleService and the optional Convenience Plan

Details are also available in your Owner’s Manual.


1 330Ci with Performance Package: 235 horsepower.
2 Sport suspension is tuned more aggressively on 330Ci with Performance Package.
3 Not available with 330Ci Performance Package.
4 Not available with Sport Package.
5 Due to low-profile tires, please note: wheels, tires and suspension parts are more susceptible to road hazard and consequential damage. Performance tires are not recommended for driving in snow and ice.
6 Sport Package required. Not available with 330Ci Performance Package.
7 If so equipped.
8 Available as an accessory.
9 See your authorized BMW center for rules and regulations on subscription required with BMW Assist.
10 No-cost option with 330Ci Performance Package.
11 Requires 330Ci Performance Package.

2007 SL600 Roadstar

Seductive lines, a 510-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-12 engine, hand-fitted Exclusive Nappa leather interior, retractable aluminum hardtop, and handcrafted interior combine luxury, style, and peerless performance.

MSRP $132,775*
Engine Twin-turbocharged 5.5L 36-valve SOHC V-12 engine
Net Power 510 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Net Torque 612 lb-ft @ 1,900 - 3,500 rpm