What is it?
The G20-generation BMW 3 Series Touring’s arrival in the UK coincides with our collective love for estate cars taking something of a dive, while demand for high-riding SUVs continues to skyrocket. Yet BMW expects it to quickly account for one in every four 3 Series models sold.
That should come as little surprise; the Touring remains the de facto choice for those who demand driver engagement as well as extended boot space. It does, after all, share its chassis with our current favourite compact saloon.
Mechanical differences largely boil down to stiffer anti-roll bars and a softened front suspension setup to account for heavier loads over the rear axle, while the 3.0-litre diesel engine found in this 330d xDrive variant is now the entry-level six-cylinder unit, with the petrol-powered 330i having made the switch to a four-pot.
This top-spec M Sport Plus Edition car rides on 19in alloy wheels, rather than the 18in set fitted to the standard M Sport model we tested on the continent earlier this year. It also gets adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes, variable sport steering and an active differential, making it the most advanced trim level going - at least until the arrival later this year of the M340i, which is as close to an M3 Touring as we'll get.
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Time to stop this spam
Please, Haymarket can you find out how others stop this spamming of these forums? The opportunity to grumpily moan about the BMW's price eluded me and I need to comment on this. Here's some thoughts:
- Make the forum's nominally chargeable (free to readers and something more modest for the keyboard warriors). It might stop a large chunk of spammers?
- Deploy software that only allows a poster to post after they have clicked and watched 10 posts
- Filter for bold and hyperlinks (most posters here never use them)
What does it take?
You'd need one of those $20k a month jobs advertised here or dare I say, the owner of an escort agency (which seems to be a first on these forums?) to buy that BMW.
The question is, how much longer will Autocar tollerate such comment? Goa Escorts indeed. What's the red-line that needs to be crossed before Autocar disallows reader comments.
Sorry but this website has become a farce simply because Autocar are not managing it.
Wow
Was thinking about £40k probably just about worth it. Then I saw... £55k? Madness.
wow
Yeah you are right £55k is on the high side and I like to say in general BMW are getting too expensive,Its just when you go into showroom to pick a model you like and spec it WOW I cant put electric seats in unless its in a pack or you pay an extra £1200 for a sunroof this is whats wrong with car makers these days you cant spec a car to suit you,They advertise say £35k and by the time you get to showroom its £42k is any wonder sales are down and dont blame brexit its more complicated than that well got that of my chest way to look at more cars.