#E46 320D AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UPGRADE#
#E46 320D AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERIES#

You’ll need to keep an eye on your speedo though, because it’s deceptively fast. Its diesel engine is silky smooth once warmed up and disguises its considerable performance with its quietness and civility.

#E46 320D AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERIES#

If parsimony is more important to you (as it is to most 3 Series buyers), the 320d is difficult to ignore. The latter is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine that sounds fantastic and produces 374 horsepower for some serious pace. The 330i shares its turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with the 320i, and it delivers more satisfying go, capably playing the understudy to the overtly quick M340i. No version of the 3 Series is slow, and there’s a wide range of engine options, from the 320i petrol and 318d diesel, to the 330e plug-in hybrid and M340i high-performance variant. The range-topping M340i has four-wheel drive for improved traction in poor weather as standard, this available optionally on all but the entry-level 318d diesel.

#E46 320D AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UPGRADE#

That said, M Sport buyers can opt to upgrade to an adaptive suspension, which allows you choose – via the various driving modes – how comfortable or sporty the car is to drive, but we haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Those in search of comfort would also be wise to resist the M Sport version, as it comes as standard with lower, firmer M Sport suspension that unsettles things further. Be aware, though, that even with the most forgiving setup, it’s still not all that forgiving over bumps and potholes.īear in mind, too, that the 3 Series is quite sensitive to the size of the alloy wheel fitted, and the bigger your rims, the less comfortable your car will be. Even with the least hardcore of the various suspension setups fitted, the car has a very sporty character: it’s grippy, controlled and keen to change direction, and the crisp steering also helps makes it really enjoyable to drive on a twisty road, more so than any of its rivals. The way the 3 Series behaves on the road depends largely on the specification. In terms of headroom and legroom, the 3 Series is not significantly better or worse than its direct competitors from Audi and Mercedes – which means ample space for tall adults – though more mainstream models like the Skoda Superb are better for rear space. All versions were available with an automatic, 5-speed transmission.The BMW 3 Series is a rear-wheel drive car by default, meaning a transmission tunnel down the centre of the car that robs foot space for anyone sitting in the middle of the rear bench. Top of the range version was the 231 hp 3.0-liter unit, which could have been mated to a 6-speed manual, with rear or all-wheel-drive system. It was the first 2.0-liter with four cylinders installed on a BMW since the first generation. The most popular version was the 318i, which offered a 2.0-liter unit rated at 143 hp.

The base model was a 1.8-liter unit, named 316i, which offered 115 hp.

The most important change was for the drivetrain, where a new engine lineup was introduced. Other than that, most of the base models remained the same, with minor changes to trims.

Inside, a new steering wheel with paddle-shifters was installed for the vehicles equipped with the automated (SMG) transmission. From the sides, there were little differences between the facelift and non-facelift versions. In the back, a new set of taillights was installed.

The distinctive new look of the headlights, with a double curved line on the bottom, matched the new bumper. It wasn't an easy job to do, but the results exceeded the expectations.įrom the outside, there were minor changes to the bodywork. In 2000, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class overtook it.Īs usual, BMW knew that that was going to happen and as soon as it launched the 3-Series, it's engineers started to work on the facelifted version, which was introduced in 2002. The fourth generation of the BMW 3-Series came on the market in 1998 and rocketed to the top of the sales charts in the premium compact segment.

E46 320d automatic transmission