Test drive BMW 3 Episode E46 1998 - 2002 Sedan

Bavarian motors

BMW equipped with new engines the most affordable and most expensive model
 
There are legends about Bavarian engines. They are appreciated for power, reliability and a huge resource, so the emergence of new engines is always an event worthy of attention. More recently, the concern offered two new items at once - for the 318 model and the X5 SUV. Both cars managed to test.
 
Treshka with an unusual character
 
We wrote about the face lifting of the 3rd BMW series in the last AI issue. True, then it was about an all -wheel drive station wagon 325xi. Nevertheless, all of the above can be fully attributed to the sedan with only one addition. The rear lighting technique of model 318 has changed somewhat, the turning pointer is now in the middle of the block-fara. Otherwise, everything is still solid and sporty.
 
For the editorial test, the most affordable version in the basic configuration with a manual gearbox was deliberately selected. However, even in this performance, the car has front electric windows, air conditioning, ABS and DSC stabilization system. Of course, the luxury salon is inferior to the universal described earlier, but it is impossible to call it boring in any way. In German, hard chairs are sheathed with high-quality material, and the front panel is made of plastic, it does not look cheap. All adjustments, both seats and the steering wheel, are mechanical, but their range is very large. The audio system does not have a compact drive player, but despite the fact that it is not Harman-Kardon, it sounds quite acceptable.
 
The sedan suspension also underwent some changes, which made sports notes into the character of the machine. This sensation intensifies when you find out that since this year, a nameplate 318 on the trunk lid does not mean the presence of 1.9 liters under the hood of a 4-cylinder engine. There is a new power unit with a volume of 2 liters with the most recent achievements of Bavarians in the field of motor construction. We are talking about Valvetronic and Vanos systems. They are already familiar to our constant reader on the new seven, but they are installed for the first time for cars of the 3rd series. Let me remind you that Vanos is a system for changing the phases of gas distribution, which has already become a good tone in a modern automotive industry.
 
But Valvetronic is a Know -medical company from Bavaria. Without going into technical details, I will say that this motor does not have the usual throttle, and the supply of the fuel mixture is carried out thanks to the system for changing the valve stroke. In fact, this means that the car reacts faster and more clearly to the supply of gas, which, among other things, gives a winning in dynamics.
 
The first and overall impression of the BMW 318: this is a car with a not quite ordinary character. To begin with, I note really good dynamics. Acceleration in a straight line, with timely gear shift, causes tangible pressing into the back of the seat. The clarity of the lever of a five -speed mechanical checkpoint can be envied by many machines, even standing higher than the class. True, the clutch pedal has somewhat upset, which had never been seen in Bavarian cars before. In addition, the pedal feedback is not very clearly expressed. Apparently, the calculation was made, first of all, on the female leg, as also evidenced by the softness of the pedal. I will make a reservation: this is a rather subjective impression, another driver will not feel the difference at all. I’m talking about this, because my friend, who had traveled at the wheel of the VAZ-2108 all his life, did not notice anything like that, but was only subdued by the smoothness of the course, dynamics and controllability. Although even he said that at high speed he does not feel too confident. As it turned out, the case is the suspension of the car.
 
All officially sold (and assembled) in our country of the BMW of the 3rd series have a special Russian package. Among other things, this package means an enlarged clearance. There is no dispute, a large road clearance in our conditions is an important thing, but the car behaves a little differently.
 
Altufevskoye Shosse, a direct plot, there are not many transport. I type 120 km/h and obviously feel how control of the machine weakens with an increase in speed. After 120, the steering wheel, as they say, is absolutely empty, and it seems that the car is not driving, but floats. But what is the most amazing - by the third day of the test, the car began to keep the road much better! So it never? It happens! - They told me in the representative office of the company. Treshka stops scouring on the road after the first thousand kilometers of run. This, of course, is good, but it is worth knowing about such a feature.
 
Another feature is the stabilization system. The indicator, indicating its activation, blinked with enviable constancy, even when moving from one transmission to another. Of course, it can be turned off by pressing the corresponding button. Which I did. And then the following happened.
 
Speed \u200b\u200b30 km/h, turn ahead. I deliberately press the accelerator pedal and turn the steering wheel in an attempt to plunge the car into a skid. At the first moment, the physicist prevailed, and the back of the car went sideways, which was necessary. But only at the first moment. Then something unexpected happened: the car stopped reacting to further gas supply! Having straightened the course by the steering wheel, I let go and pressed the pedal again. Only after that the car changed my mind and began to obey.
 
Later we analyzed the situation with specialists and came to the conclusion that there could be two causes of such unusual behavior. Or the stabilization system is programmed in such a way that in certain cases it turns on independently and, let’s say, shows excessive care of the security of the driver and passengers. Or the case in the Valvetronic system. After all, this is an electronic system, there is no mechanical connection of the gas pedal with the engine, all commands are perceived by special sensors and pass through the computer, which, apparently, did not like something in control mode or in the operation of the motor. By the way, with a similar situation, I ran into a new seven test, with which the introduction of Valvetronic began. So far, only new 318th and cars of the 7th series are equipped with this system. In general, a riddle. But to solve it, however, is not at all necessary for those future owners who do not intend to pass the corners with a skid.
 
In all other respects, this is a true BMW. With a magnificent suspension, excellent brakes, comfortable and ergonomic salon.
 
Racing jeep
 
To transfer from the 318th to X5 is the same as from a civilian aircraft to a fighter. Already the appearance, which is also mentioned on the pages of our newspaper, has a victory over any road. In version 4.6is, a new shape of the rear bumper, decorated with peculiar petals on the sides, and proudly sparkling in the sun, two huge oval peaks of the exhaust system are noteworthy. The wheel arches became a little wider so that 20-inch cast discs with rubber 275/40 in front and 31 5/35 are fit under them. True, on a test copy there were 18-inch wheels with winter non-navigated rubber, which, however, did not spoil the general view at all.
 
There are much more changes in the cabin. In x5 4.6is - as in a sports car, the kingdom of aluminum. The front panel, the sidewalls of the doors, the gearbox lever and even the pedals are made of metal. Leather chairs without stretching can be called sports. They have developed lateral support, so you sit like a glove. The range of electrical adjustments of the seats and the steering wheel seems limitless. Completes the picture of a small diameter of the steering wheel with aluminum inserts, borrowed from M. models
 
Of course, in X - the fifth is good not only for the driver, but also to passengers. At hand, the cup holders, the control buttons of the climate control system, and on the ceiling in front of the rear passengers there are two more buttons, with which the slope of the sofa back is adjusted. There are two buttons in the trunk. This is very convenient if you load too much luggage and you need to fold the rear seats. But still, I will allow myself to notice, X5 was created for those who like to drive a car.
 
A new engine of 4.6 liters has a power of 347 hp. An increase of 61 hp It was possible to achieve not only due to an increase in the volume of the motor, but also a change in the parameters of its operation and the new exhaust system. As in the case of other versions of X5, the SUV is equipped with only a 5-speed automatic checkpoint, but now-with a sports regime and the possibility of manual gear shifts. The automatic transmission algorithm was improved in comparison with the 4.4 version. Even in normal mode, the car clearly and quickly reacts to pressing the accelerator pedal. At the same time, the back will stick to the back of the chair so much that there will be no doubt about the ability to gain 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.
 
If you transfer the machine gun into a sports regime, then x5 becomes a real beast - a lightning -fast reaction to pressing the gas pedal and the transition to low gear during braking is provided. The steering wheel, which at first might seem light, becomes stone with an increase in speed, allowing you to feel perfectly what is happening between the wheels and the road. And this is important, especially considering that the car is able to get 240 km/h without problems. I want to repent: I managed to reach only 220 km/h on the Moscow Ring Road, but the gas pedal still had a move, and the doubts that the remaining 20 km/h would be overcome in a matter of seconds neither me nor the passengers who were lucky enough to compose There was no company that evening.
 
The suspension, although it seems harsh, but thanks to it, the body is practically not cracked. And on country roads no discomfort is felt. X5 perfectly understands any tasks of the driver and copes brilliantly with them. The reactions are almost the same as on the previously tested all-wheel drive station wagon of the 3rd series. In general, you can forget that you are driving a jeep with a high center of gravity. The SUV has all the qualities of a high -class passenger car, including outstanding dynamic characteristics. I must admit that I still found one minus. This is fuel consumption. With dynamic driving, the on -board computer showed that I spend 22 liters per 100 km. But is this a concern for the owner of X5?
 
Of course, this car is not intended for serious off -road. During the shooting in the forest park, we sat on the belly in the snow. It was lucky that only the middle part and the reason managed to get out. However, the passages of suspensions are quite large, which I was convinced, overcoming several hillocks and holes.
 
There will be buyers
 
Both new products, in my opinion, have very good market prospects. The 318th will undoubtedly attract many with its availability: from official dealers the basic version can be purchased for 28,400 euros, including VAT. Moreover, the new pricing policy of the company in Russia means that in any region of the country, the price tags in the salons (of course, official dealers) will be the same.
 
The situation with x5 4.6is is generally unique. Despite the fact that this version of the car is the most expensive in the entire Gamma of the BMW, represented in Russia (119,900 euros), most of the cars have already found customers.
 
Warranty for both new items - 1 year without mileage restriction.
 
Andrey Osipov
 

Source: "Automobile Izvestia"