SECOND-HAND SENSEThe news that BMW is to introduce an entry-level saloon with a 1.6 litre petrol engine should provide a competitive boost for the company on the Irish market, but it is not the first time that BMW has opted for a 1.6 engine. Until now it has been limited to the 3 series Compact coupé, which is not everyone's preferred choice because of the limitations of having only two doors and very limited space for passengers in the rear.
One is also struck by the list of standard equipment being offered on the new entry-level model when compared with the coupé model when it was originally introduced. In fact, it was one of the major criticisms of BMW at the time that virtually everything on the car cost extra. Today's entry-level model gets everything from air conditioning to a six-speed manual gearbox to electric windows and six airbags.
The older model may have been a bog standard car, but it did not have bog standard engineering. It has a very smooth engine that sparkles when compared to other engines of the time with the same capacity. However, some feel the 1.6 engine is a rather limited option for a car of this weight and that an extra 200cc would be about right. The fact that it is a coupé might suggest a very choppy ride (as most coupés have) but the 3 coupé has an assured ride and handling profile. The car also feels strong and well built and there is a good all-round interior finish.
The front seating positions are good and roomy but you can't say the same for the rear, which is really geared towards children rather than adults. The boot space, too, is limited by the sawn-off profile of the rear. For the singles who tend to drive coupés, however, the 3 coupé is adequate for most requirements.
There is no set of EuroNCAP crash test results specifically for the 1.6 coupé but the 3 saloon results, even as far back as 2000, are reassuring. It had a four-star rating out of a possible five then, but was criticised for potential chest injury in the frontal impact, and protection for the driver's legs was mediocre. There was also a risk of abdominal injury in the side impact test. However, much has improved since then and the 3 series is considered a very safe car. Just bear the above in mind if you are buying a much older model.
Some older models have been recalled for problems with airbags, battery isolation switches, clips on the brake pedal to servo link, steering shafts and coolant circuits. However, newer models from 2002/2003 have been much improved. The 1.6 coupé was expensive in its day, and not many were sold. A 2003 model with 40,000 miles on the clock and with basic equipment has an asking price of €28,950 while a similar 2005 model with 10,500 miles on the clock has an asking price of €36,995.
FOR: Good styling driving appeal.
AGAINST: Expensive to buy second-hand. Cramped rear space.