Wheels Australia — June 2017

138 wheelsmag.com.au

Price

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

Price tested Drive

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

tested Drive

M240i $74,900 L6T 3.0 250 500 A8 4.6 — 7.0 95 R

M2 Pure $90,500 L6T 3.0 272 465 M6 1495 4.5 — 8.5 95 57 R

M2 $99,500 L6T 3.0 272 465 S7 1495 4.3 — 7.9 95 57 R

2 Series Conv Afreshbreeze

DecentpunchfromM240i’sturbosix;flexiblefour-pots;cleverrooffoldsneatly

Not particularly light; manual gearboxes notably lacking; ride tending towards firm

 The Pick: The coupe if you want performance, otherwise be happy in the look-at-moi 220i

220i $58,300 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 7.7 — 6.1 95 R

230i $71,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 5.9 — 6.2 95 R

M240i $83,900 L6T 3.0 250 500 A8 4.7 — 7.4 95 R

2ActiveTourerMiniinamuumuu

One of the more athletic front-drive hatchesonsale;BMWcabinquality,fitandfinish

Late-to-the-party B-Class rival doesn’t feel like a BMW; slightly frumpy looks; lumpy ride

 The Pick: The three-pot petrol, for its thrummy elasticity and its best-case-scenario ride

218i $44,400 L3T 1.5 100 220 A6 1360 9.2 — 5.2 95 58 02/16 F

218d $47,800 L4TD 2.0 110 330 A8 1410 8.9 — 4.2 D 58 10/14 F

225i $54,900 L4T 2.0 170 350 A8 1430 6.6 — 6.1 95 59 10/14 F

i3 COTY-winningelectricwunderkind

Stunning design; instant torque delivers grunty performance; it was our 2014 COTY winner

Only seats four, with a similarly compact boot; road noise; entry price

 The Pick: While going full EV is commendable, the Range Extender is worth the extra coin

$63,900 E 125 250 A1 1195 7.2 — 53 09/13 R

94Ah $67,100 E 125 250 A1 1245 7.3 — R

Range Extender $69,900 L2H 125 250 A1 1315 7.9 — 0.6 95 53 01/15 R

94Ah Range Ext’er $73,100 L2H 125 250 A1 1365 7.9 — 0.6 95 R

3Series Nowyoucanhaveyour3withatriple

Mid-life update brings new engines with outstanding efficiency and performance

Optional ‘Variable Sport’ steering adds cost and confusion, without dynamic gain

 The Pick: 330i delivers a fine performance/value blend, but M3 brings proper thrills

318i $56,500 L3T 1.5 100 230 A6 1475 8.9 — 5.4 95 59 04/16 R

320i $62,500 L4T 2.0 135 290 A8 1505 7.2 — 5.8 95 60 R

320i Touring $66,500 L4T 2.0 135 290 A8 1585 7.5 — 5.9 95 57 R

320d $64,900 L4TD 2.0 140 400 A8 1505 7.3 — 4.4 D 59 R

330i $69,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1545 6.1 14.3 5.8 95 60 04/16 R

330e $72,900 L4T 2.0 185 420 A8 1636 6.1 — 2.1 95 60 R

330i Touring $73,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1615 6.0 — 6.1 95 60 R

340i $89,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1605 5.2 — 6.8 96 60 R

ActiveHybrid 3 $100,200 L6TH 3.0 225 400 A8 1655 5.3 — 5.9 95 60 R

M3 $139,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 M6 1520 4.3 — 8.8 98 54 R

M3 $139,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 S7 1560 4.3 12.2 8.3 98 54 06/16 R

M3 Competition $144,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1520 4.2 — 8.8 98 54 R

M3 Competition $144,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1560 4.2 12.28.3 98 54 04/17 R

4SeriesCoupeTwo-door3becomes4

Wide stance and adaptive dampers make 4 Series a proper drivers car – especially M4!

Electric steering doesn’t feel fluent in Sport mode; styling has lost some elegance

 The Pick: The excellent 430i is the sweet spot, but the M4 manual is addictively involving

420i $69,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1465 7.3 — 5.8 95 57 R

430i $79,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1470 5.8 14.1 5.8 95 57 R

440i $99,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1525 5.0 — 6.8 95 57 R

M4 $149,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 M6 1497 4.3 — 8.8 98 57 11/14 R

M4 $149,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 S7 1537 4.1 13.0 8.3 98 57 09/14 R

M4 Competition $154,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1497 4.2 — 8.8 98 57 R

M4 Competition $154,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1537 4.0 — 8.3 98 57 R

4SeriesGranCoupeYetanothernicheplugged

Liftback practicality; slick drivetrains; frameless doors; Audi A5-smashing dynamics

Neither coupe-ish enough to be cool, or elegant enough to be beautiful

 The Pick: For the same money as the two-door, a 430i Gran Coupe kinda makes sense

420i $69,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1480 7.6 — 5.8 95 54 R

430i $79,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1580 6.0 — 5.8 95 54 R

440i $99,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1575 5.1 — 6.8 95 54 R

4SeriesConv Inheritscoupe’sdynamism

Elegantreardeckenhancesstyling;asquietasthecoupe;velvetypetroldrivetrains

Much heavier than the coupe, to the detriment of performance; small rear seat

 The Pick: 428i has everything most people could ever need, except for the 435i’s six-pot

420i $87,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1660 8.2 — 6.2 95 57 R

430i $97,900 L4T 2.0 180 350 A8 1700 6.4 — 6.3 95 57 R

440i $117,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1750 5.4 — 7.2 95 57 R

M4 Convertible $161,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 M6 1750 4.6 — 9.1 98 57 R

M4 Convertible $161,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 S7 1790 4.4 — 8.7 98 57 11/14 R

M4 Competition Conv$165,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1750 4.3 — 9.1 98 57 R

M4 Competition Conv$165,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1790 4.1 — 8.7 98 57 R

3SeriesGT The3crossesover

Riding on a 3 Series platform but with a higherdrivingpositionandastackmorespace

It’s not what you’d call classically good looking, though at least it isn’t an SUV

 The Pick: The top-spec 330i – it’s much faster, yet barely any thirstier than the 320i

320i $68,100 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 — 7.9 — 6.2 95 60 R

320d $70,900 L4TD 2.0 135 380 A8 — 7.9 — 4.9 D 60 R

330i $78,900 L4T 2.0 180 350 A8 — 6.1 — 6.5 95 59 09/13 R

5Series Promiseslots,mostlydelivers

Hard-driven handling poise; superb drivetrains; interior design and quality

Remote steering; unsettled ride on big wheels; confusing array of dynamic options

 The Pick: Until we try the optional four-wheel steering, a lusty 530d without the M Sport kit

520d $93,900 L4TD 2.0 140 400 A8 1560 7.5 — 4.3 D R

530i $108,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1540 6.2 — 5.8 95 R

530d $119,900 L6TD 3.0 195 620 A8 1640 5.7 — 4.7 D R

540i $136,900 L6T 3.0 250 450 A8 1595 5.1 — 6.7 95 R

ActiveHybrid 5 $121,700 L6TH 3.0 210 450 A8 1925 5.9 6.4 98 R

5SeriesGT Badged5,basedonold7

Typically outstanding BMW drivetrains; spacious, flexible and comfortable interior

‘Love it or hate it’ styling; feels big and cumbersome around town

 The Pick: 535i offers Club Class rear legroom for $1K over sedan, but doesn’t drive as well

520d $97,300 L4TD 2.0 135 380 A8 1875 8.9 — 5.3 D 52 R

530d $112,300 L6TD 3.0 190 560 A8 1940 6.2 — 5.8 D 52 R

535i $119,900 L6T 3.0 225 400 A8 1940 6.3 — 8.2 95 52 R

6SeriesCoupeSwingswithdrivers

640iboastsoneoftheworld’sgreatestsix-cylinderengines;improvedstyling

Not a car for driving enthusiasts, but the bigger boot will fit more drivers

 The Pick: Turbo-six is so good it renders the twin-turbo V8 almost irrelevant

640i $179,500 L6T 3.0 235 450 A8 1685 5.3 — 7.4 95 49 R

650i $232,900 V8TT 4.4 330 650 A8 1795 4.6 — 8.6 95 49 R

M6 $292,900 V8TT 4.4 441 700 S7 1850 3.9 — 9.9 98 50 R

6 Series Conv Sixindrop-topform

Shark-nosed presence, plush cabin, and superb engines to blow your toupee off

Dull dynamics will disappoint drivers; zero rear legroom will disappoint passengers

 The Pick: More noise in 330kW V8, but peachy six is the default pick

640i $195,500 L6T 3.0 235 450 A8 1820 5.5 — 7.6 98 49 R

650i $248,900 V8TT 4.4 330 650 A8 1930 4.6 — 8.9 98 49 R

M6 $308,900 V8TT 4.4 441 700 S7 1980 4.0 — 10.3 95 48 R

6SeriesGranCoupeSixplustwodoors

Sexierthana5Series;bettertodrivethana7Series;canfitfive(atapinch)

Still not as dynamic as a BMW should be; poorly packaged rear seat

 The Pick: The six is lovely but huge premium over a 535i makes it questionable value

640i $186,500 L6T 3.0 235 450 A8 1750 5.4 — 7.5 98 49 R

640d $186,500 L6TTD 3.0 230 630 A8 1810 5.4 — 5.4 D 49 R

650i $239,900 V8TT 4.4 330 650 A8 1865 4.6 — 8.6 98 49 R

M6 $299,900 V8TT 4.4 412 680 A8 1875 4.0 — 9.9 98 46 R

SERIES

GETS

IMPULSIVE

BMW has applied its agonisingly named ‘Life Cycle

Impulse’, which everyone else refers to as an ‘update’, to its

sexy 4 Series coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe confused

sedan. The changes extend to LED headlights and tail-lights,

interior styling tweaks and an upgrade of the iDrive system

to version 6.0. The seductively named Sunset Orange and

Snapper Rocks Blue join the paint palette.

L=in-line,

V=vee,

F=flat,

R=rotary.

Number of cyls or rotors.

T=turbo,

S= s'charged,

D=diesel,

H=hybrid

LitresKilowattsNewton metresM

=m

anual,

A

=automatic,

S=sequential,

C=CVT

Kilograms0-100km/h acceleration, in secs(Wheels

tested figures in italics)

0-400m acceleration, in sec s(Wheels

tested figures in italics)

Fuel consumption inLitr

es/100km

Recommended octane ratingGlass's predicted resalera

ting, retained after 3 years

Rec When we drove it

ommended Retail Price

at time of publication(* indicates driveaway) F= F

ront drive,

R=Reardrive,

A

=All-wheel drive

Get new car advice from the experts.

whichcar.com.au

NEW
ARRIVALS
New models
for the month
highlighted

BMW – FERRARI