All of the 2008 3 Series models are different. But all are immediately recognizable and BMWs, and every 3 Series body style shares design traits with the others.

The similarities start with a shared 108.7 wheelbase, which is the only obvious hint that under the body panels all 3 Series models are nearly identical. By every other exterior dimension, all body styles come within two inches of the other. In general, these are the largest 3 Series cars ever. Most of the extra width and length translates into more interior space compared to previous generations, particularly in the back seat.

The 3 Series sedan is the best seller, and perhaps most familiar to the motoring public. It features BMW's traditional double-beam headlights, now under clear covers that wrap around the corners and taper to a point that emphasizes the car's width. The Sport Wagon is identical to the sedan from the center roof pillar forward. Rearward, its roofline tapers slightly all the way to the rear of the car, while the bottom line of the rear windows tapers upward slightly, creating a teardrop shape.

Roof rails are standard on the wagon, and its rear gate opens electrically, with a switch on the key fob or dashboard. The rear glass opens separately, which is convenient for quickly loading lightweight items.

Overall, the 3 Series coupe is a bit longer and lower than the sedan, and not as wide. With standard xenon headlamps, its front light clusters are smaller. The coupe's hood looks longer, and it's fashioned with a subtle dome that suggests a powerful engine underneath. The windshield flows into a roofline that's long and curved in a continuous arc, and lower than that on the sedan. With extensive use of plastic composite materials for parts such as the front fenders, the coupes are also the lightest cars in the line, even though they carry more standard equipment.

In profile or front three-quarter view, the 3 Series Convertible closely resembles the coupe. Its front end, and the arc its roofline, are nearly identical. The difference, of course, is the convertible's retractable metal hardtop, which opens or closes at the touch of a button in just 22 seconds. The top folds in three pieces and stows itself under the trunk lid. That lid is hinged both front and rear, so that it can open toward the back to swallow the folding top, and from the back to load the trunk. Thanks to the weight of the top's operating mechanism, as well as body reinforcements intended to maintain structural integrity when the top is open, the convertibles are heavier than the lightest 3 Series cars by some 400 pounds.

The 3 Series' high-tech theme is visible from the outside. Most models come with adaptive bi-xenon headlights that turn with the steering wheel to aim into a curve. All feature BMW's adaptive brake lights, which are based on the idea that drivers in the cars following a 3 Series will know when the 3 is braking hard. The LED lights illuminate more intensely, over a larger area, when the driver applies the brakes full-lock or when the ABS operates.

Interior Features

There are subtle interior differences in various models across the 3 Series. The coupe, for example, has different instrument script and a third wood trim option not offered in the sedan (dark-stained poplar). But the essentials, including dashboard, console and front seats, are the same across the four body styles.

The cabin takes the best of several ideas first applied in the larger BMW 5 Series and 7 Series models, synthesizes them for a smaller car and improves them in the process. We aren't completely enamored with everything inside the 3 Series, but we have few serious gripes.

The soft vinyl and plastics improve on previous generations in both appearance and feel, and they put the finish on better footing with the best in class. All models offer a choice of real aluminum or various wood trims, and there's a lot of it on the dash and doors. BMW's Leatherette vinyl is not the least bit tacky, while the optional leather is soft and thick. The 3 Series follows BMW's tradition of soft orange backlighting for the instruments. Some will like it, some won't.

The dashboard has a pronounced horizontal format, with more community and less driver orientation than previous 3 Series cars. There are actually two dash designs. The standard setup has a single bubble, or hood, over the gauge cluster, while the optional navigation system is installed in a dash that accommodates it with a second hood in the center.

The front door panels are different on each side, as well. The passenger side has a sloped, vertical door pull, while the driver's door lays the door pull horizontally in the arm rest. Window switches are clustered near the driver's arm rest, where they're easy to locate without glancing.

The 3 Series has no keyed ignition switch, relying instead on a slot-type key fob and a starter button. We do not like this system, and we're not sold on the benefit it has over a conventional key. The fob slides into a slot next to the steering column, and you push the button to fire up. The Comfort Access option makes everything automatic, and the thinking here is more obvious. With fob in pocket, the doors unlock automatically as the driver approaches, and the seats are waiting in their proper position. The driver just pushes the start button, and pushes it again when it's time to get out. Still, we'd prefer a traditional key.

Seats have long been a 3 Series strength, and these are better than ever. Even the standard-trim front buckets provide excellent support without feeling too hard. The manual adjustments work great, though we recommend using them when the car is parked. The 335 models get power adjustments with three memory positions. The power seats that come with the Sport Package are outstanding, though the additional back and bottom bolstering make them harder to slide into. As passengers we might like them less, but as drivers we love them.

The audio controls could be higher in the center stack for easier access, and the buttons for station presets and assorted functions demand a bit more concentration than they should. Switching between AM, FM and other modes can be distracting while driving, for example. The orange readout on the stereo is almost invisible when wearing polarized sunglasses on a sunny day, even though similar readouts for climate control are perfectly legible.

The automatic climate control (which comes standard) features separate temperature adjustments for driver and front passenger. A mist sensor measures moisture on the windshield and automatically adjusts the defroster, while a heat-at-rest feature keeps the cabin heated for a time after the car is turned off.

The single-CD stereo (standard) sounds good, with 10 speakers and separate subwoofers under the front seats. The 335 models come with an audio upgrade called Logic 7. It adds wattage and three speakers, with the latest digital sound processing and surround technology. Audio controls on the steering wheel work well, once they're mastered.

BMW's multi-layer, mouse-style iDrive interface is optional in the 3 Series, but if you want the GPS navigation system, you'll have to take iDrive. We'd probably do without navigation. We've encountered few people who remotely like iDrive. It makes simple tasks like calling up a map or pre-setting radio stations a challenge.

In other respects, the 3 Series cabin is more user-friendly than ever. The coupe, for example, has seatbelt presenters, or motorized arms that emerge from little doors built into the rear side panels. It used to be that the driver and front-seat passenger had to reach way back to find their shoulder belts. Now occupants just sit down and close the doors, and the belts come to them.

There are more storage pockets and nooks than before, and those in the doors are much larger. The new climate-controlled center console is a huge improvement, in both function and appearance. So are the cupholders, though they still aren't the best

Rear-seat accommodations are substantially better than in pre-2006 3 Series cars. For starters, the rear air vents can be separately adjusted for both temperature and air volume. There's also more space, particularly in front of the knees. Remember: this is still a compact car, and rear passengers with long torsos will still feel hair rubbing on the headliner. The center position is best left to children. Nonetheless, the rear seat feels more spacious than before, and moves the 3 Series closer to the roomiest cars in the class.

The rear accommodations are actually a little better in the coupe, though access is more difficult in the absence of rear side doors. Because the coupes are four passenger cars, the center space in back is replaced by a console, which includes individual storage boxes, additional air vents and footwell lights. There's decent legroom and more shoulder room. It's almost like sitting in a little limousine. There are even buttons on the outside edge of the front seats, in the shoulder area, so those in back can reach up and power the front seat forward to ease exit from the rear of the car.

The trunk is largest in the sedan, though still smaller than many comparably sized competitors (12 cubit feet capacity). The 3 Series coupe's trunk is smaller still (11.1 cubic feet), but the split-folding rear seatback is standard (an option on the sedan). A separate compartment under the trunk mat, measuring 1.75 cubic feet, adds some space for small items that won't slide around.

The 3 Series convertible offers the least cargo space. There's a maximum 9.0 cubic feet when the top is closed; lower it, and cargo space reduces dramatically. With the top down, count on maybe a medium-sized duffel bag, and make sure the top is closed before stowing anything.

For cargo hauling, the Sport Wagon is easily the best choice in the 3 Series line. From the handling, accelerating or braking standpoints, it gives up nothing the 328i sedan, and it adds a dimension of utility. Cargo volume increases to 24.8 cubic feet, floor to ceiling, behind the rear seat. With the rear seat folded forward, the 3 Series wagon can swallow 60.9 cubic feet of stuff, or more than some small SUVs.

The wagon's load area is flat, too, which is good for both dogs and cargo. It's fully lined with thick, soft carpet, and it's full of convenient features, including separate enclosed bins, cargo straps, bag holders, a power point, a cargo cover at seat height and a roll-out cargo net. The wagon is also available with all-wheel drive, giving it good winter-weather capability.

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