Some would call the 3-Series conventional, a formula that for decades has in many respects been the same. It’s also been very successful, building on the simple concept of a RWD sedan with enough class to do business, enough space to do family and loaded with enough tech and powertrains to appeal to most. It was the bread and butter for BMW for a while and though sales numbers have waned, it’s still one of the popular sedans on our roads today. 

In this 330d, BMW continues the recipe for the most part not forgetting that other quality for which 3-Series have always been known, driving pleasure as they called it. A dynamic competence coupled with a vainglorious soundtrack is the stuff of 3 legend. Here, the handling remains but that sound is lost, giving way to a refined and relatively silent diesel flutter. 

It’s all good though and whilst this diesel is never going to sound sporty in any way, the BMW 3-Series still has all the goods. It’s become quite a large car and despite the jarring or polarising looks of its larger siblings a la X7, 7-Series and even 4-Series now, the 3-Series design hasn’t quite found its way into internet memedom. The design is by and large quite clean and understated even with the M-sport Launch edition package included on our test unit. It’s more business than overt sport and it certainly doesn’t scream for attention as far as its looks are concerned.

You’ll find a cabin that is in keeping with its more expensive and luxurious siblings. The cabin is a mix of fine leather and sporty trim matched to an advanced offering of on-board comfort, safety and convenience technology. 

 It’s an upmarket cabin for sure, and depending on the optional extras thrown in, you can specify this car with almost R300 000 worth of extras. 

The truth is, you will need spec quite a few things should you want to enjoy the full state-of-the-art offering that a G20 BMW 3-Series can offer you. Why not? Our test unit featured almost every level of tech you could opt for. You may not need the Driving Assistance package but it offers semi-autonomous driving and adaptive cruising. Why not? It’s a R34 000 option. The Infotainment Propackage will set you back R29 000 but once again, it unbundles the full connectivity and media interface as well as every option of function-control you can think of. Yes that includes gesture control, touch, controller use and even voice-activated commands. If anything, the heads-up display is not a game changer and at R17 000, have it if you must but it won’t detract from what is a luxurious and technological driving experience – if you have the above of course.

Check out this 800bhp E30 with a retro DTM livery Tic Tac has fully endorsed this glorious retro BMW 3 Series build. We’re in love

Greg Potts

The early 1990s was such a brilliantly bonkers time for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and this custom E30 BMW 3 Series build takes us right back there. 

The year is 1991, Frank Biela has won the championship in his gloriously out-of-place V8 Quattro DTM and we’ve just spent a season watching E30 M3s and Merc 190Es battle it out on track. We’ve also witnessed the fantastic Fox Body Ford Mustang of Ruch Motorsport and a particular M3 with a very eye-catching livery…

That would be Tauber Motorsport’s Allen Berg in his Tic Tac-clad E30 – something that Mush Alkarkhi has recreated for his new 800bhp road car. What a thing. 

Fancy some specs? The engine is the S52B32 straight-six unit from North America’s E36 M3, only it’s been completely stripped down, rebuilt and then turbocharged for that frankly absurd power figure. Oh, and it’s apparently good for up to 1,100bhp “if needed”.

Pretty much everything under the skin of the original E30 has been changed. There’s a whole new ECU setup and a completely different fuel system, as well as E46 brakes and the five-speed ZF320 manual gearbox from an E36. 

There’s also a custom-built exhaust, a limited-slip diff and an all-important air suspension setup. 

Oh, and then there’s the looks. The giant rear wing and widebody kit are part of a ‘Live To Offend’ E30 kit that’ll probably do exactly what it says on the tin. The wheels are 18-inch examples from a Beverley Hills-based company called Brixton Forged. 

Apparently, the interior retains its original grey leather and pretty much all of the standard E30 panels. Nice. The only real additions are displays for the air suspension and live engine data. Probably best to keep track of that given the work that went into this thing…

What do we think Internet? Surely the world needs more retro DTM-inspired road cars?

Images: David Arellano / daar_creative

Just in time for summer, BMW releases its 503bhp, 4WD cabrio. Yours for £82k

Vijay Pattni

As surely as night follows day, and – in the UK – rain follows yet more rain, BMW has followed up the M4 Competition with this. This is the M4 Competition Convertible.

A perfect car for this rainy, royal throne of kings, then, this sceptered isle. We’ll start at the top. The freshly lobotomised M4 Competition features what BMW calls a ‘panel bow’ soft top, said to combine rigidity with the appeal of a fabric roof. It’s 40 per cent lighter than the metal roof on the last M4 cabrio, and can be opened and closed in just 18 seconds at speeds of up to 31mph.

Said lobotomy has necessitated the deployment of the usual cabrio suspects: new underfloor bracing elements, an aluminium shear panel up front, and torsion struts at the back. Naturally, the M4 Comp Conv gets a bespoke double-joint spring strut front axle, and specially adapted axle geometry with a tuned steering ratio.

It gets the same four-wheel-drive setup optional on its M3 saloon and M4 coupe siblings, which means a rear-wheel bias, an active M diff, and the option of switching off the front axle to make it RWD. It also gets the same 3.0-litre turbo straight-six, developing the same 503bhp and 479lb ft of torque, matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

All this power and torque and traction fuse to deliver a 0-62mph time of 3.7secs – just two tenths slower than the quoted times for the 4WD M3 and M4 coupe, and two tenths quicker than the RWD versions of both. BMW also reckons the cabrio will hit 124mph in 13.1secs, and ticking the ‘M Driver’s Pack’ box opens up the top speed to 174mph. Otherwise it’s 155mph, obvs.

There are M carbon bucket seats inside – heated, too – lots of buttons to push, lots of leather, lots of red colour accents, much standard equipment and many, many options. BMW will start building them in July this year, and each car will start from £81,915.

Does the M4 cabrio better fit this precious stone set in the silver sea, or is the M3 Touring the car Britain’s really waiting for?