[Jason]

Reported on HOMEPAGE.

Add another to the E90/E92 BMW 3-series already crowded award mantel. Automobile Magazine has named the 3-series to its 2011 All-Stars list, for the 21st time. Perhaps the best summary from Automobile - "As the car enters the sixth year in its current form, it still has no equal."

BMW 3-series

Dear sport sedan also-rans: You're great cars, and we love spending time with you. We'll never forget the first time we heard the rorty exhaust note of an Infiniti G37, for instance, and we're amazed every time we savor the luxurious interior of an Audi A4. Alas, we can never truly be together, because we're in a committed, long-term relationship with the BMW 3-series. How committed? In the past eighteen years, the 3-series has not once fallen from our grace, winning two Automobile of the Year awards, making twenty-one All-Star appearances (more than once, the M3 and the 3-series each won All-Star awards in the same year), and winning a Technology of the Year award for good measure. As the car enters the sixth year in its current form, it still has no equal.

"Fantastic chassis balance, beautiful steering, lovely shift action," gushes senior editor Joe Lorio. "Add in the phenomenal performance -- and surprisingly good fuel economy -- and you've got the segment's standard-bearer. Again."

The cherry on top for 2011 is the new 335is. With a twin-turbo in-line six boosted to 320 hp, a fortified suspension, and the option of either a slick-shifting six-speed manual or one of the best dual-clutch automatics on the market, this $51,025 coupe strikes us as perhaps the perfect middle ground between the 335i and the somewhat precious M3. Not that we wouldn't love to own an M3. Or a 328i. Or a diesel-fueled 335d, which rivals the acceleration of the M3 that won our Automobile of the Year award in 1995 while attaining 36 mpg on the highway.

The current 3-series is not completely immune to the effects of aging. We tire of its watered-down Chris Bangle styling, and although it is newly available with the fourth generation of iDrive for 2011, it still trails the class leaders when it comes to in-car technology. That said, our primary wish for the next-generation 3-series, coming next year, is that BMW doesn't ruin it. Somehow, we suspect it won't. See you next year. Via http://www.automobilemag.com/feature..._3_series.html

[Tallest]

it depends on options.

Base spec with 17in wheels non msport was beaten by Ford Mondeo in last CAR magazine issue... they said it feels already a bit old. And it should after 5 years I guess! still the benchmark though, but unless well equipped it is not as good. In US this isn't an issue, hence it's winning tests, as your base model is quite advanced in Europe spec wise.

[ekis18]

I would like to see one of these magazines do a test drive of a FBO N54 with either giac/proceed/jb4 and a good suspension setup and see what they think

[Bimmerforlife]

Thanks for the article. This is one of the reasons I decided to buy a 2011 335i. Yes it's almost the end of the model style but I think its at this time that the car is perfected, I optioned mine with everything so it has everything I need to last a long time.

When I bought my 99 328i I fell immediately in love with the body style and had to get it first. When 2006 came it took me a little longer to warm up to the new style, it was about 2009 that I started falling in love with the style again the front looking more like my older E46. So I waited for 2011 for the N55 engine and now I really love the style of the car and my car is solid, fit and finish is top notch, the german engineering is just amazing, everything is laid out right where I need it, love the iDrive music/iPod song tracks listed on screen, HD radio showing tracks playing on screen, it's really classy looking to me. Plus with the Holiday Credit $1500.00, Auto Trans credit $1300.00, getting invoice +750.00 and 0.9 interest, it's was the perfect time for me.

I figure that by the time the F30 comes out it's gonna take me some time to warm up to it because I already don't like the line across the hood and that it looks so much like the 5 series already. So I figure it will take me till 2015 to warm up to the F30.

[Bimmer Al]

When I decided to make a car purchase I tried my best to have an open mind. I drove Mercs, Infiniti G, Audi, Jag, Acura....ou get the picture. For me it was the balance, the refinement, the sweetest engine I have ever experienced and the fact that I love to drive. With a 6speed MT I always feel at one with the car, like a perfectly fitted suit. I haved owned other marks but I always come back to BMW. Three 3's and counting! Although this one better last me 10 years or my wife will shoot me

[taranonline]

Feels good... no doubt its better than merc c/audi a4

[Chriztofor]

I am sorry, but when BMW is being sued in a class action lawsuit for HPFP failures which they still haven't resolved, you just can't be on the "All Star" list. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ss+action+hpfp

[hipnotic]

finally

[Php]

was expected, but yes BMW needs to fix the hpfp, and soon.

[RX7guy]

Originally Posted by ekis18

I would like to see one of these magazines do a test drive of a FBO N54 with either giac/proceed/jb4 and a good suspension setup and see what they think

Car and driver recently tested a Dinan 335i and praised it

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty_file

The car you see here was no doubt envisioned by a legion of Internet dreamers—breathlessly commenting, “Crank up the boost!”—mere seconds after BMW debuted the twin-turbo 335i for 2007.

haha, thats you (and this forum) perfectly!

[Guerillaw]

BMW is being sued because they have deep pockets. End of story. Lawyers are just chasing cash, and the class action scam is one of their favorite ones to run. No different than Apple, samsung or any other big company. Lawsuits are part of the territory.
Do not misunderstand, the HPFP is certainly a stain on their resume. It is not enough to make anyone that loves driving buy an Audi etc. instead.
Sometimes the thing that makes you appreciate the BMW driving experience most is driving a non-BMW.

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by Jason

Perhaps the best summary from Automobile - "As the car enters the sixth year in its current form, it still has no equal."

Quite a statement from Automobile, not that BMW-friendly.

It sure has no equal in its class for the way it drives. And it has nothing to do with mere acceleration.

[rhody2442]

Nice to see the 3-series geting a little respect

[Tag]

Originally Posted by RX7guy

Car and driver recently tested a Dinan 335i and praised it

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty_file

"...the boost tapers off in order to keep the turbos comfortably below their 230,000-rpm limit."

Holy sh!t, no idea they spun that fast.