Used BMW 3-Series Saloon (2005 - 2011) Equipment Review by David Ross on 23 Apr 2010 Last Updated: 16 Feb 2011 4.5 The fifth-generation BMW 3 Series combines a high-quality cabin and decent equipment levels with the best drive among 'executive' saloon alternatives. Its rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4, have struggled to match the BMW’s driving dynamics. Latest BMW 3-Series Saloon review Summary Driving & Performance Equipment Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Owners' Reviews Also Consider Facts & Figures Gallery Test drive with BMW or request a brochure 4 out of 5 Equipment The BMW 3 Series has thousands of combinations of trims and optional accessories – as is the norm with premium German saloons. In this section we attempt to give you an idea of the various trims available over the life cycle of the car. Bear with us, because it is a little bit confusing. BMW 3 Series equipmentEntry level cars have four electric windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-speed manual gearbox, air conditioning, CD/radio, six airbags, leather-covered steering wheel, trip computer, rear-seat Isofix child seat attachments, dynamic stability control (DSC+ on six cylinder models) and run-flat tyres. ES models add front fog lights and different alloys while SE models get automatic climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, multi-function steering wheel, and on six-cylinder models 17-inch alloy wheels. However, BMW still asks you to spend more than £2,000 for the turn-by-turn sat nav option on base and ES models and even more for full map navigation. Velour floor mats are £75 and active cruise control (only available on SE models) is £1210. In March 2008 Edition ES, Edition SE Business and Edition M Sport models (available on all four-cylinder petrol and diesel models) were introduced which add £3,000 worth of extra equipment to the standard trim levels. The extras on offer included remote audio, leather upholstery, metallic paint, sat nav, cruise control, parking sensors and sports seats. BMW 3 Series accessoriesExtras on the 3 Series include Dakota leather upholstery, 17-inch V spoke alloys and a three-spoke M multi-function leather steering wheel. Parker’s top tipWe’d suggest you plump for one of the ‘Edition’ models introduced in March 2008 – either the ES, SE Business or M Sport. This is because they offer far more equipment than the previous models for a reasonable price. Don’t forget that options such as leather upholstery and sat nav are likely to bolster residual values, so it’s worth trying to buy a car with those fitted if at all possible. Also, steer clear of options which make the car a ‘desired taste’ such as graphics or gaudy colour schemes. This may put potential buyers off and will have an adverse effect on the car’s resale value. See 311 used BMW 3-Series Saloons for sale, starting at £213 Get a BMW 3-Series Saloon valuation Compare this car to others Compare Equipment Trim Equipment Key: Standard item Optional item 3x3 point rear seat belts ABS Air conditioning Alarm Alloy wheels Audio remote Body coloured bumpers CD Cloth seat trim Cruise control Driver`s airbag Electric mirrors Front electric windows Front fog lights Headlight washers Heated mirrors Height adjustable drivers seat Isofix child seat anchor points Leather seat trim Metallic Paint Parking sensors PAS Passenger`s airbag Rear electric windows Remote locking Sat Nav Service indicator Side airbags Sports seats Steel wheels Steering wheel rake adjustment Steering wheel reach adjustment Traction control Standard Trim EXL ES Edition ES SE Edition SE Performance Edition M Sport SE Business Edition SPP Edition M Sport M Sport Business Edition Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Optional Yes Optional Yes Yes Optional No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Optional Optional Yes Optional Yes Yes No No Optional No No No No No Optional Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Optional Optional No Optional No No Optional No Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Optional Yes No Yes Optional No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Optional Yes Optional Yes Optional Optional No Yes Yes No Optional Yes Optional Optional Yes Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional No No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Optional No No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Back to: Driving & Performance Continue to: Comfort Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. 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