by Robert Lewis (22 Jan 04)

The M3 CSL may have gone out of production as planned by the end of December, with 422 right-hand drive examples built for UK customers, but BMW has a raft of new models and specification enhancements coming in the early part of this year. Price rises in most parts of its catalogue, too.

One new model available right now is the first of the ES variants in the 318 Coupé range. Priced at £20,995, the 318Ci ES has much the same standard specification as the £22,925 SE, but with 16" cross-spoked alloys, sports suspension, an M leather steering wheel and so on.

March will see the arrival of the 330Cd SE Coupé (pictured) with the same turbo diesel engine that was introduced last year in the 3-Series, 5-Series and X5. This 204bhp engine, with an impressive 302lb/ft of torque from 1500rpm, provides a 0-62mph time of 7.2 seconds, a top speed of 151mph, CO2 emissions of 177g/km and combined fuel economy of 42.8mpg.

The price will be £29,400 for the standard car, and £31,325 for the Sport version, with sports suspension, 18" M Sport alloys, some items of aerodynamic body kit, sports front seats and an M Sport multi-function steering wheel. As with other diesels in the 3-Series range, regular service and maintenance is free for three years or 60,000 miles.

Also from March, the 5-Series range will include a new 525d SE saloon, turbo diesels having made up more than 40% of all 5-Series sales since the launch of the 530d SE in September 2003. 

Using the same 177bhp engine as the 530d, the new model will cost £28,050, take 8.1 seconds for the 0-62mph sprint, go on to a top speed of 143mph and manage 42.2mpg on the combined cycle. It’s rated for CO2 emissions at 179g/km.

Head-Up Coming

The standard specification includes a six-speed manual gearbox, electrically adjusted front seats, and BMW’s latest Brake Force Display system which increases the intensity of the brake lights under emergency braking. Extra-cost options will include Active Steering, Dynamic Drive and adaptive xenon headlamps, with a head-up windscreen display available from September.

From March, all 3-Series and X5 models will have a CD player as standard. The tyre pressure warning system which is currently an extra-cost option on 3-Series Coupés and Convertibles will also become standard equipment.

At the same time, a third three-point rear seatbelt will be fitted to all 3-Series models apart from the Convertible. A new design of 17" alloy wheel will be fitted to the 7-Series. And all manual transmission 3-Series and 5-Series models will be Euro IV compliant.

BMW has also confirmed that all its cars registered after January 1 this year are subject to a £100 increase in the on-the-road charges, which will also apply to all models in the MINI range from the beginning of February. General prices, apart from those for the 6-Series cars, go up by an average 1.7% from March 1, although that won’t apply to cars ordered before December 18 last year and registered before June 30.

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