CAT’S INSIDE LINE: BMW 3 SERIES (2005 ONWARDS)

Carrying on the Inside Line series, we move on from looking at a fleet favourite, the Ford Mondeo, and turn our attention to another model popular among company car owners, the BMW 3 Series.

The 3 Series, has been in strong demand for years and in 2005 the new E90 model was launched. It wasn’t just on the surface that the 3 Series experienced some changes, as the range gained a new 1.6l petrol engine to go with its 2.0l, 2.5l and 3.0l siblings, and the 2.0l and 3.0l diesels. There was also an upgrade for the powerful M3, which included a new 4.0l straight six petrol engine producing 414hp.

The later versions of the 3 Series included EfficientDynamics models, which included BMW’s stop-start system.

These new technologies that have appeared on the 3 Series will provide technicians with additional challenges, some of which we have outlined below.

Next month we’ll be looking at the Mini.

If you have expertise, knowledge and insight to share, we would be delighted to hear from you. It will make our Inside Lines feature an even more powerful tool for our workshop readership.
To get your advice included contact hemal.mistry@haymarket.com or peter.lawton@haymarket.com

Click below to see technical contributions on the BMW 3 Series from:

Cambiare – highlights the 3 Series’s weak points

Castrol – recapping why oil plays such an important part in the BMW engine

CES– a whole host of issues and instructions on how to solve them

Comma – discusses servicing and changes of fluids and oil in the 3 Series

Contitech – explaining how to test a v-ribbed belt on the BMW

First Line – analyse clutch and bearing issues and faults

Forté – how to solve troubling turbo issues

Manbat – advises on AGM battery replacements

Meyle – common suspension and oil pan faults sorted

Remy – avoid confusion alternators for the BMW 3 Series

RMI – outline a variety of 3 Series issues