| Base price: | $33,400 |
| Options on test car: | |
| Titanium silver metallic paint | $475 |
| Automatic transmission | $1,200 |
| Heated front seats | $500 |
| Xenon Headlamps | $500 |
| AM/FM CD player | $200 |
| Premium package | $2,900 |
| Power glass moonroof | |
| Auto-dimming interior mirror | |
| Myrtle wood trim | |
| 4-way power lumbar | |
| Rain-sensing wipers | |
| Leather upholstery | |
| Destination charge | $570 |
| As tested price: | $39,745 |
Competition: The 2000 Lincoln LS, Cadillac Catera, Chrysler 300M, Lexus ES300 and Acura 3.2 TL.
As entry-level luxury cars go, driving doesn’t get much better than when you are behind the wheel of a German sedan, especially the new-for-1999 BMW 328i.
This new Bimmer is a drastic change from the last model, which ain’t half bad. It is more sculpted than the old; its lines are softer, leaving the last generation’s hard edges behind.
This new car is 1.5-inches longer than last year’s, which makes for more comfortable seating. It also gives the new car a more aerodynamic profile, along with a retro look at certain angles.
Beautifully rounded fenders, rear fascia and roofline have replaced the squarish looks of the old car. The new 3-series is a much more beautiful example of automotive design than the previous iteration. The arch of the front wheel wells and the muscular stance give the impression of a sportier car, which disappoints a bit.
The suspension of the new 3-Series is sprung a little softer than last year’s model, though only true Bimmer-philes will notice. It tracks true through the corners, even if there’s a bit more body roll, and it dives a bit under hard braking, but it still stops with the best of ’em.
The 328i slows authoritatively through ABS- and traction control-equipped 11.8-in. front and 11.6-in. rear brakes.
The ride is pleasing, but it lacks the tight, controlling feel of the previous generation. What the new car gains is a comfortable ride that soaks up bumps in the road the way a good air mattress makes you forget you’re sleeping on the ground. The 328i still handles as good as the best sports sedans but is still quiet and easy going on long highway rides.
The best part of the new 328i may well be the engine. Willing to rev to the redline with each shift, the sounds coming from the bay are very pleasing, and the smoothness of the package (engine and transmission) makes for a very luxurious feeling; which BMW has made a high priority in this new generation.
The 1999 328i comes with a 2.8-liter in-line six with two cams and BMW’s Double VANOS stepless variable valve timing. It has 193 horses on tap and spins with 206 lb-ft. of torque, good for a manufacturer-claimed 0-60 mph run in 6.6 seconds.
Our automatic-equipped test car had estimated EPA fuel mileage figures of 19 city and 27 highway. Coupled with a 16.6-gallon fuel tank, that gives a 448-mile-range for those wonderful highway trips. We averaged 23.9 mpg, though the trip computer said we averaged 24.2, which could have been for the whole 5,000 or so miles.
Slipping into the ’99 BMW 328i is like putting on that trusted pair of gloves. You get in and almost immediately feel at home. The placement of the controls is good, if not perfect, but there were a few niggling aspects of the car that need to be addressed.
The front passenger’s door was hard to close unless muscled just right, which, for some passengers of the female persuasion, and even yours truly once or twice, was easier said than done. Another sore point was the grime buildup on the front wheels. The latticework wheels on the test car seemed impossible to keep clean without getting down on all fours and scrubbing the bejesus out of them. Another small annoyance was the way the windshield and backlight seemed fogged up all the time like a smoker had driven the car around the world a few times. And with our test car’s less than 5,000 miles, which seemed like an impossibility.
The only real drawback with the test car was a lot of wind noise and tire roar at highway speed. It was equipped with 205/55R-16 all-season Continental tires. They gripped well enough but they did seem to be a big reason for all that noise.
Aside from that bit of niggling, the test car was almost perfect.
Snaking down a twisty road will instantly bring a smile to your face as you feel yourself and the car find that perfect line. In normal everyday driving, the new 328i is as comfortable as that easy chair in your living room, even at hyper-legal speeds.
Interesting amenities included one-touch-down on all windows and the power moonroof, which could be activated from the remote key fob—a great way to impress your friends.
The coolest safety feature on the Bimmer, aside from front and side airbags, of course, was the Xenon lights.
The soft blue-tinted glow coming from the two high intensity discharge headlights made driving at night, in the rain, during a monsoon-like downpour, almost a breeze. They light up everything for what seems like a mile ahead of you as you tool down the highway. Reflective signs and posts come alive with the intense light generated from an arcing current.
This is a wonderful automobile. It gives the driver a feeling of security on the road and impresses the senses with the aroma of leather and wood.
The 1999 BMW 328i is one of the most solid, well-built cars on the road today. It’s truly a shame most mere mortals will never know the pleasure of driving the new 3-Series.
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