BMW adds 323i to its 3-Series range
By Russell Williamson
BMW looks set to further cement its reputation for producing sporty, driver's cars with the addition of the 323i to its 3- Series range.
The car joined the lineup to replace the 320i earlier this month and is priced on the road at Rp 142,700,000 for the five- speed manual and Rp 153,700,000 for the five-speed automatic version.
Bintoro Tjitrowirjo, the general manager of PT Tjahja Sakti Motor Corp, the local importer for BMW, said he anticipated the car will add about 80-100 units a month to its existing sales volume.
This, he said, would give the company a total volume for the year of about 3500 units with the smaller 318i making up the greatest proportion of the total of 3, 5 and 7-Series sales.
Although more expensive than the 320i it replaces, the 323i is not greatly so, and justifies the extra money.
Power comes from a 2500cc, 125kW engine (it was given a 323, rather than a 325 badge for marketing reasons) which drives the rear wheels.
The features list includes a driver's-side airbag, anti-lock brakes, climate control air conditioning, power mirrors and windows, central locking, a premium sound system, 16" alloy wheels and cloth sports seats.
The driving experience has distinct overtones of the 328i, which has a bigger 2800cc six-cylinder engine but is not yet available in Indonesia. Like the bigger engine, the 323 is stronger than previous BMWs in mid-range torque.
The urge from low engine speeds is noticeable, and there is the characteristic, delicious, engine note to go with it. Drivers familiar with BMW traits will appreciate the extra punch: it adds a new dimension to the driving experience without sacrificing the traditional virtues.
The gains are quantifiable: BMW says it is two seconds faster to 100km/h than the 320i and picks up decent gains in in-gear acceleration, a prerequisite for safe highway overtaking.
From the driver's seat, the gains over the 320i are very noticeable. The small-six smoothness is still there, but added to it is a willingness to accelerate quickly from low engine speed. And although it is, in relative terms, a low-stressed engine, it is still more than happy to explore the upper reaches of the rpm band.
It is almost a revelation to find a BMW that responds instantly, crisply and quickly right from the engagement of the clutch in first gear. Passing on the highway is made easier by the same ready response, without the need for the gear-shuffling that was a prerequisite in the 320i.
The torque figure indicates where the engine's designers were coming from, however: the 245Nm maximum is developed at - for BMW - a relatively low 3950rpm compared to 190Nm and 4200rpm in the 320i.
The musical sounds are all there in the 323i too. It remains as pleasurable to shift between gears as other six-cylinder BMWs with a neat, positive shift pattern in the manual five-speed box. The optional five-speed automatic, which drives almost like a manual, remains one of the best transmissions of its type.
All this for no fuel consumption penalty: BMW figures quote essentially the same fuel usage as the 320i. Indicating the efficiency of the auto, it is actually more economical overall than the manual.
Ride and handling qualities are consistent with the engine performance. The new car has no trouble maintaining the sporty character that defined the last BMW to carry the 323 badge.
The 323i is a logical step up the 3-Series ranks from the 318i. It offers more than just a taste of the legitimate BMW driving experience.