Overview & Reviews

The 2009 BMW 3 Series sedan and wagon variants receive a variety of mild styling updates as well as a slight increase in rear track width. A redesigned iDrive controller debuts for the optional navigation system, which is now hard-drive-based and features real-time traffic. Later in the model year, the 3 Series sedan gets an optional twin-turbocharged clean-diesel engine. Finally, all-wheel-drive models are now badged xDrive, and a handful of features are new or revised.

• Not much interior storage space, pricey.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 127.00

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  Delightful - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By SD - March 15 - 1:44 am

  The car is simply a delight for me to drive - every time I get back in it, I remember how much fun it is. Couldnt ask for better steering, acceleration, visibility, or interior appointment. The iDrive is well-integrated into the vehicle and the controls are easy to learn.

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  Great Car - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By JThomas - March 5 - 11:50 am

  Got a nearly loaded sports premium 328xi without nav, fun to drive, excellent in snow. Be very careful with the potholes, sport tires are very low profile. its great for the front two passengers, back seat passenger are cramped in. never had any issues with the car though. very reliable. build quality is great. Test drove the Diesel. Definitely worth getting the diesel for the torque and very impressive mileage. Will buy the 335 Diesel when the lease expires.

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  Follow-up review after 17K miles - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By Michael - March 1 - 11:45 am

  Well, its now almost 2 full seasons of winter later, 2 oil changes - and this car is as responsive as my first drive with it.. maybe even more so as the CDV issue seems to have disappeared after the "break-in" period. Had a couple issues with the tire-pressure-monitor system going off when winter rolled through nothing that a trip to the dealership couldnt resolve. Started noticing various things "creaking" such as the drivers seat (when applying mid/upper back pressure) and the center console elbow rest. Also, the rear-window dot matrix makes it impossible to get a nice uniform tint. If you can look past these, then IMO, this is still the absolute best luxury AWD coupe on the road.

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  Best Car I have Owned - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By steve - February 23 - 1:27 pm

  This car is great. First BMW I have owned and the performance, handling and seat comfort are fabulous. Got rid of my lumbar roll as the sport seats and lumbar support are that comfortable. Everything else I have owned except for a Boxster feel slushy in comparison and you can drive this in the New England winter without problem. The iDrive works well without the problems previous iterations have had. The Navigation system is mostly intuitive and accurate. A few issues.....the 18" low profile run-flats and sport suspension are very harsh and potholes are to be avoided at all costs. I have already had one replaced due to side wall failure at a cost of $750!!?? Glove box is too small!

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  Snow Cat Surf Car - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By Skeep - January 24 - 12:26 pm

  Absolutely the best. I wanted a surf car, dog car, with the 3.0 sport package to race down the autobahn and this wagon rocks. Tiptronic transmission provides everything. Paddle shifters just add that much more capability for driving fast and low. Sport Package a must. Love this wagon. Snow will not stop this car. Cant wait to drive it in the USA on the beach at Cape Hatteras. You win when you buy this car!

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  335d 2009 Great Car - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By MJ - January 17 - 2:32 pm

  If any one is looking for a 335 BMW. Take a close look at the 335d. It is very fast, 425 lbs ft. of torque and 265 hp. It to me feels much faster than the 335i in normal around town driving. I now have just about 7000 miles on it. No problems at all. I also have a lexus for my wife. The reliability is the same both, great. However the big plus is the mileage. I get 30 mpg around town and 39 on the highway . The 335i cannot do that. There is no diesel smell or smoke ever. Diesel fuel cost is at or just below high test in Northern Va.

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  Perfect Sedan - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By DanD - December 28 - 12:12 pm

  Still cant believe after 19,000 miles and 6 months the car still feels GREAT. Optional Xenons are are a MUST, sports package, and cold weather package. Leatherette feels great and holds up very nicely. AWD system is the best I have ever owned. Had a 2002 Audi allroad and this car gets around just as good if not better. No complaints about the run flats. Just had it in for first service at 17k, said tires had almost no wear!! Handling is BEST in class, I drove every car in segment. Brakes are the best I have ever had. HIGHLY recommended, at least test drive, blows the new A4 out of the water in handling. 30+ mpg on my long road trips! 25+ city hwy!

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  Second time lucky - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By big kev - December 28 - 7:15 am

  This is my second 3 series - the first was 2007 335i and for some reason this update is a much better car. I have 16" wheels with 205/50 tires deliberately avoiding low profiles and the ride is very comfortable, and handling is fine (runflat smash and crash is gone!) I find The car more comfortable than the 5 series and traded my 2008 Audi A4, which I liked a lot but the Beema is much smoother and more refined - especially the diesel engine. Hated the old 3 series mainly because of the high fuel bills and the horrible ride - love this one mainly because of the improved ride due to non low profile runflats and Continental tires rather than Bridgestone which were awful.

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  Surpassed expectations by, oh... - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By Chester - December 26 - 7:22 pm

  ...7 light years. I have owned 7 Subarus, two Audi Quattros, and thought they could not be beaten. I was wrong. The handling, overall performance, and especially the sport seats (comfort level) exceeds all the aforementioned autos. I did option for the automatic with sport pkg. and the letdown on acel. is barely noticeable. Due in part to the reworked tranny, excellent response and shiftability...No need to tell you how much fun it is to drive, handles like a dream, the rap on runflats have not been a factor yet, suspension takes care of that...Oh what a feeling, and it is not, a toyota...Fit, finish,and interior are exceptional...I love my xDrive Coupe.

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  Where did the room go? - 2009 BMW 3-Series
  By HardDriver - December 5 - 7:30 pm

  This is the most fun car to drive since my 73 Porsche. Whether on a freeway or (better yet) a twisting country road, this car is flat out fun to drive. No matter how hard I put it into a turn, it looks over its shoulder and asks, "is that all you got?" On a recent Los Angeles to San Francisco freeway trip, I got just over 30 mpg. Pros: Road hugging performance, good mileage, styling and finish. Cons: This car is essentially the same size as the Accord and Avalon. Where did all the interior room go ? I am 511" and it is hard to get in and out. Headroom is scarce and there is no legroom in the rear seat. The trunk is tiny. There is also a very annoying throttle lag off the line.