Used 2022 BMW 3 Series

The 2022 BMW 3 Series looms over the rest of the premium compact sedan landscape like it’s the highest mountain. The one that can’t be conquered. Luxurious cruiser, enthusiast machine, and status symbol — the 3 Series puts an equally strong emphasis on each aspect. And succeeds on all counts.

Which generation of 3 Series is this current model? It’s the seventh, which debuted for the 2019 model year. The tech is still fresh and refinements have been incorporated. A couple of recent predecessors weren’t received so well by the driving-shoe-wearing crowd, but this one puts the 3 Series back in its top spot.

On the driving fun-o-meter, some car ranges go from acceptable to great. The 2022 3 Series starts at great and goes up from there. Even the 330i has paddle shifters beneath the steering wheel for more driver engagement than just shoving the lever into D. Nor is it just about going quick; the brakes are confidence-inspiring as well.

BMW also proves that a plug-in hybrid doesn’t have to be dull. The 330e develops more torque than the 330i (310 lb-ft, compared with 295) and electric motors are known for providing plenty of thrust right from standstill.

Naturally, going even quicker is cool and the M340i is so good and so well-equipped with performance features that some people might not feel the need to go the whole way and buy an M3. If they do, though, they’ll be getting one of the outstanding inventions of the automotive world.

How fast is the 2022 BMW M3? The regular version rockets from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Only a tenth of a second slower than a Porsche 911 Carrera. The M3 Competition shaves off three tenths.

On one side of the track gates, there are plenty of entertaining cars. On the business side, many of them fail to meet the challenge. The M3 keeps it together on a track, with cornering speeds limited more by a driver’s caution than any shortcomings in the chassis. But traveling there and back home again will still be pleasurable.

High-quality, low-fuss. It’s the usual BMW approach and there are no complaints from us. Anyone who finds the seats a little firm at first will be grateful for the exemplary support after a few hours.

Cars invariably grow from generation to generation, but that’s not all bad. For a compact sedan, the 3 Series has ample occupant space front and rear. The middle seat in the back is still for youngsters, as always. The transmission tunnel going through the center of the car reduces legroom for that position.

At 17 cubic feet, the trunk is commodious as well. The 330e loses about 4 cubic feet because of the battery pack, but still has 40/20/40 split/folding rear seats for some cargo-carrying flexibility.

Changes this year include perforated simulated leather as standard, replacing the previous year’s unperforated stuff. It’s also now available in Tacora Red and Cognac.

The optional real Vernasca leather also comes in Tacora Red as well as Mocha, with the Canberra Beige/Black and Cognac colors being discontinued.

No big surprises here. The 2022 3 Series has recognizable BMW design touches, like the double grille and the little kink in the rear side windows. But it all works as a whole.

Because of its standard sport suspension, the M340i sits almost half an inch lower than the 330i. It also has its own aerodynamic kit with a rear spoiler.

The M3 employs a carbon fiber roof, keeping weight in check and lowering the center of gravity compared with its stablemates. It also features staggered-size wheels, with 18-inch alloys up front, 19-inch rims at the back. The M3 Competition does the same thing with 19-inch/20-inch rims.

A couple of metallic paint choices that were offered with the 330i and 330e models — Glacier Silver and Blue Ridge Mountain — have been discontinued. But two other metallic finishes, Oxide Grey and Aventurin Red, are added.

ENGINES
BMW makes excellent engines. The luxury car world has so many appealing aspects — like cutting-edge tech, fine materials, and high style. But BMW has always had a driver’s edge, and part of this is the way the company’s engines deliver their power. In the 2022 3 Series, each unit is a winner, from the 4-cylinder in the 330i to the explosive 503-horsepower inline-6 in the M3 Competition.

M3
The M3 is much more than merely a faster 3 Series. Over the generations, this special car has become an object of desire for anyone who loves driving — whether it’s a city-to-city trajectory or a back-road blast. Every enthusiast should own an M3 at least once.

Starting with the rear-drive 330i, the 2022 3 Series comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/cornering lights/daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, moonroof, simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front sport seats with memory setting for the driver’s seat/side mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, self-dimming rearview mirror/driver’s-side mirror, 8.8-inch driver information display, ambient cabin lighting, and 40/20/40 split/folding rear seats.

Standard driver-assistance features are forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and lane-keeping assistance.

The infotainment system has an 8.8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, two USB ports, navigation, Bluetooth, 10-speaker/205-watt audio system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and voice control that recognizes natural speech.

The 2022 330e has the same equipment as the regular 330i, except with the plug-in hybrid drivetrain, model-specific instrument cluster. And LED headlights with cornering lights.

Every new 3 Series also has connectivity services like on-street parking information, remote lock/unlock, and stolen vehicle recovery.

The 2022 M340i comes with sport-tuned variable-ratio steering, M Sport differential/brakes/suspension, 12.3-inch digital driver information display, 10.25-inch infotainment display, and navigation.

The 2022 M3 packs more power than the M340i, an even sportier M suspension, beefier brakes, more go-faster hardware in general, Active Blind Spot Detection, and a 16-speaker/464-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

An adaptive M suspension and M Sport differential (for optimum traction) are offered with the 330i. Both the 330i and M340i are eligible for the xDrive all-wheel drive system.

Other options include Wi-Fi, wireless charging, 19-inch alloy wheels, real leather upholstery, heated front/rear seats, heated steering wheel, head-up display, gesture control for the infotainment system, keyless entry/ignition, and adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight.

Extra driver assistance features bring Active Blind Spot Detection, adaptive cruise control, and partial self-driving (see the Safety Technology section below).

M3 buyers can also choose a track data recorder (M Drive Professional) and carbon-ceramic brakes. Together, they’ll add about $9,000 to the price. Then there’s the M3 Competition with even greater power, plus the option of all-wheel drive.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine endows the 330i with a punchy 255 horsepower. That goes through an 8-speed automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels (RWD). Or all four in the 330i xDrive (AWD).

For more muscle with fewer emissions, the rear-drive 330e plug-in hybrid variant has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor (running off a lithium-ion battery pack) working together to make 288 horsepower. Once again, an 8-speed automatic transmission is deployed, and the 330e xDrive is the version with all-wheel drive.

Using just battery power, the 330e can travel up to 22 miles. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a way of calculating miles-per-gallon equivalent for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles: MPGe. The 330e can achieve 75 MPGe in combined driving (a mix of city and highway cycles) when the electric-only range is factored in. Otherwise, it manages 28 mpg as a regular hybrid.

The usual transmission and RWD/AWD formula also applies to the M340i and M340i xDrive, but this model comes with an inline-6 — a classic BMW configuration renowned for its inherent smoothness. In the M340i, this turbocharged engine develops a delicious 382 horsepower, augmented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system that makes the fuel-saving engine stop/restart function smoother than it’s ever been.

The manual transmission isn’t dead. There’s a 6-speed version in the high-performance, rear-wheel-drive M3. The engine here is another turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6, but generating 473 horsepower. Or 503 horsepower in the M3 Competition, which also comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, plus the option of an M-tuned all-wheel-drive system.

Premium gasoline is required across the 3 Series range.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (330i, 330i xDrive)
255 horsepower @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,550-4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/36 mpg (RWD), 25/34 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4/permanent magnet electric motor (330e/330e xDrive)
288 horsepower
310 lb-ft of torque
EPA combined fuel economy: 28 mpg/75 MPGe (RWD) 25 mpg/76 MPGe (AWD)
Electric only range: 22 miles (RWD), 20 miles (AWD)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (M340i & M340i xDrive))
382 horsepower @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
369 lb-ft @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/32 mpg (RWD & AWD)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (M3)
473 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 2,650-6,130 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (M3 Competition)
503 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 2,750-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg (RWD), 16/22 mpg (AWD)