Ever wondered why wishes are always granted in threes?  Among all the possible permutations in the numeric kingdom, every book or movie has always put ‘three’ on a special pedestal of respect.  From Lord of the Rings to Star—it seems that ‘three’ is the number of perfection.  From any culture that you could muster, you probably can’t recall an instance where ‘two’ or ‘four’ meant anything significant.  On the other hand, there are the three little pigs; the three Matrix movies; three divine people in the Holy Trinity, and of course, the BMW 3 Series.

Like the prefix that connotes its place in the BMW line-up, the 3 Series is also the German company’s most important product.  We’re talking about 50 percent of its annual more than 1.2 billion euro sales figure.  It is so important that there just about the same number of trim choices available for the 3 Series as there are for the 1, 5 and 7 Series combined.  In the Philippines alone, there are at least 14 choices ranging from the base 316i to the range-topping 330i, and you’d bet that there’s a 3 Series that’s just right for you.  Although everyone would simply lust over the 258-horsepower 330i, perhaps the more attainable goal would be the 320i.  Though it doesn’t have a straight-6 under the hood, the 320i by most standards, is an excellent car. 

The moment you step inside, the extremely high levels of fit and finish is evident.  Absolutely everything is lined in soft-feel plastics and top notch leather.  Even small details such as the front seat backs (often neglected in other cars) are built to last a lifetime.  The aluminum trim on the center console is well textured and fits well with the 3 Series’ sporty motif.  Though BMW designers deserve a pat on the back for keeping the cockpit fighter feel intact, you can’t help but gripe that the dashboard feels plain.  This is especially true with the absence of the i-Drive’s screen interface and when compared back-to-back with the previous 3 Series.

Adjusting to the BMW control layout may take a couple of minutes, but after that, this car hits the bull’s-eye when it comes to the perfect driving position and ergonomics.  For starters, the three-spoke steering wheel is a joy to hold, especially with its built-in thumb rest on the 3 and 9 o’clock positions.  Then, there are the seats, which are adjustable (manually, at least for this model) every which way including the side bolsters—perfect for gripping any body frame during hard cornering.  Likewise, the ventilation controls are easy to understand, and are quite adept to Manila’s midday heat.  People in the back seat will revel in the 3 Series’ large accommodations.  Though the central tunnel will still make squeezing five difficult, the space is actually quite comfortable for four even during out of town drives.

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