The BMW3 line-up has always consisted of a variety of cars that display the best in automotive engineering and design ideas. In 2006 the BMW3 series garnered a lot of respect, and this was when the 325i xDrive Sedan earned recognition as "Car of the Year". To many people the 325i is still considered to be the ultimate 4 door, sports sedan, and it continues to earn accolades even in 2009.

Engine Specifications:
Inline 6 cylinder design
215 HP @ 6100 RPM
199 foot/pounds Torque @ 2400-4200 rpm
22mpg in the city/ 38mpg on the highway
0-60 in 6.7 seconds
3 stage induction system
Turbo Diesel fuel system
Valvetronic Technology
24 valves with a dual overhead cam
Double VANOS System

Additional Specifications:
Optional Active Steering and Advanced Dynamic Stability Control Mods
Front and Rear ventilated disc ABS brakes
Electronically controlled water pump
16.5 gallon fuel tank
4 door design
6 Speed Automatic Transmission with overdrive
*The transmission design is known as STEPTRONIC and there are 3 driving modes to select.

* Sport-for more powerful shifting options

• Drive- which utilizes the ATC(Adaptive Transmission Controls)
• Automatic- this option gives the driver the feel and control of a manual shift transmission without a clutch.
4 wheel independent suspension with xdrive /all wheel drive
Rear 5 beam/5 link suspension
Front Bucket seats

Measurements:
The BMW325i xdrive has an overall height of 55.9 inches and uses every possible centimeter in an efficient manner. The front seat driver and passenger can enjoy an impressive 38.5 inches of interior head room and rear passengers have 37.5 inches of headroom available. There is more than adequate legroom in the front as well, but very tall passengers might notice the legroom is slightly cramped in the back seat.

Overall:
The BMW 325i xDrive makes good use of the patented xDrive technology. This is the high tech engineering system that transfers power between wheels when the sensors find any slippery road conditions. The xDrive computers are able to prevent over/under steering by the driver and assist him in keeping the car under control. . This adds to the overall handling of the BMW 325i sedan, making it easy and smooth in a wide variety of conditions.

Safety Features
Safety features for this BMW model once again show careful thought and precision engineering. The car is designed for stability, safe handling and road control. You will also find that this car has 3 point safety belts and multiple airbags. Not only are there airbags in the dash for front seat occupants, BMW has made sure to include side impact airbags for an extra measure of security. There is even an inflatable HPS (Head Protection System) integrated into this sedan. The HPS design earned accolades for the company and the title of "Safe Car of the Millenium".

More Features
325i Sedans feature poplar wood trim and brushed aluminum fittings. The leather interior exudes luxury and style. Heated, power seats in the front are just one of the many features that will tempt you. This car comes with halogen headlights that utilize the 4 ring lighting system, and fog lights are also standard.

Vehicle and key memory are both conveniences that BMW owners can appreciate. In addition this automobile offers anti-theft motion sensors. The car has automatically controlled running lights for daytime driving and at night the Pathway Lighting sensors will keep the headlights on for 40 seconds after the engine has been switched off.

The interior temperatures are all controlled automatically and can be adjusted to maximize the comfort of each passenger. There is also an ARC (automatic recirculation control) which has sensors to detect specific air pollutants like carbon monoxide. If one of the programmed air pollutants is detected the ARC closes the outside vents and will re-circulate the air on the interior of the BMW. There are also dual air filters which are able to dramatically reduce the level of dust, odors, molds and bacteria in the air that is being cycled from the outside environment.

The BMW 325i xDrive sedan also has a number of standard features that are generally considered to be options on many other vehicles. This is due in large part on the BMW Company's focus on both sportiness and luxury.

Final thoughts:

The sporty interior design and superb handling characteristics of the xDrive system make this luxury sedan an enjoyable driving experience. Cornering and maneuverability is a delight and the car is able to hold its own when matched against a variety of higher priced competitors. The power and responsiveness of the BMW 325i is never lacking, yet it seems to constantly deliver an average of 20-25 mpg.
This car can hold up to 5 people comfortably and has enough trunk room to store your suitcases when you head off for a family holiday. If you are looking for an auto that combines exciting performance, reliability and sporty looks the 2006 BMW325i will be a perfect choice.

The BMW car company, specializing in upscale luxury cars, rarely breaks into the top ten best selling car list.  This does not mean, however, that BMW manufactures some serious impressive vehicles.  Rather, not enough people can afford BMW cars for a BMW sedan to outsell, say, a Ford Focus or Chevy Impala.  In the top ten best selling luxury car list, however, the BMW brand makes frequent appearances.  Among their most popular cars are the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 5 Series, and the sporty BMW Z4 M Series.

The BMW 5 Series has a noble history stretching back over thirty years.  The midsize luxury sedan has a reputation for reliability and a near perfect blend of performance, luxury, and roominess.  The current generation of the BMW 5 Series, introduced in 2004, offers a choice of three engines with either manual or automatic transmission. The entry-level engine is a 3.0-liter  inline-6 sporting 230 horsepower (hp), and midlevel engine consists of a twin-turbo six rated at 300 hp, and the high-end V8 engine commends 360 hp.  The BMW 5 Series handles quite well, with responsive, sharp reflexes, corners well, and a stability control system hugs the road.  Drawbacks, as always, include a price higher than most of its competitors.  Another drawback is the BMW 5 Series' iDrive system, which controls audio, climate, navigation, and communication from a single LCD touch screen.  Unfortunately, the iDrive system it not very intuitive, and many have had a rough, confusing time learning to use it.

The BMW 3 Series of coupes, sedans, and convertibles are generally considered to set the standard for sports sedan performance and handling that other car companies have to compete with.  The basic BMW 3 Series engine is a fairly fuel-efficient 3.0-liter V6 that produced 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.  At the higher trim levels, a more powerful version of this engine is available rates at 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque.  The standard engine is a little light on low-end torque, but the upgraded twin-turbo engine provides the kind of acceleration on has come to expect from a BMW.  Both engines provide an unparalleled performance, easy handling, and smooth, comfortable ride quality.  The BMW 3 Series has an impressive array of standard safety equipment: antilock disc brakes, dynamic brake control, stability control, front seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags (except on the convertible models, of course).  The biggest drawback to the BMW 3 Series is its cost.  With a fully loaded convertible reaching over $60,000 (over £42,000), most of the BMW 3 Series' competitors can under sell it.

Finally, the BMW Z4 M series is essentially a luxury sports car, specifically designed for superb handling and an easy ride.  The BMW Z4 M is powered by a 3.2-liter 24-valve inline V6 engine that produces a surprising 330 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Top-of-the-line performance is provided by a combination of a six-speed manual transmission, heavy-duty clutch, six electronically controlled throttles, and a low-back-pressure dual exhaust system.  Superior handling and a smooth ride are achieved with a strut-type front suspension, central-link rear suspension, a variable differential lock, and BMW's calibrated Dynamic Stability Control.  Safety features include dual-airbag system, side impact airbags, active knee protection, and BMW's advanced Crash Safety Management System.  On top of all that, the BMW Z4 M's V6 engine is comparatively fuel efficient—although if you're thinking about buying this car, you can probably spare the money for extra gas.

The BMW X5 puts more ‘sport’ into the Sport Utility Vehicle.  This midsize luxury SUV is designed for sport car-like power and performance, while still maintaining the comfort, space, and safety of a family vehicle.

New for the 2009 model BMW X5 is a new powerful yet fuel-efficient diesel engine for the BMW X5 xDrive35d trim level.  This twin turbocharged diesel inline-6 engine puts out 265 horsepower (hp) and 425 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque.  Despite all this power, the diesel engine gives great gas mileage for an SUV, getting 19 mpg (30½ kpg) in city driving and 25 mpg (40 kpg) on the highway.  Even better, thanks to BMW’s new BluePerformance technology which reduced engine emissions, this engine can be sold in all 50 states in the USA.  Other than this new engine, however, there is little else new for 2009, other than tinkering a bit with the names and features of the different trim levels.

The 2009 BMW X5 comes in three trim levels: the basic xDrive30i, the midlevel xDrive35d (with the new diesel engine), and the luxury xDrive48i.  Standard features for all three include cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats with diver memory, a powered tilt and telescoping steering wheel, adaptive xenon headlights, and a twelve-speaker stereo system with the iDrive interface.  Instead of dividing special features and options up among the different trim levels, however, BMW offers optional features packages that can be installed in any model.  Their optional packages include the Sport package, Premium Sound package, Technology package, Rear Climate package, Active Ventilated Seat, and, of course, the Premium package.

Three engines are available for the 2009 BMW X5.  The base-level engine for the xDrive30i is a 3.0-liter inline-6 that produces 260 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque.  This engine gets 15 mpg (24 kpg) in city driving and 21 mpg (34 kpg) on the highway.  The second engine available for the xDrive35d model is the new twin diesel engine, which we have already described above.  Finally, the high-end xDrive48i is equipped with a 4.8-liter V8 that puts out an impressive 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96½ kph) in 7 seconds.  Gas mileage for this engine is 14 mpg (22½ kpg) in city driving and 19 mpg (30½ kpg) on the highway.  All BMW X5s are all-wheel drive and come with a six speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

Despite its muscle car aspirations, the BMW X5 performs quite well as a family-hauler.  The BMW X5 can seat up to five passengers, although the optional third row of seating is really only comfortable for children.  With both back rows of seats folded down, the BMW can provide about 75 cubic feet (23 cubic meters) of cargo capacity.

As mentioned before, the goal of the BMW X5 was to take the performance and handling of their sports sedans and translate them into an SUV, and this respect they’ve succeeded.  The BMW X5 is a midsize SUV that handles like a muscle car—especially when the optional active damper and stabilizers are added.  At high speeds, the BMW X5’s offers a high performance and precise handling that is second to none in the SUV market.  At low speeds (VERY low, such as in a parking lot), however, the handling suddenly becomes a bit clumsy.

There are a few downsides to the BMW X5, however.  The ride is not as smooth as one might expect from a luxury vehicle.  The iDrive interface is not very intuitive and quickly leads to confusion and frustration.  And, of course, it commands the hefty price of a luxury model.  While other luxury crossover SUVs offer more utility or are better at going off road, the BMW X5 excels at what it does best: drive like a sports car with superb handling and performance.