2000 BMW 323i Wagon
BMW 323i restyles a sports sedan into a lively station wagon
Story by Bob Plunkett

OCOTILLO, Calif. -- Freewheeling around a string of curt corners on the narrow S2 highway, which rambles through the Coyote Mountains of California's Anza Borrego desert, a compact new 3-Series station wagon from Germany's BMW acts more like a rakish sports car than a practical hauler.

     Large 17-inch tires and a sophisticated independent suspension rigged with light-weight aluminum components enables the slinky machine to carve an integrated path along the winding road like it's part of the pavement.

     Big disc brakes, connected to anti-lock and traction control devices in multiple layers of safety equipment, check speed quickly in a smooth linear progression without undue nose dive as the crisp rack and pinion steering mechanism responds instantaneously to keep the prow pointed around the next sweeper.

     The tail, pushed by the rear drive wheels, follows the lead of front wheels by etching a keen arching line through the apex of the curve.

     Strong torque, stemming from a husky six-in-line engine, exerts persistent force on those back wheels coming out of the curve as a driver increases the effort in a lurch to higher speed tuned through shifts of the short-throw manual shift lever.

     Our run around the California low desert clearly shows that, in the inimitable style of BMW, there's so much playfulness built into the 3-Series station wagon, 323i.

     In fact, driving characteristics and pavement manners so closely mirror those of the 323i sports sedan that it's difficult to distinguish differences between the two vehicles, save for the obvious physical substitution of a wagon's boxed rear bay for the sedan's trunk.

     Actually, the wagon measures fractionally longer and lower than the sedan and its suspension has been stiffened to manage the additional weight of a wagon's added structural elements.

     Otherwise, the two vehicles share components, including the stiff chassis, engine and transmissions, handling hardware and an extensive array of safety equipment.

     So the big idea behind this sports wagon built on the foundation of the 3-Series sedan is that you end up with the fun-to-drive posture of BMW's popular sports sedan while also gaining the cargo-hauling practicality of a wagon. The expansive cargo bay contains more than double the volume of the sedan's trunk with rear seatbacks up -- or four times the volume with seatbacks folded flat.

     And the sweet spot:  BMW has loaded the 323i wagon with significant content while still restricting the bottom line to a respectable figure -- around $30,000 to start.

     The interior layout shows two bolstered bucket seats flanking a central console up front, with a bench for three on the second row and the flat-floored bay in back. That rear bench splits into two sections, the smaller side consuming about a third of the seat width and sectional seatbacks folding down independently or together.

     The cargo compartment maximizes space by stowing a space-saving spare tire below deck, with a couple of cubic feet of under-floor space to spare. A lamp mounts on each C-pillar and there's also a rear 12-volt power plug, plus a cargo net and retractable cover for the entire bay.

     Access to the rear area comes either through the tailgate or a flip-up rear window.

     The exterior, fluid in form from a tapered prow and over the raked windshield and long roofline to the boxed tail, looks sleek and low-slung like it's moving even when parked. Sedan and wagon share the same face and flanks through the side B-pillars, where the wagon varies by extending the roofline over the cargo area.

     Motivation comes from the in-line six-cylinder aluminum-block engine, which displaces 2.5 liters and carries dual overhead cams and BMW's infinitely variable valve timing system.

     Output reaches to 170 hp at 5500 rpm, with strong low-end torque to 181 lb-ft at 3500 rpm.

     A Getrag Type B+ five-speed manual transmission keyed to a self-adjusting clutch is standard, but the ZF 5HP19 automatic articulated through five forward gears is also available and it has a sport mode for elevated shift points plus controls that can determine an individual's driving style before harmonizing with it.

     The automatic also uses BMW's Steptronic mode for driver-selected shifting.

     Passive safety systems may deploy as many as eight air bags, with standard front and side-impact air bags for front seat riders plus BMW's exclusive Head Protection System with inflatable tubular air bags mounted atop A-pillars to cushion head and shoulders during a side-impact collision. Side air bags for rear seats can also be installed.

     Active safety devices, either standard or optional, apply cutting-edge vehicle controls. Electronic brake proportioning automatically modulates brake pressure front to rear to prevent wheels from slipping; cornering brake control maintains stability when turning by regulating brake pressure selectively per wheel; park distance control adds sensors and a signal that sounds when the rear bumper gets too close to an object in the rearward path; rain-sensing wipers activate automatically when infrared sensors detect rain drops on windshield, and a navigation system with satellite link can plot the car's earthly position and display it on the map of an in-dash video screen.

     Another standard assist is BMW's computerized Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mechanism that can correct potentially dangerous car movements when wheels slip laterally. This automatic stability control system channels brake pressure to an individual wheel and blocks outward slippage of the rear-drive wheels to keep the chassis pointed in the intended path.

     Although a sport-tuned driver may prefer rear-wheel traction on dry pavement, due to the balance and control it provides, rear-drive wheels often lose traction when rain or snow turns pavement glassy slick. The DSC controller can retain traction with strong control regardless of wet or dry road condition.

     Counterpoint to this high-tech hardware and the sporty demeanor of a car capable of aggressive maneuvers, the refined passenger compartment provides comfortable seats and conveniences like power controls for windows, door locks and exterior mirrors. The instrument panel with analog gauges emulates the 5-Series sedans, and standards range from an automatic climate system to cruise control and a stereo kit with cassette deck and ten speakers. Options extend from premium and sport packages to Xenon headlamps, a power moonroof, in-dash CD deck and Harmon Kardon audio.

     The 323i price chart starts at $29,770 and includes the delivery fee, with an automatic transmission available for $1,275 and sport/premium packages set at $1,700/$2,900.