DRIVEN: BMW 330is Edition

When BMW announced the 330is Edition I was honestly a bit hurt. Fair enough it’s a tribute to the legendary E30 325is but shares very little to nothing with the classic two door coupe. What BMW did was slap on a cool looking body kit, big wheels, some 330is badging, and an exhaust and said; Here’s a tribute to the E30 325is South Africa. Whilst those that are not so clued up wouldn’t understand what the fuss is about when journalists talk about the non existent resemblance these two cars share. Though im not for the concept, one has to admit that the G20 is a very well put together vehicle.

I love the styling of the the 330is. BMW has added some styling bits to make the already good looking 330i look even better. They’ve added a M Aerodynamic kit, a set of 20-inch M Performance wheels and lowered it by 10mm to give it that overall sport look. It’s a head turner and you’re bound to get on-lookers anxious to see the rear badge to find out what it really is.

BMW says that it has a one of a kind interior – not really, it’s typical BMW which is solid. What’s different inside compared to your normal 3 Series is 330is insignia on the door sills and 330is insignia on the dash near the glove box. As standard you get M seat belts, an M leather steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, anthracite roof lining, a glass sliding sunroof and a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system. As standard you also get Gesture Control, Park Assist and Live Cockpit Professional. It’s a beautiful solid interior where everything is placed where it needs to be.

In terms of performance, the 330is is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged 4 cylinder you find in the 330i. Power is rated at 190kW and 400Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic. The 330is Edition is good for a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in just 5.8 seconds. BMW has added a sportier exhaust which doesn’t come close to the classic E30 325is but rather offers a bassier tone to the standard 330i.

The 3 Series in general is a very engaging and fun car to drive and the 330is Edition is no exception. Find yourself a good road and it’s nothing but fun. When you’re on on the highway, just engage comfort and its at home cruising along at 120 km/h and soaking up most bumps on the road thanks to its Adaptive Suspension.

The BMW 3 Series is a car that keeps getting better and better. The G20 does an exceptional job in terms of comfort, driving fun and technology. The 330is Edition is priced at R899 000 and it’s well worth the money considering what a well rounded package it is.