Car for hire: BMW 3 Series

Elegant car for hire: BMW 3 Series

« The basis for every day: a long wheelbase, elongated bonnet and wide double kidney. With the roof closed, the curved, coupé-style roof lines never fail to impress. With the roof open it is the flat rear and short windblock that impart the unique feeling of sitting directly under an open sky.

« You can recognise a BMW with eyes closed. It is enough to run your hand over its surfaces, to feel its unmistakable quality. The precise workmanship of the upholstery, the firm grip of the steering wheel, the high-quality chrome trim. Open your eyes, and the BMW 3 Series Sedan confirms your first impressions. Taking your seat is so easy. Leaving it, however, never is.

Lighter, faster, more powerful, more efficient: no other element of an automobile defines its character as much as its engine. The all-new straight six-cylinder petrol engine, constructed from a combination of magnesium and aluminium, sets new standards for dynamic engineering. The TwinPower Turbo engine runs with a sophisticated smoothness that belies its massive power output. The powerplant in the BMW 335i with Twin Scroll turbocharger, Valvetronic and direct petrol injection releases up to 225 kW (306 hp) on command, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds.

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Increase driving pleasure in your BMW 3 Series Convertible with the seven-speed Sport automatic transmission with double clutch. This transmission changes gears with lightning speed and without any power gap. The double-clutch switches between the two separate drivetrains, one for the even gears second, fourth and sixth and one for the odd gears first, third, fifth, seventh. This means that if you accelerate the BMW 3 Series Convertible in third gear for example, the fourth gear is already engaged. This produces extremely fast shift times with the resulting acceleration figures approaching sports car level. And because faster gear changes produce less friction loss, the Sport automatic transmission saves 0.2 litres of petrol every 100 kilometres. The gearshift paddles on the steering wheel mean that you can change gear in manual mode without ever having to take your hands from the wheel. When braking the engine speed is adjusted to the next gear while the rear wheels offer increased grip and optimal stability.

Every bend is different yet the level of enjoyment is always high with Active Steering. Precise and agile, Active Steering in the BMW 3 Series Convertible adapts the amount of steering angle to suit the driving situation. The lower the vehicle speed, the more precise the steering. Just two turns of the wheel are required from lock to lock. At higher speeds, the steering ratio is increased to guarantee flawless forward progress. The result is a more intense connection with the road and heightened pleasure behind the wheel. Active Steering ensures razor-sharp steering precision and effortless manoeuvring in and out of tight parking spaces. It also countersteers automatically if the BMW 3 Series Convertible threatens to skid when cornering or braking.

Standard power steering systems work with a hydraulic pump that constantly uses engine performance. The electromechanical power steering is only active when you need it: directly during steering manoeuvres. With this BMW EfficientDynamics technology, the steering is supported by an electric instead of a hydraulic motor. Whereas conventional hydraulic systems permanently require engine power and therefore fuel, the electromechanical power steering system only works the moment when the steering wheel is turned. If you are driving on a straight road and are holding the steering wheel steady at one angle when cornering, the electric motor is inactive and is not using up energy.

For greater safety and for greater driving pleasure: Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), an electronic chassis control system, is a standard feature on the BMW 3 Series Convertible. Dynamic Stability Control constantly monitors the behaviour of the chassis and wheels. When it detects the threat of traction loss, it reduces drive power and applies precisely-measured braking pressure to individual wheels. Skidding is prevented before it can start, as within milliseconds, the BMW 3 Series Convertible is stabilised. At the touch of a button, Dynamic Traction Control can also be activated for extra traction and more surefooted progress on difficult surfaces. The six-cylinder models of the BMW 3 Series Convertible offer four additional DSC functions: 1. Brake stand-by for reduced stopping distances in an emergency. 2. Brake drying for improved brake response in wet conditions. 3. Hill-start assistant for worry-free hill starts without rolling backwards. 4. Fading compensation for consistent braking even when the brakes have heated up.

When driving on loose gravel or snow, activating Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) increases traction by improving tolerance for wheel slip, thus enabling the BMW 3 Series Convertible to gain better traction. If the front wheels are stuck in snow and cannot spin properly, this leads to slip on the rear wheels and DSC acts to change engine output: the power needed for forward movement is reduced. Switching to DTC has a positive effect on this situation, as traction is improved without a loss of power. DTC allows you to drive at the limits without fear of exceeding them. It increases wheel slip on the drive wheels in order to ensure optimum traction on any surface. This allows the behaviour of the BMW 3 Series Convertible to be controlled entirely by the driver, with the DSC system taking a back seat. Drivers who appreciate a more sporting driving style can activate DTC to allow for controlled wheel skid, or "drift".

Tehnical characteristics - BMW 3 Series