2008 BMW 3-Series - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2008 BMW 3-Series? MSRP: $32,700 - $64,950

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The 2008 BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon is a variant of the popular 3-Series sedan. The Sports Wagon is about the same length as the sedan, while offering more cargo space and greater versatility. Though the wagon versions of some other models are taller, the 3-Series Sport Wagon is roughly the same height as the sedan.

Kelley Blue Book describes BMW’s new 3-Series range in glowing terms: a "long wheelbase coupled with short front and rear overhangs, plus a slight wedge shape, gives the compact 3 Series a dynamic flair that reflects common styling cues with the larger 5 Series and 7 Series, elements that are further reinforced by the signature twin-kidney grilles," which are also noted by Cars.com: "all body styles have a prominent twin-kidney grille." USA Today checks in with a rare insult for the 3-Series’s shape: “but way ugly nonetheless. It looks especially bad in white, better in silver and dark hues. Sad, because the previous 3 was so very nice-looking.” MyRide.com advises that one actually sneak a peek at the 2008 BMW 3-Series in person, as "the car looks much better in person than in photos," noting that "the only botched element is the front bumper, which contains character lines that continue the bulge in the hood all the way down to the lower air dam." From the rear, the 3-Series 2008 BMW "exhibits modern, tasteful, conventional design...blessedly free of the bustle-butt found on the 6 Series and 7 Series models," notes MyRide.com.
TheCarConnection.com finds most sources in agreement when it comes to what Car and Driver describes as the 2008 BMW 3-Series's "expensive-looking interior." Edmunds concurs, stating that the BMW 2008 "3 Series interiors provide a restrained show of luxury," while MyRide.com calls this 2008 BMW's interior "clean and business-like with large, metallic-trimmed gauges that are easy to read," adding that "(vinyl) upholstery is standard, with leather a stand-alone option or included in the Premium package."