Review: BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo (2013-16)

Overview

Released in September 2013, the BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was a mid-size liftback. Manufactured in Dingolfing, Germany, the rear-wheel drive 3-Series Gran Turismo range initially consisted of the 320d, 320i and 328i models with an eight-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard (see table below).

All BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo models featured BMW’s ‘Auto Start-Stop’ and ‘Brake Energy Regeneration’ functions as standard, while a ‘Driving Experience Control’ switch enabled the driver to select from Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes. Furthermore, ‘optimised aerodynamics’ measures included Air Curtains which reduced turbulence around the front wheels, Air Breathers which diverted airflow into the wheel archers and an active rear spoiler.

BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo specifications
	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
320d	2.0-litre NB47 D20 turbo-diesel I4	8sp auto	135 kW at 4000 rpm	380 Nm at 1750-2750 rpm
320i	2.0-litre N20 B20 turbo petrol I4	8sp auto	135 kW at 5000 rpm	270 Nm at 1250-4500 rpm
328i	2.0-litre N20 B20 turbo petrol I4	8sp auto	180 kW at 5000 rpm	350 Nm at 1250-4800 rpm

Dimensions and body

Compared to the related BMW F31 3-Series Touring , the F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was 200 mm longer (at 4824 mm), 17 mm wider (1828 mm), 79 mm taller (1508 mm) and had a 110 mm longer wheelbase (2920 mm). Inside, seating positions were raised by 59 mm for improved visibility and easier ingress and egress; rear passenger legroom was also extended by 70 mm. Boot capacity for the 3-Series Gran Turismo was 520 litres, though cargo capacity increased to 1600 litres when the 40/20/40 split and folding rear seats were folded flat.

Suspension and steering

The BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo had a double-joint front axle with spring struts and five-link independent rear suspension. As at April 2014, the F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was fitted with BMW’s ‘Adaptive M suspension’ – as standard – which lowered the vehicle’s chassis by 10 mm and included electronically-controlled dampers that automatically adjusted to the driving situation in response to sensor inputs from the shock absorbers.

The BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the BMW F34 3-Series Gran Turismo included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was also fitted with BMW’s ‘Active Protection’ system which operated automatically at speeds above 18 km/h. If an accident was anticipated, Active Protection would prepare safety systems for a collision by retracting the front seatbelts and closing the side windows and sunroof (where fitted). After the collision, the brakes would be applied for 1.5 seconds to reduce the likelihood of a second collision.

In February 2015, standard safety equipment for the F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was extended to include:

BMW’s ‘Driving Assistant’:
- Approach Control Warning: if the driver was rapidly approaching an obstacle ahead, the driver would receive a visual warning in the instrument cluster, followed by a warning tone. If the driver failed to respond, the brakes would be applied automatically with deceleration of up to 3 m/s²;
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW): operating at speeds above 70 km/h, a camera could scan the road up to 50 metres ahead and detect lane markings. If the driver unintentionally deviated from their lane, the driver would be alerted via steering wheel vibrations and a visual warning in the instrument cluster;
- Pedestrian Warning with Light Braking Function: used a camera to scan the road ahead when the vehicle was travelling at speeds between 10 km/h and 60 km/h. if a potential collision with a pedestrian was identified, the driver would receive a visual warning in the instrument cluster and an alert tone; simultaneously, the braking system would be primed for maximum response. If the driver failed to respond, medium-force braking would be automatically initiated – this would reduce the risk of collision and prompt the driver to react. Once the driver applied the brake pedal, maximum braking force would be applied; and,
Lane Change Warning: used two radar sensors in the rear of the vehicle to monitor traffic in adjacent lanes with a range of up to 60 metres behind the vehicle. The Lane Change Warning would warn the driver of potentially dangerous situations by conveying warnings through the instrument panel, an LED icon on the door mirror and steering wheel vibrations.

As part of the February 2015 update, BMW’s ConnectedDrive Services and Apps were also introduced – these included

BMW TeleServices: enabled service-related vehicle data to be automatically transmitted to the driver’s preferred service dealer and for vehicle diagnostics to be transmitted to the Roadside Assistance Centre for immediate assessment over the phone; and,
BMW Intelligent Emergency Call: automatically transmitted vehicle accident information and called the BMW ConnectedDrive Call Centre for assistance; emergency services would then be informed by the call centre if required.

Features: BMW F34 320d, 320i and 328i Gran Turismo

Standard features for the BMW F34 320d and 320i Gran Turismo included 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/50 R18 run-flat tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod), BMW’s ‘Business’ navigation system with a 6.5-inch display, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, Dakota leather upholstery, power adjustable front seats (with driver’s seat memory stetings), cruise control, front and rear fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, 40:20:40 split and flat folding rear seats, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, remote central locking, push-button start, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, power-operated rear hatch, driver memory settings (seat), an electrochromatic rear view mirror, a 12 volt power outlet, ambient lighting, trip computer and an immobiliser.

Beyond this, the BMW F34 328i Gran Turismo was distinguished by its 19-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 R19 run-flat tyres, a nine speaker HiFi sound system with a 205 watt amplifier, a 20GB hard drive for music, BMW’s ‘Professional’ navigation system with an 8.8-inch display, 3D maps, bird’s eye view and a DVD drive, extended Smartphone connectivity (including voice control, Bluetooth audio streaming and pairing of multiple devices), internet functionality, power adjustable front seat lumbar support, high-resolution instrument cluster display and electrochromatic door mirrors.

February 2015 update

In February 2015, leather upholstery was omitted from the 320i and 320d, though standard features were otherwise extended to include bi-xenon headlights, front parking sensors (rear parking sensors already fitted as standard), a rear view camera, surround view provided a bird’s eye perspective of the vehicle and a speed limiter. Furthermore, the 320i and 320d were fitted with the Sport or Luxury Lines as standard (previously limited to the 328i). As part of the update, new alloy wheel designs were introduced for the 320i Gran Turismo.

Modern Line, Luxury Line and Sport Line

In addition to the features above, the F34 3-Series Gran Turismo was initially offered in either Modern Line or Luxury Line styling packages. Of these,

The Modern Line package could be identified by its turbine-style alloy wheels, matt chrome kidney grille, high-gloss black B-pillar, aluminium window recess cover and matt chrome exhaust tailpipe. Inside, there were chrome pearl grey surrounds for the air conditioning and radio controls, pearl with pearl gloss interior trim and ‘BMW Modern’ aluminium door sill finishers; and,
The Luxury Line package could be identified by its multi-spoke 18-inch or W-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels, chrome kidney grille, high-gloss black B-pillar, chrome window recess cover and chrome exhaust tailpipe. Inside, the Luxury Line featured Saddle brown leather upholstery with exclusive stitching, fine-wood Fineline Anthracite with Pearl Gloss chrome accents, chrome pearl grey surrounds for the air conditioning and radio controls, and ‘BMW Luxury’ aluminium door sill finishers.

Available from February 2015, the Sport Line package consisted of high-gloss black exterior features, including black kidney grille slats (with chrome kidney grille surround), high-gloss black B-pillar and window guide. Inside, there were contrasting black and red interior accents, red trim rings, red scales in the circular dials, red stitching on the steering wheel, a high-gloss black trim strip and sports seats.

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