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Bringing in nearly 40% of the company's auto sales, BMW’s 3-Series is the companies most successful product in history. The 5th incarnation of this "legendary series" manifested itself in the 2005 unveiling of the 3 series E90 model. The model is available in the following versions: sedan (E90), wagon (E91), coupe (E92), and coupe cabriolet (E93). Although the name of the model doesn’t give any hints, E90 is a beautiful and elegant sedan which continues to set the standards for all future sedan models, whatever the brand.

Its predecessor the E46 model has been built from 1998 to 2005. The current model has been criticized though, because Chris Bangle the designer of the car has took a new approach over the BMW’s brands design language. The BMW fans, car owners, potential customers thought of this as “blasphemy”, because being a luxury brand in traditional thinking the brand has to stick with its heritage and not compromise it.

The current model has received a facelift in 2008, that included the changes of the front and rear bumper, the side mirrors, the headlamps and the tail lamps which return to the classic BMW L-shape as well as hood and trunk lid were changed.

For the 2010 model year 3 series, BMW offers a range of 3 engines, two petrol and one diesel. On the petrol range you will find the 3.0 liter straight six (mounted on the 328i) and the 3.0 liter twin turbo straight six (found on the 335i). The diesel offered is the 3.0 liter inline six (found on the 335d). For the 3 series sedan you can chose any of the engines mentioned before, the sport wagon can be bought only in the 328i trim, the coupe and the convertible in 328i and 335i. Also you can opt for a all wheel drive model with BMW’s xDrive, not available for the convertible and the 335d diesel variant.

The transmission options are either the six speed manual or the six speed Steptronic automatic with paddle shifters. The 300 horsepower of the 335i enables the car to get to sixty miles per hour from standstill in just 5.4 seconds, if you chose the automatic transmission. The fuel economy is quite good 17 miles per gallon in the city drive, 26 miles per gallon on highway cruising and 20 miles per gallon combined. The most fuel efficient is, as you guessed, the 335d that returns 23 miles per gallon city, 36 miles per gallon highway and 27 miles per gallon combined.

For the entry level model the 328i, the standard equipment includes premium leatherette vinyl upholstery, 10-speaker CD stereo with HD radio and an auxiliary input jack, the 335i model gets extra xenon headlights and power front seats with memory. If you want some more features you can chose from four packages. The M Package will get you some nice 18” M alloy wheels, sport seats, shadowline exterior trim, a firmer suspension and increased top speed, all for an extra $3.750. The Sport Package ($1.350 extra) gets you sport seats, shadowline exterior trim, 17” wheels and sport steering wheel. The Cold Weather Package features heated front seats and fold down rear seats, for 1.00 bucks. And last but not lest the Premium Package that will add digital compass mirror, lumbar support, Auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, Universal garage-door opener and BMW Assist with Bluetooth System, for 2.650 dollars.

As for the safety, the 2010 BMW 3 Series preformed well in government crash testing, but got below the five star rating, receiving only four star at frontal impact and five star at side impact. The IIHS hasn’t tested yet the 2010 BMW 3 Series, but you should know that the 2009 model has received "Top Safety Pick" award.