By Andre Lam

BMW apparently made more than 2,000 changes to its 3-series to give it a mid- life facelift. But you will never know just by looking at it.

The car has a restyled front bumper, reconfigured headlamps, larger grilles and a new bonnet. The last cosmetic change is probably the most significant - by adding two contour lines down the middle, BMW has made the 3-series appropriately aggressive.

Changes at the rear are restricted to the plastic parts, such as the bumper, tail lamps and lower trunk lid.

Look closer and you might notice the car looks more planted and this is because the rear track is 24mm wider. The front track is extended by a barely noticeable 6mm. These changes to the suspension are to enhance stability and comfort.

On the inside, the major revisions are found on the iDrive and its accompanying multimedia LCD display. Like in the newly launched 7-series, controls are made less cumbersome.

The 335i test car has a direct-injection engine, like the pre-facelift version. All other engine variants are direct-injected too.

This means they will have lower carbon dioxide emissions and better fuel consumption, yet deliver improved power and performance.

Unfortunately, the much anticipated seven- speed double-clutch transmission will be available only in the 3-series coupe and convertible for the time being.

The sportiest of the mainstream 3-series, the 335i is clearly in a class of its own. Its twin-turbo 3-litre magnesium composite alloy six-cylinder engine is simply brilliant. The 306bhp power plant, mated to an excellent ZF six-speed autobox, delivers tremendous performance at any speed all the way to its capped top speed of 250kmh.

It turns in a very respectable 5.6-second 0-100kmh sprint, but it is the kickdown performance that really impresses.
Overtaking in this car is stunning, thanks to its ability to deploy 400Nm of torque effectively and instantaneously to the rear wheels.

It is the kind of acceleration you usually associate with an exotic sports car - not an unassuming saloon.
The 335i handles more sharply than its more ordinary siblings. It seems to have loads of front- end grip to help steer it accurately on narrow, meandering roads.

The firm suspension also helps, demonstrating excellent iron-fisted control of body movements. It is not an active suspension though and can feel quite busy at high speeds on less-than-perfect surfaces.

But in everyday situations, owners will simply be enthralled by the car's remarkable agility - even if they cannot account for even half of the 2,000 changes.

This article was first published in the Straits Times on Oct 25, 2008.

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