2000 BMW 3-Series Review: Interior

Dashboard and door panels are rich in appearance, and appealing to the eye. Different trim packages offer a choice of Myrtle wood inserts or plastic that looks like polished aluminum. The instrument panel features orange backlighting. Overall, it's a big improvement over the last-generation 3 Series, which suffered from a Spartan interior with a dash cluttered by vents and glovebox latches. This new generation 3 Series addresses that complaint.

In design, the dashboard is a more open design that feels less like a cockpit. Still, most switches fall intuitively to the driver's fingertips. All 3 Series models feature power windows and locks with remote keyless entry. Like many European vehicles sold in markets that can't agree which side to locate the steering wheel, the 3 Series window controls are on the center console. A glance down is required to operate the windows. Having the controls on the doors would make them much easier to use. Automatic climate control and a microfilter ventilation system are standard. The radio buttons look a bit too similar to the automatic climate controls, demanding a glance down to change radio stations. Optional volume and station controls located on the steering wheel address this. Shallow cupholders in the center console seem like an afterthought. The 328i offers BMW's Park Distance Control; an electronic beep warns the driver of objects behind the car during parking maneuvers.