2006 BMW 3-Series Road Test

The price of the 330i's Sport package has increased from $2,300 in 2005 model year vehicles to $2,800 in 2006, and also

The Dakota premium leather upgrade will cost $2,400, the same price as the 2005 car's Montana leather package. (Photo: BMW Canada)

features the new run-flat tires.

Other stand-alone options don't rise in price however, and in the case of the new 6-speed automatic transmission's extra forward gear, offer major improvements in design and engineering. That transmission stays at $1,400, while the Dakota premium leather upgrade will cost $2,400, the same price as the 2005 car's Montana leather package. Park distance control is once again $450, while burl walnut or aluminum interior trim is also unchanged, at $585, although the outgoing model features dark myrtle wood trim. Metallic paint remains an $800 option.

New for 2006 will be adaptive headlights, which point a set of bulbs in the direction the car is turning, for $490, and active steering, a $1,500 feature that essentially adapts the steering ratio to vehicle speed, but its electric-motor-assisted, planetary-gear-motivated rack-and-pinion system is much more sophisticated than conventional speed sensitive steering counterparts, common to luxury cars of all stripes. Steering response to input is much quicker than any other car, at

New for 2006 will be adaptive headlights, which point a set of bulbs in the direction the car is turning, for $490. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

about 1.7 turns lock to lock, making maneuvering into, around and out of tight spaces such as parking lots incredibly easy. To put this in perspective, most cars need about twice that amount to turn the wheel from full left to full right, or about 3.5 turns lock to lock. The reason for this is so steering input isn't too direct at high speeds. At 1.7 turns a car traveling at highway speeds would simply dart off the road with minimal input, not a good thing. Active Steering, however, electronically and mechanically adjusts the ratio to about 4 turns lock to lock when velocities demand.