2017 BMW 3 series

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Advanced
Optional system	Basic

LATCH ease of use

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-18 models built after November 2016

Tested vehicle: 2017 BMW 330i 4-door

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2012 model year. For the 2016 model year, a front suspension change was made to better control wheel movement during small overlap frontal crashes. The change, however, wasn't enough to improve the car's performance in the small overlap test.

Beginning with 2017 models built after November 2016, BMW made further changes to the suspension and modified the adjoining structure. Wheel movement was much better controlled and the car's performance in the small overlap test was greatly improved. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Forces on the right lower leg were just high enough to indicate a moderate risk of injury.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID	CEN1639
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	16
Left toepan (cm)	11
Brake pedal (cm)	12
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	3
Upper dash (cm)	3
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Driver injury measures

Test ID	CEN1639
Head
HIC-15	549
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm)	22
Maximum Nij	0.42
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	3.4
Right	3.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	4
Right	4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	1
Right	1
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.65
Right	0.82
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.4
Right	4.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	140
Right	68

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 BMW 328i 4-door

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID	VTF1118
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	4
Left (cm)	4
Center (cm)	3
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	0
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Driver injury measures

Test ID	VTF1118
Head
HIC-15	132
Peak gs at hard contact	15
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	8
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.4
Femur force - right (kN)	1.7
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	2
Maximum tibia index - left	0.38
Maximum tibia index - right	0.30
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	3.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	60
Right	61

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 BMW 335i 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2012 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Driver injury measures
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID	VTS1120
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-16.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID	VTS1120
Head HIC-15	323
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Compression (kN)	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	41
Lateral force (kN)	1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	40
Average deflection (mm)	36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.37
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.72
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	2.8
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.7
Combined force (kN)	4.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.3
L-M moment (Nm)	157
A-P moment (Nm)	64

Passenger injury measures

Test ID	VTS1120
Head HIC-15	125
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.4
Compression (kN)	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	14
Lateral force (kN)	0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	21
Average deflection (mm)	17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	1.69
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.18
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.2
Acetabulum force (kN)	0.6
Combined force (kN)	1.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	128
A-P moment (Nm)	44

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2012-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2012 BMW 335i 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,516 lbs
Peak force	17,527 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	4.98

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Geometry
Seat type	Power leather seats
Backset (mm)	44
Distance below top of head (mm)	23
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	11.9
Head contact time (ms)	68
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	51
Max neck tension (N)	631

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

328d trim equipped with Lighting package
328xd trim equipped with Lighting package
330i trim equipped with Lighting package
330xi trim equipped with Lighting package
340i trim equipped with Lighting package
340xi trim equipped with Lighting package
330xi trim equipped with Lighting package
340xi trim equipped with Lighting package

Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the sharp right curve.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)	328d trim equipped with Lighting package 328xd trim equipped with Lighting package 330i trim equipped with Lighting package 330xi trim equipped with Lighting package 340i trim equipped with Lighting package 340xi trim equipped with Lighting package 330xi trim equipped with Lighting package 340xi trim equipped with Lighting package
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	78.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	35.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	75.2 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	36.6 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	60.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	37.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	175.7 m
Straightaway left edge	151.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	88.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	77.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	64.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	60.5 m

Trim level(s)

320i trim equipped with Lighting package
320xi trim equipped with Lighting package
330i trim equipped with Premium package
330xi trim equipped with Premium package
328xd trim equipped with Premium package
330xi GT trim
340xi GT trim
328d trim equipped with Premium package
340i trim
340xi trim

Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)	320i trim equipped with Lighting package 320xi trim equipped with Lighting package 330i trim equipped with Premium package 330xi trim equipped with Premium package 328xd trim equipped with Premium package 330xi GT trim 340xi GT trim 328d trim equipped with Premium package 340i trim 340xi trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED reflector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	73.0 m	None
Straightaway left edge	21.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	46.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	32.0 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	31.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	28.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	141.7 m
Straightaway left edge	90.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	55.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	50.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	43.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	43.2 m

Trim level(s)

320i trim
320xi trim
330i trim
330xi trim
328d trim
328xd trim
330xd trim

Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)	320i trim 320xi trim 330i trim 330xi trim 328d trim 328xd trim 330xd trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	53.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	28.1 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	39.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	29.1 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	31.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	29.1 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	145.2 m
Straightaway left edge	122.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	55.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	54.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	42.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	42.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation

Package name

Optional Driver Assistance Plus

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017 models

Advanced

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 7 mph.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 6 mph.

System details

Optional Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation

Package name

Optional Active Cruise Control

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 models

Basic

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-18 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	328xi
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	328xi
Seat type	leather

G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	15
Clearance angle (degrees)	0
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	0
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	18
Clearance angle (degrees)	0
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	17
Clearance angle (degrees)	0
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Rating applies to 2016-18 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	328i
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	328i
Seat type	leather

G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	too much force needed to attach
	difficult to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	could not measure
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	could not measure
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	could not measure
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	could not measure
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation

2017 BMW 3 series

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Seat belts & child restraints

Other available safety features

Small overlap front: driver-side

Moderate overlap front: original test

Side: original test

Roof strength

Head restraints & seats

Headlights

Trim level(s)

Trim level(s)

Trim level(s)

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Package name

Overall evaluation

System details

Package name

Overall evaluation

Child seat anchors