Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 BMW 3 series

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2021 BMW 3 series 4-door sedan
2019 BMW 3 series shown

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Optional system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior
Optional system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 BMW 330i 4-door

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Driver-side small 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
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1907
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 14
Left toepan (cm) 15
Brake pedal (cm) 14
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 3
Lower instrument panel (cm) 3

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1907
Head
HIC-15 198
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.50
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.2
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 112
Right 94

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 BMW 330i 4-door

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1913
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 20
Right toepan (cm) 21
Center toepan (cm) 11
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 2
Right lower dash (cm) 3

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1913
Head
HIC-15 211
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 22
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.26
Right 0.48
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 3.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 66
Right 117

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1913
Head
HIC-15 93
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.14
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.27
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 41
Right 38

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 BMW 330i xDrive 4-door 4wd

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2019 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 VTF1911
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 1
Center (cm) 1
Right (cm) 0
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -4
Rearward (cm) -8
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1911
Head
HIC-15 147
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.9
Femur force - right (kN) 1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.36
Maximum tibia index - right 0.34
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 50
Right 64

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 BMW 330i 4-door

The BMW 3 series sedan was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by BMW.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
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 VTS1913
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -17.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1913
Head HIC-15 275
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 27
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 33
Average deflection (mm) 28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.29
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.38
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.4
Combined force (kN) 1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 81
A-P moment (Nm) 44

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1913
Head HIC-15 186
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 19
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 23
Average deflection (mm) 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.34
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.25
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 3.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 41
A-P moment (Nm) 39

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2019-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2019 BMW 330i 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,541 lbs
Peak force20,287 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.73

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 23
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.3
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 311

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)

  • 330i trim equipped with Executive package
  • 330i xDrive trim equipped with Executive package
  • M340i trim equipped with Executive package
  • M340i xDrive trim equipped with Executive package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 330i trim equipped with Executive package
  • 330i xDrive trim equipped with Executive package
  • M340i trim equipped with Executive package
  • M340i xDrive trim equipped with Executive package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 90.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 55.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 87.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 69.3 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 54.0 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 172.8 m
Straightaway left edge 161.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 95.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 81.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 72.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 66.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • 330i trim equipped with Convenience package
  • 330i xDrive trim equipped with Convenience package
  • M340i trim
  • M340i xDrive trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

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

The low beams created some glare.

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 good in all 4 tests.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 330i trim equipped with Convenience package
  • 330i xDrive trim equipped with Convenience package
  • M340i trim
  • M340i xDrive trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 91.9 m 20.4%
Straightaway left edge 56.3 m 20.4%
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 56.9 m 36.7%
150m radius right curve, right edge 78.5 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 59.9 m 36.9%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 135.8 m
Straightaway left edge 114.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 90.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 77.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 81.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 65.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • 330i trim
  • 330i xDrive trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 330i trim
  • 330i xDrive trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 76.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 43.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 51.2 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 43.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.8 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 44.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 119.5 m
Straightaway left edge 89.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 54.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

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

System details

  • Standard Active Guard

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-23 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Optional Active Driving Assistant Professional

Package name

  • Optional Active Driving Assistant Professional Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-23 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Optional Active Driving Assistant

Package name

  • Optional Driving Assistance

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-23 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

Ratings are given for 2 different systems available on this vehicle.

System details

  • standard Active Guard

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-23 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

System details

  • optional Active Driving Assistant Professional

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2019-23 models of the following trim lines: 330i trim equipped with Driving Assistance Professional package, 330 xDrive trim equipped with Driving Assistance Professional package

Advanced
Advanced
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 1 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph. A warning was issued 1.3 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2019-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim330i
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 trim330i
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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		 Yes
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 Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation