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BMW 3 Series range gets major revamp
In essence, the BMW 3 Series remains the brand’s best-selling product and one of our favourites at the TGSA offices, from the M340i to the brutal M3 Competition…
The BMW 3 Series codenamed G20 has been dominating the compact executive segment for roughly three years and already, the German firm is facelifting the entire 3 Series range, excluding the M3 Competition, for now.
Clearly defined
The changes on the outside are clearly visible, thanks to larger air intakes, front apron, redesigned headlights and kidney grille. As standard, the 3 Series features full-LED headlights that are now much slimmer with clear contour and daytime running lights arranged in an inverted L shape.
The refreshed BMW 3 Series can be fitted with adaptive LED headlights at an added charge.
At the rear, the 3 Series spawns slim rear light clusters and flared rear wheel arches as well as tailpipe finishers that now measure 90 or 100 mm depending on the powertrain specified. The reworked BMW 3 Series can be had as standard with the M High-gloss Shadowline trim which now includes 17” light-alloy wheels.
Buyers who wish to add more visual appeal to the new 3 Series can do so with the M Sport package which adds a honeycomb pattern for the kidney grille, a new design for the front and rear aprons and new M light-alloy wheels in 18” format with mixed-size tyres.
The BMW M340i variants also benefit from the update in the form of a kidney grille in mesh design and 18” M light-alloy wheels or an optional 19”. They further feature trapezoidal tailpipe trims for the exhaust system and M exterior mirror caps in Black high-gloss.
BMW has added the M Sport package Pro to the options list as an extension of the aforementioned M Sport package and BMW Performance models. The new package adds extended M High-gloss Shadowline trim, M lights Shadowline and an M Sport braking system with red callipers.
In terms of exterior shades, the colour palette has been expanded to include Skyscraper Grey metallic and M Brooklyn Grey metallic as part of the M Sport package. BMW has also added BMW Individual Frozen Pure Grey metallic and Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic special paint finishes.
Inside job
Inside, the refreshed BMW 3 Series has received a comprehensive nip and tuck, thanks to the standard-fit BMW Curved Display as well as digitising the entire cabin by reducing the number of buttons and controls. It boasts a 12.3” instrument cluster and a control display that measures 14.9” with the latest BMW Operating System 8 for the iDrive, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The gear lever also boasts a new design.
An automatic climate control system with three-zone adjustment is fitted as standard as well as an automatically dimming rear-view mirror, extended storage package, Park Distance Control and BMW Live Cockpit Plus including the BMW Maps navigation system.
The 3 Series lineup includes a sole diesel and four petrol variants with four or six cylinders with power outputs that start from 110 kW and 285 kW. They all benefit from the brand’s 48-volt mild-hybrid technology for better efficiency.
All the engines link up with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission as standard while buyers can have the Steptronic Sport transmission with the same number of gears and a launch control function as an option. The M340i gets an all-wheel-drive system as standard.
There’s still no word on local pricing but BMW SA says that the refreshed 3 Series is earmarked to go on sale towards the end of the third quarter of the year. The refreshed M3 Competition should follow suit in the coming months after that.
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