KUALA LUMPUR: Introduced in 2018, the seventh-generation BMW 3 Series has just received its second mid-life update in the global market. The upgrades include minor styling tweaks and some technology and mechanical enhancements, let’s know them all in detail.

Exterior

The new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring models continue to feature the same exterior design with a few changes that are worth mentioning. These include -  

• An upgraded colour palette, including two solid and seven metallic paint finishes. The newly added hues are Arctic Race Blue metallic and Fire Red metallic.
• Two new wheel options - 19-inch light-alloy wheels in a Y-spoke design with a bi-colour finish and 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design

Interior

The cockpit of the new BMW 3 Series models benefits from new sports leather steering wheels for a better driving experience. There is a two-spoke sports leather steering wheel with a polygonal rim design as standard. However, with the M Sport package, customers get a new three-spoke M leather steering wheel with a flat-bottomed rim and illuminated multifunction buttons.

The revamped 3 Series also gets new interior trim elements and the optional instrument panel Luxury in Sensatec featuring contrasting colour decorative stitching. The black cloth seat surfaces of the car can now be replaced with sports seats in Sensatec perforated, which are available in several colours (Black, Tacora Red, or Cognac). Customers can also opt for Vernasca leather available in four hues.

In terms of upgraded tech, the 2025 BMW 3 Series features the latest-generation BMW iDrive with QuickSelect based on the new BMW Operating System 8.5. The new system offers optimised operation of the ventilation and climate control functions. The steering wheel heating can now be adjusted on the BMW Curved Display or BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Also part of the upgrade is a 5G SIM for internet connectivity and augmented-reality views for satellite navigation. 

The extensive standard equipment kit of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and BMW 3 SeriesTouring now includes -

• M High-gloss Shadow Line
• Rear-view mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function
• Parking Assistant including Park Distance Control 
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• BMW Live Cockpit Plus with the fully digital BMW Curved Display
• BMW Maps navigation system

Over and above these, the Touring version also comes with an Automatic tailgate operation and a 40: 20: 40 split/folding rear seat backrest as standard. These features are optional for the sedan. The latter comes with an electrically operated glass roof while the Touring model features a panoramic glass sunroof.

Drivetrain 

On the mechanical front, BMW has upgraded the plug-in hybrid drivetrain that powers the 330e trim. The latest mill comes with a bigger 19.5 kWh battery replacing the 12 kWh unit, as a result, the all-electric range has been increased from 54-62 km to 85-101 km. Also, the battery pack now supports three-phase 11kW charging (previously limited to 1-phase 3.7 kW). This has reduced the charging time from 2 hours and 36 minutes to 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The 330e drivetrain continues to feature the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder and an electric motor, generating 292 PS of maximum and 420 Nm of peak torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed Steptronic automatic.

The other continuing drivetrain options for the BMW 3 Series Sedan and BMW 3 Series Touring include - 

• 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol with 184 PS and 300 Nm
• 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol with 245 PS and 400 Nm
• 2.0-litre inline-four turbodiesel with 150 PS and 320 Nm
• 2.0-litre inline-four turbodiesel with 190 PS and 400 Nm
• 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol with 374 PS and 500 Nm
• 3.0-litre inline-six turbo diesel with 286 PS and 650 Nm
• 3.0-litre inline-six turbo diesel 48V unit with 340 PS and 700 Nm

Chassis

BMW has also made a few adjustments to the chassis of the vehicle. It now features stiffer mounts which connect the rear dampers to the body and offer improved refinement. The available suspension options include - the M Sport suspension and the adaptive M suspension.

Safety 

The list of advanced driver-assistance systems remains the same as earlier with a new 'intelligent speed assistance' system, which is also likely to integrate overspeed alerts for the traffic sign recognition system.

That’s all about the all-new BMW 3 Series. In Malaysia, the pre-facelift model is offered in sedan body style only. It comes in six variants - 320i M Sport, 330e M Sport, 330i M Sport, 330Li M Sport, M340i xDrive, and M340i xDrive M Sport Pro. The price begins at 266,800 and goes all the way up to 379,800.

Also read: Malaysia Autoshow 2024: BMW 5 Series gets two new additions: i5 M60 x Drive and 520i