The 2023 BMW 3 Series facelift has now finally made its way into Malaysia, and will be offered in three variants at launch – the 320i, 330i, and 330e plug-in hybrid. As this is a LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) update, there are of course several design changes to mark it out as the shiny new one – but the 2023 model is more than just a “facelift”, as you’d find out below!
On the outside, the most obvious design change can be found in front. The iconic kidney grille has been given a slight redesign (thankfully not in the style of the M3/M4!), and flanking it are the reworked headlights with a new sleeker shape. The daytime-running lights are also new, where the twin inverted L-shaped signature is supposed to emphasise the width of the car.
All three variants of the new BMW 3 Series here in Malaysia will come with the M Sport kit as standard, which means they’ll all get the sportier-looking bumpers, with a large hexagonal lower air intake in front, and a gloss-black diffuser element at the rear.
The 18-inch Style 848 M wheels, first introduced on the existing BMW 330Li, are also standard across the board, as opposed to the per-variant designs previously.
The BMW 330e M Sport and 330i M Sport variants stand out even further with the addition of the M Sport brakes with blue-coloured calipers, which the 320i M Sport lacks.
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Inside, the main highlight of the new 2023 3 Series facelift is the BMW Curved Display, available on all three variants, which combines the the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display under a single curved pane of glass, perched up on the dashboard.
The new system not only completely revitalises the cabin’s design, it also pushes the 3 Series one step closer to being a “software-defined” car, as it’ll be able to change a large portion of the car’s functionality just through the iDrive 8.0’s over-the-air (OTA) software update.
In order to fit the new screens, a few adjustments had to be made on the dashboard. The trim piece on the passenger-side is now larger, and the central air vents – with all of the air-con controls now moved into the screen itself – is also slimmer than before.
Below that, the bank of shortcut buttons for the infotainment system have also been jettisoned, replaced by the windscreen defroster and hazard lights buttons, alongside some simple entertainment controls.
The traditional gear lever has also been replaced by a small paddle-style lever for a more modern and minimalist appearance, but aside from that, the rest of the centre console remains identical to the outgoing cars.
Customers can opt between Black and Mocha Vernasca leathers for the interior in the new BMW 330i M Sport and 330e M Sport variants, but the 320i will come exclusively with a black interior. All three variants get an Anthracite-coloured headliner.
While the exterior design and interior amenities have seen quite drastic changes, the powertrain underneath each variant have remained unchanged. The 320i M Sport and 330i M Sport are both powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, making 184 hp and 300 Nm on the former, and 258 hp and 400 Nm on the latter.
The 330e M Sport meanwhile gets an additional electric motor within the gearbox, boosting the total system outputs to 292 hp and 420 Nm. The engines in all three variants are paired to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission as standard.
The new 2023 BMW 330e M Sport is the only variant that gets the Adaptive M Suspension; the other two variants are equipped with the passive M Suspension.
The refreshed BMW 3 Series line-up now starts at RM263,600 for the 320i M Sport (without the extended warranty and service package), moving all the way up to RM297,600 (RM317,800 with extended warranty and service package) for the 330i M Sport.
For more information on the new 2023 BMW 3 Series here in Malaysia, check out our detailed launch coverage for all three variants here:
