While we may have just welcomed the facelifted G20 BMW 3 Series in 2023, there is now another facelift of this current-generation 3 Series which has just been unveiled. Not much has changed on the outside, but it is a rather significant update. Let’s go over all of them.
First lets look at the exterior updates. It looks exactly the same as the pre-facelift version, albeit now with new colour options and new alloy wheel designs too. There are two new colour options, namely Arctic Race Blue metallic and Fire Red metallic. As for the wheels, there is the new 19-inch M double-spoke alloy wheels and the new 19-inch Y-spoke light alloy wheels.
Although its looks may have not changed by much, BMW has improved the chassis of the 3 Series, claiming that it now offers better balance between sporting potency and comfort. The Bavarian carmaker doesn’t want to share much (as to what changes have been made). What they did say was that the new 3 Series’s chassis has been adjusted in the following ways:
- Stiffer mounting to connect rear dampers to body
- Increased comfort across various driving situations
- Greater overall precision, composure and controllability
- Improved acoustics
- Reduced force required to turn steering in Comfort mode
The M Sport suspension is standard for the M Sport models, but optional for the standard 3 Series. Also available as an option is the Adaptive M Suspension.
Jump inside, and things are largely the same too… until you start to pay a little bit more attention. The most significant change is the new steering wheel, but there’s a lot more than just that. Here’s the full list of what has changed on this 3 Series facelift:
- New polygonal steering wheel with 2-spoke design as standard
- New M leather steering wheel (for M Sport models) with 3-spoke design, flat-bottomed rim, and discrete centre marking
- New interior trim (Dark Graphite matt as standard)
- Illuminated multifunction buttons (on steering wheel) and illuminated shift paddles
- New instrument cluster
- New BMW Operating System 8.5 (previously 8.0)
- New air conditioning vent adjustment control
- Reduced physical buttons
- Interior lighting now includes cascade lighting integrated into trim around central seam vents
As for the powertrain, only the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system has been given an update, and of course, we are referring to the 330e as the 320e PHEV has been dropped. The 330e in its outgoing form is available in Malaysia, and you can check that out here. The updates to the 330e include:
- Bigger 19.5 kWh battery (previously 12 kWh)
- Longer WLTP electric range of 85-101 km (previously 54-62 km)
- Now supports 3-phase 11kW charging (previously 1-phase 3.7 kW)
- 2h 15m charging time (previously 2h 36m) for 0-100%
The new, larger 19.5 kWh battery is part of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology which also has a higher energy density compared to the earlier battery in the 330e. This means that even with a higher capacity, its size and weight have not increased much and it doesn’t affect the storage in the new 3 Series (where the battery is located).
The 11 kW AC charging support for the BMW Gen5 High Voltage Battery is not just a milestone for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e, but also for BMW. This is the first time a PHEV model from BMW can support 3-phase 11-kW AC charging.
Besides the dropping of the 330i RWD and 320e powertrain, everything else remains the same for the facelift 3 Series’ engine options. There are 4 petrol options and 4 diesel options and all of them get the 8-speed automatic transmission as standard. Their power outputs also remain the same. You may refer the table below which lists models which have their corresponding outgoing versions available in Malaysia. (318i, certain xDrive models, and diesel models not listed).
As per the official technical sheet shared by BMW, the RWD 330i has been dropped, but the 330i xDrive remains. In Malaysia, the outgoing RWD 330i is still on sale.
| 320i | 330i xDrive | 330e (PHEV) | M340i xDrive | |
| Engine | inline-4 TwinPower Turbo | inline-4 TwinPower Turbo | inline-4 TwinPower Turbo | Inline-6 TwinPower Turbo |
| Engine capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,998 cc | 1,998 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Engine Max. Power | 184 hp | 245 Nm | 184 hp | 374 hp |
| Engine Max. Torque | 300 Nm | 400 Nm | 300 Nm | 500 Nm |
| Electric Motor Power | – | – | 109 hp | 11 hp |
| Electric Motor Torque | – | – | 265 Nm | NA |
| PHEV system power | – | – | 292 hp | – |
| PHEV system torque | – | – | 420 Nm | – |
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 s | 5.7 s | 5.9 s | 4.4 s |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h | 250 km/h | 230 km/h | 250 km/h |
Just unveiled to the world, the new BMW 3 Series facelift will be making its market launch in July 2024 in markets like Germany, USA, and China. The 3 Series will be made in Germany, Mexico, and China. In Malaysia, the outgoing 3 Series is sold in the 320i, 330i, 330e, and M340i guises.
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