BMW Malaysia has a bunch of new 3-Series revisions for the new year including the 320i M Sport, 330i M Sport, 330Li M Sport, and M340i xDrive M Sport Pro aimed at improving the lineup’s sporty flavour. And from what we are seeing, the brand has dropped the 330e M Sport from the lineup.
The exterior however, has only seen subtle changes, with the addition of two new metallic colors—Fire Red and Arctic Race Blue. As expected, the main differences are on the inside with a cockpit employing a new M Sport steering wheel with a 12 o’clock strap as standard across the range, adding to the sporty look and feel. Additionally, the new 3 Series range has a new geometrical centre air vent, which includes new joystick-style air vent controls, and a cascading waterfall-style ambient light strip.
There’s also a new dashboard topper across the range with a finer grain design, and the 330 Li also gets a new geometrical surface decor trim on the dashboard and door cards.
Additionally, the infotainment system has been updated to the most recent version of BMW OS 8.5. The straightforward design of the QuickSelect touch-oriented menu makes it ideal for the BMW Curved Display, while other technological innovations like the camera’s Video Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities and the ultrasound-based Parking Assistant make regular driving less laborious. In addition, better speed identification is another feature of the BMW iDrive Intelligent Personal Assistant.
New 3-Series Gets Two Powerful Engine Choices
Engine output remains the same with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 184 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque in the 320i M Sport and 258 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque in the 330i M Sport and 330Li M Sport. By contrast, the brand’s signature 3.0-liter straight-six turbocharged engine that powers all four wheels with 397 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque is still available in the M340i xDrive M Sport Pro.
As expected, the 3-Series comes as standard with the well-known eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and better suspension adaptability for a smoother ride on rougher roads. The starting prices for the 320i M Sport, 330i M Sport, 330Li M Sport, and M340i xDrive M Sport Pro are RM272,800, RM308,800, and RM314,800, respectively, while a two-year warranty is included as standard.
The 320i M Sport costs RM299,200, the 330i M Sport costs RM335,200, the 330Li M Sport costs RM341,200, and the M340i xDrive M Sport Pro costs RM412,200. The prices increase by RM7,200 when choosing the extended warranty and service package, which offers a five-year warranty and free service.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Reasonably priced, the revised 3-Series offers models that BMW fans will enjoy because of the better ride, and spruced-up, more functional interior while the engine lineup is just as you’d expect — outstanding. Even though an i3 does exist, there was no mention of an electric model this time.