Monday 17th October 2011

Revealed: All-New BMW 3-Series

BMW unwraps sixth generation of its staple saloon

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It's a big day for BMW, as it's revealed the full details and specification for the next 3-series.

And the headlines for the sixth generation of BMW's core product? It's bigger on the inside and the outside, but more fuel-efficient and (BMW at least reckons) more nimble and agile while becoming even safer.

The new 3-series also gets an eight-speed automatic gearbox available across the range (a first for the premium compact class), while hybrid versions are in the offing, as are four-wheel-drive variants (a first in the UK).

But although the 3-series doesn't stray too far from the established form visually (it's 93mm longer, with an extra 50mm in the wheel bases and a marginally wider track - 37mm at the front and 47mm at the rear), there are dramatic things afoot under the bonnet.

All 3-series engines are now turbocharged, and the only petrol engines available are the 241bhp turbocharged four-pot in the 328i and the 302bhp turbocharged inline six of the 335i. Both of these are available from the car's launch in February 2012, along with the 181bhp 320d and 161bhp 320d Efficient dynamics.

These will be followed shortly after by the 316d and 318d diesels, powered with 115bhp and 141bhp variants of the 2.0-litre diesel engine, plus another version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the 181bhp 320i.

The hybrid and 4x4 versions are expected on sale in the UK towards the end of 2012.

Read the full BMW 3-series press bumf here

Model		Price OTR from	Power Hp	Torque Nm	0 – 62mph Seconds	Top speed Mph	Combined Mpg	CO2 Emissions g/km
BMW 328i Saloon		£29,060	245	350	5.9 (6.1)	155*	44.1 (44.8)	149 (147)
BMW 335i Saloon		£35,525	306	400	5.5 (5.5)	155*	35.8 (39.2)	186 (169)
BMW 320d Saloon		£28,080	184	380	7.5 (7.6)	146 (143)	62.8 (64.2)	120 (118)
BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon		£28,080	163	380	8.0 (8.1)	143 (141)	68.9 (68.9)	109 (109)
	*Electronically limited.

[missing the VR6]

Oh dear, I hate to say it as I've always been a fan of BMW but they've seriously lost the plot in my humble opinion with regards to styling.
Gone are the glory days of the E46/36 and 39! Even the E60 was pretty nice.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

So basically the entire range is powered by two-litre four-pots? Wow, charismatic...

[E38Ross]

much better looking than the current non Msport saloon IMO. though the price for a 320d seems....erm, steep!!! it's the same price as the 328i ffs! (which is no longer a straight 6 i know )

awaits the "it looks like a stretched 5 or 7 series" remarks - despite the fact it's been this way for over 30 years.

[E38Ross]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

So basically the entire range is powered by two-litre four-pots? Wow, charismatic...

335i is a straight 6

[E30M3SE]

Hopefully those pictures do the car an injustice, although I fear this is not the going to be the case.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

E38Ross said:

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

So basically the entire range is powered by two-litre four-pots? Wow, charismatic...

335i is a straight 6

Well yeah, but everything else. They're going to have to drop the numbering convention at some point, surely?

[vescaegg]

£28k for a 320d!

Only (sort of) £7k more for a 335i....

[sinizter]

The distinction between 5-series and 3-series is now further eroded.

I will probably end up liking how they look later, but the first impression does not leave me overly impressed.

[marcosgt]

Looks ok, but :

"It's bigger on the inside and the outside ... and (BMW at least reckons) more nimble and agile while becoming even safer."

Mmmm - I wonder how they've managed that? Is the current one a bit sluggish in the handling stakes?

M.

[Morba]

The front looks terrible, too flat like the 1 series.

[z06tim]

Pistonheads said:

as are four-wheel-drive variants (a first in the UK).

Not quite. I'm sure we had iX (AWD) models of the 3 series a long way back. Prbly E30 generation.

[E38Ross]

E30M3SE said:

Hopefully those pictures do the car an injustice, although I fear this is not the going to be the case.

whilst it's not the best looking, come on....it's much nicer than the standard 320d saloon SE spec they revealed many moons ago!

[hotmelt]

Looks great, better than 5-series, I like some teutonic lines as on the new 1-series. And from profile it looks excellent.

[gherkins]

Well - at least it's not as offensive as the new 1-Series.

The BMW showroom in the centre of Munich has them all with only the rears to the windows - I presume to avoid people being sick.

[hornetrider]

One 6 pot in the range - and it's the twin turbo 335i? BMW has died a little in my eyes - bye bye to the refinement of the straight six.

I see this is four inches longer than the outgoing 3 series - I wonder how it compares to say, E34 or even E39.

[Deerfoot]

missing the VR6 said:

Oh dear, I hate to say it as I've always been a fan of BMW but they've seriously lost the plot in my humble opinion with regards to styling.

I saw a new shape 1 Series on the M27 this afternoon, looks a lot better in the metal than the photos. I think the X1 and X6 are poor but the rest of the BMW range is pretty good to be honest. VW on the other hand have made little effort with their present offerings. The new Touran is especially bland.

[E38Ross]

sinizter said:

The distinction between 5-series and 3-series is now further eroded.

didn't take long. you clearly know fk all about older BMWs then. look at an E12 5 series vs an E21 3 series; or an E28 5 series and an E30 3 series. let me know if they look just as similar as the current 3 vs 5. if so, then you'll realise the error of your ways

actually, let me know do that for you

E12 5er



same era 3 series



pretty similar?

marcosgt said:

Looks ok, but :

"It's bigger on the inside and the outside ... and (BMW at least reckons) more nimble and agile while becoming even safer."

Mmmm - I wonder how they've managed that? Is the current one a bit sluggish in the handling stakes?

M.

they've made it lighter, says in the link.

[RicksAlfas]

I don't know what everyone was expecting but it looks like a slightly smaller 5 series - handsome, but a little bland.
I thought they might have upped the power of the ED model as they have on the 520ED.
Prices look similar to current levels don't they?

[Cupramax]

WTF is going on with these over photoshopped press pictures these days? Can no one take a decent picture any more? Audi are just as bad.

[sinizter]

E38Ross said:

sinizter said:

The distinction between 5-series and 3-series is now further eroded.

didn't take long. you clearly know fk all about older BMWs then. look at an E12 5 series vs an E21 3 series; or an E28 5 series and an E30 3 series. let me know if they look just as similar as the current 3 vs 5. if so, then you'll realise the error of your ways

I dont't know fk all about older BMWs and it is not something that concerns me greatly.

My comment was only in relation to the outgoing range and the new incoming range.

The new 3-series front looks very similar to the old 5-series.

Feel free to continue banging your head on the wall.