More or less than before?
BMW recently renewed its most popular model, the 3-series. The changes to the exterior and interior are known, but what about the standard equipment? Compared to its predecessor, the facelifted 3-series can at least put a number of profit points behind its name.
BMW 318i sedan
€50,108
With the pre-facelift of the 3-series, the manual 150 hp 318d was the cheapest variant shortly after the introduction. In the facelifted 3-series, the entry-level model has a petrol engine. As a 318i, the ‘Dreier’ gets a 156 hp and 250 Nm strong 2.0 four-cylinder petrol engine with turbo under the hood. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. With its specifications, the 318i is not very meager on paper. The sprint to 100 km/h takes 8.6 seconds from standstill and the 318i stops accelerating at 223 km/h. As a 318i, the 3-series Touring has an additional cost of €2,256 compared to the sedan.
At the bottom of the price list is the 204 horsepower plug-in hybrid 320e, which costs €51,194, just above the 318i. Prefer a diesel engine? Then you can opt for the 316d, which with a starting price of €50,305 is only marginally more expensive than the 318i. If you want more power, there is a whole laundry list of engines on the price list from which you can choose. Whichever motorization you choose, the eight-speed automatic transmission is always standard. Only the M3 is still available with a six-speed manual transmission.
A touch of chrome
If you are satisfied with the above starting price and if you do not check any other options, the 318i will be in front of you in the color ‘Alpinweiss Uni’. You can also have it sprayed in the color ‘Schwarz Uni’ at no extra cost. As with many base models, the side window surrounds come in black, but not in a cheap way. ‘M high-gloss Shadow Line’ is standard for the window frame. Once you had to check that on the options list. The only chrome parts that you will find on the standard version are the grille surround and the tailpipe trims of the dual exhaust. Furthermore, the 318i comes standard on 17-inch alloy wheels.
BMW 3 Series
Just like its predecessor, the renewed 3-series shines into the world with LED headlights and taillights. You do not have to pay extra for parking sensors front and rear, an automatically dimming left exterior mirror and interior mirror, keyless start and a rain and light sensor. Of course you can further enhance the look of the 3 Series with seven metallic paint colors and six different wheel designs. Some wheels are only available in combination with the M Sport package, which has an additional cost of €4,123. For that fairly hefty amount you get, among other things, the M Aerodynamics package with sportier-lined bumpers, the M Sport suspension and 18-inch light-alloy wheels.
widescreen
Previously, if you opened the door of a base 3-series, you were immediately greeted by analog counters and a smaller screen for the infotainment system. That is no longer the case with the facelifted 3-series, because you always have a view of ‘BMW Live Cockpit Plus’, the combination of a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and a 14.9-inch touchscreen for infotainment. It runs the BMW Operating System 8, which you can also operate with the traditional iDrive controller on the center console. Integrated navigation and over-the-air software updates are included. This also applies to the ‘Connected Pack Professional’, which includes real-time traffic information, remote viewing of vehicle data via smartphone and integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
BMW 3 Series
As far as infotainment is concerned, there is therefore little left to be desired on the basic version of the 3-series. Also for climate control with three zones and mood lighting, you do not have to fumble. With the furniture it becomes a bit more basic, because the chairs are upholstered with black fabric. Leather upholstery costs €2,587, you will get sports seats immediately. The interior moldings are in principle made of ‘Quarz Silber matt’, if that is not quite your thing, you can choose from five other types of interior moldings for a payment of a minimum of €159.70 and a maximum of €907.50.
BMW bundles the standard safety systems under the name ‘Active Guard Plus’, which includes Speed Limit Info, Approach Control Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Attentiveness Assistant. Cruise control is also standard on the 3-series, but for adaptive cruise control you have to pay an additional €523 or check the ‘Driving Assistant Professional’ package for €2,350. In the latter case, the 3-series can also drive semi-autonomously on the highway and in traffic jams and you get more extensive safety systems such as Crossing-traffic Warning and Side Collision Warning.
Slightly better equipped
Returning to the key question: has the standard equipment of the 3 Series improved with the facelift? The answer to that question is yes. You can still go wild on the option lists, but it makes a difference that the more extensive infotainment system is now standard. The automatic transmission was also previously optional at the bottom of the price list. The starting price of the 3-series sedan has increased by approximately €4,000 compared to the pre-facelift in 2019. The price increase is therefore not too bad, especially if you take into account the extra standard equipment. Just take a look at the 320e, because with an additional cost of only €197 compared to the 318i, it may be worth going for the plug-in hybrid.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl