2024 BMW 3 Series Facelift Ditches Diesel Option, Prices Start at £39,045
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2024 BMW 3 Series. (Image source: BMW)
The 2024 BMW 3 Series facelift has been launched in the UK. For this year, BMW seems to have focussed on leveling the playing field with Mercedes with the majority of the changes being technical. The German carmaker rolled out the last update exactly two years ago, making this the second mid-life facelift.
2024 BMW 3 Series: No Diesel, Bigger Battery
As mentioned before, the updates this time are mostly technical with a few visual changes like new paint options, alloy wheel choice and interior fabrics. In terms of powertrain, BMW has completely ditched its diesel engine, narrowing the range down to just petrol and PHEV options. Buyers can opt for the 320i and 330e in both Sport and M Sport specs, while the top-of-the-line M340i will be sold as a separate trim level.
What stands out though, is the new bigger battery for the 330e PHEV. BMW claims that the combined output for the petrol engine and the battery is still rated at 288bhp. But the 19.5kWh battery will now allow a range of 63 miles. The maker states that the “high energy density” is responsible for higher efficiency without affecting the cabin space or practicality.
With a combined fuel economy of 313.9mpg, the new 3 Series will get an eight per cent Benefit in Kind (BiK) company car tax rating. Note that the Mercedes’ C 300 e which ships with a bigger battery gets a lower five-per cent bracket.
The new 3 Series can be charged from empty to full in two hours and 15 minutes with a three-phase 11kW charger. The company has not yet quoted any figures for the conventional 7kW home wall box charger. But expect the time to be around three to four hours.
The chassis, according to BMW, has undergone “rigorous development work” helping with a “notable increase in comfort across all driving situations, without any loss of the customary 3 Series dynamic prowess”.
2024 BMW 3 Series: On the Inside
On the inside, the new 3 Series gets the same infotainment system with its latest Operating System 8.5, something that we recently saw in the updated 4 Series Coupe and Convertible. This set-up comes with BMW’s ‘Quickselect’ which is optimised to operate the car’s ventilation and climate control functions. Unfortunately, the new 3 Series does away with any physical; climate switches which now live within the central touchscreen or are operated with voice control.
Other tweaks on the inside come in the form of a new steering wheel design, interior trim elements and ‘cascade’ interior lighting with the flexibility to adjust colour and brightness. The new 3 Series also gets the brand’s Sensatec perforated fabric available for the seats, while the optional Vernasca leather is now offered in four colour options.
Interested buyers can also choose from a selection of M Performance parts like carbon fibre grille, splitter and mirror caps along with sills, spoilers and diffusers.
2024 BMW 3 Series: Price
BMW has not yet revealed final numbers for its on-road price but the price tag for the series starts at £39,045 for the 320i Sport. An M Sport trim option with the same will demand a £1,250 premium. The plug-in hybrid 330e comes in at £46,080 with the M340i xDrive placed above it at £57,845. BMW will charge an additional £1,800 for touring models regardless of the engine or trim choice. Production for the new 3 Series will begin in July at its plant in Munich, Germany.
