BMW 3er’s Second Facelift in 2024: Boosting Electric Range, Chassis and Digitalization – Details on the G20 and G21 Series Update

The BMW 3 Series is set to receive its second facelift by 2024, focusing on enhancing its electric range, suspension, and technology upgrades. This popular BMW model, which first hit the market in 2019 under the names G20/G21, underwent a significant revamp in 2022, known internally as LCI. The latest round of improvements is primarily aimed at the vehicle's core features, with little to no changes expected to its exterior appearance.

The focus is primarily on increasing the electric range for PHEV models, a new chassis tuning, and digitalization. Munich's release of the updated BMW 3 Series Sedan and 3 Series Touring is scheduled for July 2024. The update is expected to keep the popular combustion engine series in the lineup for several more years. This is despite the introduction of the all-electric "New Class," which is likely to be launched as a sedan in the 3 Series size around 2026.

Photo Gallery: 2024 BMW 3 Series Sedan and 2024 BMW 3 Series Touring

Timeless design sidesteps the need for a facelift

When it comes to the exterior, updates are virtually nonexistent. There's no need for a comparison of before-and-after images to spot any subtle changes. Here's the reality: there are none. However, prospective 3 Series buyers do have the option of selecting from two new exterior paint colors.

At launch, customers can choose from two colors: "Arctic Race Blue metallic" and "Fire Red metallic." Additionally, there's an option to pair new 19-inch alloy wheels with an M-Sport package – and that's about it.

The interior of the vehicle features more luxurious touches. BMW guarantees a new sports leather steering wheel complete with standard paddle shifters. Enhancements have been made to the air vents and ambient lighting, along with the addition of new seat surfaces and interior trim panels.

Driver assistance features such as forward collision alerts, a speed advisor, and parking sensors were already included in the 2022 model refresh. Now, a backup camera, reverse assist, and a cloud-based navigation system are also becoming standard. Interested buyers of the 3 Series can opt for additional features, like a steering and lane-keeping assistant, active cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities, and an enhanced Park Assistant Plus.

2024 BMW 3 Series Estate

With the launch of iDrive 8.5, the company continues to minimize the use of physical buttons and dials, shifting the emphasis to voice commands and touchscreen interactions. The new home screen features vertically stacked widgets on a single layer for straightforward access. Quick access allows users to directly engage with features without navigating through sub-menus. The menu bar at the bottom of the Control Display provides immediate access to climate functions. Additionally, BMW offers an optional Head-Up Display and "Augmented View" for an enhanced driving experience.

Increased electric range for plug-in hybrids

The traditional internal combustion engines remain the same. Since the major 2022 update, the straight-six gasoline engine and all diesel engines have been equipped with mild hybrid technology. Their 48-volt starter-generator produces an additional output of 8 kW/11 hp. Moreover, manual transmissions have been discontinued since then.

The updated 2024 series of the 3rd line features plug-in hybrid models that offer improved efficiency and a substantially increased range when running on electricity alone. The focus is now on the BMW 330e Sedan and the BMW 330e Touring variants, both of which are available with the traditional rear-wheel drive or with an all-wheel-drive option. These models are powered by a combination of a four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission, delivering a total system output of 215 kW (292 horsepower).

The 2024 model of the BMW 3 Series Estate

The latest addition is the high-voltage battery from BMW's fifth generation eDrive technology. Despite occupying the same physical space, the usable energy content has been almost doubled to 19.5 kWh. This results in a significant increase in electric range, now up to 101 kilometers according to WLTP standards.

The Strom-3 series also marks the debut of BMW's plug-in hybrid models equipped with a new charging unit designed for three-phase alternating current, boosting the charging capacity up to 11 kW. This enables the high-voltage battery to be fully charged from zero to 100 percent in just 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Further from BMW:

Moving forward, all models of the BMW 3 Series will feature a more rigid connection of the rear shock absorbers to the chassis. This enhancement will improve accuracy and control, as well as the acoustic response during peak forces caused by road conditions. Additionally, there will be a decrease in the steering effort required in the Comfort driving mode.

Prices

Wrapping up with the standard cost within Germany: the 3 Series Sedan is priced at 46,400 euros, while the 3 Series Touring stands at 47,700 euros. This marks an increase in the series ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 euros. The value of this price hike will be determined by a future evaluation.

Source: Bayerische Motoren Wer

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