Official Photos: BMW 3 Series Facelift

10 Jul

Posted by Horatiu B. as 3-Series

YAY!! No more spy photos, no more rumors, no more non-sense. After last week unveiling of the new 7 Series, BMW released the official photos of its 3 series Facelift that will mark its debut at the Paris Show in October.

As we noticed before, there are quite a few changes in the facelifted 3 Series, such as heavily profiled bumper, newly contoured hood and reworked headlamps with altered graphics.

At the rear, the new LED taillights have replaced the previously not-so-hot ones. The rear has a widener look due to its redesigned bumper and rear track that on upper-end models has been extended by nearly an inch.

We now have the official confirmation that the facelifted 3 series will indeed receive the updated iDrive, connected to an 8.8-inch navigation screen. The news come from the fact that the rumored 40GB hard drive has been repaced by an 80 GB one that will store maps, contacts or MP3 files. This makes me wornder if the 80GB is an extra upgrade or just standard.

The engine selection stays the same, the award-winning twin-turbo 3.0 liter with 300 ponies and the regular 3.0L with 230 horsepower. The diesel engine will finally arrive to the states, apparently a little delayed, now due to launch in November. The engine will be a 3.0L twin turbo outputting 265 horsepower, which uses a urea-injection system to meet U.S. emissions standards.

The diesel will be offered only in the sedan.Transmissions include a standard six-speed manual and an optional six-speed automatic. The diesel comes with the automatic as its only transmission.

DCT gearbox? Hmm, no news yet.

The petrol sedan and wagon will go on sale in October, so all the BMW dealerships in the States should receive their updated ordering guides soon.

[Source: Autoweek ]

Photos after the jump. Click on the photos for larger size

14 Responses

Fernando "Feco" Trentini

July 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
1

WOW! The taillights are so beautifull, better than actual 3 Series. The painel looks like every series, but still amazing.

Horatiu do you know if this new 3 series is the still having the same lenght?
Clara

July 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
2

It really looks like the 5-series design team did this. They had them design “a grill”, “a headlamp” and “a tail-light” and they slapped it on. None of this stuff complements the core design.

The taillights are a big bunch of red, and highly resemble the 5’s. The overall shape is… ok i guess… but but they need to break up that red blob with some colors or sculpting.

Why did they put a bunch of glowing dots in the headlamp? The angel eyes was pure art, but this is a bunch of glowing dots. They should have hid the LEDs behind structured glass that could use them for a similiar effect.

The grille’s curves remind me of the Mazda Taiki concept. The sculpting around the lamps is interesting, but the shape and flow of the curves has nothing to do with the car’s principal design.

Design changes shouldn’t be arbitrary like this. Argh!
Bangled

July 10th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
3

The wider rear track is a welcome improvement. The M3 sedan, with its more agressive stance, left the garden variety 3ers looking a little weak kneed. Not that the entire line needs to look as agressive as the M3, mind you.

The taillights are still a disappointment, however. Whereas the rear of the previous iteration of the sedan was far too squinty, at least the lines were completely resolved. That is not the case with the refresh.

Again, colour selection will play an important role when purchasing the new 3 so the taillights can be disguised.
Mark

July 10th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
4

WOW…..this looks GREAT!!!!!! They did a bang up job this time…WELL DONE!!!

Cheers,
Larry

July 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
5

So does this mean we’ll be getting the 335iT in the US?
Larry

July 10th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
6

So does this mean we’ll be getting the 335iT in the US?
Gunnar

July 10th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
7

Glad to see that those classic shaped taillights - first seen on the E32 7-Series - are making a comeback into being a standard in BMW design as the Hoffmeister kink.
Giom

July 11th, 2008 at 12:50 am
8

It’s a remarkable improvement achieved through very little major changes. The theme is the same as before, just fresher and more attractive.

To me the back is now the most attractive rear end in its class. It’s more sporty and fits in better with the cars overall sporty design.

Well done BMW!
bsd107

July 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
9

US Ordering Guides are already out. But pricing isn’t yet. Anyone know when dealers will receive their MY99 pricing info for the sedans?
Horatiu B.

July 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
10

@bsd107: I think the guides will be updated soon, to reflect all the new changes and the diesel engines.
The 2009 BMW 3 Series - E90/E91 facelift announced - BMW Forums - E90Fanatics

July 12th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
11

[...] Where is your link? Is this what you are speaking of ? Official Photos: BMW 3 Series Facelift [...]
bsd107

July 13th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
12

I thought I read somewhere that the radio station and RDS data would now be displayed on the instrument cluster (like in Audi’s). But I haven’t seen any pictures so far that prove this….
Madison

July 16th, 2008 at 12:53 am
13

Yay they finally deleted the ugly upperlip kindney grill! I seriously began to doubt their design team there for a while when the e90 sedans first came out. I did feel a little better after the e92 coupe/vert designs, but this reaffirms my confidence.
bulld

July 18th, 2008 at 4:16 am
14

what a poor attempt. unharmonious face lift. oh yeah and the taillights suck.