The new BMW 3 Series has become quite a polarizing car. Since its debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the new 3er has divided BMW fans into two camps — those that love it and those that hate it. However, styling aside, the new 3 Series is a drastically different car than the one it replaces and brings a ton of differences. Here are five things you should know about the new 3 Series.
Continue Reading Below
Weight Savings
Despite being larger in every single way, as the new 3 Series is longer, has a longer wheelbased, has a wide wheel-track and is taller, it’s actually also lighter. Not by a crazy amount, only about 55kg (121 lbs), but that’s still enough to make a difference, especially considering how much bigger it’s gotten. It also features more equipment, better interior materials, more sound-deadening material and far more interior space. So the fact that it’s lighter is impressive.
Personal Assistant
It seems as if digital personal assistants are becoming more and more ingrained in our everyday lives. With digital assistants like Siri and Alexa, more and more devices are becoming intelligent and connected. Even cars. For instance, the G20 BMW 3 Series gets the brand’s all-new Intelligent Personal Assistant. So passengers can just say “Hey, BMW” and it will wake up, allowing for voice commands that can control almost every aspect of the car.
Over-the-Air Updates
Tesla made big waves when it announced its over-the-air updates, which allow its cars to update their software wirelessly, right in their driveways. Few other brands have toed into that water but BMW is now one of them. The new G20 3 Series allows for Remote Software Upgrades, which allow it to update its software wirelessly. Admittedly, it’s not as simple as Tesla’s, as owners have to download the update to their smartphone, then when they get in the car they can connect the phone to the car and update it that way. Though, the car has to be stationary to do so.
Bye Bye Handbrake
The G20 3 Series is the very first of the all 3 Series’ to lack a proper handbrake. Every 3 Series model prior to the G20 has had an old-school, traditional handbrake. To clear up space on the center console, and because literally no customers care about handbrakes anymore, BMW ditched it for this new car. It looks a bit odd but it does look cleaner. We might miss the handbrake for a bit but the extra elbow space for the driver will be welcome.
Most Powerful Four-Cylinder
The G20-generation 3 Series is not the first to ever get a four-cylinder engine. Even in America, where tiny engines are often looked down upon, four-cylinder engines have always been a big part of the 3 Series lineup. However, this new one gets the most powerful four-cylinder to ever power a BMW, never mind a 3 Series.
With 255 hp, the upcoming BMW 330i’s 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is the most powerful four-pot to ever power a production BMW. That’s a pretty big deal, considering the fact that BMW’s headquarters is in the shape of four cylinders, proving how important such an engine has been to the brand.
I’ll say the weight reduction is debatable. It’s difficult to spec F30 like for like to a G20. And what if I didn’t want things that are base in the G20 like the driving assist? (https://disqus.com/home/discussion/bmwblog/bmw_3_series_g20_55_kilograms_lighter_10_millimeters_lower_than_f30/#comment-4126393599). Anyways, here’s the base weights again:
Base G20 330i curb weight: 3,582 lbs
Base F30 330i curb weight (US): 3,501 lbs
Base F30 328i curb weight (US 2016): 3,370 lbs
For the OTA, I’m hoping it also includes ECU updates but I really think this is limited to ConnectedDrive Services and iDrive. Just like how BMW can remotely enable and disable apple carplay due to subscription. Guess we’ll have to wait and find out.
I have checked the weights in the Uk for the 330i msport and the F30 is 1495kg (3295lbs) and the g20 is 1470 kg (3240lbs) which means the g20 is 25 kg lighter not heavier. However the g20 is much better equipped than the f30 and all these add weight so the difference of up to 55kg is possible spec to spec. These weights are unladen not with driver. I believe the driver weight is a fixed 75 kg in Europe. The g20 specs are online from BMW press release.
2012 328i had a weight of 1430kg (unladen) for BMW’s press release which means the F30 is 40kg lighter. But like you said, G20 has more in it to weigh it down at the get go.
I couldn’t find the official press release for the F30 330i LCI but found the text copied in a tech/auto site. It says the F30 330i LCI has a unladen weight of 1470kg. Oddly same as the G20 330i.
Sources: http://s3.bimmerfile.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/BMW_3er_specs.pdf
http://technobok.co.za/new-bmw-3-series-40-years-of-excellence/
I’m about to make a run to Mercedes if not because of the F30’s poor stock sussy setup in running over potholes and uneven roads at high speed. If the G20 reviews is true, even the base model will ride like magic so I think I will give BMW one last try before I jump ship.
The interior looks ok though I’m bending towards its rival’s interior language at the moment.
thanks for sharing this
https://www.hkr016.ooo
I only see 4 listed, where’s the 5th fact 😕
Ha, that’s my fault. It’s fixed now. Thanks for pointing it out :)