Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Euro, BMW
2009 BMW 3 Series unveiled
by Alex Nunez on Jul 11th 2008 at 9:49AM 
Click above for 40 hi-res images of the freshened 3 series
BMW has unveiled photos and details pertaining to the facelifted, Euro-spec 2009 3 Series sedan and wagon. We touched on the visual updates yesterday, but to recap, the car sports a revised front fascia, a new hood, restyled mirrors, and reshaped taillamps. The changes are subtle, but good. Inside, the new iDrive trickles down to the 3, which also gets BMW ConnectedDrive in-car internet, as well as an 80-gig hard drive. The 3 Series sedans and wagons are available with 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The 7-speed DCT doesn't make it into the four- and five-doors at this time, but it becomes available on the 335i coupe and convertible. Read on after the jump as we run down the model variants and engine offerings.
Gallery: 2009 BMW 3 Series
[Source: BMW | Photos: BMW via BMW Blog]
click any image to enlarge
The 3 Series sedan and wagon model rundown is as follows
- 318i / 318d
- 320i / 320d
- 325i / 325d
- 330i / 330d
- 335i / 335d
- 320d xDrive
- 330d xDrive
- 325i xDrive
- 330i xDrive
- 335i xDrive
If you're interested in the tech specs, here are the basics. The fuel economy numbers are the EU standard calculations, converted to US mpg from l/100km. Figures are for the sedan. Acceleration, consumption and emissions numbers are marginally higher for the Touring (wagon) models. It's a shame the four-cylinder diesels aren't coming Stateside, as they are truly miserly.
GASOLINE ENGINE MODELS
BMW 318i
- 143 PS @ 6,000rpm
- 190Nm (140lb-ft) @ 4,250 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 9.1 sec
- 49 mpg hwy / 29.7 mpg city / 39.8 mpg combined
- 142 g/km CO2
- 170 PS @ 6,700 rpm
- 210 Nm (155 lb-ft) @ 4,250 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 8.2 sec
- 49 mpg hwy / 28 mpg city / 38.5 mpg combined
- 149 g/km CO2
- 218 PS @ 6,100rpm
- 320 Nm (199 lb-ft) @ 2,400 - 4,200 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 6.7 sec
- 42.7 mpg hwy / 24 mpg city / 33 mpg combined
- 170 g/km CO2
- 272 PS @ 6,700 rpm
- 210 Nm (236 lb-ft) @ 4,250 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 6.1 sec
- 42 mpg hwy / 23.7 mpg city / 32.6 mpg combined
- 173 g/km CO2
- 306 PS @ 5,800 rpm
- 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) @ 1,300 - 5,000 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 5.6 sec
- 35 mpg hwy / 18 mpg city / 26 mpg combined
- 218 g/km CO2
BMW 318d
- 143 PS @ 4,000 rpm
- 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) @ 1,750 -2,500 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 9.3 sec
- 57 mpg hwy / 41 mpg city / 50 mpg combined
- 123 g/km CO2
- 177 PS @ 4,000 rpm
- 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) @ 1,750 -3,000 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 7.9 sec
- 57 mpg hwy / 39.2 mpg city / 49 mpg combined
- 128 g/km CO2
- 197 PS @ 4,000 rpm
- 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) @ 1,300 - 3,250 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 7.4 sec
- 51 mpg hwy / 31 mpg city / 41.2 mpg combined
- 153 g/km CO2
- 245 PS @ 4,000 rpm
- 520 Nm (383 lb-ft) @ 1,750 - 3,000 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 6.1 sec
- 49 mpg hwy / 32 mpg city / 35 mpg combined
- 152 g/km CO2
- 286 PS @ 4,400 rpm
- 580 Nm (427 lb-ft) @ 1,750 - 2,250 rpm
- 0-62 mph in 6.0 sec
- 44.3 mpg hwy / 26 mpg city / 35 mpg combined
- 177 g/km CO2
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Red 9:58AM (7/11/2008)
Marginally better, but still not as good looking as the coupe.
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wrussi 10:01AM (7/11/2008)
im loving the wagon!
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Andrew 11:30AM (7/11/2008)
Yes, the wagon in particular looks better than ever.
User 12:19PM (7/11/2008)
I agree. The wagon is gorgeous.
Ovidiu Miron 10:10AM (7/11/2008)
No matter that the changes are subtle. Are important, and this is what counts.
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DCragtop 10:13AM (7/11/2008)
IMO, the wagon seems to benefit the most. I think BMW is bringing sexy back to the wagon.
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Alex Nunez 10:19AM (7/11/2008)
Agreed. the wagon is just fantastic-looking. Would I rock a 318d Touring over a Prius? Yes. Yes, I would.
paul34 10:17AM (7/11/2008)
Agreed! Plus who can argue with the versatility and "convenience" of a SUV but with the practicality and public courtesy of a regular car?
User 12:29PM (7/11/2008)
I want that wagon.
But when you guys see the MSRP and then when you add all of BMW's options, I bet you will all be less excited. (Why does BMW have those silly options? They're a luxury car manufacturer... Leather seats should be standard...)
Mobius_1 10:42PM (7/11/2008)
Would they consider making an M3 wagon? THAT would be awesome
Torrent 5:29AM (7/12/2008)
This and The Audi Wagons are really giving wagons a good name.
Brandon 1:15PM (7/15/2008)
Can't forget the M5 Touring, albeit it's not coming to the states...
Still gives wagons a great name.
carsteve 10:16AM (7/11/2008)
When will these be coming stateside again? I'm liking the notion of an AWD coupe with the DCT for year-round driving.
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RPM 10:24AM (7/11/2008)
The new taillights are definitely better, but overall its not too impressive.
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mk 10:26AM (7/11/2008)
"Changes were subtle, but good..."
Yeah, I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there, mmmkay?
The headlights are ok, but just.
The front fascia is softer and weirder. The mirrors also, and just as much of a barn door as ever.
the tail lights still don't match inboard to outboard, and now it is even worse, when one turns down, and the other sweeps up.
BMW's design language simplicity and sophistication used to be the envy of the industry. Now the design language is soft, disjointed, and gratuitous. lines and curves for the sake of lines and curves, and it ends up looking pudgy, and purposelessly busy.
Thanks, but no thanks. The engineering underneath may be great. The skin is not.
And why would I want internet in my car, more than having it on my cell phone. I don't use my cell phone for more than the very occaisional hands-free call, in the car. My wife can browse the net on the iPhone when she's in the passenger seat.
But I'll bet my iPhone, or it's future replacement device will be keeping up with software developments far better than a built-in BMW-proprietary system.
That sort of gadgetry is better left to replaceable and upgradeable devices, SEPARATE from the dash of your car, or left off to prevent distraction.
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MGBYG 11:19AM (7/11/2008)
Agreed.
Why the huge vertical panel gap along side numberplate?
Looks like the bonnet/hood includes the 'kidneys', but no, there is a huge panel gap just about the grilles.
Why the catfish/melted lip?
Someone looked too long at the Honda CRV nose, where it looks like the bonnet/hood is not fully closed.
Fussy, fussy, fussy.
Always had a 'thang' for eurowagons... Volvos, Audis, Chrysler 300 Estate (haha), and the 5-series. Not so much with the 3. Still all Bangled up.
Poxie 3:37PM (7/23/2008)
Internet would be useful for real-time traffic, weather, and current directory info (i.e. closest restaurants, gas stations, etc.).
Richard S. 10:31AM (7/11/2008)
As much as the enthusiasts would love to if BMW brought the 318D wagon stateside, diesel still is not popular enough to the mainstream consumer. They would probably have more success if they licensed the 2-mode hybrid from GM and put in in the wagon and called it the 320h. Given the clamoring for hybrids, they would sell everyone they ship it here. Performance wise it might dilute what BMW stands for, so at least I go to hand it to BMW for not wanting to damage the brand for the sake of the pursuit of sales.
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zamafir 10:56AM (7/11/2008)
VW had zero issues selling all the TDIs they brought stateside and they're not a premium manufacturer. While BMW might have issue with the 330d, as it doesn't offer the MPG advantage of cars like the A4 3.0TDi, their lower displacement diesels wouldn't be an issue, esp if they advertised it intelligently (focusing on highway mpg).
I won't be purchasing a new car until a v6 diesel European sedan becomes an option. That's the only thing that interests me.
JagGill 10:44AM (7/11/2008)
The last gen was soo much nicer. This looks like blah.
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