News / 2 October 2024 / Michael Taylor

New BMW 3 Series in South Africa – Pricing revealed

The South African pricing for the updated BMW 3 Series has been revealed ahead of its debut in the final quarter of 2024.

According to our sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists, the popular sedan will be available in six specifications at launch with prices starting at R913,730.

Features

This is the second time that BMW has updated the 3 Series in as many years, bringing a number of changes to its styling and equipment.

Two new colours — Arctic Race Blue Metallic and Fire Red Metallic — have been added to the palette for a total of nine options.

There are new designs for the variety of light-alloy wheels that start at 19 inches in diametre, and the now-standard M High-gloss Shadow Line package adds dark accents to parts of the exterior.

Attention has been given to the flagship M340i, too, as it is showcasing a reworked mesh kidney grille and M-specific details from a rear apron with a styled diffuser to an M rear spoiler, mirror caps, exclusive alloy rims, and trapezoidal tailpipes.

As for the interior, the cabin has been overhauled with a new two-spoke polygonal Sports steering wheel for the standard models and a flat-bottomed three-spoke M steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker for the M Sport variants.

In either case, the steering wheel is wrapped in leather and fitted with paddle shifters.

The front aircon vents have been reshaped, and the dashboard’s appearance is cleaner now that the climate control and seat heating/ventilation functions are relegated to the touchscreen.

All models now feature nine-colour ambient lighting with a “cascade effect,” and the aluminium accents of the previous version have been swapped out for a Dark Graphite theme.

Other standard kit for the premium sedan comprises three-zone automatic climate control, an anti-dazzling rearview mirror, cruise control with a brake function, Intelligent Speed Assistance, front-collision warning with brake intervention, and a Parking Assistant with a reverse camera and front and rear parking sensors.

The BMW Live Cockpit Plus twin display have also been modernized with an up-to-date digital instrument cluster, and the iDrive 8.5 operating system for the infotainment screen with onboard navigation and intelligent voice assist.

Options on the 3 Series include Sensatec Sports seats in three colours, Sensatec leather on the instrument panel, Vernasca leather upholstery in four colours, a Harman Kardon stereo, an electric sunroof, and a heads-up display.

Engines

The new BMW has access to four different engines, starting with the 320i – a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol block.

This produces a total of 135kW and 300Nm, letting it race from 0 to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 235km/h. It also has an average fuel consumption of 6.5l/100km.

One step up is the 320d, a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel good for 140kW and 400Nm. The added power lets the diesel reach 100km/h in 7.0 seconds, though it ends with the same max speed.

Its choice of propellant means it benefits from a more frugal consumption of just 4.9l/100km.

Next is the 330i, which also uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol plant but is uprated to create 190kW and 400Nm.

This is enough to shave another 1.2 seconds off its 0-100km/h time as it now makes the sprint in 5.8 seconds, and its top speed is raised to 250km/h.

The added power doesn’t come at the cost of fuel usage, either, as it features the same 6.5l/100km figure as the 320i.

Last but not least is the top-spec M340i, which is upgraded to a 3.0-litre turbocharged mill with a potent 285kW and 500Nm.

Naturally, it is the quickest of the group with a blistering time of 4.3 seconds, and it can hit the same top speed of 250km/h.

Every model is fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and is rear-wheel drive, with the exception of the M340i which uses the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.