It’s rare for BMW to give a model a second facelift, but that’s exactly what’s happened in the current-generation 3-Series. Launched in Germany in mid-2024, it has been available to consumers in Germany, North America, and pretty much most of the West.
Now, the new BMW 3-Series has landed in Southeast Asia, making its regional premiere in Thailand. With that, we can expect it to arrive in the Philippines soon given the car’s popularity locally.
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So, what can we expect from the ‘LCI II’ 3-Series? From the outside, it’s hard to tell what’s been changed although there are new colors that join the range. New wheel designs are also available, particularly in the M Sport models.
You’ll have to step inside to see what’s really new in the 2025 3-Series. For starters, non-M Sport models get a two-spoke steering wheel, similar to that in the all-new 5-Series. More basic controls have been moved to the redesigned infotainment screen, and the air-conditioning vents are slimmer than before.
The new model also brings with it the latest generation of BMW’s iDrive software. Dubbed iDrive 8.5, the new 3-Series benefits from the same system found in the redesigned 7-Series, 5-Series, and X3. Compared to the previous operating system, it’s more optimized for the curved screen display.
Powertrain options are mostly carried over. In Thailand, the sport sedan is still available with a diesel engine in the form of the 320d. The 2.0-liter mill packs mild-hybrid technology and puts out 188hp and 400Nm. It’s likely that Thailand will still have the 330e plug-in hybrid with 288hp and 420Nm, as well as the M340i xDrive that punches out 374hp and 500Nm.
Locally, we can expect the 318i with its 2.0-liter turbo putting out 154hp and 250Nm. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for the 330e, and it would be great if BMW Philippines keeps offering the M340i xDrive in both sedan and Touring (wagon) guises.
It’s only the second time in its history that the BMW 3-Series got two facelifts. The last time it happened, it was with the third-generation model (E36) that received updates in 1995 and another in late 1996. With that in mind, the current G20 model could linger on longer than the usual seven-year production run.
