Want to see the prices + specs of the new BMW 340i and the rest of the BMW 3 Series facelift range?

Built right here in BMW Plant Rosslyn, just outside Pretoria in South Africa, the BMW 3 Series sedan is the sports-luxury brand’s best seller. 

Having launched here in early 2012, and with new Mercedes-Benz C-Class already selling strong since last year and a new Audi A4 on the way, it is BMW 3 Series facelift time.

Revered BMW model badges: BMW 325i, 328i, 330i, 335i and now BMW 340i

We welcome a new badge in the proud BMW 3 Series lineage:  340i. 

Where did it start?  In the 70s BMW already fitted a 2.3-litre straight 6 engine into the small 3 Series (code E21) which was only available in 2-door and not for sale in South Africa. 

The next 3 Series (E30) was extended to include a 4-door, and in the 80s the BMW 323i became the world’s first compact sedan with a 6-cylinder engine… to coin the phrase sports sedan.  It was when the engine was replaced by the legendary 2.5 that the 325i became an instant success icon.  Many could actually afford a small exciting luxury sports car.  The 3 2 5 i (in whichever language you say it in) became synonymous with the achievable dream, and owning a 1-of-a-kind vehicle, when there was nothing else like it.  An instant worldwide success (and a revered badge to have on one’s car).

For the subsequent generations, the 325i in the E36 was upgraded to the 2.8 engine with lots more torque as 325i was superseded by BMW 328i, complete with rorty exhaust note.

For generation E46, the 328i was in its life cycle again increased – this time to a full 3 litres, to make the 330i.  It brought new levels of performance to its segment, and a thrilling BMW straight-6 sound.

BMW re-introduced turbocharging during the BMW 3 Series E90, and, while this time retaining the 330i, it added the 335i model using turbo petrol power.  Actually still displacement of 3.0 litres, it had to be differentiated from 330i, so 335i was chosen to indicate its flagship status level. Another leap forward in performance.

Then, in 2012, we received the F30 3 Series, retaining the award-winning 335i engine.  Power outputs for 335i are at 225kW and torque of 400Nm, which explains why it is so effortlessly quick.

Meet 340i.  The new badge to have.  But no, this is not an increased engine size of 3.5 or 4.0 litres, but the same 3.0 litre, uprated to 240kW and an extra 50Nm dollop of torque to make 450.  Acceleration drops from 5.5 seconds in the 335i to 5.1 in the 340i, and for South Africa, again only the best-of-the-best 8-speed ZF sports-Steptronic is mated to the 3.0 straight-6 turbo.

How to spot a 3 Series facelift?

Now, in 2015, BMW has given the 3 Series a facelift, receiving the squared-off headlight inserts first seen on the BMW Concept 4 Series (which did not make it to the BMW 4 Series production car).

At the rear, a quick telltale is the reverse lights that dropped from the top to the bottom of the taillight cluster, while the rear light graphics now feature the swooping LED red lines.

318i is back, and 330i now a 4-cylinder?

The 316i model makes way for the re-introduction of the familiar 318i nameplate.  It swops the 4-cylinder engine for the new 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo, as already found in the BMW 218i Active Tourer, MINI Cooper and BMW 118i (from July 2015 production).

The once-revered 330i badge (will not be as revered after this association) is the replacement of 328i with 330i, using the same 2.0 4-cylinder turbo, with uprated power.

Good news for those who want their 3 Series to stand out

The BMW 3 Series is a very popular car, and for some, too popular.  So you still want a 3 Series, but want it to stand out?  A selection of BMW Individual paint (special xyrallic paint is used to create a super high-gloss finish, and some light-sensitive hue changes) with luxurious leather upholstery and different trim finishers and a choice of 2 BMW Individual wheels.

You can now order your BMW 3 Series in a bespoke colour and upholstery, and more good news is that you can now group it with the much-loved M Sport package.

The greenish-greyish car pictured here is a BMW 340i with BMW Individual Champagne Quartz paint and BMW Individual extended leather in Opal White, plus the M Sport package.

Prices and availability

Great news is that prices are not up by that much:  from the current 316i to the new 318i (with much nicer engine) the increase is R 14 000, and exactly R 10 000 for the popular 320i model, and a mere R 6 500 more than the 335i for a 340i.

Prices, including emissions tax (none on 318i and 320d) and VAT:

BMW 318i manual	R 409 000
BMW 318i auto	R 427 900
BMW 320i manual	R 443 821
BMW 320i auto	R 462 310
BMW 320d manual	R 472 000
BMW 320d auto	R 490 900
BMW 330i manual	R 518 360
BMW 330i auto	R 535 823
BMW 330d auto	R 596 923
BMW 340i sports-auto	R 659 283

Sport line, Luxury line, M Sport and Individual packages are available on all.

On a recent factory tour, some pre-production test units (still camouflaged) were present, but on the production line, 1 facelift model was spotted on the production line.  This means the BMW 3 Series facelift would soon be rolling off the line, and is already available to order, for delivery later this year.

You can configure your BMW 3 Series facelift at BMW Virtual Dealer on their website.