BMW 3 Series gets improved engines and a cosmetic tweak for 2015

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The BMW 3 Series has been given a slight cosmetic facelift for 2015, had its engine range refreshed and its chassis settings overhauled. On sale June 2015.

The BMW 3 Series is the benchmark in its sector, and despite the latest Mercedes C Class becoming a very good car, the 3 Series still has the edge.

So the facelift BMW has revealed for the 3 Series today isn’t really about responding to the latest C Class or upcoming A4 – and certainly not about the new Jaguar XE, which won’t even register as a blip on BMW’s radar unless it starts to sell in droves – but simply about keeping the 3 Series the best it can be.

Because nothing’s exactly broken, the cosmetic refresh is so minor you’ll only see it because you know it’s there, with slight tweaks to the bumpers and LED lights – front and back – about all there is to set the 2015 3 Series (or 2016 3 Series if you’re on the other side of the Pond) from the current model.

The interior makeover is equally modest, with new high gloss and chrome trims helping the perception of quality, a new professional Sat Nav (although it looks the same) and, as we reported recently, Sat Nav on every model.

BMW has reserved the major changes for the engine range, with every engine – except the diesel 330d – getting improved.

The petrol range starts with the 134bhp 1.5 litre 3-cylinder 318i (straight from the MINI and with less power, but better economy) and has four cylinder offerings in the 320i (with 181bhp) and 330i (which replaces the 328i and gets 248bhp). The six-cylinder 3.0 litre in the 335i has now been dropped and replaced by the same engine but with 332bhp in the new 340i.

The four-cylinder diesel 3 Series models, which all use the latest B47 engine, now start with the 316d with just 114bhp, the 318d with 148bhp, the 320d with 188bhp and the 320d ED with 161bhp (but with emissions that dip below 100g/km with the auto ‘box).

The six-cylinder diesel engines – perhaps the most appealing of all the 3 Series range in the real world – continue with the 255bhp 330d and the 309bhp 335d, which gets xDrive as standard (xDrive is also available on the 320i,320d and 330d).

Also on offer, but not just yet, will be a plug-in hybrid 330e with 49g/km and 20 mile EV range, and there’s a bit of an overhaul right across the new 3 Series range of ride and handling, with BMW promising new damper technology gives stiffer suspension and a sportier feel without compromising comfort levels.

BMW hasn’t decided on price or trim options; we assume trim levels will remain ES, SE, Sport, Luxury and M Sport and the chances are they’ll take the opportunity to up prices under cover of the changed engines.

But they’ll have to declare prices and trim levels soon as the 2015 3 Series will be on sale in BMW’s UK dealers next month.