The facelifted BMW 3 Series is now on sale in South Africa. Here’s a look at how much the refreshed version of the compact premium sedan will cost you…
BMW South Africa has added the mildly facelifted G20-generation 3 Series to its online configurator, revealing pricing for the updated sedan ahead of its imminent local launch.
Unveiled as recently as May 2022, the 3 Series LCI (Life Cycle Impulse, or BMW speak for facelift) gains subtly revised exterior styling and a handful of tweaks to the cabin, including the addition of the Munich-based firm’s latest infotainment system (dubbed the BMW Operating System 8) with the new curved display. Check out all the updates at this link.
The engine line-up, meanwhile, is seemingly unchanged. In South Africa, the standard range again comprises three rear-wheel-drive petrol variants and one likewise rear-driven diesel-powered derivative, along with the all-paw M340i xDrive. The M3 line-up, meanwhile, has yet to receive its mid-cycle update.
As a reminder, the 3 Series range kicks off with the 318i, which employs a turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine generating 115 kW and 250 Nm. Driving the rear axle via an 8-speed automatic transmission used throughout the line-up, this engine facilitates a claimed 0-100 kph time of 8.6 seconds (interestingly two-tenths slower than before). Pricing for the updated 318i starts at R767 894. While it appears the option of the Sport Line package has fallen away, specifying the M Sport package (which includes new design features such a honeycomb pattern for the grille) pushes this base figure to R817 894.
The German sedan’s headlamps and kidney grille have been subtly revised.
Next up is the 320i, with pricing now starting from R832 894. Using the same engine as the 318i but with some extra oomph, this derivative makes 135 kW and 300 Nm, which is enough to see the claimed sprint time fall to 7.4 seconds (again, three-tenths tardier than the pre-facelift version). Tick the M Sport box and base pricing shifts to R882 894.
The 330i, meanwhile, now starts at R953 197 and is again available exclusively in M Sport guise. In this form, the 2.0-litre mill makes peak outputs of 190 kW and 400 Nm, allowing the 330i to complete the obligatory dash to three figures in an unchanged 5.8 seconds.
The lone oil-burning option remains the 320d, which now starts at R880 768 in standard form and R930 768 in M Sport specification. Its 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel lump sends 140 kW and 400 Nm to the rear wheels, giving it a claimed 0-100 kph time of 6.8 seconds.
Finally, we have the M Performance variant. Despite the outputs of its turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 remaining unchanged at 285 kW and 500 Nm, the all-wheel-drive M340i’s listed sprint time on BMW SA’s website improves by one-tenth to 4.3 seconds. Pricing for this derivative now starts at R1 338 207. The M340i is furthermore available with a new R15 000 M Sport package Pro, which includes extended M High-gloss Shadowline trim, M lights Shadowline and an M Sport braking system with red callipers.
How much does the BMW 3 Series cost in South Africa?
- BMW 318i – R767 894
- BMW 318i M Sport – R817 894
- BMW 320i – R832 894
- BMW 320i M Sport – R882 894
- BMW 320d – R880 768
- BMW 320d M Sport – R930 768
- BMW 330i M Sport – R953 197
- BMW M340i xDrive – R1 338 207
All BMW 3 Series models ship standard with a 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
