Aside from facelifting the 4 Series, BMW has also announced a series of updates to its model lineup and connectivity services for the 2017 model year, which will go into production beginning in March.
First up, the 3 Series will join the updated 4 Series in offering a new multifunctional instrument display, which will be available as an option. The fully-digital black panel instrument cluster, derived from the F10 5 Series (and not the newer display as seen on the G12 7 Series and G30 5 Series), features different display configurations depending on the drive mode selected.
Meanwhile, the 7 Series will gain a number of technological updates from the new 5 Series, with new semi-autonomous driving features now bundled into the Driving Assistant Plus package. These include Lane Change Assistant, which allows drivers to initiate a lane change simply by holding down the indicator stalk; the functionality will be activated at speeds between 70 and 180 km/h.
BMW 530d xDrive
Also added is ActiveAssist Collision Avoidance, which provides steering assistance if an emergency lane change is performed at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The Cross Traffic Alert feature, on the other hand, warns the driver visually and acoustically if it detects they have misjudged the right of way at a junction.
BMW has also incorporated a Wrong-Way Driving Alert to supplement the new Driving Assistant Plus features. The cool Remote 3D View feature, part of the BMW Connected smartphone app and working in conjunction with the optional Surround View system to display a three-dimensional view of the car’s surroundings in the app, is available as well.
In addition, 7 Series, 6 Series and M6 models fitted with the Professional navigation system will benefit from an upgraded iDrive interface from the new 5 Series, with tiles that can now be rearranged to suit the driver’s preference, and will also show live information. There’s also a new Messages menu which compiles text messages and emails, as well as information on the vehicle’s operating condition.
Other changes come in the form of aesthetic tweaks to the 6 Series, with a new Sonic Speed Blue metallic paint option, 20-inch M two-tone light alloy wheels with staggered run-flat tyres, as well as carbon fibre look interior trim. There are also new 21-inch M light alloy wheels for the X5 and X6, previously only offered in the Original BMW Accessory range.
The new wheels are available with the M Sport pack, except the X5 sDrive25d, xDrive25d and xDrive40e iPerformance. The X5 M and X6 M will also come standard with the ConnectedDrive navigation package, which includes the Professional navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI), a WiFi hotspot, ConnectedDrive Services, Concierge Services and Remote Services.
On the connectivity side, the On-Street Parking Information function, which shows vacant roadside parking spaces through intelligent networking using both pre-stored and current data, will be expanded to include the German cities of Nuremberg, Bremen and Hanover. The feature, which made its debut on the new 5 Series, will also be available on all models except the X1, 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer.
March will also mark the debut of the Digital Charging Service for BMW i and iPerformance electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. This allows the vehicle to vary charge according to dynamically varying electricity tariffs, as well as predetermined highest and lowest prices. As such, users will, for example, be able to benefit from favourable overnight tariffs.
The feature will also optimise electricity use from solar power in conjunction with the new BMW i Wallbox Connect, using the system’s performance data, the current weather forecast, the proportion of solar energy not being used at home and the time of it being produced. It will also automatically schedule when charging starts and ends, taking to account cost efficiency and the proportion of green electricity used, and ensures that the car will be fully charged and air-conditioned when it is time to leave.
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- BMW 530d xDrive
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Sadly BMW Malaysia will most likely implement updates during LCI cycles or launching new model lines (M-Sport) instead of model years unless it’s a big update like switching from the N series engine to the B series.