2025 BMW 3 Series in Malaysia – 2nd G20 update adds flat-bottomed steering wheel, new tech, from RM273k

Less than a week after launching the new 530i and facelifted i4, BMW Group Malaysia has now introduced the new 2025 model year 3 Series. This is the second update for the G20 generation after the facelift arrived in 2023, bringing with it another set of design and feature set revisions.

Mind you, you are gonna have to squint mighty hard to spot the styling changes. On the outside, the benchmark compact executive sedan looks practically identical to before, save for the new Fire Red and Arctic Race Blue metallic hues joining a colour palette that already has Alpine White, Black Sapphire metallic, M Brooklyn Grey metallic and M Carbon Black metallic.

It’s on the inside where the upgrades are more discernible, including a new flat-bottomed M Sport steering wheel with a 12 ‘o clock marker (in red on the M340i) and a trellis-like bottom spoke, along with a new geometric air-con vent design with hidden directional fins, joystick-like controls and a prominent central spar. The central vents also feature a new “cascade” ambient light bar. These changes mirror those added to the facelifted (Life Cycle Impulse or LCI in BMW-speak) 4 Series and i4.

The controversial BMW Curved Display – incorporating a 12.3-inch instrument display and 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen – has been retained, but it now runs on the current BMW Operating System 8.5, featuring QuickSelect shortcuts on the main screen. The system also features augmented reality features for the park assist and improved speech recognition for the Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control.

Elsewhere, the upper dashboard and door panels benefit from a finer grain, while the long-wheelbase 330Li receives new geometric Dark Graphite matte decorative trim. Last but certainly not least is retuned suspension on models with passive dampers (M-specific suspension in the 320i and the standard setup on the 330Li), claimed to provide better control over open and uneven roads.

Otherwise, the equipment list is the same as before, with the 320i coming with LED head- and taillights, 18-inch double-spoke Style 848 M alloy wheels, keyless entry with proximity locking and unlocking, push-button start, a head-up display, triple-zone climate control, power-adjustable front sports seats with driver’s side memory, ambient lighting, Vernasca leather upholstery, a Qi wireless charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, variable-ratio steering and a reverse camera.

Stepping up to the 330i nets you adaptive dampers, M Sport brakes with blue callipers and a ten-speaker, 205-watt HiFi sound system. The 330Li tosses out the adaptive dampers, M Sport brakes, variable-ratio steering and folding rear seats but adds a panoramic glass roof.

As for the M340i, it retains the kit of the 330i but throws on adaptive LED headlights, an M Performance-specific mesh double-kidney grille, 19-inch Style 792 M alloys, red brake callipers, a boot lid lip spoiler, dual trapezoidal exhaust pipes, a sunroof, an M Sport locking rear differential, a powered boot lid and a 16-speaker, 464-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

Safety-wise, the 3 Series soldiers on with the Driving Assistant package, featuring autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention and automatic high beam (the M340i gains adaptive high beam). You still don’t get Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control or lane centring assist, which is frankly criminal in this segment.

The engine options also remain identical, so the 3 Series is still powered by a B48 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 184 PS and 300 Nm of torque in the 320i and 258 PS and 400 Nm in the 330i and 330Li.

The M340i xDrive, meanwhile, continues to utilise the B58 3.0 litre turbo straight-six that fires 387 PS and 500 Nm to all four wheels. All models come with an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Notably, the 330e plug-in hybrid has been discontinued starting this year, so the entire range is now petrol-only.

Prices are RM6,000 higher across the board, with the variants retailing at RM272,800 for the 320i M Sport, RM308,800 for the 330i M Sport, RM314,800 for the 330Li M Sport and RM385,800 for the M340i xDrive M Sport Pro (the non-Pro model has also been dropped).

This is with the standard two-year warranty; add the five-year warranty and service package and those figures jump to RM299,200 for the 320i, RM335,200 for the 330i, RM341,200 for the 330Li and RM412,200 for the M340i – RM7,200 more than before.

GALLERY: 2025 BMW 320i M Sport

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