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 decorative trim. Last but certainly not least is retuned suspension, providing better control over open and uneven roads.

The engine options 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.

No prices were communicated in the press release, but BMW’s 2025 price list shows that the range is now RM6,000 costlier across the board. The variants retail 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.

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. The company has also yet to provide detailed equipment lists for the cars; we will update this story as and when we get them.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.