2017 BMW 3 Series: What's Changed
CARS.COM
Most significant changes in 2017 BMW 3 Series Vehicles: New turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 330i models (formerly 328i) and the latest turbo six-cylinder for the 340i Gran Turismo (formerly 335i); wireless phone charging and Wi-Fi hot spot available on all BMW 3 Series models
Price change: No change on BMW 320i models to $1,800 MSRP increase on 340i models
On sale: 2017 models will roll out throughout the summer
Which should you buy, 2016 or 2017? 2016. Good deals are available now on remaining 2016 BMW 3 Series vehicles, though prices are unchanged for 2017 on the 320i and up by only $100 on the 328d and 330i models.
BMW stirs its alphanumeric soup for 2017 as it installs new engines in some 3 Series models and adds wireless cellphone charging and a Wi-Fi hot spot as a new option for all models.
A new turbocharged four-cylinder — a 2.0-liter making 248 horsepower — replaces an engine of the same size with 240 hp. The BMW 3 Series vehicles that use it now are designated 330i instead of 328i, including a rear-wheel drive sedan and xDrive (all-wheel drive) sedan and wagon, as well as the 330i xDrive Gran Turismo hatchback.
Related: 2017 BMW 2 Series: What’s Changed
The 2016 335i Gran Turismo has a used a 300-horsepower, turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, but the 2017 model gets the 320-hp, 3.0-liter six already found in the 2016 340i sedan. With the engine change, the model name changes from 335i to 340i xDrive Gran Turismo.
The BMW 320i models return with a 180-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the 328d versions with a turbo 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engine also making 180 hp. The 330e plug-in hybrid also retains the 180-horsepower gas engine that’s combined with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack for a total of 247 hp.
Among other changes for the sedan and wagon, the M Sport Package is now standard on the 340i models.
On the 340 Gran Turismo, a lighting package with LED headlights, running lights and turn signals are standard and the rear has a new bumper and LED lights. Adaptive LED headlights and automatic high beams also are new options that are available in premium packages.
The M3 performance sedan returns with the same turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder as as 2016, but the adaptive M suspension is now standard instead of optional.
Even after spinning off the coupe and convertible as the 4 Series and expanding its SUV offerings, the 3 Series remains BMW’s most popular model line. Like other automakers, though, the luxury manufacturer is seeing its passenger car sales shrink while SUVs flourish. That is why BMW has had to resort to discounted leases, low-interest loans and even cash rebates to peddle the metal of their luxury line (and claim the title of best-selling luxury brand in the U.S.).
If more of your neighbors are driving BMWs these days, that may not mean they’ve gotten richer, only that they’ve found better deals on the Bimmer of their dreams.
