The new BMW 3 Series has just arrived in South Africa, and while there’s no doubt that it’s a game-changer, is it worth trading in your used sedan and forking out the eye-watering price of R650K, or are there better options elsewhere?
New BMW 3 Series (G20)
Fast Facts:
- Price: R649 000 (base model)
- Engines: 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder diesel (320d) 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder petrol (330i)
- Transmission: 8 speed automatic
- Fuel Consumption: 4.5 - 4.8l /100km (320d) 5.8 – 6.1l /100km
- Power/Torque: 140kW/ 400 Nm (320d) 190kW/ 400 Nm (330i)
- 0 – 100kph: 6.9sec (320d) 5.8sec (330i)
- Top Speed: 233km/h (320d) 250km/h (330i)
Now it’s 2019 and the new BMW 3 Series has returned to claim it’s crown in a playing field with more competitors than ever including the Jaguar XE and Alfa Giulia, and of course, the Lexus IS. With such a competitive market, BMW’s bread and butter car is under huge pressure to deliver, so let’s see what it’s all about, and if it justifies it’s hefty R650 000 asking price. Sadly this is the first BMW 3 Series to be imported from Germany and Mexico, instead of being produced locally like the last few iterations going back to the E30, which is still highly valued up to this day.
Exterior and Trim
The styling of the old F30 was divisive, with some complaining that it was too bland. The new BMW 3 Series is unlikely to have the same problem as BMW has taken the car in a new direction using styling cues from the current 5 Series. The prominent kidney grill is probably the biggest on any 3 Series so far and draws attention to the aggressive headlights that are reminiscent of the classic e46 model with their jagged lines at the bottom. Even in the base model, the swooping curves strike the right balance between sporty and elegant. While the minimalist rear lights look like a refined version of the ones from the Lexus IS. The base model is fitted with 16” V-spoke wheels that some might find boring, this can easily be upgraded to 20” by ticking a box on the extras list.
Trim levels available:
- Base
- Luxury Line
- Sport Line
- M-sport package
Engine and Handling
The new BMW 3 Series currently has only two engines available in South Africa. These are the 320d which is a 4-cylinder turbo-diesel with 140kW/ 400 Nm and a top speed of 233km/h, and the 330i is fitted with a 2L 4-cylinder petrol 190kW/ 400 Nm (330i) engine and a top speed of 250km/h. While these aren’t performance models, as daily drivers, they have more than enough oomph to continue the spirit of “Sheer Driving Pleasure”. We drove the 320d, with the M-sport package and compared it with a daily driven Audi A4 2.0 TDI, the BMW has much better acceleration, and speed warnings were quickly visible on the heads up display. The engine also delivers the power much smoother compared to the Audi, with less turbo lag and noticeably less noise inside the cabin.
For those that crave more performance, the wait won’t be too long for the M340i xDrive, and 330d, with the M3 likely to land next year sometime. Although the new BMW 3 Series has slightly bigger proportions to the last model, 76 mm longer and 16 mm wider, it’s still 55kg lighter due to the use of aluminium and BMW claim that it has perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The body stiffness of the new BMW 3 Series has also been increased by 25% and with the new lift-related dampening system, body movement and vibrations are greatly reduced.
Interior and Technology
This is where the new BMW 3 Series really shines and it’s obvious from the moment you take a seat that this car has state of the art features that you just won’t find in your used sedan. The interior, from the dash to the steering and accents feel premium quality and it leaps and bounds better than the outgoing model. A large 8.8” infotainment screen dominates the centre of the dash, with a larger 10.25” available as an option, and coupled with the 12.3” digital instrumentation and head-up display (optional) creates the feeling of being in spacecraft.
The buttons on the centre console as well as the dash also have a very neat and subtle look to them and compliment the lines of the interior perfectly. The new BMW 3 Series has all the tech features that can rival competitors, although many of those are optional extras, like the Wi-Fi hotspot and lane keeping assistant. It also has some groundbreaking features one of which is the new Intelligent Personal Assistant that learns and remembers the driver's behaviour and can follow voice commands like a mobile phone personal assistant. Another interesting feature is the BMW digital key, which can turn your Samsung smartphone into a car key, which can be shared with others.
Extras Highlights:
- BMW laserlights (extends headlights range up to 530m)
- BMW digital Key for your smartphone
- Head Up Display on windscreen
- Wireless Charging and USB Ports
- 10.25" Touchscreen infotainment system
- 12.3” digital instrumentation cluster
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi hotspot capability
Safety Features
Although there isn’t currently any crash testing information available, the new BMW 3 Series has all the safety features that you’d expect from a luxury German sedan, Unfortunately, some features like a reverse camera are still optional at R8 900. Considering that lower tier vehicles such as the Toyota Rush have it as standard, we expected more from BMW in this department.
Extras Highlights:
- Active cruise control
- Steering and lane control assistant
- Lateral parking aid
The only drawback to the new BMW 3 series is the price. Starting out at an already high R650 000, it climbs steadily after that to a whopping R695 000 for an M-sport Launch edition. At that price, it's easy to look at the brand new models that are offered by rivals, as well as some used sedans that might have better performance and street credit. Whatever you decide, you'll probably want to trade in your old vehicle, even if it’s still under vehicle finance.
Current new alternatives
Audi A4
There was a time when Audi was playing catch-up to BMW, but those days are long gone and the Audi A4 has recently been a thorn in the side of the 3 series. The base price of the Audi A4 starts at R531 000, a whopping R118 000 less than the new BMW 3 series. Of course, that’s just the base price of the Audi, and with so many features being add-ons, the price starts to rise significantly. A couple of extras you would need to tick to compare the A4 are LED headlights (R18 400) and the visual appealing Virtual cockpit (R7 700)
However, the Audi A4 has more engine options at this stage and also offers its Quattro all-wheel-drive system that the BMW doesn't have. The Audi also still offers a manual gearbox, should this be your preference. The Audi's face-lifted styling seems bland when compared to the new BMW 3 series and it's easy to see that the interior is a generation behind. The older A4 also lacks some of the cutting-edge technological features of the new BMW 3 series.
Mercedes C-Class
Mercedes-Benz has always been the go-to brand in this class in terms of refinement and elegance compared to the BMW, which is more famous for its sportiness and driving dynamics. The base price of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is R612 000 for the entry-level C180 model. Once you move up to the C200 and the C220d, which have comparable power to the new BMW 3 series, the pricing goes up to R640 000 and R685 000. As with the Audi, the list of extras on the C-Class can quickly add up and end up costing a fortune. The Mercedes C-Class was recently updated and although the exterior might look a bit dated now, the interior can definitely match the new BMW 3 Series.
Remember that when looking for cars, it's wise to think about resale value and in this regard generally Mercedes hold their value the best compared to BMW, while Audi tends to drop much faster than the other two. That is of course if they are properly taken care of.
Our Verdict
Should you get rid of your used sedan and fork out at least R650 000, for a new BMW 3 series? Well, it depends on what you're looking for.
If you're looking for a bigger engine and all-wheel-drive capability, then the Audi is the way to go, but you'll have to sacrifice some tech features and get an older looking interior. The resale value will also probably drop faster.
If you’re looking for something that’s more elegant and comfortable to drive with loads of tech features, The C-Class is what you’re after, but you’ll have to put up with slightly dated looks and possible extremely high costs of optional extras. The resale value will drop at a lower rate.
If you're looking for the most up to date all-around performer in this class, with classic BMW performance and handling features, then the new BMW 3 Series is for you. The interior and exterior are both stunning and it has an amazing amount of features. Yes, the price might seem high, but you get what you pay for and in this case, the return of a legend which is the 3 series.
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The article was written by Saeed Wazir
Saeed spent most of his career in the IT field before deciding to pursue his dreams and write. He now writes short stories and articles for numerous sites and is lucky enough to combine his passion for writing and cars to write vehicle blogs.