Column: BMW 3 Series Coupé/Convertible facelift: Hit or miss?

So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the world’s bestselling compact executive car coupé and convertible versions have undergone some minor mid-life changes to continue to dominate the sector.

The completely new generation 3 Series is scheduled for 2011 but in the mean time, the competition is stronger than ever; the old rivals include the flashy, all-new Merc E-Class coupe and the sleek Audi A5 while some new and noteworthy newbies have joined the game; Infiniti G37 and Lexus IS (although in a convertible version only). But more on them later, let us now focus on our newcomers.

I always thought of E92’s exterior as a mixed bag: on the one hand, it looks sleek, sophisticated and sporty but on the other, it looks well, sleek and sophisticated, maybe too much for this class. Now, the E46 wasn’t exactly a car that ran on adrenaline and testosterone, but the slightly aggressive lines of the E36 are my current favorite. The facelifted version has kept the same unadventurous lines (Duh!) but right now, headlights are marginally bigger and the air intake is now full-size. The traditional BMW kidney grille looks more cube-like while the tail lights are using LEDs of all sizes and colors. And … Well, yes, that’s about it.

Overall, how does it look? I’d save my final judgement before I see the car in person, but so far, it looks even tamer than before. In fact, all BMW’s are adopting this cuddly look. What’s up with that? A real BMW was always passive-aggressive, elegant with a hint of dynamism. Too bad, because the person behind the redesign was Juliane Blasi, who was also responsible for the new Z4 which IMO looks absolutely sensational.

And what about the competitors?
At first I thought that the new E-Class coupé looks really good, luxurious and quite distinctive, but after seeing a pearl-white one, even A5s ridiculous LEDs look sleek and tasteful. Speaking of the A5, the car has a pretty profile, but it’s huge and has an unnecessary large butt. It may be Walter da’Silva’s best creation (in his own words) but it is simply too big to be sporty. The japanese competitors are well, japanese in terms of design.

Same story about the interior – only new colors. However, BMW is starting this trend where they mix black surfaces with cream seats and door panels. We have seen it in the X1 and Z4 and I think it looks great. However, the rest remains the same. Having a E90 sedan myself, the interior is made of high quality materials and the design follows some Bangle-era rules: lots of concave-convex surfaces and minimalistic shapes. Great to use, but some might find this minimalism to look a bit austere. Well, compared to other car’s dashboards it certainly seems so, but it’s miles easier to use.

But then, it all depends what do you want from a car – and the 3 Series is now better than before in the field where BMW traditionally has the edge: engine and chassis.

The biggest engine is also the biggest news: 335i’s landmark twin-turbo inline six now gets an upgrade – the new engine (dubbed N55) features twin-scroll turbo, VALVETRONIC and High-precision injection for the first time in one engine. Power and torque remain unchanged although peak torque is available from 1200 rpm. All in all, more flexibility and responsiveness with reduced consumption and emissions.
While standard, creamy-smooth sixes remain the same, the new diesels are likely to remain popular as they were before.

Under the hood of a 325d is an all new, aluminum made six cylinder diesel, with 7 bhp more than the old model (but reduced emissions and consumption) while the best seller 320d gets a 184 bhp engine which emits only 125 g/km of CO2.

The suspension remains the same – but they were best in class so if it ain’t broken …

Oh, one more thing: the 335i gets a double-clutch gearbox with all the benefits these things provide.

So, the verdict.
The facelifted 3 Series in its coupé and convertible forms looks sleek, drives better and has new, more powerful and yet more efficient engines. Sounds like a classic BMW to me.

But best in class? It depends what do you want from a car. It is easily better than its competitors when it comes to handling, ride, driver involvement and has superior engines, but curiously lacks showroom appeal. It might be a better car than the rest, but if you care about image and the impact your car has on others, it might be too restrained and bland.

Perhaps this isn’t such a bad thing after all – a stealth sportscar to take on the flashy, brash showoffs. Give me one of these.

Related posts:

1. Official 2011 BMW 3 Series Coupe and Convertible – Information, High Resolution Photos and Videos Included

2. Tuned: Vorsteiner V-MS Aerodynamic Package for BMW 3 Series E92 Coupe

3. The new generation of Jaguar XK sports coupe and convertible

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