BMW 3 Series And M3 Range Updated With Minor Tweaks All Around

The seventh-generation (G20/21) BMW 3 Series (top) and its M3 (G80/81) twins have been given a light refresh in their latest 2025MY guises.

The seventh-generation (G20/21) BMW 3 Series saloon and its M3 (G80/81) performance twin has received a new round of revisions. In its latest 2025 model year guise, both models benefit with a host of minor tweaks both inside and out, plus a few minor enhancements with its chassis.

Starting with the 3 Series, the 2025MY 3 Series gains a range of new paintwork that now includes Artic Race Blue metallic and Vegas Red metallic hues. New too are the Frozen Grey Metallic and Frozen Portimao Blue metallic hues in the BMW Individual catalogues.

Updated too is the M Sport Package – optional in most and standard in the M340i – which now rocks new 19-inch M wheels with a double-spoke design and two-tone or Jet Black finishings. All variants now rock new BMW Individual 19-inch wheels featuring a Y-spoke design too.

All the key changes in the 3 Series as highlighted by BMW. Take note that exterior changes in the M3 performance models are far milder in contrast.

As for the M3, changes are more mild here apart from a new set of forged alloy wheels dressed in a bright silver finish. Another minor change here are the new silver-bordered badges donned by the M3 Competition.

Apart from which, the only other new aesthetic changes can be seen in the M Carbon Exterior Package which adds new carbon fibre-reinforced plastic panels for the air intake inlays, rear diffuser, side mirror covers, and rear diffuser.

Note the new "cascade lighting" suite primed in the trim surrounds of the air vents. These also feature updated welcome and goodbye animations, as well as light signals for scenarios such as incoming calls or door ajar warning.

Inside, the revised 2025MY 3 Series’ cabin gains a new steering wheel and “cascade lighting” that’s integrated into the trims surrounding the new central air vents. Updated here too are the welcome and goodbye animations, and the light signals for scenarios like incoming calls, or door ajar warning.

For the 330i, there’s now revised Fineline Light open pore wood trim décor, whereas the M340i gets M Aluminium Rhombicle trim instead. Aluminium Fine Brushed or Ash Grey open-pore décor are available as options, as are carbon fibre décor for the M340i.

Other cabin changes sees upgraded Sensatec dash and Galvanic control, with BMW noting the latter for adding “a unique luster to the window switches, door lock button, and air vent adjustment stalks.” New here too is the BMW Operating System 8.5 suite for the infotainment displays.

As for the M3, its cabin sees equally light revisions with lesser physical buttons and controls on top of a new steering wheel.

As for the M3, its cabin sees a reduced number of physical buttons, new flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel, richer use of Sensatec fabric covers, as well as new Aluminium trims that can be replaced with optional M Carbon Fibre or M Fine Brushed Aluminium trims.

Mechanically, the regular 3 Series sees its 2.0-litre 4-cyl mills gaining redesigned intake ports and combustion chambers, uprated camshart control, injection, ignition, and exhaust gas routing. All of which sees the mild-hybrid (MHEV) four-banger continue to output 255 HP and 400 NM.

All powertrains in the regular 3 Series benefit from various small upgrades, but the sporty M340i variant gains an all-new straight-six turbo heart with peppier outputs too.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants, on the other hand, gain a larger new 19.5 kWh eDrive Gen5 battery pack that now accepts 11 kW AC charging inputs. In turn, this now sees full charges done in just 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus an improved electric-only range of up to 101 KM.

Specific to the M340i model is a new 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo in-line 6-cyl mill paired with a new 48-volt MHEV system. This package develops 386 HP and 539 NM, marking a slight boot of 4 HP and 39 NM from the previous powertrain in succeeds, and it grants an improved 0-100 KM/H time of 4.4 secs.

In the M3, it remains mechanically unchanged except for the M3 Competion xDrive, which gains a 20 HP bump to 523 HP to enable 0-100 KM/H sprints in just 3.5 secs.

Over to the M3 and its 3.0-litre in-line 6-cyl turbocharged heart remains largely unchanged, as are its 473 HP (Standard) and 503 HP (Competition) output figures. Only the M3 Competition xDrive gains a 20 HP bump, outputting 523 HP here to enable 0-100 KM/H in just 3.5 secs.

Lastly, there minor upgrades to the chassis endowed in the 3 Series. BMW didn’t detail the changes here, but did mention stiffer new mounts that connect the rear dampers to the body, as well as revised steering system to allow for reduced effort in Comfort mode.

Apart from which, little else has changed with the seventh-gen 3 Series and its hotter M3 twins. The former is set to see production and sales begin in July this year, as will the latter performance special.