Over what is now six model generations, the icon of the modern sports sedan segment is offered in either rear-wheel drive or BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.
The refreshed exterior of the F30 BMW 3 Series LCI (life cycle impulse) gets new aprons with revised air intakes at the front end, while standard LED rear lights emphasise the car’s width.
READ ALSO: New cars coming in second half of 2015
Newly design ed headlights and striking LED daytime driving lights underline the car’s sporty visual appeal.
Full-LED headlights are optional.
As for the cabin, it gets new materials and extra chrome highlights for the controls, air vents and central control panel for a classier look, as well as a newly crafted centre console with a sliding cover for the cupholders.
Although a six-speed manual gearbox is available, the Malaysian market is likely to only get the eight-speed Steptronic transmission which is standard on the 330d, 335d and 340i Touring.
The Steptronic transmission is smoother and allows multiple sequential downshifts, while a coasting function improves also fuel efficiency.
New dampers, a stiffer suspension and even more precise steering of the refreshed 3 Series also provide a more dynamic ride quality.
All the three, four and six-cylinder petrol engines for the 3 Series and the four-cylinder diesel units in the BMW 316d, 318d and 320d are from a newly developed BMW EfficientDynamics engine family.
Revised turbochargers give the new four-cylinder diesel engines even sharper responses, while the three-cylinder petrol engine is a new addition.
Making its 3 Series debut is the four-cylinder petrol engine in the 320i sedan.
Celebrating their world premiere, meanwhile, are the four-cylinder unit in the 330i sedan and the six-cylinder petrol unit in the 340i sedan.
The engines are also more efficient; fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are down by as much as 11%.
Meanwhile, the refreshed 3 Series also gets a new Navigation system and LTE (long term evolution) mobile technology.
The Navigation system has a quicker start-up, significantly faster route calculation and even more realistic 3D graphics.
The Parking Assistant now enables automatic parallel parking as well, while Auto PDC also automatically activates the front parking sensors when manoeuvring.
With all the new tech and engineering, it is set to give the Mercedes-Benz C-Class an even tougher fight for buyers' hearts.
For more information on models, go to the local BMW website.
