The 3 Series Touring will get a makeover in the midst of its life cycle, according to BMW. Our Erlkönig photographer has now captured a matching prototype. He could shoot the limousine with only mild camouflage before, and now the station wagon’s camouflage reveals where the design journey with the 3 Series is headed. As with the Limo, it’s safe to assume that the station wagon will keep the well-known kidney, while the M3 Touring will get the giant version.
The model upgrade, dubbed BMW LCI (Life Cycle Impulse), has a redesigned front apron with revised air intakes. Overall, the 3-series station wagon has a more forceful appearance.
BMW has also given the headlights and daytime running lights a new configuration that does not detract from the overall look. At the stern, it appears to be the same. The lights get a new inside and a new apron here. In the body, there are no more interventions.
The new I-Drive infotainment system version 8.0 is being planned for the interior by the Bavarians. It has new features as well as a larger screen. The dashboard will be built in phases and will include free-standing cockpit screens as well as the I-Drive system display.
A station wagon based on the E-model?
And, in terms of motorization, what can we expect? In terms of consumption and performance, all drives have been optimized.
It’s still the 320e and 330e plug-in hybrids, which have roughly 204 and 292 horsepower, respectively.
The petrol range starts with the 318i and culminates with the M3 Competition, which has a little more than 510 horsepower. Diesel remains a problem; there are now six diesel engines available. After the LCI, it’s unclear whether there will be as many self-igniting units.
What about an electric version? In 2023, the sedan will be available with a 270 hp electric powertrain, and we’ve already located a matching Erlkönig – it’s still unknown whether an electric station wagon will be available.
The station wagon is getting a redesign as well, likely a few months after the sedan.
The Bavarians are being cautious with the model update on the outside, but the inside has a fresh design and the newest I-Drive System 8.0. It is also certain that the model series will receive an all-electric 3-series, albeit whether this would be in the form of a station wagon is unknown.
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Under the hood, we have two different-sized BMW station wagons with nearly the same fuel-saving technologies, namely a combustion engine and an electric motor. The apparent recommendation is to take the somewhat smaller 320e Touring instead of the 520e Touring because it is cheaper and more economical – or read the entire article.
The inexpensive tip’s foundation fails even with hybrid usage. Assume you travel 15,000 kilometers each year and are a dedicated Wallbox user who always starts each journey with a fully charged battery. Assume you hum two-thirds of the distance you travel without using a combustion engine. Then the 5 Series would be a little more cost-effective, as it has a 59-kilometer range instead of 55-kilometers.
Anyone who can drive fully electrically for longer distances saves money every 100 kilometers. Electricity can theoretically traverse a kilometer of distance for less money than gasoline.
In terms of maximum range, the 520e Touring has an advantage: it has a striking distance of 581 kilometers instead of 514 kilometers, due to a 46 liter tank instead of a 40 liter tank.
Both cars use a two-liter gasoline engine with 163 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque, as well as an electric motor. The latter, which draws its power from a lithium-ion battery, produces 80 kW in the 520e and three more in the 320e. Both station wagons have a system output of 204 horsepower and 350 Nm, which is transmitted to the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed torque converter.
Users of station wagons will find this feature particularly appealing: because the battery is located beneath the back seat, a portion of the charge volume is removed. The 3 Series has a fuel tank capacity of 410 to 1,420 liters, while the 5 Series has a capacity of 430 to 1,560 liters. Furthermore, the bigger model can load 576 kilos instead of 468 kilograms and can withstand 200 kilograms more on the hook when braked.
On paper, there’s adequate torque to haul weights, but the 350 Nm or 204 horsepower doesn’t seem like driving luxury. Even those who wish to overtake fast should test both models’ kick-down, which makes the four-cylinder growl.
Furthermore, the all-electric start-up can only flourish with a lot of effort and no jerks. The defined beginning torque of the e-machine, contrasting to the relatively phlegmatic starting behavior of the internal combustion engine, constantly surprises the accelerator, forcing it to adjust. Bayerische Motoren Werke’s transmissions are typically believed to be more advanced.
What’s more, the 320e has astonishingly strong springs, rumbles through holes, and tramples over bumps, despite the fact that the test car has adaptive shock absorbers and three basic set-ups, which come with a premium. Whereas the term “Comfort” is deceptive at first, we recommend “Sport,” followed by “Sport plus,” and finally “Sport Superplus” for the most difficult setting.
Of course, the 3 Series turns in naturally, and in driving dynamics testing, it easily outperforms the 5 Series. Clearly, the 320e sees itself as a sports suit, with little regard for everyday need.
Agility without remorse
When the BMW mechanics on the 520e demonstrate that they know how to fine-tune the chassis for everyday use, this one-dimensional design is called into doubt. The 5 Series combines remorseful agility with exceptional long-distance comfort, which the manufacturer has excelled at for many years and which the 3 Series also perfected – until it became mired in a never-ending cycle of comfort and harshness.
Toughness is once again the rule of the day, which doesn’t match the massive and comparably hefty car that the 3 Series Touring has evolved into. After all, the unoccupied test car weights 1,887 kg with a full tank. Only, you nearly want to write. The 5 series adds another 87 kg.
As a result, here’s a quick summary: Anyone who has always wanted a roomy mid-range station wagon with specialized sports suspension may think about the 3 Series with confidence. He also gets the automobile with the greater braking performance, by the way. Because we don’t want to keep it a secret, the 5 Series need an extra 80 cm to come to a complete stop from 100 km/h on the brakes.
Please give me an inheritance while I’m young.
When you include in the hybrid subsidy of 5,981 euros (without VAT) for models over 40,000 euros, you get a price difference of 6,600 euros. There’s no doubt about it: that’s a lot. However, if you spend this much money, you will be driving in the luxury class, with substantially superior suspension comfort and reduced interior noise, as well as a more opulent atmosphere, and you will be able to carry more people.
You are now one of the lucky ones, the lucky ones who know that the climb to the 520e Touring is absolutely worth it, because you obviously didn’t fall for the obvious suggestion at the beginning and instead read on to the conclusion.
Keyword: BMW 3 Series Touring 2023: Facelift for Station Wagon