2024 BMW 3 Series: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

Sedans may not be the darling of the automotive market anymore, but the BMW 3 Series still commands a lot of attention. From the lowest model to the M3, the 3 Series is supposed to be the ultimate driving machine. The latest 3 Series is indeed heavier and more luxurious than ever, but beneath the leather and giant screens, a dynamic and exciting driving experience still exists for someone who finds a Mercedes-Benz C300 or Lexus ES350 just a little blasé.

Despite decreased sales, the G20, or seventh-generation 3 Series, debuted all-new for the 2019 model year. Crushingly, this is the first 3 Series not to offer a manual transmission. The M3, which is not included in this guide due to the large gap in performance and price, still offers a manual transmission for the non-competition trim. That said, the M3 also sports a beaver-teeth-like front grill that requires eclipse glasses if you wish to escape without retinal damage, so the ZF 8-speed automatic may not be such a bad deal after all.

The G20 has three distinct powertrains, among other options, that should allow buyers to tailor the 3 Series to their specific use case.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. TopSpeed sourced additional data for reliability (from J.D. Power), EPA gas mileage (Fueleconomy.gov), safety ratings (IIHS), and recalls (NHTSA). We evaluate five different metrics when determining a rating for each model. You can
read our Methodology page
for more information about our rating system.

What’s New For 2024?

2024 marks the sixth year in production for the G20 3 Series. Though it’s been around for a few years now, 2023 saw the introduction of a major refresh. The exterior received a few changes, including an updated headlight and grill design, but the biggest changes were on the inside.

Instead of a more traditional gauge cluster and center stack layout, BMW integrated the 12.3-inch gauge display and 14.9-inch infotainment screen from the i4 to bring the cabin into the future. Unfortunately, despite the cutting-edge esthetics, these screens are responsible for the elimination of most physical controls. This may not be an issue for everyone, but it’s definitely something to test out before driving off the lot.

2024 Highlights

• Updated 12.3-inch gauge display and 14.9-inch infotainment screen (from 2023)
• Two powerful and reliable engine options
• Available dynamic package with adaptive dampers
• 330e plug-in hybrid capable of 73 MPGe

Exterior Dimensions

Engine Specifications And Performance

The final years of the F30 3 Series saw the debut of BMW’s modular engine range to the lineup. Gone were the troublesome N20 and N55 engines, and here to stay were the B48 and B58. The G20 is now also offered with these engines. The 330i gets the B48, (a turbocharged inline-4), which in this application produces 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The 330e receives a version of the same engine but adds an electric motor and a 12 kWh battery to the mix for 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Despite the electric motor’s added power and instant torque, the 330e weighs over 500 pounds more than the 330i, which somehow results in both hitting 60 MPH in 5.6 seconds.

With xDrive, the 330i can hustle to 60 MPH in 5.4 seconds. The M340i gets the trusty B58 inline-6, which puts out a possibly underrated 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which BMW claims can achieve 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds with the regular M340i or 4.1 seconds when equipped with xDrive. Naturally, Car and Driver managed 3.7 seconds with xDrive.

As to whether or not the G20 3 Series is worthy of the “ultimate driving machine” designation, things are looking hopeful. Reviewers speak highly of the driving dynamics but typically point out that the heft is noticeable, especially in the higher trims. The 330i is admittedly much lighter, but despite a 3,500-pound curb weight, it’s not exactly petite. The steering feel is reported to be on the numb side, but the 330i still manages to be pretty spry and direct in the corners.

The M340i does benefit from the extra power, but at over 3,800 pounds, many reviewers say the 330i might be the better option for the money if cornering is a priority. The $1,050 dynamic handling package that includes adaptive M suspension and bigger brakes may also be worth adding to the 330i if you’re the type to seek out the twisties.

Ultimate driving machine or not, the G20 still has a bit of extra spirit to make a daily commute more enjoyable.

Performance Specifications

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The Year Make Model

• 12.3-inch gauge display and 14.9-inch infotainment screen
• Multicolor, adjustable ambient lighting
• HiFi Sound System with 205-watt digital amplifier and 10 speakers
• Optional open-pore fine wood oak grain trim
• Wireless charging

The big news about BMW’s latest interior design is most definitely the screens. Manufacturers putting two giant side-by-side screens is almost becoming a cliche of 2020s car design. Despite this, something about the way BMW has integrated the looks more upmarket than the usual glued-on iPad look we’ve seen in other vehicles. Unlike some competitors, BMW has managed to make their refresh look purposeful despite the screens having to play nice with an interior not originally designed with them in mind. In fact, the main infotainment screen can be controlled through the touchscreen, voice control, or the iDrive touchpad controller, so despite the lack of buttons, you’ll still have physical controls.

Unfortunately, BMW requires additional payment for heated seats, which are only available for the front seats. The premium package costs $1,350 and includes said heated seats, a heated steering wheel with a physical button on the wheel, and a really nifty heads-up display. Thankfully, you will get some desirable features as standard, including multicolor ambient lighting, the option for beautiful open-grain oak trim, power memory front seats, and a 205-watt 10-speaker sound system.

Technology

New for 2023 and remaining for 2024 are the aforementioned curved 12.3-inch gauge display and 14.9-inch infotainment screen. The screens are big, fast, and reported to be reasonably intuitive. Unsurprisingly, BMW has joined the (hopefully) dying trend of button elimination.

It’s like manufacturers are old-school sci-fi fans desperate to get us to use voice control, which, coincidentally, the 2024 3 Series offers as standard. Despite the reduction in physical controls, the climate and radio controls don’t require a computer science degree to access, making for a more acceptable learning curve than some of the competition.

Powering the massive infotainment screen is iDrive 8, which is reported to be lightning-fast, easy to use, and even easy to read in direct sunlight. Native navigation is standard, although it’s likely most owners will opt to use the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for their navigational needs.

Perhaps the coolest tech feature offered can be found in the $700 Parking Assistant Package. In addition to the parking sensors and panoramic parking camera included in the package, the stand-out feature is called Surround View with 3D View. This uses the camera system to allow you to monitor the interior and exterior of your car from your smartphone. It may not be as comprehensive as Tesla’s sentry system, but it’s certainly a box worth ticking.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

The 2024 3 Series achieved five stars across the board in every category from the NHTSA and was the IIHS Top Safety Pick four years in a row from 2019 to 2022. Beyond the expected safety features, BMW also includes knee airbags for the driver and passenger, an impact sensor that activates a safety feature that disconnects the alternator, fuel pump, and starter from the battery, automatically unlocks doors, and turns on hazard and interior lights. There is also a protection system that detects imminent accidents and prepares for impact by automatically pretensioning safety belts, closing windows and moonroof, and activating post-crash braking. BMW charges extra for a lot of features, but they definitely aren’t stingy on safety.

The G20 is, dare I say, pretty reliable. The B58, thanks possibly to input from Toyota during development, has turned out to be a very stout engine. The B48, which is based on the B58, has also earned itself a reputation for being a fairly durable engine. Yes, they both have some minor issues, but unlike the catastrophic problems N20 and N55 owners had to deal with, the newer modular engines are a pretty safe bet. Sadly, a reputation for reliability takes years to earn, and BMW’s checkered past as it relates to this issue is enough to steer many buyers away from the brand entirely. The 330e is more of a gamble than the 330i and M340i, but the 2024 3 Series lineup received an 80/100 for projected reliability from J.D. Power.

Driver Assistance Features

Typical of luxury manufacturers, BMW puts most of its driver assistance features behind a paywall despite the fact even a $25,000 Honda Civic has these features as standard. What you do get as standard besides the backup camera is Frontal Collision Warning and Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking. To get the usual suite of assistance features, including lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, you’ll have to spring for the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package.

That package also includes a traffic jam assistant that can drive the car in traffic up to 40 MPH to help make the commute home less stressful. If that’s a bit fancy for you and all you really need is blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and parking sensors, the $700 Driving Assistance Package has you covered. Thankfully, it’s not all that expensive relative to the MSRP. However, you’ll still have to select those option packages to take advantage of the awesome driver assistance tech that comes as standard in most competitors.

• Frontal Collision Warning
• Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking
• Active Cruise Control
• Lane Keeping Assistant and Lane Change Assistant
• Parking Assistant Plus

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 1
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: Only one complaint is listed for the 2024 MY. The driver reports driving in EV mode into a parking garage and experiencing sudden unintended acceleration. The brakes were reported to have been ineffective, and the vehicle crashed into the parking garage wall without his input.
• Awards:Top Safety Pick 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

Warranties

BMW offers a limited warranty for 4 years or 50,000 miles. They have a variety of maintenance plans ranging from $850 to $5,249, but all 2022 and newer vehicles sold or leased by an authorized BMW dealership will get coverage for 3 years or 36,000 miles. This coverage does not include wear items like brake pads, brake rotors, or tires. BMW also provides a 4-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance package in case you get a flat or suffer a breakdown.

2024 BMW 3 Series Versus Its Competitors

For as long as most of us can remember, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have occupied the top spots in the luxury segment. Brands like Lexus and Acura aren’t exactly underdogs anymore, but they tend to prioritize reliability and comfort over top-tier tech and performance. They’re more of a “sofa on the road” approach than a daily driver that can do track duty.

The German brands, on the other hand, have always been on the cutting edge. Mercedes-Benz tends to lean more towards luxury and power, BMW towards performance and handling, and Audi usually finds the Goldilocks zone between the two. It seems only fair, then, to compare the 3 Series to the Audi A4/S4 and Mercedes-Benz C300/C43.

How The BMW 3 Series Compares To The Audi A4

• 	2024 BMW 3 Series	2024 Audi A4
  Model	2024 BMW 3 Series	Audi A4
  Engine	Turbocharged 2.0-L four-cylinder / turbocharged/12 kWh Battery (330e) 3.0-L inline-six w/ 48-volt hybrid system	2.0-Liter Inline-Four
  Transmission	8-speed automatic	Seven-Speed DCT
  Horsepower	255 – 382 HP	201 – 261
  Torque	295 – 369 LB-FT	236 – 273 LB-FT
  Driveline	RWD and AWD	AWD
  MSRP	$45,495 – $60,595	$41,200-$51,300
  0-60 MPH	3.7 seconds – 5.2 seconds	5.2 – 6.3 Seconds

Audi is sort of the Subaru of German luxury cars…well, at least when it comes to how many wheels power the car. Audi has Quattro as standard on almost every single one of its cars today. Yes, some vehicles like the A3 come standard with FWD, but for the most part, with Audi, you get power driving all four wheels. Audi has also listened to its customers when it comes to the implementation of tech.

Buttons and knobs operate the most essential functions like climate control and heated seats, and the infotainment has some capacitive touch buttons for specific commonly used menu screens. This makes for a safer driving experience than the screen-heavy BMW and Mercedes. On a technical level, however, the Audi falls short of the 3 Series in crash testing. Though the A4 and S4 earned five stars in most categories, they only received four stars for the front rating.

On the tech side, all the driver assistance features that require the BMW “Driving Assistance Professional Package” come standard in the A4, like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Additionally, Audi has heated seats as standard, something you’ll be charged extra for in the BMW. Audi’s virtual cockpit might have the edge over BMW’s gauge cluster screen, not only because it has been integrated more thoughtfully but also because of how customizable it is. That said, BMW’s gauge cluster isn’t far behind.

Power-wise, the 3 Series has the A4 and S4 beat. The 40 TFSI 2.0-liter engine produces 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft, while the 45 TFSI pumps out a more competitive 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The more powerful engine can rocket the A4 to 60 MPH in 5.3 seconds, just edging out the 330i xDrive. If power isn’t a concern, the 40 TFSI Premium starts at only $41,900.

The 45 TFSI will set you back $44,100, which is still cheaper than a RWD 330i, but only by $500. The Audi’s M340i competitor, the S4, adds a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 to the mix that’s good for 349 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The S4 starts at only $54,500 and can get as pricey as $61,800 for the top dog prestige trim. It’ll reach 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds, according to Audi, but Car and Driver managed 4.2 on their test.

The 3 Series has its perks. It’s safer, more powerful, and more engaging to drive. That said, dollar for dollar, the A4 and S4 might be too good a value to pass up.

How The BMW 3 Series Compares To Mercedes-Benz C-Class

• 	2024 BMW 3 Series	2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan
  Model	2024 BMW 3 Series	Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  Engine	Turbocharged 2.0-L four-cylinder / turbocharged/12 kWh Battery (330e) 3.0-L inline-six w/ 48-volt hybrid system	2.0-liter Turbo, 48-Volt Mild Hybrid/Hybrid Assist
  Transmission	8-speed automatic	9-Speed Automatic
  Horsepower	255 – 382 HP	255 – 402 HP
  Torque	295 – 369 LB-FT	295 – 369 LB-FT
  Driveline	RWD and AWD	RWD, AWD
  MSRP	$45,495 – $60,595	$46,950 – $60,700

In the 21st century, Mercedes-Benz has been known for its charismatic, durable engines and for leading the charge when it comes to technology and luxury. It’s quickly leaving the charismatic engines behind in favor of small-displacement four-cylinders, but it’s still leading the charge on the tech front. The C-Class comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an 11.9-inch infotainment screen. Though it’s far from tacky, the central screen and gauge cluster aren’t quite as well integrated as the A4 or 3 Series, but that ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for hard buttons, Mercedes may not be the brand for you. Thankfully, this doesn’t prevent the standard tech from being pretty darn cool. Perhaps the most remarkable feature is biometric authentication, which allows you to personalize up to 800 settings to your driver profile and access those preferences with your thumbprint. It should even recognize your voice.

Mercedes also offers packages that offer more features, like a Burmester 3D surround sound system, ambient lighting, ventilated seats, MB navigation, and Guard 360. The list of available features is so long that these are just dipping your toe in. The C-Class does come with more standard safety features than the 3 Series, like blind spot monitoring, adaptive braking, and something called “PRE-SAFE Sound,” which is designed to mitigate the effects of a collision on occupants’ hearing, according to Mercedes. That said, much like the 3 Series, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, and other driver assistance features will require you to purchase the Driver Assitance Package for $1,950.

As for engines, the C300 hasn’t had a V-6 since the W204 generation, which ended production in 2014. That wasn’t all that surprising or depressing a change. However, previous iterations of the C43 offered the fabulous M276 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 that really made the car feel special. Sadly, while the new C43 offers an impressive 402 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque from its M139 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, it just doesn’t feel special.

BMW and Audi offer six-cylinder engines in their mid-level performance models (S4 and M340i), making the price jump feel a bit more earned. That said, you’re ultimately paying for the specs, the quintessential Mercedes-Benz luxury, and cutting-edge safety tech, and on that front, you’re actually getting quite a lot.

Although Mercedes may be more expensive than its competitors, it has some of the best tech in the business, and it may be worth a look just for that.

How Much Does A 2024 BMW 3 Series Cost?

The gap between the 330i and 330e is only $1,100, so you won’t have to agonize over the decision regarding cost. The agony will be deciding between a nimble, 3,500-pound, almost sports sedan and a 4,100-pound luxury cruiser. The RWD M340i commands an astonishing $13,100 premium over its four-cylinder brother.

Of course, you’re getting more cylinders, more power, a 48-volt mild hybrid system, brake regen, better suspension and brakes, and an M-Sport differential as standard. In the 330i, you can opt for the $1,400 Dynamic Handling Package, which gets you the M-Sport Suspension and brakes as well as variable-ratio steering. That said, unless the B58 is a dealbreaker, the 330i and 330i xDrive are the best value for money on the performance side.

Fuel Economy

As one would expect, the 330e is the choice for fuel economy enthusiasts. In RWD spec, the 330e can achieve an impressive 73 MPGe and is only penalized slightly by opting for xDrive. The remarkable mileage is thanks to the 12 kWh battery that can power the car in EV mode for up to 22 miles. If the complexity of a plug-in hybrid system feels risky, you can always opt for the RWD 330i, which, despite its considerable power, can still achieve 25 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. Surprisingly, the M340i is hot on the heels of the 330i, even with its two extra cylinders. It does have a 48-volt mild hybrid system helping it out, but it’s still an impressive display of just how fuel-efficient the B48 and B58 really are.

GAS/HYBRIDS

(Estimated fuel costs assume an average of 15,000/year and use the national average fuel price of $3.39)

Is It Worth Buying The BMW 3-Series?

As with generations past, the 3 Series has some steep competition. As a spectacle of luxury and technology, the C-Class remains the top dog. The A4 and S4 are the most well-rounded and come with the most impressive suite of standard features. The A4 is the quickest of the non-performance models, but the S4 falls short of the M340i and the incredibly rapid C43 AMG. The A4 and S4 are also the cheapest, despite the vast selection of standard options and features.

If you need a dependable luxury car with some pep in its step, standard AWD, a reliable powertrain, and tons of standard equipment, it’s hard to ignore the A4. That said, performance is where BMW shows that it’s still what BMW does best. For pure driving dynamics alone, the 330i and M340i are still the best in class. The C43 AMG may be faster, and the S4 is better value, but the 3 Series proves yet again that it’s the ultimate driving machine.