3 Series (G20) BMW G20 3 Series LCI - First Official Pics!

[Merc1]

Absolutely. The LCI G20 is peak BMW.

I Can't think of any other recent bimmer except the E46 M3 and 2nd gen X5 that have looked this well good looking proportionate from any angle.

I would put the current 5 FL in there too. The M550i is nearly perfect. If anything it’s too tame and good looking next to all these new bizarre looking BMWs.

M

 

[Centurion]

I would put the current 5 FL in there too. The M550i is nearly perfect. If anything it’s too tame and good looking next to all these new bizarre looking BMWs.

M

Good mention. The pre-facelift G30 was soft looking from the rear, and from a distance, a bit mistakable for a F10. However, the LCI is E39 level handsome and sharp without being overly jagged or geometrical like the G70.

 

[SKY]

Sat in an LCI M340i the other day and played around quite a bit with the UI and new controls. It's shite - an absolute backward step in terms of usability.
Frikken have to swipe the screen to get to HVAC settings just to hit the recirculate button which I do on a regular basis because I don't want to smell some old piece of junk's fumes or the smoke from a winter's "veld" fire.
Gear toggle is an insult - just like it is in a regular 911. Levers are ergomically superior - that's why GTx cars get 'em.
Even the curved screen can't help but come across as low rent compared to the far prettier layout of the pre-LCI. Hugely disappointed and there's nothing I can do about it except suck it up and learn to live with it.

Edit - oh, and the display graphics for revs and speed make me want to puke. < >

Sad review to read, honestly. The 3er had one of my favourite interior design on any car. And yet BMW has decided to follow this silly trend of getting rid of everything inside the car besides the steering wheel, the seats and that stupid huge screen.

A pitty, cause the LCI exterior looks superb.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Sad review to read, honestly. The 3er had one of my favourite interior design on any car. And yet BMW has decided to follow this silly trend of getting rid of everything inside the car besides the steering wheel, the seats and that stupid huge screen.

A pitty, cause the LCI exterior looks superb.

I adore the interior of my M4 without the LCI screen.

Sure the screen and drivers diplays could be brighter, and the navigation graphics in the driver's display are completely old hat, but the ergonomics and design are on point. The build is solid as a tank and the finish with the extended Merino leather is perfectly fine for its station in life.

@martinbo its Decemeber here and still not hot enough to gauge the snap, crackle and pop. Or maybe it really doesn't exist as you say. The only disturbance is some creaking from the window seals. Typical for flameless doors in pur climate and nothing a bit of lubrication won't solve.

 

[Centurion]

Sure the screen and drivers diplays could be brighter, and the navigation graphics in the driver's display are completely old hat, but the ergonomics and design are on point. The build is solid as a tank and the finish with the extended Merino leather is perfectly fine for its station in life.

The LCI screen will pay off once full CarPlay and AndroidAuto integration launch in 2024/2025. It will enable drivers to fully replace the over-designed UI/visuals for the instrument cluster. I look forward to it as dislike BMW's current speedometers and rev counters.

 

[J.E]

M340i xDrive is the sweet spot of the 3-series range.

 

[klier]

M340i xDrive is the sweet spot of the 3-series range.

If you want to pay 100k for a 3er, then sure it is.

Personally, I think it's wildly overpriced. At least here in my country. Which is a shame because it's the only 'real' BMW in the 3er line. The others are severely underpowered and/or powered by a tractor engine..

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

The LCI screen will pay off once full CarPlay and AndroidAuto integration launch in 2024/2025. It will enable drivers to fully replace the over-designed UI/visuals for the instrument cluster. I look forward to it as dislike BMW's current speedometers and rev counters.

Interesting. But it's still ugly as.

 

[martinbo]

A pitty, cause the LCI exterior looks superb.

Yip, agreed, even the rear with M-Sport bumper doesn't look as bad as I thought it would - although the rear of the pre-LCI is easily better looking, Front-end of the LCI looks better - no doubt there.

Sure the screen and drivers diplays could be brighter, and the navigation graphics in the driver's display are completely old hat, but the ergonomics and design are on point. The build is solid as a tank and the finish with the extended Merino leather is perfectly fine for its station in life.

Build solidity is actually surprising for me. Feels better screwed together than just about anything I've ever been. Only the less-than-lux materials in certain places bring it down. Ergonomics are fine - certainly far better than LCI. The squiggles in the driver's display masquerading as "navigation" are just useless.
When you say for its station in life, I say it actually punches above that. A 992's interior by comparison is nothing special at all.

@martinbo its Decemeber here and still not hot enough to gauge the snap, crackle and pop. Or maybe it really doesn't exist as you say. The only disturbance is some creaking from the window seals. Typical for flameless doors in pur climate and nothing a bit of lubrication won't solve.

Last year this time was my first summer with my G20. If I tell you, the interior looks and feels the same today, you wouldn't believe me. Still no rattles from anywhere in the interior except for barely perceptible flex creaking from the sun roof in the morning backing out over driveway curb onto the street. So, here's hoping you experience the same with yours with that more special interior.

The LCI screen will pay off once full CarPlay and AndroidAuto integration launch in 2024/2025. It will enable drivers to fully replace the over-designed UI/visuals for the instrument cluster. I look forward to it as dislike BMW's current speedometers and rev counters.

Screw that. I'm not spending a truck ton of money on a car just for its displays to be a presentation medium for my phone. The look and feel of the UI is part of the overall product identity and in itself should feel special and distinctive.

 

[Centurion]

Screw that. I'm not spending a truck ton of money on a car just for its displays to be a presentation medium for my phone. The look and feel of the UI is part of the overall product identity and in itself should feel special and distinctive.

I'm turd polishing here.

 

[empower77]

Absolutely. The LCI G20 is peak BMW.

I Can't think of any other recent bimmer except the E46 M3 and 2nd gen X5 that have looked this well good looking proportionate from any angle.

To be fair, I like the current X5, the new X1, the current LCI 5 and the last LCI 7 as well. Good looking stuff

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

M340i xDrive is the sweet spot of the 3-series range.

It's funny, with the 5er, I'd be very happy with a 540i Xdrive. But with the 3er, I'd be very content with a 330i.

That said, my current fantasy 2-car garage is the LCI 540i Xdrive and the GT4 RS (or the 992 GT3...the 992 gen's front suspension does make the choice difficult). I'd be very, very happy with that.

 

[martinbo]

But with the 3er, I'd be very content with a 330i.

And you’d have such a complete car. The lighter, less mechanically involved 330i with M-Sport is my pick for sweet spot in the range. The only thing it doesn’t have going for it is the aural tone of the bigger six. For the rest of it, it’s smooth, punchy and a great all rounder. The only reason I didn’t go for the 330i for company use is the fuel economy compared to the 320d. Given the high fuel price in SA of late, it was the right decision.

 

[Centurion]

It's funny, with the 5er, I'd be very happy with a 540i Xdrive. But with the 3er, I'd be very content with a 330i.

That said, my current fantasy 2-car garage is the LCI 540i Xdrive and the GT4 RS (or the 992 GT3...the 992 gen's front suspension does make the choice difficult). I'd be very, very happy with that.

I have driven an 530d xdrive with adaptive suspension and an M340i. Both are complete forever cars. Although the 3-Series is comfortable, the refinement in sound insulation and ride quality + fit and finish, makes the 5-Series a nicer place to be. If equipped with comfort seats, comfort is

However, if you spend little time on motorways then the M340i is all the BMW you need.

 

[Uygar]

When are we gonna see the prototypes for the next gen 3er? Do you guys have any idea?

 

[leylandi]

next year

 

[klier]

next year

Next year is in a few weeks, you could be a little more specific

Also, the next 3er is supposed to be a facelift of the current car just heavily modified to go with the looks of the NK 3er.

 

[Gor134]

Next year is in a few weeks, you could be a little more specific

Also, the next 3er is supposed to be a facelift of the current car just heavily modified to go with the looks of the NK 3er.

Thought the G20 is getting a second facelift in 2024, and then the G50 next-gen is coming in 2027/8.

 

[Uygar]

Why are they giving it a second facelift? I thought the first NK model was gonna be the 3er with a release around 2025 or something.

Thought the G20 is getting a second facelift in 2024, and then the G50 next-gen is coming in 2027/8.

 

[Titot]

Recently, I went to the 2022 Bangkok Motor Expo where I saw the G20 LCI and the all new G70 for the first time in person-real life.

Here are the comparisons between the pre-surgery face: 330Li G28 and post-surgery faces: 320d and 330e at the exact same event (they are all dressed in the M Sport kit).