2008 BMW 3 Series Sedan (E90) 320i 6MT (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

With the Euro 5 emission standards approaching in Europe, BMW needed to upgrade its lineup, so in late 2008, the German automaker introduced the LCI version for the 3 Series range.

While some automakers just launched their new cars in 2008, which were already compliant with the Euro 5 emission standards, BMW needed only to improve the 3 Series via a facelift, or LCI as it likes to call it (Life Cycle Impulse). But it did more than that. It also adjusted the car’s exterior and interior before installing fresh engines under its hood. In addition, it also improved some parts that were not on par with the brand’s high-quality standards. The 3 Series sedan, which was the best-selling model in the automaker’s inventory, was unveiled in October 2008 alongside its station wagon sibling, also known as the Touring in Europe or Sports Wagon in the U.S.

The German automaker was already a master in creating subtle yet significant changes to the LCI versions of its vehicles. As a result, the 2009 BMW 3 Series Sedan (E90) appeared with new headlights featuring LED turn signals. In addition, customers could opt for bi-xenon lights, with corona rings (daytime running lights) that created a more upscale look to the vehicle. The redesigned kidney grille between them didn’t sport the chromed set of eyebrows above them like on its predecessor, and the hood was also new. In addition, for specific, higher-powered engine versions, the vertical slats inside the kidney grille were chromed, while the rest of the range had them black. These changes also affected the shape of the lower bumper, which sported reshaped lower air intakes with more rounded upper inner corners.

From its profile, the creased line that ran from the front fenders to the rear, over the doors, was emphasized to create a dynamic effect for the sporty sedan. New designs for the wheels, which ranged in size from 16 to 18 inches, made the car look young again. The door mirrors were also replaced, and they featured an enlarged field of vision, thanks to the convex/concave mirror systems. At the back, the 2009 BMW 3 Series Sedan (E90) had LEDs for the turn signal lamps and other lights. One of the most noticeable differences between the non-facelifted and the facelifted version was seen in the reversing lights, where the 2009 model year came with small-sized ones instead of the larger ones of its predecessor.

BMW also upgraded the interior of the 3 Series, especially the available iDrive infotainment system that featured an 8.8-inch high-quality display, so the images shown there didn’t appear blurry anymore. The system could also store up to 8 GB of music in its internal hard drive. Base versions, without that, allowed playing from USB devices such as memory sticks or MP3 players. The instrument cluster showed the classic BMW dials with the large speedometer and tachometer flanked by smaller gauges for the fuel level and coolant temperature.

Technically, the upgraded version of the E90 received the most important update. Under the hood, BMW installed a range of engines between 143 PS (141 hp) and 306 PS (302 hp) paired with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions that sent the power to the rear axle or in all corners for specific versions. To increase cornering abilities, the automaker also enlarged the rear track. Thanks to all these feats, the 3 Series Sedan (E90) sales didn’t drop too much during the financial crisis that started just a month before the car’s introduction.