BMW 3-Series Coupé and Convertible facelift (2010): first official pictures

By John Burton

First Official Pictures

17 January 2010 00:01

BMW is pepping up its 3-series Coupé and Convertible ranges in March 2010 – including the M3 – to bring them into line with the current Saloon and Touring. As well as a range of cosmetic pick-me-ups, there will be a reinvigorated range of cleaner, more powerful engines.

The new 2010 BMW 3-series Coupé and Convertible: a light touch

The updates to the 3-Series Coupé and Convertible are subtle. Up front, the new models sport revised chrome-edged kidney grilles. The lights have been reworked with white LED corona rings and illuminated ‘eyebrows’ to give them added glitter. There’s also a new front air dam with a single large air intake to give the car a wider and lower appearance.

The twisted lines on the side valance draw the eye along the flanks, over the new wheels to the sportier rear bumper, enhancing the more serious gait of the Coupé and Convertible.

The engines in the revised models are modified in their quest for that motoring Holy Grail: more for less. The 335i doesn’t manage to generate any more (sticking with 302bhp and 295lb ft), but it does come with an 8% reduction in fuel consumption, and a 10% drop in emissions. That’s a VED band drop from K to J, which is good. But it’s a saving of £0, which isn’t. Anyway, BMW is steadily doing its bit.

The BMW Thrifty-Series

In fact, BMW is doing rather well on the emissions front. At the other end of the range, the 320d has been cajoled into propelling the 3-series Coupé from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds (down from 7.9) and on to a top speed of 147mph. That’s impressive for a car that can do over 60 miles on a single gallon of diesel, with emissions of just 125g/km.

Despite these figures, it is the 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon about which BMW shouts loudest. This miserly beast has been tickled to return figures of 68.9mpg and 109g/km. At £35 per year VED, this car symbolises a line in the sand for the competition. Disappointingly, there is no ED version of the Coupé or Convertible in the pipeline yet.

Prices for the 3-series Coupé start at £27,845 for the 320i SE, rising to £52,730 for the BMW M3. If the Convertible is more your style, it’s yours for between £32,905-56,740.

By John Burton