35 Votes

Photos Comparison: 2008 BMW 3 Series vs. 2009 3 Series Facelift

BMWBlog submitted on 8/8/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:26:22 AM

38 user comments | Category: Reviews | Source: | SOURCE: www.bmwblog.com

I have been meaning to do this for a while since we received a lot of request from people that would like to see the design changes between the current 2008 BMW 3 Series and the upcoming ‘09 3 Series Facelift.

There are a few comparison shots, the first three of them show the exterior front differences while the other focusing on the exterior rear changes. The last images will give you a side-by-side photo comparison between the two models and that should give you a better idea of what has changed and if this was a needed change.

In my opinion, BMW did a really good job, it is by far one of the best facelifts I have seen so far and it almost makes me sad that I didn’t wait a few more months to get the facelifted version.

P.S The new hood gives the car an amazing sporty look.

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Photos Comparison: 2008 BMW 3 Series vs. 2009 3 Series Facelift

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— BMWBlog (View Profile)

User Comments

Nice improvement -- the 2009 looks much more agressive.
— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 11:34:00 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

It's still a car that needs the 18" rims to look agressive. Despite the increase in rear track, it still looks under-rimmed with 17s and awful with 16s.

I have a 335 with the 162 rims (18s). A friend has a 325 with 16s and to look at them, you would think they are entirely different cars.
— lewishamiltonpimp (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 5:23:56 PM | | Votes: 5

lewishamiltonpimp:
i think this idea applies to every car.
almost every car will look good with bigger wheels and look bad with smaller wheels
— dayday (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 9:21:31 PM | | Votes: 5

So basically:
1- Someone held a Blowtorch to the Front (Centre) and let Gravity do a bit of work.
2- Someone else changed most of the Bulbs to LEDs and inserted Larger Wing Mirrors

EXTERIOR MODS COMPLETED
— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 8/10/2008 1:07:44 PM | | Votes: 0

Great facelift BMW, but the 330d loose in the comparison test with Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro in Germany. http://www.autozeitung.de/vergleichstest/diesel-vergleichstest-bmw-3er-audi-a4-mercedes-c-klasse
— walterwillemsen (View Profile)

Posted on 11/1/2008 2:29:47 PM | | Votes: 1

Yes-The rear end finally lost the frumpy look. Overall the car looks more sleek.
— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 11:50:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

just BARELY lost the frumpy look. The back end still needs work IMO, but overall a definite improvement. The front looks awesome.
— NARunner (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:14:26 PM | | Votes: 4

MUCH better! Good job BMW, you actually remade the 3 so it wouldn't hurt my eyes when looking at it.
— GTR35 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 11:52:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I like the 09 a lot more.
— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 11:58:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

To be honest to you guys, because i am not a BMW fanatic, i never scrutinized every angle of view and every little surface detail, and every little headlamp material used on the 08 3 series, but i remember very well the overall image of the car, and to be truthful, the 09 car looks very much the same with changes so subtle that when i look at the 09 model, it to me looks like the exact same car. Nothing to get me excited. Sorry folks.
— farabira1 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 12:08:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

this is MMC, you cannot expect much change.
— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 1:08:54 PM | | Votes: 1

FARABIRA1...I agree 100%. Not a noticable change at all....if they were not next to one another i wouldnt have even thought about it.
— NISSANINFINITI (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 5:15:06 PM | | Votes: 1

I'm of the mind that if these changes require that one point them out in a side-by-side comparison to be noticeable, they're hardly newsworthy...
— DaHarder (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 12:37:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

im with you ...id have never noticed out on the road at all.
— NISSANINFINITI (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 5:16:08 PM | | Votes: 1

Looks great. Love the headlights (hopefully projectors will now be standard) and the rear end as well as the new mirrors. Although the rear still isnt my cup of tea its worlds better than that of the 2008 model. Nice Job
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 12:53:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

They need to have exhaust on both sides on the 328.
That being said, it should be on the 528, 535, and 550 as well.
— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 1:22:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Totally agree with you. I have a 535i and wondered why they exhaust was not like that of the 335i.
— FitzLA (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 1:49:16 PM | | Votes: 0

very simple -- it's because the 5-Series gets a spare tire, the 3-Series doesn't. The dual exhaust won't fit with a spare, and non-sport 5-Series models don't have runflats. On a 328 where the spare normally would be there's extra storage. On a 335i that space is absent because of the dual exhaust. Not a big deal on a 3-series since they all have runflats, you're just losing the extra storage bin. Can't do that with a 5-series since that's not extra storage, there's a spare tire in there.
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:04:49 PM | | Votes: 7

I like the 2008 better...looks cleaner.
— hatepusss (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 2:15:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

the bottom front spoiler of the car looks much better now.
— 07mcs (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:10:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

3-series has got to be the most ubiquitous, monotonous and boring cars of all time. Might as well have a sign on your head: "void of all imagination".
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:20:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

The 3-Series boring? Take a test a drive in one and you'll realize how wrong you are.
— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:28:08 PM | | Votes: 1

Absolutley. You have to drive one for a week. It's the complete package.

I've been driving 6 for 18 years :)

Number 7 will will in the drive in Feb.
— lewishamiltonpimp (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 5:19:25 PM | | Votes: 4

auto001, you should have a sign on your forehead that states, " VOID OF ANY BRAIN MATTER " !!
— bmwman1963 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/12/2008 1:08:03 PM | | Votes: 1

Is BMW only refreshing the sedan? I want to see (if there is one) the coupe refreshment. Not that it needs a facelift. One of the sexiest cars on the road.
— M1k3 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:58:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

The coupe was new in '07 so probably a mild refresh in 2010.
— lewishamiltonpimp (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 5:20:17 PM | | Votes: 4

I think BMW neglect this car a lot. I mean they should focus on it the most. It's the most important car in their lineup.
— Speedoholic (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 3:59:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

How do they neglect it the most? Wonderful engine in the 335i. Great suspension. steering is tight and involving. The coupe has great lines and the new 3-series sedan for 2009 has a much more aggressive and sporty stance to it. I currently own a 2006 330xi and have seen the 2009 3-series up close and personal. It looks alot different in person. Alot more radical swage creases in the sheet metal and a more drastic and assertive appearance.
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 4:48:07 PM | | Votes: 5

The only think I don't like better on the 2009 is the taillights. I like the 2008 taillights better. But everything else is an improvement on an already great car.
— kut17 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 8:04:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Yawn...these cars are boring.
— nozferatu (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 2:11:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

What a freakin' loser "Staar" is, which also includes his numerous profiles to boost his idiotic comments.
— FactsRule (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 9:18:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Totally agree, one of the most boring cars on the market, dull looks and a bland interior!
— ubercool (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 4:51:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Not a big change. for the simple fact that they have to circle and use big red arrows to show the differences.
— NISSANINFINITI (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 5:18:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

For the first time the 3 series sedan looks good. It should have been like this since the get-go.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/9/2008 11:37:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Great facelift BMW, but the 330d loose in the comparison test with Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro in Germany. http://www.autozeitung.de/vergleichstest/diesel-vergleichstest-bmw-3er-audi-a4-mercedes-c-klasse
— walterwillemsen (View Profile)

Posted on 11/1/2008 2:27:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Photos Comparison: 2008 BMW 3 Series vs. 2009 3 Series Facelift

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