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

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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HSCenterconsole - 8/8/2008 11:34:00 AM

+5 Boost

Nice improvement -- the 2009 looks much more agressive.

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/8/2008 5:23:56 PM

+5 Boost

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.

dayday - 8/8/2008 9:21:31 PM

+5 Boost

lewishamiltonpimp:
i think this idea applies to every car.
almost every car will look good with bigger wheels and look bad with smaller wheels

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/10/2008 1:07:44 PM

0 Boost

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

walterwillemsen - 11/1/2008 2:29:47 PM

+1 Boost

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

mini22 - 8/8/2008 11:50:23 AM

+4 Boost

Yes-The rear end finally lost the frumpy look. Overall the car looks more sleek.

NARunner - 8/8/2008 3:14:26 PM

+4 Boost

just BARELY lost the frumpy look. The back end still needs work IMO, but overall a definite improvement. The front looks awesome.

GTR35 - 8/8/2008 11:52:24 AM

+1 Boost

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

Htay7500 - 8/8/2008 11:58:13 AM

+3 Boost

I like the 09 a lot more.

farabira1 - 8/8/2008 12:08:18 PM

+2 Boost

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.

ghosthunter - 8/8/2008 1:08:54 PM

+1 Boost

this is MMC, you cannot expect much change.

NISSANINFINITI - 8/9/2008 5:15:06 PM

+1 Boost

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.

DaHarder - 8/8/2008 12:37:46 PM

+2 Boost

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...

NISSANINFINITI - 8/9/2008 5:16:08 PM

+1 Boost

im with you ...id have never noticed out on the road at all.

w209w114 - 8/8/2008 12:53:58 PM

+6 Boost

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

JRobUSC - 8/8/2008 3:04:49 PM

+7 Boost

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.

07mcs - 8/8/2008 3:10:03 PM

+5 Boost

the bottom front spoiler of the car looks much better now.

sector - 8/8/2008 3:20:11 PM

-6 Boost

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".

HSCenterconsole - 8/8/2008 3:28:08 PM

+1 Boost

The 3-Series boring? Take a test a drive in one and you'll realize how wrong you are.

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/8/2008 5:19:25 PM

+4 Boost

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.

bmwman1963 - 8/12/2008 1:08:03 PM

+1 Boost

auto001, you should have a sign on your forehead that states, " VOID OF ANY BRAIN MATTER " !!

M1k3 - 8/8/2008 3:58:37 PM

+2 Boost

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.

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/8/2008 5:20:17 PM

+4 Boost

The coupe was new in '07 so probably a mild refresh in 2010.

Speedoholic - 8/8/2008 3:59:56 PM

-3 Boost

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.

BMW4me4ever - 8/8/2008 4:48:07 PM

+5 Boost

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.

kut17 - 8/8/2008 8:04:21 PM

+2 Boost

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.

nozferatu - 8/9/2008 2:11:28 AM

0 Boost

Yawn...these cars are boring.

FactsRule - 8/9/2008 9:18:37 AM

0 Boost

What a freakin' loser "Staar" is, which also includes his numerous profiles to boost his idiotic comments.

ubercool - 8/9/2008 4:51:26 PM

-1 Boost

Totally agree, one of the most boring cars on the market, dull looks and a bland interior!

NISSANINFINITI - 8/9/2008 5:18:05 PM

+2 Boost

Not a big change. for the simple fact that they have to circle and use big red arrows to show the differences.

Agent63 - 8/9/2008 11:37:05 PM

0 Boost

For the first time the 3 series sedan looks good. It should have been like this since the get-go.

walterwillemsen - 11/1/2008 2:27:57 PM

+1 Boost

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