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2016 BMW 3 Series: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 13, 2026
The biggest change for the 2016 BMW 3 Series is a mid-cycle refresh for the sedan and Sports Wagon, with cleaner styling and revised suspension and steering tuning. The lineup also gains the 340i and its stronger turbocharged six-cylinder engine, while the 330e becomes the first plug-in hybrid 3 Series.
About the 2016 BMW 3 Series
6th generation 3 Series family, mid-cycle refresh year for the sedan and Sports Wagon; 330e joins mid-year.
BMW positions the 3 Series as the heart of the brand: a compact luxury car family built around sharp handling, balanced road feel, and everyday usability. In 2016 that identity stretches across several flavors — entry sedan, stronger four-cylinder, diesel long-distance cruiser, wagon, additional all-wheel-drive variants, plug-in hybrid, and six-cylinder performance sedan — but the common thread is a driver-focused feel that is more engaging than a typical small luxury car.
The 2016 lineup ranges from the straightforward 320i to the stronger 328i, while diesel sedans and all-wheel-drive wagons focus on long-distance driving and practicality. The 340i is the performance-focused model short of the M3, with 320 horsepower, LED headlights, keyless entry, a moonroof, and Harman Kardon audio. The 330e pairs a gas engine with an electric motor for commuting on electric power while retaining a gas engine for longer trips.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
The rear-wheel-drive 335i sedan was replaced by the 340i, powered by a new 320-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The 335i xDrive name changed to 340i xDrive. The 330e plug-in hybrid joined later in the model year, while the ActiveHybrid 3 was dropped.
Styling
Sedan and Sports Wagon models received revised front and rear lighting and updated exterior details. Sport Line trim also became standard on many 328i, 328d, 340i, wagon, and all-wheel-drive variants.
Structural
BMW retuned the suspension, dampers, and steering on the sedan and Sports Wagon to sharpen their road manners.
Tech
Standard equipment expanded across much of the range. Most trims gained a standard alarm system, while selected six-cylinder models added features such as keyless entry, premium audio, satellite radio, and LED headlights as standard equipment.
2016 BMW 3 Series specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Trbo Dsl, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, SULEV, Turbo, 2.0L / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.0T | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Trbo Dsl, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, SULEV, Turbo, 2.0L | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Trbo Dsl, 2.0L | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, SULEV, Turbo, 2.0L | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter |
| Transmission | Auto, 8-Spd Steptronic | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport / Manual, 6-Spd | Auto, 8-Spd Stptnc Manual | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Steptronic | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport | Auto, 8-Spd Sport |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD | RWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Diesel | Gas | Plug-In Hybrid | Gas | Gas | Diesel | Gas | Gas | Diesel | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 24 mpg | 32 mpg | 22–23 mpg | 22 mpg | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | 20 mpg | |
| MPG Highway | 36 mpg | 42 mpg | 34–35 mpg | 33 mpg | 35 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | 33 mpg | 40 mpg | 34 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | |
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 180 hp | 240 hp | 320 hp | 180 hp | 180 hp | 240 hp | 320 hp | 180 hp | 241 hp | 240 hp | 320 hp | |
| Torque | 200 lb-ft | 280 lb-ft | 255 lb-ft | 215 lb-ft | 330 lb-ft | 200 lb-ft | 280 lb-ft | 255 lb-ft | 330 lb-ft | 280 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | 255 lb-ft | 330 lb-ft |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Electric Range | 14 | ||||||||||||
| MPGe Combined | 72 | ||||||||||||
| Adaptive Headlights | |||||||||||||
| Alarm System | |||||||||||||
| Automatic High Beams | |||||||||||||
| Automatic Leveling Headlights | |||||||||||||
| Blindspot Sensors with Auto Brake | |||||||||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||||||||||
| Park Assist | |||||||||||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||||||||||
| Side View Cameras | |||||||||||||
| Top View Camera | |||||||||||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||||||
| Fog Lights | |||||||||||||
| HID Headlights | |||||||||||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||||||||||
| LED Headlights | |||||||||||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||||||||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | |||||||||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||||||
| Roof Rails | |||||||||||||
| Navigation System | |||||||||||||
| Premium Audio | |||||||||||||
| Satellite Radio | |||||||||||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||||||||||
| Touch Screen Monitor | |||||||||||||
| USB Ports | |||||||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||||||||||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | |||||||||||||
| Folding Rear Seat | |||||||||||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||||||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||||||||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | |||||||||||||
| Leather Seats | |||||||||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||||||||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||||||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||||||||||
| Rear Window Shades | |||||||||||||
| Wood Interior Trim | |||||||||||||
Frequently asked questions
Was the 2016 BMW 3 Series fully redesigned?
No. The 2016 3 Series remained part of the sixth generation, but the sedan and Sports Wagon received a mid-cycle update with revised lighting, cleaner exterior details, and retuned suspension and steering.
Is the 2016 BMW 340i new for this year?
Yes. The rear-wheel-drive 340i replaced the 335i sedan for 2016 and introduced a new 320-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The all-wheel-drive 335i xDrive continued under the 340i xDrive name.
Did the 2016 BMW 3 Series add a plug-in hybrid?
Yes. The 330e joined later in the 2016 model year as the first plug-in hybrid 3 Series, pairing a turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine with an electric motor for 248 horsepower combined.
Did every 2016 BMW 3 Series body style receive the facelift?
No. The facelift applied to the sedan and Sports Wagon. The Gran Turismo models received equipment changes, but they did not get the same exterior and chassis refresh described for the sedan and wagon.
Is the 2016 BMW 3 Series meaningfully different from the 2015 model?
Yes. The 2016 sedan and Sports Wagon have updated styling and revised chassis tuning, and the lineup adds the 340i and 330e. The differences are more substantial than a simple equipment reshuffle, although this is a refresh rather than a full redesign.
2016 BMW 3 Series Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2016 BMW 3 Series.
4.4
2016 BMW 3 Series
(968 reviews)
“The BMW 320i is a great car. It is a small luxury car that is great for the cost. It handles well, looks sleek, and drives well. It has a luxury-looking interior without the luxury cost. I get a lot of great compliments while driving it.”
“I'm a BMW junkie, all my Beemers have always been dependable. My current 328 had low mileage and is in excellent condition. It looks great and drives great. BMW is a brand I've always trusted.”