[Mii]

This may help people who are interested in the development of the new 3-Series. Here are some of the dates we gathered so far.

Time Line
- Plan to unveil in late 2011
- World Premiere at Geneva Autoshow 2012
- 3er arrive Europe around Geneva Autoshow 2012
- 3er sales begin in North America in early summer of 2012

Originally Posted by SCOTT

We plan to unveil the 3er in late 2011. Possibly in London due to the fact of BMW's sponsorship of the Olympic Games in 2012. Is one idea we are discussing. As the new 3er will be one of the cars used by officials.
The World Premiere will follow function and be held at the 2012 Geneva Autoshow. Where the car will arrive in europe at the same time with North American sales beginning in the early summer.

Photos/Videos References
- 12/14/09 Winter Testing Video
- 12/10/09 Winter Testing
- 11/11/09 First F30 Video
- 11/10/09 First Live Testing
- 11/04/09 World's First Look

[Alchem]

Originally Posted by Mii

Time Line
- Plan to unveil in late 2011
- World Premiere at Geneva Autoshow 2012
- 3er arrive Europe around Geneva Autoshow 2012
- 3er sales begin in North America in early summer of 2012
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I thought 3er was fast tracked? If so you will need to subtract one year from all your time line. I think we could see F30 being sold in summer 2011.

[tirana]

Why fast track? Because sales have dipped lately? This doesn't make a lot of sense since the LCI refresh has been out only a year and if that didn't jack sales, why would a complete refresh? There are feature additions and price breaks that could stimulate sales of the current models (and interest rates are low). The sales drop is fairly global. If the E9x 3-Series was selling badly compared to the A4 and CLKs then there would be a case for fast-tracking but that doesn't seem to be the case from the figures.

Rushing a new model to market is risky - especially given the importance of the 3-Series to BMW.

[carl_d]

Originally Posted by Alchem

I thought 3er was fast tracked? If so you will need to subtract one year from all your time line. I think we could see F30 being sold in summer 2011.

This all fits with a normal BMW 7 year cycle - there is no fast track or early anything in these dates.

[Diver]

I would have to agree that the new 3 is on the usual BMW schedule. Some other manufacturers, notably Nissan/Infiniti appear to be extending their refresh cycle, either due to the economic slump or to achieve better timing with respect to the new fuel economy standards in the US.

[beemer3]

Originally Posted by tirana

Why fast track? Because sales have dipped lately? This doesn't make a lot of sense since the LCI refresh has been out only a year and if that didn't jack sales, why would a complete refresh? There are feature additions and price breaks that could stimulate sales of the current models (and interest rates are low). The sales drop is fairly global. If the E9x 3-Series was selling badly compared to the A4 and CLKs then there would be a case for fast-tracking but that doesn't seem to be the case from the figures.

Rushing a new model to market is risky - especially given the importance of the 3-Series to BMW.

Out only a year? It has been almost two 2.5 years since the E90/E91 LCI came out. If you are talking about the E92/E93 LCI, then yes, it has been out only for a year.

[MikeTerp]

There have been rumors that BMW was considering going to a six year cycle, or maybe even a five year cycle; however, no way will that affect the new F30 schedule. Expect it in the U.S. in early summer 2012 as a 2013 model - same as BMW has done for many years.

[mkoesel]

Since the F30 3 series won't be available until well into 2012, it is safe to assume that the E90 3 series will be produced into the beginning of 2012 as well. Furthermore, it is a sure thing that the F30 3 series will start a brand new model year, i.e. it will not carry the same model year designation as the final year E90.

These two probable facts mean that there must be a MY2012 E90 planned and thus the F30 must then be MY2013. This will be similar to the E46->E90 changeover - a very short MY 2005 for the E46 sedan starting in September 2004, with the E90 MY 2006 starting in March 2005.

Given this, I am skeptical that the E90 M3 will not be available for MY 2012 as has been suggested. Why discontinue it months before the 3 series sedan goes out of production?

[MikeTerp]

Originally Posted by carl_d

This all fits with a normal BMW 7 year cycle - there is no fast track or early anything in these dates.

Exactly, as many of us have posted from day one. There have been rumors that BMW is considering going to a six year, or even five year, model cycle, but it will not affect the F30, which as we have been saying should show up in the U.S. in early summer 2012 as a 2013 model.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by MikeTerp

There have been rumors that BMW is considering going to a six year, or even five year, model cycle...

And even then, I remain just as skeptical about BMW changing their refresh cycle time as I was about all this talk of the F30 being "fast tracked" to begin with.

The only model that I see getting stepped up a bit is the new 1 series coupe/convertible/3-door, simply because the current versions trailled the original 5-door hatchback by so many years. SCOTT has confirmed a much tighter roll out of all the 1er body styles this time around, similar to how it has traditionally been done with the 3 series.

[BimmerJim]

Fellow Bimmer owners, I am debating between the 2012 135i and getting a 2011 335i. Was wondering what the new refreshs are going to be for the '12 vice the '11?