2011 BMW 3 Series Coupe (E92) Photos, engines & full specs

Two years after the launch of the refreshed sedan and the station wagon versions of the 3 Series, BMW announced the introduction of the facelift for their coupe sibling, the E92.

Since the world financial crisis that started in 2008 had already begun to slow down. The first signs of economic relief had appeared, BMW dared to announce the facelift of the 3 Series Coupe, known as the E92, in factory coding. It happened just months after the release of the Toy Story 3 movie that topped the charts for the 2010 year, and the car was, at the same time, the third member of the 3 Series family. This car was a toy for many thanks to its look, performance, and comfort. However, the LCI, or Life Cycle Impulse as BMW preferred to name its facelifted models, came with significant upgrades in all areas, starting from the exterior and continuing to the interior technology package and, most importantly, its engine bay.

Right off the bat, the E92 had an appreciated design and far less polarizing customers than its sedan and station wagon siblings. As a result, it was challenging to refresh it without spoiling the car’s look. But still, BMW gambled and won. At the front was a new set of headlights with available bi-xenon brights and circular daytime running lights. Its turn signal lamps had LEDs, and the clear glass that covered the entire assembly made the vehicle look wider. Between them, the automaker installed a new grille with a chromed rim around it, featuring black or chromed vertical slats, depending on the grade and options. In addition, the lower bumper was new, featuring satin-silver horizontal fins on the side scoops. The automaker decided to create one singular broad air intake instead of a split-three one, like on the previous version, albeit that was offered as part of the M-Package.

From its profile, the low-slung bodywork emphasized the sporty character of the E92. It didn’t look like a shortened version of the sedan but as a completely different vehicle. Its long doors had no frames for the windows, and the 2009 model year came with new sets of alloy wheels ranging between 16- and 18-inches. At the back, the E92 LCI had the same L-shaped taillights as its predecessor but narrower reversing lights. Thanks to the wider rear track, the car looked even more muscular and ready for high-speed cornering.

Inside, the base versions came with the same low-mounted dashboard with the instrument cluster facing the driver. As an option, customers could get the E92 with a new 8.8-inch infotainment unit named iDrive. The new system showed a list-style menu instead of the grid-like one as before, and it could be controlled via a rotary knob placed on the center console. For this version of the bodywork, BMW chose to install high-bolstered seats at the front with an option for even more grippier sports seats. In the back, even though it wasn’t a car made for children, the automaker installed ISOFIX anchoring points for child seats.

But the most significant upgrade was found under the hood. There, the automaker dropped the lower-powered versions, and the base model came with a 143 PS (141 hp) turbodiesel, while the top-spec model was fitted with an inline-six turbocharged gasoline engine that produced 306 PS (302 hp). All the oomph was sent to the rear wheels or in all corners, depending on the options. Besides the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the E92 was also available with a six-speed automatic.