BMW 3 Series Says Goodbye to Diesel

For European BMW fans, the next 3 Series will mark the end of a relationship that has lasted for more than 40 years. The incoming G50 will drop diesel power entirely, bringing familiar versions such as the 320d and M340d to an end. But why is this change significant for the 3 Series?

Diesel first appeared with the E30 generation, and every 3 Series since then has included at least one diesel option. That makes the G50 only the second generation in the model’s history without diesel, after the original E21. Could the end of diesel change what the 3 Series means to European buyers?

BMW is still keeping combustion power in the lineup. The new 3 Series will continue with four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines, while a plug-in hybrid is planned for Europe in 2027. Buyers will also have the fully electric i3 as another route.

For decades, the 320d in particular played a major role in Europe by combining strong driving characteristics with the long-range efficiency diesel buyers wanted. Now that formula is disappearing. Will you miss the diesel 3 Series, or does the next chapter make more sense without it?