Verdict
At RM267,800, the BMW 3 Series costs RM96,000 more than the RM171,800 BYD Seal. The Seal is the quicker car, reaching 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds against 7.4 seconds, and its 82.56-kWh battery brings a claimed 570 km of range plus 150-kW DC charging. For a Malaysian buyer ready to charge, that is a substantial mechanical and price advantage. The BMW counters with a 480-litre boot, rear climate control and automated parking, but its 184-hp petrol four is down on the Seal’s 308-hp motor.
3 Series
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the larger 480-litre boot, rear climate control and auto-parking functions.
Seal
Pick the BYD Seal if you want to spend RM96,000 less for 308 hp, 5.9-second acceleration and a 570-km EV range.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM267,800; BYD Seal RM171,800.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series 184 hp, 300 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds; BYD Seal 308 hp, 360 Nm and 5.9 seconds.
- Energy system: BMW 3 Series has a 1,998-cc petrol engine and 59-litre tank; BYD Seal has an 82.56-kWh battery, 570-km range and 150-kW DC charging.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 litres; BYD Seal 400 litres.
- Safety: BMW 3 Series has six airbags; BYD Seal has nine airbags.
- Dimensions: BMW 3 Series is 4,709 mm long with a 2,851-mm wheelbase; BYD Seal is 4,800 mm long with a 2,920-mm wheelbase.
3 Series
- 480-litre boot, 80 litres larger than the Seal's
- Auto parking with reversing assist
- Rear single-zone automatic climate control
- RM96,000 more expensive
- Slower 7.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- Six airbags versus the Seal's nine
Seal
- 308-hp motor and 360 Nm
- 82.56-kWh battery with 570-km range and 150-kW DC charging
- Nine airbags, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, plus a 360-degree camera
- 400-litre boot is 80 litres smaller
- 180 km/h top speed versus 235 km/h
- No auto-parking function; the BMW has parallel and perpendicular auto parking with reversing assist
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM267,800 | RM171,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM335✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 184 hp at 5,000 rpm | — |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 1,350 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 308 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 360 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 82.56 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 570 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 7 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 150 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 seconds | 5.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 4,800 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,460 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,920 mm |
| Weight | 1,590 kg | 2,055 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 400 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 235/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 235/45R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Continental EcoContact 6 Q |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Frequency Selective Damping |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power-adjustable Front Seats, Ventilated with Driver's Side Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 2 Wireless Chargers |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 15.6" Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 12-speaker Dynaudio HiFi Audio System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 6 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 3 Series & Seal for sale
3 Series vs Seal FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or BYD Seal better?
The BYD Seal is the stronger buy on acceleration, safety-airbag count, EV range and price. Choose the BMW 3 Series instead if its 480-litre boot, rear climate control and auto-parking system matter more to you.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series costs RM267,800 and the BYD Seal costs RM171,800, so the BMW costs RM96,000 more.
Which one is faster and easier to charge?
The BYD Seal is faster, doing 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds versus 7.4 seconds. Its 82.56-kWh battery supports 7-kW AC and 150-kW DC charging, with a stated 570-km range.
