Model Year 2009 (build date beginning 09/2008)
-In conventional usage, the term "E90 M3 LCI" refers to MY2009 & up E90 M3s, which happened beginning MY2009 (i.e., Sept. 08 build date). E92/93 M3 LCI refers to later E92/93 M3's, MY2011+ (build date beginning Mar. 2010)
-MY2009 E9X M3's also received the following updates:
-LCI LED tail lamps (E90 only)
-Revised climate control buttons (i.e., heated seat buttons moved near climate control, etc.)
-Updated iDrive system from previous CCC to CIC iDrive (hard-drive based with buttons)
-New paint colors added: Le Mans Blue; Sparkling Graphite replaces Space Grey
Model Year 2010
-The specs & updates remained pretty static through the MY2010 until MY2011, which began with Mar.2010 build dates.
Model Year 2011
The MY2011 ran from March 2010~September 2011
Various changes were made throughout.
Although very miscellaneous to most, it helps prospective buyers to know the differences.
Enthusiasts have retroactively applied the labels "2011", "2011.5", and "2011.75" to identify the various production [date] variations within the 2011 model year range.
These terms carry no official BMW weighting but are commonly used. Below is a cross reference of the terminology with the official production dates as well as a description of the changes introduced.
"2011" (03/2010~08/2010)
-E92/93 gets LCI LED tail lamps (E90 already got LCI lights as of MY2009 09/08 build)
-Competition package (ZCP) added as an option for E90/92
-Mineral white added as a color option for post 06/2010 builds.
"2011.5" (09/2010~02/2011)
Many threads reference the 2011.5 as the "
September Changes".
For the M3, this includes:
-Automatic start/stop function added
-Additional bluetooth & smartphone connectivity, including bluetooth audio streaming (Combox)
-The aforementioned mineral white paint option
-18-inch Style 219M/260M alloy wheels receive bright silver finish in place of Ferric Grey finish
-Manually-adjsutable front seats introduced on E90/92 (USA only)
-Bi-color Novillo leather upholstery in two different combinations (Palladium Silver + Black or Fox Red + Black) offered for E90/92 (USA only)
"2011.75" (03/2011~09/2011)
-BMWApps/BMW Connected Drive added to the iDrive (6NR)
The 2011.75 is essentially a 2012 in all but name. The 2012 has the same specs as the 2011.75