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BMW 3 Series

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{{Infobox Automobile |image=Image:Bmw3er.jpg |name=BMW 3-Series |manufacturer=BMW |production=1975–present |predecessor=BMW 2002 |class=Compact luxury car |body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
3-door hatchback
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon |platform=FR/AWD E30 |related=BMW M3 |similar=Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Audi A4 }}

The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact luxury cars manufactured by BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 2002 coupe, retaining much of that car's styling while adding a more powerful 2.0 L 110 hp (82 kW) engine and other performance enhancements. The 3 Series was for some time, the smallest car line manufactured by BMW, although that place has recently been taken by the BMW 1 Series.

Contents

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Social and marketing significance

From its sporting origins in 1975, the E21 generation, available in two and four-door forms, as well as a later in-house full convertible (replacing one developed by Baur of Germany), became a more formal range that was synonymous with the "yuppie" generation. Being an accessible prestige-badge car, the 3 Series' reputation grew at this time. By the early 21st century, the E46 3 Series, designed by American Chris Bangle, was the best-selling car of its size in the world, as commonplace in Asia and America as in Europe, while maintaining its prestigious image.

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History

Like most of BMW's contemporary models, the 3 Series name has been applied to many different vehicles. The 1998 3 Series is marketed similarly to the 1999 3 Series, but the two share few mechanical components and are styled quite differently.

3 Series vehicles can be largely differentiated by the underlying platform:

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E21

The E21 line was produced from May 2, 1975 (1977 in the USA) through 1983. Originally a replacement for the 2002 coupe, the first 3-Series was a 2-door only. The New Class sedans would be replaced by the 5 Series.

Models:

  • Europe
    • 1981-1983 315 - 1.6 L M41 I4, 75 hp (55 kW)
    • 1975-1979 316 - 1.6 L M41 I4, 90 hp (66 kW)
    • 1980-1983 316 - 1.8 L M10B18 I4, 90 hp (67 kW)
    • 1975-1980 318 - 1.8 L M42 I4, 98 hp (72 kW)
    • 1975-1977 320 - 2.0 L M64 I4, 109 hp (80 kW)
    • 1977-1983 320i - 2.0 L M20B20 I6, 125 hp (92 kW)
    • 1978-1983 323i - 2.3 L M20B23 I6, 143 hp (105 kW)
  • Rest of World
    • 1976-1979 320i - 2.0 L M43/1 I4, 110 hp (82 kW)
    • 1980-1983 320i - 1.8 L M42 I4, 100 hp (75 kW)
Image:Wiki letter w.pngThis section is a stub. You can help by [{{fullurl:|action=edit}} adding to it].
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E30

The E30 was sold from 1984 through 1991. The E30's introductory price of US$18,210 was nearly double that of the E21 just 7 years earlier, but the availability of a six cylinder engine and 4-door body style (in 1985) earned sales. The torquey "eta" six in the 325e produced 121 hp (90 kW) but met the strict emission standards of the time and was the most powerful BMW offered in the United States since the 2002 Tii.

The lineup was joined in 1987 by the high-output 325i and 325is. Though the engine displacement was reduced to 2.5 L, output was up to 168 hp (125 kW) as the company focused on performance rather than economy. Rev limit for the new motor was raised from 5000RPM to 6500RPM, as a shorter stroke was employed with the new motor.
An all wheel drive version, the 325ix, joined the lineup for 1988. The four-cylinder 318 was dropped in 1985, but a was brought back with a new, 1.8L DOHC motor (M42B18) for 1991.

The most-powerful American BMW ever also came that year in the form of the M3. It used a 192 hp (143 kW) S14 straight-4 with a 4-valve head adapted from the M88 six and Bosch fuel injection.

Models:

  • Europe
    • 1984-1987 316 - 1.6 L M98 I4, 90 hp (66 kW)
    • 1984-1990 316 1.8 - 1.8 L M10B18 I4, 90 hp (66 kW)
    • 1987-1991 316i - 1.6 L M40B18 I4, 102 hp (75 kW)
    • 1984-1987 318i - 1.8 L M10B18 I4, 105 hp (77 kW)
    • 1987-1991 318i - 1.8 L M40B18 I4, 115 hp (85 kW)
    • 1989-1991 318is - 1.8 L M42B18 I4, 140 hp (103 kW)
    • 1984-1985 320i - 2.0 L M20B20 I6, 125 hp (92 kW)
    • 1985-1991 320i - 2.0 L M20B20 I6, 129 hp (95 kW)
    • 1988-1990 320is - 2.0 L S14 I4, 192 hp (141 kW)
    • 1984-1986 323i - 2.3 L M20B23 I6, 150 hp (110 kW)
    • 1984-1991 325i - 2.5 L M20B25 I6, 170 hp (125 kW)
    • 1987-1991 325iX - 2.5 L M20B25 I6, 170 hp (125 kW)
    • 1986-1988 M3 - 2.3 L S14 I4, 200 hp (147 kW)
    • 1989-1991 M3 Evo - 2.3 L S14 I4, 215 hp (158 kW)
    • 1985-1991 324d - 2.4 L M21 I6, 86 hp (63 kW)
    • 1987-1991 324td - 2.4 L M21 I6, 115 hp (85 kW)


  • Other markets
    • 1984-1985 318i - 1.8 L M10B18 I4, 101 hp (75 kW) - North America
    • 1991 318iS - 1.8 L M42B18 I4, 134 hp (100 kW) - North America
    • 1984-1991 325e - 2.7 L M20B27 I6, 121 hp (90 kW) - North America
    • 1986-1991 325es - 2.7 L M20B27 I6, 121 hp (90 kW) - North America
    • 1987-1991 325i/is - 2.5 L M20B25 I6, 168 hp (125 kW) - North America
    • 1988-1991 325ix - 2.5 L M20B25 I6, 168 hp (125 kW) - North America
    • 1988-1991 M3 - 2.3 L S14 I4, 192 hp (143 kW) - North America
    • 1984-1990 333i - 3.2 L M30 I6, 197 hp (145 kW) - South Africa
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E36

The E36 was sold from 1991 through 1998 . It employed the "Z-axle" multilink suspension in the rear which had been proven in the Z1. DOHC engines were used across the range, with VANOS variable valve timing introduced in 1993.

The four-door E36 was sold from Fall, 1991, in the United States but the E30 coupes were retained until well into 1992. The E36 convertible was delayed until 1994. The hatchback 318ti Compact was introduced in 1995, but it wasn't very successful, as it shared some chassis components with the Z3 (and E30) instead of the E36; namely, the semi-trailing arm rear suspension configuration. The "Touring" station wagon was sold in Europe from 1995, but was not offered in the United States.

The 2.5 L M50B25 used in the 325 models was replaced in 1996 with the 2.8 L M52B28, creating the 328 line. Another 2.5 L engine, the M52B25, was reintroduced for 1998 but the cars were sold as 323 rather than 325.

The 4-door 3 Series models were replaced after 1998 in the US, while the 2-door models lasted through 1999.

Models:

  • Europe
  • US
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E46

Last generation 3 Series models are based on the E46 chassis, which began to replace the E36 specification for 1999. In the USA, only the 4-door cars were updated that year, while the 2-door E36 Ci cars lasted one more year. Again, 2.8 L cars were called 328 while 2.5 L cars got the confusing 323 name in the US. The station wagon 323 touring appeared in 2000 as well. The new M54 engines appeared for 2001; with the new 3.0 L 330 replacing the 328, BMW renamed the 2.5 L car the 325.

Models:

  • Non-US
    • 1999-2002 320 - 2.0 L M52B20 T
    • 2000-2001 320 - 2.2 L M52B22 T
    • 1999-2001 323 - 2.5 L M52B25 T
    • 1999-2001 328 - 2.8 L M52B28 T
    • 2000-2003 320 - 2.2 L M54B22
    • 2000-2003 325 - 2.5 L M54B25, 192 PS
    • 2000-2003 330 - 3.0 L M54B30, 231 PS
    • 2000-2003 M3 - 3.2 L S54B32, 343 PS
    • 2001-2003 316 - 1.8 L N42B18, 116 hp (87 kW)
    • 2001-2003 318 - 2.0 L N42B20, 143 hp (107 kW)
  • US
    • 1999-2001 323 - 2.5 L M52B25 T, 170 hp (127 kW)
    • 1999-2001 328 - 2.8 L M52B28 T, 193 hp (144 kW)
    • 2001-2005 325 - 2.5 L M54B25, 184 hp (137 kW)
    • 2001-2005 330 - 3.0 L M54B30, 225 hp (168 kW)
    • 2001-2005 M3 - 3.2 L S54B32, 333 hp (248 kW)

2005 models [1] include:

  • Sedan/Touring [2] [3]
    • 316i
    • 318i
    • 318d
    • 320i
    • 320d
    • 325i
    • 325xi
    • 330i
    • 330xi
    • 330d
    • 330xd
  • Coupé/Convertible [4] [5]
    • 318Ci
    • 320Ci
    • 320Cd
    • 325Ci
    • 330Ci
    • 330Cd
  • Compact [6]
    • 316ti
    • 318ti
    • 318td
    • 320td
    • 325ti
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E90

The E90 began production in May 2005. Currently, four engine options are offered, two being part of the new 'N' series of BMW inline engines featuring a lightweight magnesium/aluminum construction and technological innovations such as individual cylinder throttles, steplessly variable valve timing, and dual stage intake timing. The clean and sleek styling, while based on the recent 5- and 7-series redesigns, has been better praised than its bigger cousins. The E91 touring model has also been available since fall 2005 along with 4WD models 325xi, 330xi and 330xd.

Models:

  • 2005- 318i - 2.0 L gasoline-injected inline-four, 129 hp (95 kW)
  • 2005- 318d - 2.0 L diesel inline-four, 122 hp (90 kW)
  • 2005- 320i - 2.0 L gasoline-injected inline-four, 150 hp (110 kW)
  • 2005- 320d - 2.0 L diesel inline-four, 163 hp (120 kW)
  • 2005- 325i - 2.5 L gasoline-injected inline-six, 218 hp (160 kW)
  • 2005- 330i - 3.0 L gasoline-injected inline-six, 258 hp (190 kW)
  • 2005- 330d - 3.0 L diesel inline-six, 231 hp (170 kW)

BMW will reportedly produce a metal-topped coupé convertible model of the E90 rather than the traditional cloth-top convertible. This model will be introduced in 2007.

Note: In the US, the 325i and 330i are both powered by the same 3.0 L N52 engine, but the 330i features revised engine software and improved intake and exhaust systems to produce an additional 40HP (255 vs. 215). Canada also gets a 323i model which has a de-tuned 2.5 L gasoline-injected inline-six producing 177 hp (130 kW).

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Awards

The 3 Series has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list 15 times, from 1992 through 2005, making it the second-most common entry on that list. The E90 was named "Best New Sports Sedan" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards.

Top Gear named the 3-series the ugliest car of 2005.

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External links


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