BMW E90

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BMW E90 range
2007 3 Series
Manufacturer BMW
Production 2005–present
Predecessor BMW E46
Class Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car
Body style(s) 2-door coupé e92
2-door coupé cabriolete92
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
Layout FR layout or AWD
Engine(s) Otto and diesel engines
I4, I6
1.6-3.0 L, 85-225 kW
Transmission(s) 6-speed manual
6-speed automatic
Wheelbase 2,760 mm (108.7 in)
Length 4,520 mm (178.0 in)

4,580 mm (180.3 in) (E92/E93)
Width 1,817 mm (71.5 in)

1,782 mm (70.2 in) (E92/E93)
Height 1,421 mm (55.9 in)

1,395 mm (54.9 in) (E92/E93)
Curb weight 1,425 kg (3,140 lb) to 1,840 kg (4,100 lb) (320si and 330d convertible respectively)

The BMW E90 automobile platform is the fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of entry-level luxury/compact executive cars. The car is also available as a station wagon/estate (designated as E91), coupé (E92) and coupé cabriolet (E93). It is the successor to the E46 platform, and was launched in March 2005.

In 2002, Head of Production Norbert Reithofer and Development Chief Burkhard Goeschel halved the standard BMW time it took to reach full production of the E90 from six months to three.[1] First marketed in March 2005, it had quickly become BMW Group's best selling automobile worldwide by the end of the year with 229,900 vehicles delivered.[2]

Contents

[edit] E46 comparison

The E90 sedan is 49 mm (1.9 in) longer, 78 mm (3.1 in) wider and 9 mm (0.4 in) taller than its predecessor. The wheelbase is longer by 35 mm (1.4 in). In previous 3 Series models, space for passengers and luggage were common criticisms, however, BMW made significant improvements to the poor leg and headroom in those previous models. BMW's brochure even highlights, 'Now long legs can be enjoyed even by the people who have them'. Large amounts of aluminium were used in the body work and suspension in an attempt to keep the weight close to previous models; however the E90 weighs between 50 lb (23 kg) and 150 lb (68 kg) more than comparable older models. The N54B30 engine is made of aluminum, while the N51 and N52 engines largely consist of magnesium. The piston sleeves are steel and have copper coating.

The E90 also introduced run-flat tires to the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run-flats are not equipped with a spare tire.

[edit] Engines

Version Engine Power
316i 1.6 L 116 PS (114 hp/85 kW)
122 PS (120 hp/90 kW)
318i 2.0 L 129 PS (127 hp/95 kW)
143 PS (141 hp/105 kW)
320i 2.0 L 150 PS (148 hp/110 kW)
170 PS (168 hp/125 kW)
320si 2.0 L 173 PS (171 hp/127 kW)
323i 2.5 L 177 PS (175 hp/130 kW)
191 PS (188 hp/140 kW)
325i 2.5 L
3.0 L		 218 PS (215 hp/160 kW)
328i 3.0 L 233 PS (230 hp/171 kW)
330i 3.0 L 258 PS (254 hp/190 kW)
272 PS (268 hp/200 kW)
335i 3.0 L 306 PS (302 hp/225 kW)
M3 4.0 L 420 PS (414 hp/309 kW)
318d 2.0 L 122 PS (120 hp/90 kW)
143 PS (141 hp/105 kW)
320d 2.0 L 163 PS (161 hp/120 kW)
177 PS (175 hp/130 kW)
325d 3.0 L 197 PS (194 hp/145 kW)
330d 3.0 L 231 PS (228 hp/170 kW)
335d 3.0 L 286 PS (282 hp/210 kW)

[edit] Canada

The 2007 Canadian 323i came equipped with a 2.5L 200 bhp (149 kW/203 PS) engine. An engine block heater is not available -- though one can be retrofitted -- for the E90, making extremely cold weather starts problematic.

[edit] 2008

For the 2008 model year, the US Spec E90 and E91 come equipped with a redesigned set of 16 inch standard wheels.

[edit] 3 Series body styles and models

[edit] Touring (E91)

The Sports Wagon (Touring) model of the 3-Series is available with both rear-wheel drive and xDrive AWD.

[edit] Coupé (E92)

The two-door coupé model of the 3-Series became available in August 2006. It is also the first BMW coupé offered with xDrive. All E92s also come standard with Xenon HID headlights and "retractable seatbelt helpers" that extend from the B pillar to hand you the seatbelt when the key fob is in the ignition and the door is closed. Interestingly enough, the coupé is longer and narrower than its E90 counterpart. The E92 comes with 320i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 320d, 325d, 330d, 335d and 330xd models (availability of certain models depends on region; diesels not available to the US market until 2008).

[edit] Coupé-cabriolet (E93)

For the first time for BMW, the popular 3 Series convertible is no longer available with a folding soft top. Instead, the traditional fabric has been replaced with a 3 piece, folding metal hardtop roof. The new Coupé-cabriolet is also the center of many new technological advancements for BMW as well as the recipient of many existing safety and performance technologies that have been improved upon for the new model. The new 3 Series convertible improves upon BMWs "Comfort Access" option, by allowing the user to completely raise and lower the folding roof by simply pressing and holding the respective buttons on the key fob.

Many BMW enthusiasts have adopted the term Coupvertible to describe their innovative new vehicle as it has a unique 3-part roof design. Instead of being designed as a top-down cabriolet as a priority, it was designed as a true coupe with a roof-delete option, the first for BMW.

[edit] Special edition

Andy Priaulx's BMW 320si WTCC.
Andy Priaulx's BMW 320si WTCC.

The 320si is a special homologation version, built in order to qualify the car for the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).[3] It was released in 2006 and limited to 2,600 units. The 320si uses a modified 4 cylinder engine (N45) different from the standard 320i (N46). Modifications include an increased redline to 7,300 rpm, a shortened stroke (by 2 mm), an increased bore (by 1 mm) and a higher compression ratio (11.0:1). The engine is mostly hand built and does not have Valvetronic, decreasing the number of moving parts. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 8.1 seconds and acceleration in fourth gear from 80 km/h (50 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph) takes 7.7 seconds compared with a standard 320i which achieves 9.0 and 9.1 seconds respectively. Fourth gear acceleration is comparable to that of the 325i which achieves the 80 to 120 km/h} sprint in 7.50 seconds.

[edit] Awards

  • In April 2006, the E90 was awarded the World Car of the Year title by a jury of 46 international automotive journalists. The car was praised for its balance between performance and practicality, as well as between style and seriousness. The jury also praised the new diesel engines and the all wheel drive variants.[4]
  • Car and Driver magazine listed the E90 3-series on their Ten Best list for the 16th time in 24 years of the list's publication.
  • The E90 was named "Best New Sports Sedan" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards.
  • Top Gear voted it as the ugliest car in 2005, and couldn't be bothered to put it on The Cool wall.

[edit] Gallery

2007 3-Series Convertible

2007 3-Series Coupe

2006 3-Series Touring

2006 325Xi wagon (E91)

BMW 328i E92 coupe (USDM)

335i convertible (E93)

[edit] References

  1. ^ A Role Model For The Team Player BusinessWeek - October 16, 2006
  2. ^ BMW Group, annual report 2005 (accessed 11 Oct 06)
  3. ^ World Touring Car homologation special. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
  4. ^ BMW 3-Series declared World Car of the Year. World Car of the Year Awards (2006-04-13). Retrieved on 2006-10-11.

[edit] External links

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