BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series
Overview
Manufacturer BMW
Production 1975–present
Body and chassis
Class Entry-level luxury car
Chronology
Predecessor BMW 02 Series

The BMW 3 Series is an entry-level luxury car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in six different generations.

The first generation of 3 Series was only available as a 2-door sedan, however the model range has since expanded to include a 4-door sedan, 2-door convertible, 2-door coupé, 5-door station wagon and 5-door hatchback body styles. Since 2013, the coupé and convertible models have been marketed as the 4 Series, therefore the 3 Series range no longer includes these body styles.

The 3 Series is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the BMW brand's annual total sales (excluding motorbikes).[1] The BMW 3 Series has won numerous awards throughout its history.

The M version of the 3 series, M3, debuted with the E30 M3 in 1986.[2]

Generations

3 Series generations in the BMW Museum
E46, E36, E30

The model codes for the six generations of the 3 Series are:

First generation (E21; 1975–1983)

BMW 3 Series (E21)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door saloon
2-door cabrio
Layout FR
1978 BMW 320 (New Zealand)

The E21 replaced the 02 Series and was initially available as a 2-door sedan (also described as coupe).[3]

At launch, all models used carburetted 4-cylinder engines, however fuel injected models were introduced in late 1975 and 6-cylinder engines were added in 1977. A cabriolet body style – manufactured by Baur – was available from 1978 to 1981.

Second generation (E30; 1982–1991)

BMW 3 Series (E30)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door saloon
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout FR (most models)
F4 (325iX only)
Related BMW Z1
BMW 318i sedan (Australia)

Initially, the E30 was produced solely in the two-door sedan body style. Four-door sedan models were introduced in 1983, convertibles were introduced in 1985 and estate ("Touring") models were introduced in 1987.

The E30 was the first 3 Series to be available in wagon and four-door sedan body styles. It was also the first 3 Series to offer a diesel engine, and all-wheel drive was introduced to the 3 Series range with the 325iX model. The BMW Z1 roadster was based on the E30 platform.

The first BMW M3 was built on the E30 platform. The E30 M3 is powered by the high-revving S14 four-cylinder petrol engine, which produced 175 kW (235 hp) in its final European-only iteration.[4]

Third generation (E36; 1990–2000)

BMW 3 Series (E36)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
3-door hatchback
Layout FR layout
Related BMW Z3
BMW 318is (Australia)

The E36 was sold in the following body styles: saloon, coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring") and hatchback (marketed as "3 Series Compact").

The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered in a hatchback body style. It was also the first 3 Series to be available with a 6-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a 5-speed automatic transmission and a four-cylinder diesel engine. The multi-link rear suspension was also a significant upgrade compared with previous generations of 3 Series.

The E36 was named in Car and Driver Magazine's 10Best list for every year it was on sale.[5]

The M3 model is powered by the S50 and S52 straight-six engines. It was sold in coupe, sedan and convertible body styles.

The BMW Z3 roadster and coupe models were based on the E36 platform.


Fourth generation (E46; 1998–2006)

BMW 3 Series (E46)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
3-door hatchback
Layout FR (most models)
F4 (xi models)
Related BMW X3
BMW Compact
Facelift BMW 318i sedan (Australia)

The E46 was sold in the following body styles: sedan, coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring") and hatchback (marketed as"3 Series Compact.

The E46 generation introduced various electronic features to the 3 Series, including satellite navigation, electronic brake-force distribution, rain-sensing wipers and LED tail-lights.[6][7][8] All-wheel drive, last available in the E30 3 Series, was reintroduced for the E46. It was available for the 325xi and 330xi sedan/wagon models.[9][10] The E46 was the first 3 Series to be available with an engine using variable valve lift ("valvetronic").

The M3 version of the E46 was powered by the S54 straight-six engine and was available in coupé and convertible body styles. The transmissions available were a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed "SMG-II" sequential manual gearbox [11].

Fifth generation (E90/E91/E92/E93; 2004–2013)

BMW 3 Series (E90/E91/E92/E93)
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout FR (most models)
F4 (xi models)
Related BMW X3
BMW 320i sedan (Australia)

The fifth generation 3 Series was produced in the sedan, wagon, coupé and cabriolet body styles. Due to the separate model codes for each body style, the term "E9X" is sometimes used to describe this generation of the 3 Series.

In 2006, the 335i became the first 3 Series model to be sold with a turbocharged petrol engine. The E90 also saw the introduction of run-flat tires to the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run-flats are not equipped with a spare tire.

The E90/E92/E93 M3 was powered by the BMW S65 v8 engine. It was released in 2007 and was produced in sedan, coupe and cabriolet body styles.

Sixth generation (F30/F31; 2011–present)

BMW 3 Series (F30/F31)
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
5-door touring
5-door fastback
Layout FR (most models)
F4 (xDrive models)
Related BMW F32/F33
BMW F34
Pre–facelift BMW 320d (Sweden)

The F30/F31 has been produced in the sedan, station wagon and 5-door fastback ("Gran Turismo") body styles. A long wheelbase sedan is also available in China.

For the F30/F31 series, the coupe and convertible models were split from the 3 Series and sold as the BMW 4 Series. There are two additional 5-door body styles: a taller fastback marketed as the 3 Series Gran Turismo (F34), and a lower to the ground liftback called the 4 Series Gran Coupe (F36).

The F30/F31 was the first time that the entire 3 Series range used turbocharged engines. In 2016, a plug-in hybrid drivetrain was first used in the 3 Series, in the 330e model.[12] Also in 2016, a 3-cylinder engine was used for the first time in a 3 Series.

The M3 version (designated F80, the first time an M3 has used a separate model designation) was released in 2014 and is powered by the S55 twin-turbo straight-6 engine.

M version

F80 M3
F80 M3

The M3 is the most powerful version of the 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M.

M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46, E90/E92/E93, and F30 3 series, and sold with coupe, saloon and convertible body styles. Upgrades over the "standard" 3-Series automobiles include more powerful and responsive engines, improved handling/suspension/braking systems, aerodynamic body enhancements, lightweight components, and interior/exterior accents with the tri-colour "M" (Motorsport) emblem.

The last M3 coupe was produced in Germany on 5 July 2013, replaced by the F82/F83 M4 Coupe and convertible starting with the 2015 model year,[13][14] but the M3 name remains in use for the saloon version.

Awards and recognition

The 3 Series has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list 22 times, from 1992 through 2014, making it the longest running entry in the list.[15] In their December 2009 issue, Grassroots Motorsports magazine named the BMW 3 Series as the second-most important performance car built during the previous 25 years.

Production and sales

Calendar year Total production US sales
1995 54,720[16]
1996 50,248
1997 337,800[17]-
1998 376,900[17]-
1999 454,000[17]77,138[18]
2000 509,007[17]89,681
2001 533,952[17]103,227[19]
2002 561,249[17]115,428
2003 528,358[17]111,944[20]
2004 449,732[17]106,549[21]
2005 434,342[17]106,950[22]
2006 508,479[17]120,180
2007 555,219[23]142,490
2008 474,208[24]112,464
2009 397,103[25]90,960[26]
2010 399,009[27]100,910
2011 384,46494,371[28]
2012 406,75299,602[29]
2013 500,332[30] 119,521*[30]
2014 480,214[31] 142,232*[32]
2015 444,338[33] 140,609*
2016 411,844[33] 106,221*

* includes 4-series

References

  1. ↑ "2010 BMW Group Annual Report" (PDF). BMW AG.
  2. ↑ "BMW 3 Series". Edmunds.com. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "BMW E21 3 Series specs". www.ultimatespecs.com. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "BMW M3 E30 2.5i (238Hp) EVO II". www.automobilio.info.
  5. ↑ "1998 10Best Cars - 10Best Cars". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "2000 BMW E46 M3 Review". www.topspeed.com. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "BMW E46 3 Series Buyer's Guide". www.reveuro.com. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "BMW 3 Series (E46) - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005". www.autoevolution.com.
  9. ↑ "BMW E46 3 Series". www.ultimatespecs.com.
  10. ↑ "BMW E46 3 Series Touring". www.ultimatespecs.com.
  11. ↑ "BMW M3 E30 2.5i (238Hp) EVO II". www.automobilio.info.
  12. ↑ "2016 BMW 330e Plug-In Hybrid First Drive".
  13. ↑ "BMW M3 Celebrating 20 Years of a Sporting Legend". www.worldcarfans.com. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  14. ↑ "BMW M3 – The Evolution of the Benchmark". clubsportiva.com. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  15. ↑ "2009 10Best Cars – 10Best Cars/Best/Worst Lists/High Performance/Hot Lists/Reviews/Car and Driver". Car And Driver. 23 March 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  16. ↑ "BMW Ends Best Year Ever By Shattering 100,000-Vehicle Luxury Automotive Sales Barrier in the U.S. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 http://www.autointell.com/european_companies/BMW/business-figures/BMW-business-figures-1997-2006-WB.xls
  18. ↑ "BMW Delivers Strongest Sales Success Ever in 2000. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  19. ↑ "BMW Group Ends Best Year Ever With Record Month; December Sales Up 43 Percent; Year-to-date Sales Up 20 Percent. – Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 3 January 2003. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "BMW Group Shatters All Past Annual Sales Records in 2004". Theautochannel.com. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  21. ↑ "BMW Group Sets All-Time Annual Sales Record, Highest Sales Month Ever in 2005". Theautochannel.com. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  22. ↑ "BMW Group Reports 2006 – Strongest Year Ever". Theautochannel.com. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  23. ↑ "Annual Report 2007". BMW Group. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Annual Report 2008". BMW Group. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  25. ↑ "Annual Report 2009". BMW Group. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  26. ↑ "BMW Group U.S. Reports December 2010 Sales – WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.". New Jersey: PRNewswire. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "BMW Group – Investor Relations – Financial Reports" (PDF). annual-report.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  28. ↑ "BMW Group Achieves Second Best Sales Year Ever in the U.S. - WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/". New Jersey: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "BMW 3 Series Wins 2012 Compact Luxury Sports Sedan Sales Crown, Infiniti G in Third". 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  30. 1 2 LLC, BMW of North America,. "BMW Group U.S. Reports December and 2013 Sales". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  31. ↑ https://www.bmwgroup.com/content/dam/bmw-group-websites/bmwgroup_com/ir/downloads/en/2016/Annual_Report_2015.pdf
  32. ↑ LLC, BMW of North America,. "BMW Group U.S. Reports December and 2014 Sales". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  33. 1 2 https://www.bmwgroup.com/content/dam/bmw-group-websites/bmwgroup_com/ir/downloads/en/2017/GB/13044_BMW_GB16_en_Finanzbericht.pdf
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW 3 Series.
« previous — BMW cars: 1980s–present
Series 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
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1 Series E81 / E87 F20 / F21
E82 / E88 F52
2 Series F22 / F23
F45 / F46
3 Series Compact E36/5 E46/5
3 Series E21 E30 E36 E46 E90 / E91 / E92 / E93 F30 / F31 / F35
3 GT F34
4 Series F32 / F33
4 GC F36
5 Series E12 E28 E34 E39 E60 / E61 F10 / F11 G30
5 GT F07
6 Series E24 E63 / E64 F12 / F13
6 GC F06
7 Series E23 E32 E38 E65 / E66 / E67 / E68 F01 / F02 / F03 / F04 G11 / G12
8 Series E31
Z Series E30 (Z1) E36/7 & E36/8 (Z3) E85 / E86 (Z4) E89 (Z4)
E52 (Z8)
i3 I01
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