BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1975–present
Body and chassis
Class	Compact executive car (D)
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW 02 Series

The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven different generations.

The first generation of the 3 Series was only available as a 2-door coupé; however, the model range has since expanded to include a 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 2-door coupé, 5-door estate, 5-door liftback ("Gran Turismo") and 3-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]

First generation (E21; 1975)[]

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

On introduction in 1982, the E30 was produced solely in the 2-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 4-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)[]

The E36 was sold in the following body styles: sedan, 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 the 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; 1997)[]

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 (other than that, it was powered with the M54 in non-M3 cars). The transmissions available were a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed "SMG-II" sequential manual gearbox.^[4]

Fifth generation (E90/E91/E92/E93; 2004)[]

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.

The Production of the Fifth-generation BMW 3 Series ended in 2013.

Sixth generation (F30/F31/F34/F35; 2011)[]

The F30/F31/F35 has been produced in the sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon and 5-door hatchback ("Gran Turismo") body styles. A long wheelbase sedan is also available in China.

For the F30/F31/F34 series, the coupe and convertible models were produced from 2013 year until 2014 when they were split from the 3 Series, redesigned, and sold as the BMW 4 Series. A new body style was introduced into the 3 Series range: the 3 Series Gran Turismo, a long-wheelbase hatchback.^[11][12][13]

The F30/F31/F34 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.^[14] 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.

Production ended in 2019 with the end of F31 Touring production in June.^[15][16]

Seventh generation (G20; 2018)[]

The BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on October 2, 2018. The official images of the vehicle were revealed a day prior to its unveiling. The seventh generation of the 3 Series is also offered as a station wagon.^[17] The more powerful M3 will be delivering globally starting in 2021.

M version[]

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 (designated F80) 3 series, and sold with coupe, sedan 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,^[18][19] but the M3 name remains in use for the sedan version. The new generation M3 was reintroduced in 2021, codenamed G80 from the 7th generation 3 Series (G20).

Awards and recognition[]

The 3 Series has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual 10Best list 22 times, from 1992 through 2014, making it the longest running entry in the list.^[20] 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[]

Year	Production	Sales
		Europe[21]	U.S.*
1980			25,771
1981			28,927
1982			35,190
1983			33,602
1984			30,868
1985			53,927
1986			61,822
1987			58,897
1988			34,914
1989			21,738
1990			22,825
1991			29,002
1992			38,040
1993			45,594
1994			46,287
1995			50,146
1996			50,248
1997	337,800[22]	216,866	52,472
1998	376,900[22]	247,786	57,520
1999	454,000[22]	304,983	77,138
2000	509,007[22]	330,604	89,681
2001	533,952[22]	343,991	103,227
2002	561,249[22]	350,606	115,428
2003	528,358[22]	320,029	111,944
2004	449,732[22]	269,216	106,549
2005	434,342[22]	244,886	106,950
2006	508,479[22]	289,597	120,180
2007	555,219[23]	295,063	142,490
2008	474,208[24]	251,334	112,464
2009	397,103[25]	198,610	90,960
2010	399,009[26]	183,122	100,910
2011	384,464	161,614	94,371
2012	406,752	175,022	99,602
2013	500,332[27]	200,604	119,521
2014	480,214[28]	168,275	142,232
2015	444,338[29]	143,023	140,609
2016	411,844[30]	144,561	106,221
2017	409,005	129,053	99,083
2018	366,475[31]	106,991	75,957
2019	358,643[32]	124,537	73,287
2020	381,416[33]	118,369	50,937[34]

*Figures since 2013 includes the BMW 4 Series

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW 3 Series.

• Official BMW 3 Series

show v t « previous — BMW cars: 1960s to 1980s — next »
Type		1960s										1970s										1980s
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Microcar		Isetta 250, 300
Supermini		LS, 700
Compact executive car (pre-3/4-series)	Sedan							02 Series											E21						E30
	Coupé								1600GT
Executive car (pre-5/6-series)	Sedan			New Class sedans											E12									E28						E34
	Coupé						2000 C, 2000 CS				E9							E24
Luxury car (pre-7/8-series)	Sedan	501, 502								E3										E23								E32
	Coupé			3200 CS					3000 V8
Roadster																															Z1
Sports car																				E26
Legend		developed by Iso SpA      developed by Hans Glas GmbH      developed by BMW Motorsport

show v t « previous — BMW cars: 1980s to 2000s — next »
Series	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1 Series																										E87>>
3 Series	E21			E30								E36								E46								E90>>
5 Series	E12		E28						E34							E39								E60
6 Series	E24																								E63>>
7 Series	E23							E32							E38							E65						F01>>
8 Series											E31
Z Series										Z1						Z3							Z4 (E85)						Z4 (E89)>>
																					Z8

hide v t « previous — BMW cars: 2000s to 2020s
Series	2000s										2010s										2020s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1 Series						E87							F20							F40
2 Series															F22 / F45							G42
																				F44
3 Series	E46					E90							F30							G20
4 Series														F32							G22
5 Series	E39			E60							F10							G30
6 Series					E63							F12						G32
7 Series	E38	E65							F01							G11
8 Series																			G15
Z Series	Z3		E85							E89										G29
	Z8
i3														I01
i4																						G26
i8															I12