Cars - BMW 3 Series

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	Cars - BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series is a line of mid-size sports sedan 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.

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.

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:

BMW E21 - (1975–1983) 3 Series
BMW E30 - (1984–1991) 3 Series
BMW E36 - (1992–1998) 3 Series
BMW E46 - (1999–2005) 3 Series
BMW E90 - (2006– ) 3 Series

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)

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
External Links
* is a model-specific forum and community for the E30 318i/iS.

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Cars - BMW 3 Series

Social and marketing significance

History

E21

E30

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