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 |
TheBMW 3 Seriesis a line ofcompact executive carsmanufactured by the German automakerBMWsince May 1975. It is the successor to the02 Seriesand has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only available as a 2-door saloon; the model range expanded to include a 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 2-door coupé, 5-door estate, 5-door liftback ( "Gran Turismo") and 3-door hatchbackbody styles.Since 2013, the coupé and convertible models have been marketed as the4 Series,styles no longer included in the 3 Series.
The 3 Series is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the BMW brand's annual total car sales,[1]and has won numerous awards throughout its history.
TheMversion of the 3 series,M3,debuted with the E30 M3 in 1986.[2]
First generation (E21; 1975)
The E21 replaced the02 Seriesand 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-doorsedanmodels were introduced in 1983,convertibleswere introduced in 1985 andestate( "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, andall-wheel drivewas introduced to the 3 Series range with the 325iX model. TheBMW Z1roadster was based on the E30 platform.
The firstBMW M3was built on the E30 platform. The E30 M3 is powered by the high-revvingS14four-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 Compact model, which was smaller than the traditional 4-door sedan version, was powered by the BMW's four-cylinder engines developed during the 1990s.
The E36 was the second 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.
TheM3model is powered by theS50andS52straight-six engines. It was sold in coupé, sedan and convertible body styles.
TheBMW Z3roadster 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 display, ASC/DSC, rain-sensing wipers, LED tail-lights, and Xenon headlights.[5][6][7][8]All-wheel drive, last available in theE303 Series, was reintroduced for the E46. It was available for the 325xi and 330xi sedan/wagon models.[9][10]The E46 generation came with theM52TU/M54engines with dualVanos(variable valve timing) and came with a GM 5 speed Automatic (5L40E), ZF 5 speed Manual (S5-31), Getrag 5 speed Manual (S5D-250G), ZF 6 speed Manual (GS6-37BZ/DZ), and ZF 6-speed Automatic Manual (SMG) (GS6S37BZ).[11][12][13][14][15]
TheM3version of the E46 was powered by theS54straight-six engine and was available in coupé and convertible body styles (other than that, it was powered with theM52orM54in 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 thesedan,wagon,coupéandcabrioletbody 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 aturbochargedgasoline engine. The E90 also saw the introduction ofrun-flat tiresto the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run flats are not equipped with spare tires.
The E90/E92/E93M3was powered by theBMW S65V8 engine. It was released in 2007 and was produced in sedan, coupe, and cabriolet body styles.
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 thesedan,coupé,convertible,station wagonand 5-doorhatchback( "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 the 2013 year until 2014 when they were split from the 3 Series, redesigned, and sold as theBMW 4 Series.A new body style was introduced into the 3 Series range: the3 Series Gran Turismo,a long-wheelbase hatchback.[16][17][18]
In 2016, aplug-in hybriddrivetrain was first used in the 3 Series, in the 330e model.[19]Also in 2016, a 3-cylinder engine was used for the first time in a 3 Series.
TheM3version (designated F80, the first time an M3 has used a separate model designation) was released in 2014 and is powered by theS55twin-turbo straight-6 engine.
Production ended in 2019 with the end of F31 Touring production in June.[20][21]
Seventh generation (G20/G21/G28; 2018)
The BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the2018 Paris Motor Showon 2 October 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.[22]The more powerful M3 and M3 Competition variants were delivered globally starting in 2021. The G20 is the first 3 Series generation to bring an M3 Touring to market.[23]Since 2022, it gained abattery electricversion exclusive for the Chinese market as thei3,sharing its powertrain with the globally marketedi4.A facelift was revealed in May 2022, and launched in select markets in November 2022, for the 2023 model year.
M versions
The M3 is the most performance oriented version of the 3 Series. It is designed and 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 have been marketed withcoupé,sedanandconvertiblebody 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-color "M" (Motorsport) emblem.
The last M3 coupé was produced in Germany on 5 July 2013, replaced by the F82/F83M4 coupéand convertible starting with the 2015 model year,[24][25]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). The M3 represented above (The F80) was powered by aBMW S55engine producing 317 kW (431 PS) at 7,600 rpm.[26]
In June 2022, BMW revealed the first BMW M3 Touring, codenamed G81. Based on the seventh generation 3 Series, it marks the first time a BMW M Touring model reached the market.[27]The touring version of the M3 contains the same engine and interior setup as the M3 sedan, but extends the roof line to become awagon.[28]
Awards and recognition
The 3 Series has been onCar and Drivermagazine's annual10 Bestlist 22 times, from 1992 through 2014, making it the longest-running entry in the list.[29]In their December 2009 issue,Grassroots Motorsportsmagazine named the BMW 3 Series as the second-most important performance car built during the previous 25 years. In January 2021, the BMW 330e M Sport (M Sport Pro Package) was named Executive Car of the Year byWhat Car?magazine.[30]What Car?awarded the 3 Series five stars out of five in its review of the car.[31]
Theplug-in hybridversion of the car was the UK's best-selling plug-in hybrid car of 2021 having achieved 10,979 new registrations throughout the year, beating theMercedes A-Classby over 4,000 registrations.[32]
Production and sales
| Year | Production | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe[33] | 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[34] | 216,866 | 52,472 |
| 1998 | 376,900[34] | 247,786 | 57,520 |
| 1999 | 454,000[34] | 304,983 | 77,138 |
| 2000 | 509,007[34] | 330,604 | 89,681 |
| 2001 | 533,952[34] | 343,991 | 103,227 |
| 2002 | 561,249[34] | 350,606 | 115,428 |
| 2003 | 528,358[34] | 320,029 | 111,944 |
| 2004 | 449,732[34] | 269,216 | 106,549 |
| 2005 | 434,342[34] | 244,886 | 106,950 |
| 2006 | 508,479[34] | 289,597 | 120,180 |
| 2007 | 555,219[35] | 295,063 | 142,490 |
| 2008 | 474,208[36] | 251,334 | 112,464 |
| 2009 | 397,103[37] | 198,610 | 90,960 |
| 2010 | 399,009[38] | 183,122 | 100,910 |
| 2011 | 384,464 | 161,614 | 94,371 |
| 2012 | 406,752 | 175,022 | 99,602 |
| 2013 | 500,332[39] | 200,604 | 119,521 |
| 2014 | 480,214[40] | 168,275 | 142,232 |
| 2015 | 444,338[41] | 143,023 | 140,609 |
| 2016 | 411,844[42] | 144,561 | 106,221 |
| 2017 | 409,005 | 129,053 | 99,083 |
| 2018 | 366,475[43] | 106,991 | 75,957 |
| 2019 | 358,643[44] | 124,537 | 73,287 |
| 2020 | 381,416[45] | 118,369 | 50,937[46] |
| 2021 | 72398[47] | ||
| 2022 | 67354[48] | ||
| 2023 | 84,774[49] | ||
*Figures since 2013 includes the BMW 4 Series
See also
References
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External links
