The BMW 3 Series has dominated the market for compact sports sedan segment for decades and is the Bavarian company’s bread and butter. BMW’s famous slogan is ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine”, and the ever-popular 3 series has embodied that better than any other of their models. Let’s look back.
BMW was in the midst of a huge renaissance in the 60s after their near-implosion in the 50s. In 1966, they brought out the 02 series. It was essentially a Neue Klasse sedan with 7 inches chopped off. It was only available with 2 side doors, as a coupe, convertible, and the much rarer hatchback. The design, with the horizontal belt line wrapping all the way around the car, came from the Chevy Corvair. The 02 was available with 1.6 (1602), 1.8 (1802), and 2.0 liter (2002) engines. There was even a turbo model. The 02 helped solidify BMW’s reputation for making cars that were a blast to drive on a twisty back road. Like almost all BMWs, the 02 sported the “Hoffmeister kink” on the rear pillar. It’s BMW’s 2nd most famous design cue, behind the kidney grille.
In 1976, BMW brought out the first ever 3 series, the E21. It was designed by Paul Bracq, and like most of his work, was handsome and clean. The E21 was coupe and convertible only, so it wasn’t quite yet a sports sedan. It had many notable features, such as the the interior controls on the center console being angled towards the driver, helping establish that this was a driver’s car. It had rack and pinion steering, with Macpherson struts up front and trailing arms in the rear, the car handled extremely well, like a BMW should.
The E30 arrived in 1983. For the first time ever, it could be had as a 4 door sedan. The lineup really expanded, even including a wagon. The wagon was the result of a prototype that one BMW engineer designed in his friend’s garage. The E30 would become the main means of transport for all those yuppies and cement BMW’s power.
The greatest was the M3. With a 2.3 liter engine making 200 horsepower, it was a true sports car when it was released in 1986 and would spawn many imitators.
The E30 was not a groundbreaking shape in 1983 with those sealed beam headlights and was downright dated looking by the time it was axed in 1994. With the E36, the 3 series joined the Aero era. The M3 got a 3.2 liter I6 making 286 horsepower in European spec and a more leisurely 240 in the US and could be had in 2 and 4 door variants. By this point, the 3 series was almost common, it simply exuded class and crushed its rivals.
BMW expanded the 3 series lineup with the 3 series compact. It was a shortened version of the 318 with a hatchback. It was the only car of its size to use rear wheel drive.
The E46 was introduced for 1998. The compact was no longer available in the US due to poor sales. The E46 introduced BMW’s valvetronic variable valve timing system to improve efficiency. Also introduced was GPS navigation, electronic brake force distribution, and rain sensing wipers.
The M3 now made 333 horsepower in US spec and 343 in European spec. The sedan version was discontinued, it could only be had as a coupe or convertible. Optional was an SMG automated manual, widely criticized for being clunky and unsmooth.
With the redesign for 2005, there was a substantial divergence in styling between 2 door and 4 door models. Each of the bodystyles got their own chassis codes: E90 for sedan, E91 for wagon, E92 for coupe, and E93 for convertible. The compact was discontinued, replaced by the new 1 series. This 3 series was introduced during the controversial reign of stylist Chris Bangle and is considered one of the less ugly of his works. For the first time, it became possible to get a turbocharged non-diesel 3 series with the 335i, with a 3 liter making 300 horsepower. Americans would be able to buy a diesel 3 series for the first time also. This 3 series would also introduce BMW’s widely panned iDrive control system. The convertible came with a metal folding hardtop.
The M3 now was powered by a 4 liter V8 making 411 horsepower. A 4 door model was once again available and the new twin clutch automated manual transmission was a huge improvement over the old SMG. The M3 had a carbon fiber roof to lower the center of gravity.
For 2012, the 3 series was redesigned. 2 door models were spun off into the new 4 series. With the F30/F31 (sedan/wagon) the 3 series was powered entirely by turbocharged engines for the first time to improve fuel economy. It also introduced an 8 speed automatic, automatic stop-start, and electric power steering. In Europe, a 1.5 liter 3 cylinder engine is offered, the first 3 cylinder ever on a 3 series. There is also a plug in hybrid model.
Even the M3 got efficiency improvements, the V8 was replaced by a turbo 6 making slightly more power.
At the Paris Auto Show, the new G20 model was unveiled, to go on sale in March. Compared to the old one, it is lighter, yet bigger. It uses a similar range of engines from the old one. iDrive has been vastly improved with more intuitive menus and a touch screen. And you can now use your smartphone as your key. It’ll even offer laser powered headlights. All of this should enable it to continue to dominate in its segment, although hopefully there’ll be an all-electric model to fend off Tesla.
The 3 series has been the lynchpin of success for BMW for 40 years. The Bavarian automaker built the compact sports sedan segment in the 60s and has completely dominated it ever since. It has helped make BMW one of the most desirable and respected brands in the world.