3 Series

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

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

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 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 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

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 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

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 the 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). 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.

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

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.

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.

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Wikipedia