BMW 3 Series | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BMW |
Production | 1975–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Entry-level luxury car |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | BMW 02 Series |
BMW 3 Series (E21) | |
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Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door saloon 2-door cabrio |
Layout | FR |
BMW 3 Series (E30) | |
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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) | |
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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 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. In 2013, the coupé and convertible models started to be badged as 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 model codes for the six generations of the 3 Series are:
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.