The BMW 3 Series



The first 3 series was introduced in 1975. This model received the code name
E21 and was available with a four cylinder engine as 316, 318, 320 and 320i.
In 1977 the six cylinder 320 and 323i replaced the 320 and 320i four cylinder.
In 1979 the 3 series received a small face lift and in 1981 the 315 came available.
At the end of 1982 the new E30 3 series was introduced. It was available as four
cylinder 316 / 318i or as six cylinder 320i / 323i. In 1985 the 325i replaced the 323i
and the 324d diesel came available. Also available now were the four wheel drive
325ix and the 320i / 325i Convertible. At the end of 1987 the 3 series received a
small face lift and BMW introduced the 324td turbodiesel and the 3 series Touring.
In November 1990 the new E36 3 series came available. It had a M40 four cylinder
in the 316i / 318i or the new M50 6 cylinder in the 320i / 325i. In 1991 BMW added
the 325td turbodiesel and in 1992 the Coupe came available. A new Convertible was
introduced in 1993 and all four cylinder models received the new M43 engine. Also
new were the 316i Coupe and the 325tds turbodiesel Sedan. At the end of 1993
BMW introduced the 316i / 318ti Compact and in 1994 the new four cylinder 318tds
turbodiesel came available. The 328i replaced the 325i and the Convertible was now
also available as four cylinder 318i and six cylinder 320i. In 1995 the E36 Touring
replaced the E30 Touring and in 1996 a four cylinder 318is Sedan came available.
The 316i Touring and a 323ti Compact were added a year later. In 1998 BMW
introduced the new E46 3 series. It was available as four cylinder 318i / 320d and
as six cylinder 320i / 323i / 328i. The 320d was a four cylinder diesel wich replaced
the old E36 six cylinder diesels. In 1999 the Coupe and Touring came available and
BMW introduced the 316i Sedan and the six cylinder 330d diesel. The new E46
convertible and a new 330i and 330ix four wheel drive came available in 2000 and
in 2001 BMW launched their new compact, along with a facelift for the Sedan and
Touring. The 323i was replaced with the 325i and the 318i received a whole new
valvetronic engine. There was now also a 318d available and the 320d received
a stronger (150 HP) engine. In 2003 the coupe and convertible received a facelift,
the 330xd came available and for the first time, BMW introduced diesel engines
on their coupe 3 series, the 330Cd and the 320Cd. A diesel convertible would
follow the next year. That was 2004, when also the first pictures a whole new
3 series came available. The E90 3 series will be available from 2005 ...