BMW 3 Series

The E21 was launched in 1975 and replaced the 02 Series, borrowing the naming convention first introduced with the first generation E12 5 Series. The body style was designed by Paul Bracq and was initially available as a 2-door saloon (also described as coupé), with a convertible version made available through collaboration with Karosserie Baur.

At launch, all models used carburetted 4-cylinder M10 engines; with fuel-injected models introduced in late 1975 and 6-cylinder engines powered by the all-new M20 were added in 1977; which were unavailable in the North American market. Three transmission types were available; a 3 speed automatic and a 4 or 5 speed manual gearbox.

The E21 was discontinued in December of 1983 with the release of the E30.

On its introduction in 1982, the E30 was produced solely as a 2-door sedan. 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 4-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 E30 reused the M10 and M20 engines from the E21, albiet with many models now receiving fuel-injection. A diesel was also introduced to the 3 Series with the M21 with a turbocharged variant, making it also the first turbocharged 3 Series. The BMW Z1 roadster was based on the E30 platform, and features of the rear suspension would be reused in the E36 'Compact' and Z3.

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.

The E30 was slowly phased out starting in 1990 with the release of the E36, but Convertible and Touring models continued to be manufactured until 1993 and 1994 respectively. This also marked the end of production of the M20 engine.

The E36 arrived in 1990 and was sold in an enlarged variety of models: a sedan, coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as a "Compact").

The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered a 6-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a 5-speed automatic transmission, a four-cylinder diesel engine and to be available with stability control (ASC). The E36 was also the first of only two generations to be sold with the Compact nameplate. The multi-link rear suspension (dubbed Z-Axle) that was first seen on the Z1 was introduced to the 3 Series and was a significant upgrade compared to previous generations.

The M3 model is powered by the S50 and S52 straight-six engines. It was sold in coupé, sedan and convertible body styles; with a one-off concept 'M3 Compact' variant also built. The BMW Z3 Roadster and Coupé models were also based on the E36 platform.

The E36 was phased out starting with the 4-door sedan 1998 with the release of the E46, but other models continued to be made through 1999 and Compact models continued to be manufactured until 2000.

At the turn of 1998, the E46 was launched as a sedan, with later coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as "3 Series Compact") models being added.

The E46 generation introduced various electronic features to the 3 Series, including the CANBUS protocol, satellite navigation, DSC, rain-sensing wipers, LED tail-lights, and Xenon headlights. All-wheel drive, last available in the E30 3 Series, was reintroduced for the E46 as the 325xi and 330xi sedan/wagon models. For the first time since the introduction of the 3 Series, North American markets did not receive 4-cylinder or diesel E46 models. The E46 has the widest range of transmission options; ranging from 4, 5 or 6 speed automatics, a 5 or 6 speed manual and an automatically-actuated 6-speed sequential manual gearbox (dubbed 'SMG').

The E46 was the last of two generations of 3 Series available with a Compact variant. The M3 version of the E46 was powered by the S54 straight-six engine and was available in coupé and convertible body styles, with a one-off concept 'M3 Touring' variant also built. The transmissions available were a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed "SMG-II" sequential manual gearbox.

The E46 was phased out starting in late 2004 with the release of the E9x, but the coupé and convertible continued to be manufactured until 2006. The Compact nameplate was also discontinued in 2004 with the release of the first generation 1 Series.

The E9x was first made available in 2004; produced in the sedan, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), coupé and cabriolet body 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 a turbocharged gasoline engine. The E90 also saw the introduction of run-flat tires to the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run flats are not equipped with spare tires.

The E90/E92/E93 M3 was the first mass-produced 3 Series powered by the a V8 engine; namely the BMW S65. It was released in 2007 and was produced in sedan, coupe, and cabriolet body styles.

The E90 began being phased out starting with North America in late 2012 with the release of the F3x, but the coupé and convertible continued to be manufactured until 2013. This also marked the end of the original nomenclature; as all models from this point mark their model numbers by relative power, rather than following the engine displacement.

The F30/F31/F35 has been produced in the sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon and 5-door hatchback ("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 the BMW 4 Series. A new body style was introduced into the 3 Series range: the 3 Series Gran Turismo, a long-wheelbase hatchback.

In 2016, a plug-in hybrid drivetrain was first used in the 3 Series, in the 330e model. Also in 2016, a 3-cylinder engine was used for the first time in a 3 Series.

The M3 version (designated F80, the first time an M3 has used a separate model designation) was released in 2014 and is powered by the S55 twin-turbo straight-6 engine.

The F3x began being phased out starting 2018 with the release of the G2x, but the Touring continued production until June 2019.

The BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on 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. 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. Since 2022, it gained a battery electric version exclusive for the Chinese market as the i3, sharing its powertrain with the globally marketed i4. A facelift was revealed in May 2022, and launched in select markets in November 2022, for the 2023 model year.

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 with coupé, sedan and convertible body 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/F83 M4 coupé and convertible starting with the 2015 model year, 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 a BMW S55 engine producing 317 kW (431 PS) at 7,600 rpm.

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. The touring version of the M3 contains the same engine and interior setup as the M3 sedan, but extends the roof line to become a wagon.

The 3 Series has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual 10 Best list 22 times, from 1992 through 2014, making it the longest-running entry in the list. In their December 2009 issue, Grassroots Motorsports magazine 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 by What Car? magazine. What Car? awarded the 3 Series five stars out of five in its review of the car.

The plug-in hybrid version 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 the Mercedes A-Class by over 4,000 registrations.

*Figures since 2013 include the BMW 4 Series