The third generation of the
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only avail ...
range of
compact executive car
A compact executive car, also known as a compact luxury car, is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car. Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification.
A ...
s is designated under the model code E36, and was produced by the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
automaker
BMW from 1990 to 2000. The initial models were of the four-door sedan body style, followed by the coupe, convertible, wagon ("Touring"), hatchback ("Compact"), and the rare four-door convertible Baur TC4 in later years.
The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered in a
hatchback body style. It was also the first 3 Series to be available with a six-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a five-speed automatic transmission, and a four-cylinder diesel engine. The
multi-link rear suspension was also a significant upgrade as compared to the previous generations of the 3 Series. Unlike the previous (E30) and successive (E46) generations, all-wheel drive was not available for the E36.
The E36 was named in ''
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was f ...
'' magazine's
10Best list for every year it was on sale.
Following the introduction of its successor, the
E46 3 Series in 1998, the E36 began to be phased out and was eventually replaced in 1999.
Development and launch
Development of the E36 began in 1981 and the exterior design was heavily influenced by aerodynamics, specifically the overall wedge shape, headlight covers and smaller wing mirrors. The lead designers were
Pinky Lai
Pinky Lai (賴平, born 20 March 1951) is an automotive designer. Lai is noted for his design work at Ford, BMW, and Porsche AG.
During Lai's tenure at Porsche from January 1989 until his retirement in 2014, he was chief designer responsible f ...
and Boyke Boyer.
The production version of the E36 was launched in October 1990, with press release in November and market launch in early 1991.
Body styles
The body styles of the range are:
* 4-door
sedan, produced from 1990 to 1998.
* 2-door
coupé, produced from 1990 to 1999.
* 2-door
convertible
A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers.
A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
, produced from 1993 to 1999. A 4-door
Baur Baur can refer to:
People
* A. C. Baur (1900–1931), American football player and stock broker
* Alfred Baur, Swiss collector of Asian art
* Eleonore Baur, only woman to participate in Munich Beer Hall Putsch
* Erwin Baur, German geneticist and b ...
"Top Cabriolet" conversion was also available.
* 5-door
wagon
A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people.
Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...
(marketed as "Touring"), produced from 1994 to 1999.
* 3-door
hatchback (''see
BMW 3 Series Compact
The BMW 3 Series Compact is a 3-door hatchback version of the BMW 3 Series, which was produced from 1993 through 2004. Initially based on the E36 platform, it switched to the E46 platform in 2001.
The launch models were powered by four-cylinder ...
''), produced from 1994 to 2000.
File:1991-1996 BMW 318i (E36) sedan 03.jpg, E36 sedan
File:1994 BMW 318is (E36) coupe (23805534193).jpg, E36 coupe
File:BMW 320i Cabriolet (E36 2C, Facelift) – Heckansicht, 8. Juni 2011, Wülfrath.jpg, E36 convertible
File:E36Baur (cropped).jpg, E36 Baur
File:BMW E36 Touring Heck.JPG, E36 Touring
File:BMW 3er Compact rear 20090920.jpg, E36 Compact
Equipment
![320i_Touring_M_Tech_PL](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/320i_Touring_M_Tech_PL.JPG)
Safety equipment available included a driver's airbag, passenger airbag (from 1993 production) and side impact airbags in later models, ABS braking and stability control ("ASC +T"). Electronic climate control was also available on the E36.
Engines
Petrol
The four-cylinder petrol engines used in the E36 range were initially engines carried over from the previous generation 3 Series: the
BMW M40 SOHC engine and the
BMW M42
The BMW M42 is a DOHC straight-four petrol engine which was produced from 1989-1996. It is BMW's first mass-production DOHC engine and was produced alongside the BMW M40 SOHC four-cylinder engine as the higher performance engine.
The M42 was repl ...
DOHC engine. In 1993, the M40 was replaced by the
BMW M43 SOHC engine and the M42 was replaced in 1996 by the
BMW M44 DOHC engine.
For the six-cylinder models, the E36 was launched with the then-new
BMW M50
The BMW M50 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1990 to 1996. It was released in the E34 520i and 525i, to replace the M20 engine.
In September 1992, the M50 was upgraded to the M50TU ("technical update"), which was BMW ...
DOHC petrol engine. In late 1992 the
M50TU versions added
single-VANOS (variable valve timing), which increased torque (peak power was unchanged). In 1995, the
BMW M52
The BMW M52 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1994 to 2000. It was released in the E36 320i, to replace the M50. The BMW S52 engine is a high performance variant of the M52 which powered the American and Canadian market E ...
engine replaced the M50TU, resulting in the 328i model replacing the 325i and the addition of a new mid-range 323i model (powered by a 2.5 litre version of the M52).
In 1992, the 3.0 L
BMW S50
The BMW M50 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1990 to 1996. It was released in the E34 520i and 525i, to replace the M20 engine.
In September 1992, the M50 was upgraded to the M50TU ("technical update"), which was BMW' ...
engine debuted in the E36 M3. In 1995, its capacity was increased to 3.2 L.
Diesel
Initially, the turbocharged straight-six
BMW M51
The BMW M51 is an inline-6 cylinder Diesel engine produced by the Upper Austrian BMW plant in Steyr from July 1991 through February 2000. Its predecessor is the BMW M21, the successor is the BMW M57.
Description
The M51 is a water-cooled an ...
engine was used in the E36 325td model. In 1993, the 325tds model was released, which added an intercooler to the M51. In 1994, the 318tds model was introduced, powered by the four-cylinder
BMW M41 turbocharged and intercooled engine. Diesel engines were available only in sedan, touring and compact body styles. The coupe and convertible had only petrol engines.
Drivetrain
The E36 was produced with the following transmissions:
* 5-speed manual (1994-1999 M3)
* 6-speed manual (1996-1999 M3- except for the United States)
* 4-speed automatic
* 5-speed automatic
This is the first model (from BMW or any other make) with rear-wheel drive, since the E36 was not produced with all-wheel drive (unlike its predecessor and successor).
Suspension
The sedan, coupé, convertible and Touring models use the "Z-axle"
multilink suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension with one or more longitudinal arms. A wider definition can consider any independent suspensions having three control links or more multi-link suspensions. These arms do not have to be of eq ...
in the rear, which was introduced in the
BMW Z1
The BMW Z1 is the first model in BMW's line of Z series roadsters (two-seater convertibles), and was produced in limited numbers from 1989 to 1991.
The Z1 is unique for its plastic body panels and vertically sliding doors which drop into the ...
roadster.
The hatchback ("Compact") models use a rear semi-trailing arm suspension based on the older
E30 3 Series design. This was done in order to save space due to the truncated rear end of the hatchback.
M3 model
![1993 BMW M3 (32821019713)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/1993_BMW_M3_%2832821019713%29.jpg)
The E36 M3 was launched in 1992 and was powered by the
BMW S50
The BMW M50 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1990 to 1996. It was released in the E34 520i and 525i, to replace the M20 engine.
In September 1992, the M50 was upgraded to the M50TU ("technical update"), which was BMW' ...
and
BMW S52
The BMW M52 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which was produced from 1994 to 2000. It was released in the E36 320i, to replace the M50. The BMW S52 engine is a high performance variant of the M52 which powered the American and Canadian market E ...
straight-six engines rather than the four-cylinder units used in the E30. Unlike the predecessor, the homologation special type ended and it was not developed expressly with competition in mind. It was produced in coupé, sedan, and convertible body styles.
Alpina models
![BMW Alpina B3 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/BMW_Alpina_B3_3.2_%282481737768%29.jpg)
The
Alpina
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany that develops and sells high-performance versions of BMW cars.
Alpina works closely with BMW an ...
''B6 2.8'', ''B3 3.0'', ''B3 3.2'', ''B8 4.0'' and ''B8 4.6'' models were based on the E36. The B3 and B6 models were powered by straight-six engines, while the B8 models were powered by V8 engines.
E36/5 Compact
![BMW 3er Compact front 20090920](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/BMW_3er_Compact_front_20090920.jpg)
The ''3 Series Compact'' range of three-door
hatchback models was introduced in 1993, based on a shortened version of the E36 platform. The model code for the hatchback body style is "E36/5" and the model range consisted of 316i, 316g, 318ti, 323ti, and 318tds.
Z3 Roadster/Coupe
![BMW Z3 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/BMW_Z3_3.0i_Calypso_Red_2002_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%2817%29.jpg)
A modified version of the E36 platform was used for the 1996-2002 Z3 roadster (model code E36/7) and coupé (model code E36/8).
North American model range
The North American model range consisted of the models listed below. The 318i models were powered by the
BMW M42
The BMW M42 is a DOHC straight-four petrol engine which was produced from 1989-1996. It is BMW's first mass-production DOHC engine and was produced alongside the BMW M40 SOHC four-cylinder engine as the higher performance engine.
The M42 was repl ...
engine until 1995, and later the
BMW M44 engine which was used in the 318is model sold in other countries.
Coupe:
*318is (1992–1997) - Canada only for 1999 model year
*323is (1998–1999)
*325is (1992–1995)
*328is (1996–1999)
*M3 (1994–1999) - Canada only for the 1994 model year, the US only for 1995 and 1996 model years
Convertible:
*318i (1994–1997)
*323i (1998–1999)
*325i (1994-1995)
*328i (1996–1999)
*M3 (1998–1999) - US only
Hatchback:
* 318ti (1995–1999)
Sedan:
*318i (1992–1998) - Canada 1993-1998
*320i (1993–1995) - Canada only
*325i (1992–1995)
*328i (1996–1998)
*M3 (1997–1998)
European model range
The European model range had more variety than the North American and included diesel engines and the station wagon "Touring" body styles. The European market range had more low-range models than the North American, for example, the 316i and 318i had 8-valve SOHC engines. The M3 was also more expensive and had more horsepower than the North American version.
Sedan:
* 316i (1990-1998)
* 318i (1990-1998)
* 318is (1993-1998)
* 320i (1990-1998)
* 323i (1995-1998)
* 325i (1990-1995)
* 328i (1995-1998)
* M3 3.0 (1994-1995)
* M3 3.2 (1995-1997)
* 318tds (1994-1998)
* 325td (1991-1998)
* 325tds (1993-1998)
Coupe:
* 316i (1993-1999)
* 318is (1991-1999)
* 320i (1991-1998)
* 323i (1995-1999)
* 325i (1990-1995)
* 328i (1994-1999)
* M3 3.0 (1992-1995)
* M3 3.2 (1995-1998)
Convertible:
* 318i (1993-1999)
* 320i (1992-1999)
* 323i (1995-1999)
* 325i (1992-1995)
* 328i (1994-1999)
* M3 3.0 (1993-1995)
* M3 3.2 (1995-1999)
Touring:
* 316i (1996-1999)
* 318i (1995-1999)
* 320i (1994-1999)
* 323i (1995-1999)
* 328i (1994-1999)
* 318tds (1994-1999)
* 325tds (1994-1999)
Compact:
* 316i (1993-2000)
* 318ti (1994-2000)
* 323ti (1997-2000)
* 318tds (1994-2000)
* 316g (1995-2000)
Production
The E36 was produced in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...
, Germany;
Regensburg, Germany;
Rosslyn, South Africa; and
Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Spartanburg County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 327,997, making it the fifth-most populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Spartanburg ...
, United States.
Local assembly of
complete knock-down
A knock-down kit (also knockdown kit, knocked-down kit, or simply knockdown or KD) is a collection of parts required to assemble a product. The parts are typically manufactured in one country or region, then exported to another country or region ...
(CKD) kits was used for cars sold in
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
(until 1991), Egypt, Mexico and Thailand. The E36 was also built as CKD kits in the Philippines starting from 1994 up until 1997, when production halted due to the
1997 Asian financial crisis.
Motorsports
Joachim Winkelhock
Joachim Winkelhock (born 24 October 1960) is a German motor racing driver.
The younger brother of the late Manfred Winkelhock, Winkelhock was born in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart. The youngest brother, Thomas Winkelhock, and Manfred's son Mark ...
competed in the
British Touring Car Championship
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by TOCA. It was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and was renamed as ...
with the 318i and 320i from 1993 to 1995, winning the title in 1993. In the same year,
Johnny Cecotto
Johnny Alberto Cecotto Persello (born 25 January 1956), better known as Johnny Cecotto, is a Venezuelan former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer and auto racer. He rose to prominence as a teenage prodigy in 1975 when he became the you ...
won the German ADAC GT Cup driving an E36 M3. Cecotto won the
Super Tourenwagen Cup
The Super Tourenwagen Cup, or German Supertouring Championship, was a touring car racing series held between 1994 and 1999 in Germany.
The championship was established when BMW and Audi both left the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) in 19 ...
for BMW in 1994 and 1998, Winkelhock in 1995.
Geoff Brabham
__NOTOC__
Geoff Brabham (born 20 March 1952) is an Australian racing driver. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States.
Racing career
CART
He raced successfully in CART early in his career, finishing 8th in 1982, 19 ...
and his younger brother
David Brabham
David Brabham (born 5 September 1965) is an Australian professional racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians t ...
won the
1997 AMP Bathurst 1000
The 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 was the 38th running of the annual Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 5 October 1997 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. It was the first Bathurst 1000 r ...
at the
Mount Panorama Circuit in
Bathurst,
Australia driving a
Super Touring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created ...
BMW 320i for
BMW Motorsport Australia.
The 1998
24 Hours Nürburgring
4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures.
In mathematics
Four is the smalle ...
was won by diesel for the first time - a BMW E36 320d, aided by its
diesel engine
The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-ca ...
requiring fewer fuel stops than rivals.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bmw 3 Series (E36)
3 Series
E36
Cars introduced in 1990
Euro NCAP large family cars
Compact executive cars
Touring cars