BMW 3 Series (E36)

The third generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model code E36, and was produced by the German 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'' 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 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, produced from 1993 to 1999. A 4-door Baur "Top Cabriolet" conversion was also available.
* 5-door wagon (marketed as "Touring"), produced from 1994 to 1999.
* 3-door hatchback (''see BMW 3 Series Compact''), 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

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 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 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 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 engine debuted in the E36 M3. In 1995, its capacity was increased to 3.2 L.

Diesel

Initially, the turbocharged straight-six BMW M51 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 in the rear, which was introduced in the BMW Z1 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

The E36 M3 was launched in 1992 and was powered by the BMW S50 and BMW S52 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

The Alpina ''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

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

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 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, Germany; Regensburg, Germany; Rosslyn, South Africa; and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States.

Local assembly of complete knock-down (CKD) kits was used for cars sold in Uruguay (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 competed in the British Touring Car Championship with the 318i and 320i from 1993 to 1995, winning the title in 1993. In the same year, Johnny Cecotto won the German ADAC GT Cup driving an E36 M3. Cecotto won the Super Tourenwagen Cup for BMW in 1994 and 1998, Winkelhock in 1995.

Geoff Brabham and his younger brother David Brabham won the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000 at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, Australia driving a Super Touring BMW 320i for BMW Motorsport Australia.

The 1998 24 Hours Nürburgring was won by diesel for the first time - a BMW E36 320d, aided by its diesel engine 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