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LAST week we explored the popular Mercedes- Benz W202 series which is fast becoming a must-see on our roads.
There is this fierce competition between owners of Mercs and those with BMWs. I received several phone calls from somewhat disgruntled followers of this column who felt I was tilting my coverage in favour of Mercs without doing the same to BMWs.
One of them openly told me that I was being biased because I own a Merc. Well, this week I am duty bound to take your concerns on board and do as you instructed in your phone calls.
Before I do that, I would like you to understand that there is neck-and-neck competition between Mercs, BMWs and Audi.
When Merc designers come up with a new C class model, those at BMW will come up with a rival 3 series, while Audi will also produce a rival A4 series. This happens with all the vehicle classes.
Whenever there is a new Merc E class a competing BMW 5 series will be there as well as an Audi A6.
This also happens with the Merc S class, BMW 7 series and the Audi A8.
In this instalment we are going to explore the BMW 3 series that competes squarely with the Merc C class we reviewed last week.
BMW released its E21 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, nearly doubling BMW’s worldwide auto sales figures in three years. The 3 series has also maintained BMW’s racing heritage. The M version of the 3 series, M3, debuted in 1988.
The first generation was a two-door saloon model only. A factory authorised Cabrio version was also built by Baur. The cockpit design of the E21 marked the introduction of a new design concept for BMW, with the centre console angled towards the driver. This feature has become part of BMW’s interior design philosophy for many years. As a sign of passive safety, all edges and control elements within the interior were rounded off and padded.
Initially, all models used the BMW M10 four-cylinder engine. In 1977, the BMW M20 six-cylinder engine was added to the line-up. The E30 was sold from 1982 through 1991 in coupé form, 1983 through 1991 in saloon form, and through 1993 in convertible form. Four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol engines were used, with a six-cylinder diesel added in 1985. In 1986, the first all-wheel drive 3-series was produced, called the 325iX. Initially released as a two-door coupé, the four-door saloon body style was added to the 3-series lineup in September 1983. In 1986, the station wagon body style became available.
The first BMW M3 was the E30 M3 coupé, which was released in 1987 and uses the S14 four-cylinder engine. The E36 was produced from 1991-1998. It was available with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, with the twin cam BMW M50 six-cylinder replacing the single-cam engine used in the E30. Rear suspension was the “Z-axle” multi-link suspension, as used in the Z1.
In 1993, VANOS variable valve timing was introduced on the DOHC I6 (inline 6-cylinder) engines. In 1996, the M50 six-cylinder engine was replaced by the M52 six cylinder engine, and maximum displacement was increased from 2.5 litres to 2.8 litres.
The E36 M3 uses the S50 six-cylinder engine and was the first M3 available as a four-door sedan. Unlike the E30, which never made the list, for every year of its production, the E36 was named in Car and Driver Magazine’s “10 Best Cars” list. The E46 was introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, in saloon version only. In 1999, the station wagon and coupé models were added. The convertible and M3 were released in 2000. The E46 was available with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines. All-wheel drive was introduced as an option in 2001. In 2000, the M54 six-cylinder engine replaced the M52 and maximum displacement increased from 2.8 litres to 3.0 litres.
Also in 2000, the E46 M3 Coupé was released. It uses the S54 six-cylinder engine and the option of an automated clutch SMG gearbox. In 2002, the convertible M3 became available.
The highest selling year for the E46 was 2002, when 561,249 vehicles were sold worldwide. The E90 debuted as a saloon (E90) and touring (E91) in March 2005, while the coupé (E92) and a retractable hard-top convertible (E93) went on sale in August 2006 as 2007 models. The coupé/cabriolet body was now its own design and no longer derived from the saloon/touring. The retractable hard-top convertible, meanwhile, was a first for the 3 Series.
The E90 was available with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, and the E92 M3 used a V8 engine.
The first turbocharged petrol 3-series was the E92 335i, which uses the BMW N54 straight-six. The N52 naturally aspirated inline-six engine features a lightweight magnesium/aluminum construction, electric water pump, and Valvetronic variable valve lift.
The 335i model of the 5th (e90) generation was notorious for its faulty high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) which many owners had to replace due to failure.
The problem was so large and BMW got so many complaints that they decided to actually do a recall on 335i models so that they could replace the HPFP.
Although this was one main issue faced by this generation, many would argue that reliability on the 5th generation was by far the best out of previous models. The sixth and current generation of the BMW 3 Series debuted on 14 October 2011 in Munich. The model arrived in showrooms in February 2012.
Many of the six-cylinder petrol models of previous generations (e.g. 328i) are instead powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines for the F30.
The first model of the F30 to debut was the sedan/saloon, which was followed by the wagon (Touring, F31), Gran Turismo (GT, F34) high-roof five-door,(5) coupé, and hardtop convertible body styles afterward.
The F30 line-up will not include convertible, coupé, and gran coupé models, as these will be badged as BMW 4 Series models. There will also be a hybrid version which augments the transmission with two electric motors and expected fuel savings of 20 percent, a similar power-train that will be found in the upcoming X5 hybrid, developed in a joint venture with GM, Chrysler, and Daimler.
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