BMW 3 Series (E46): the fourth generation that sold by the million

The fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series went on sale in 1997 with a bodyshell BMW claimed was 70% more rigid than the E36’s. It was the first 3 Series to use Valvetronic variable valve lift and the first to offer satellite navigation and LED tail-lights. Five body styles were built over nine years, and the M3 arrived in 2000 with the S54 six-cylinder engine.

BMW 3 Series (E46) at a glance

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the E46; the German article was not available.

History of the BMW 3 Series (E46)

Development

The programme began in 1993 under chief engineer Wolfgang Ziebart and head of development Wolfgang Reitzle. Design work started late that year under Chris Bangle, and in May 1995 the general exterior by Erik Goplen of DesignworksUSA was approved; DesignworksUSA was then contracted to work with BMW’s in-house team. The team concentrated on aerodynamics and a more aggressive stance. Design patents were filed in Germany on 16 July 1997 and in the United States on 16 January 1998. The sedan was revealed by press release on 11 November 1997 and reached customers at the end of April 1998, after 24 months of production development from the design freeze.

Body styles

The sedan was built from December 1997 to May 2005, with knock-down production continuing to December 2005; both it and the Touring were facelifted in September 2001. The Touring estate ran from January 1999 to May 2005 with 428,061 built. The coupé followed from December 1998 to May 2006 (443,264 cars) and the convertible from December 1999 to November 2006 (277,146 cars), both facelifted in March 2003. The Compact three-door hatchback of 2000–2004 (199,430 cars) had its own headlights and tail-lights and a faster steering ratio than the rest of the range. Assembly took place in Leipzig, Munich, Regensburg and Rosslyn in South Africa, while complete knock-down kits were assembled in China, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand and Russia.

Engineering and the M3

Aluminium was used for more suspension components to cut unsprung mass, although a 328ci weighed 1,450 kg, some 55 kg more than its E36 equivalent. All-wheel drive returned to the 3 Series after 1991 on the 325xi, 330xi and 330xd. The E46 was the first 3 Series with a CAN bus for drivetrain data and a separate K-bus for the radio, navigation and telephone, and the first with an engine using Valvetronic. Electronic brake-force distribution, rain-sensing wipers and LED tail-lights also appeared. The M3, launched in June 2000 as a coupé and a year later as a convertible, used the S54 straight-six with a six-speed manual or the SMG-II automated manual.

Design and features

• Stiffer shell: BMW claimed 70% more rigidity than the E36, with aluminium suspension parts to cut unsprung weight.
• Valvetronic: the first 3 Series engine with variable valve lift.
• Electronics: CAN and K-bus networks, satellite navigation with CD then DVD maps, rain-sensing wipers and LED tail-lights.
• All-wheel drive: back in the 3 Series after 1991 on the 325xi, 330xi and 330xd.
• S54 M3: a high-revving straight-six with SMG-II as an alternative to the manual.

BMW 3 Series (E46) versions

• Sedan (1997–2005): 1,918,984 built, from 316i to 330xi.
• Touring (1999–2005): five-door estate, 428,061 built.
• Coupé (1998–2006): 443,264 built, including the M3 and M3 CSL.
• Convertible (1999–2006): 277,146 built, up to the M3.
• Compact (2000–2004): three-door hatchback with its own front and rear styling.
• M3 (2000–2006): S54 engine, coupé and convertible, six-speed manual or SMG-II.

The E46 followed the E36 3 Series and was replaced by the E90; the M3 story is told in the BMW M3 article. More cars are in the BMW collection.

Sources

• BMW 3 Series (E46), English Wikipedia: development, body styles, production figures, equipment