BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car produced by the German automaker BMW in Munich since 1975.

BMW introduced the car to succeed the 02 Series, starting with the two-door E21 sedan. Over its generations, the nameplate expanded into four-door sedans, station wagons, coupés, hatchbacks, and convertibles. Fans know the range by its chassis names, such as the boxy E30 from 1982, the E36 from 1990, and the E46 launched in 1998. Later came the E90 family in 2005, the F30 in 2011, and the G20 in 2018. Over five decades, the line accounted for roughly 30 percent of BMW's annual car sales.

Motorsport built much of the model's reputation, led by the M3 performance version unveiled in 1986. The first E30 M3 won the 1987 World Touring Car Championship and titles in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft. Racing versions also won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the Spa 24 Hours. The E90 won the World Car of the Year title in 2006, and 2002 was the strongest year for the E46, with 561,249 cars delivered worldwide.

Engines ranged from four-cylinder petrol and diesel units to high-output six-cylinders. The E30 M3 developed 175 kW (235 hp) in its final European form. In the seventh generation, the M3 Competition produced 375 kW (503 hp), reached 100 km/h (62 mph) from rest in 3.9 seconds and had a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph) with optional equipment. BMW has built the model at plants in Germany, South Africa, China, and Mexico.