engine and drivetrain BMW E36 3 Series

[DavidWilliam]

The E36 3 series was introduced at the end of 1990. It was available as 4 door sedan. There were four models available: 316i, 318i, 320i, and 325i. The six cylinder models all had a new 24 valve engine from the E34 5 series. The four cylinder models had the M40 engine from the E30 3 series. In 1991 the 325td came available. It had a six cylinder diesel engine with 115 HP. In 1992 the new coupe was introduced. It was available as 318is, 320i and 325i. In 1993 the 325tds and the 325i convertible came available. In 1994 the 318i and 320i convertible came available. In that same year the new compact was introduced. First it was only available as 316i but a 318ti soon followed. The 328i replaced the 325i and a four cylinder diesel was introduced: the 318tds. In 1995 the 318tds compact came available and the grille received a small facelift. The 3 series touring was also introduced. It was available as 318i, 320i, 328i, 318tds and 325tds. In 1996 the 323i came available. It was available as sedan, coupe and touring. In 1997 the 323ti compact was available. This little devil had a six cylinder with 170 HP. In 1998 the new 3 series was introduced so the 3 series sedan went out of production. The coupe and touring were available until 1999. The convertible went out of production in 2000, the compact went out of production one year later, in 2001.

[Collinster742002]

Yeah, your point? This is the 2002 section.

[Harv]

The BMW E30 is a compact executive car with rear-wheel-drive layout (except the all-wheel-drive 325iX) produced by BMW. The BMW M3 was first introduced on the E30 platform. The E30 was released in 1982 and replaced by the BMW E36 in 1990. BMW continued to produce the cabriolet (convertible) E30 well into 1993 and the touring until 1994.

John

[TobyB]

The BMW E46 series was introduced sometime in later 1999.

It summarily fixed most of the problems that the all- new design E36

had, while retaining the excellent (if complex) rear suspension of the E36.

Just like the E21, the E36 is destined to be forgotten.

Unlike the E21, it doesn't look good no matter WHAT you do to it.

Unlike the E21, it handled well and had lots of power.

Unlike the E21, E30 and E36, in the US you can get an E46 wagon.

t

[jrkoupe]

The BMW E90 series is the fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars. The car is also available as a touring (designated as E91), coupé (E92) and coupé cabriolet (E93). A high-performance BMW M3 version of the E90, E92, and E93 is also available. It is the successor to the E46 model, and was launched in March 2005. The E90 is an ugly car.

[Harv]

The BMW 8 Series (chassis code: E31) is a V8 or V12-engined 2-door 2+2 coupe built by BMW from 1989 to 1999. While it did supplant the original E24 based 6 Series in 1991, a common misconception is that the 8 Series was developed as a successor. However, it was actually an entirely new class aimed at a different market, with a substantially higher price and better performance than the 6 series. It was BMW's flagship car and had an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

John

[roadhog0]

Pretty sure the first post was SPAM. But I LOVE the info!! Keep it comin!

[Pierre]

And no one will describe the BMW 2002, the original sport sedan.

I will disagree on the E36 description.

An E36 M3 does look good. I also think that the E36 hatchback looks good, if lowered and with 17 inch wheels from the M3. And don't forget the Z3, which is technically and E36 too. Those look good any way you look at them.

The E21 on the other hand looks good with Euro bumpers and without the license place smack in the middle of the rear panel. Otherwise... yuk.

[TobyB]

For some reason- possibly cocaine overuse- BMW designed an alternative E36 that had two doors and no trunk.

Dubbed the 'ti' it used the m42/m44 4 cylinder,

and also retained the E30 trailing arms, somewhat modified, that

the z3 got as well. The result was not a hatchback, not a coupe, and

certainly not a sedan. It WAS short. And underappreciated.

Selling poorly in the US, BMW still uses it as an excuse to not bring

3 or 5 door hatchbacks to this market, and somehow ties all that

to diesels, which are also mostly excluded.

That said, the 318ti was a capable car, with all the looks of the E36 in

front, and a stubby little butt. Kind of an anti- mullet.

Few parts crossed between it and the E36- and those that did came from

the sedan, not the coupe. Usually.

The best thing one could do to a 318ti is stick an S52 in it and take it to the track.

Second best is to drive it, as they're fun little cars. If a bit odd- looking.

But if you really want odd- looking, then the M Coupe is for you.

In 1998, BMW DID put the S52 into a 318ti, put a new body on it,

finally fixed the rear suspension, and

sold it with the cryptic 'M Coupe' label, not to be confused with an M3 coupe-

which it wasn't.

If that was too much car, you could delete the 'M' and get the

'Z3 coupe' for significantly less money. And it still went pretty well, with

less fender flare and testosterone. But still that Z3 'Joe Camel' nose...

The M Coupe sold slowly, and its E46 decendant, a very pretty car in its

own right, sold even more slowly. And was thus discontinued in 2008.

t

[jrkoupe]

Toby...

for some reason many folk think the Z3 coupe is less flared than its nasty brother, the M coupe. This is NOT true. I own a 2.8 coupe and have been a coupe fan since their inception. Both coupes share the same body except for bumpers and some lil trim stuff.