BMW produced the entry-level luxury E36 3 Series coupe, sedan, convertible, hatchback and the European wagon from 1992 to 1999. The E36 was part of the third generation of 3 Series compact cars that also included the E36 M3 performance model. Its sleek dolphin-shaped body style made it was one the most sporty luxury vehicles on the road in Europe and North America.
Origins
BMW introduced the 3 Series in 1975 as an answer to buyers who yearned for a luxury car, but had a tight pocketbook. Each generation had an "E" designation with the E21 running from 1975 to 1983, followed by the 1982 to 1992 E30, the 1992 to 1999 E36, the 1998 to 2005 E46 and the 2005 to 2011 E90. BMW scheduled an F30 model for 2012. Numerous other E code names identify the 1, 5, 6 and 7 series.
Models
The E36 BMW came in five styles with various engine applications available throughout the decade. The hatchback was available as the 316i, 318ti and 318tds. The sedan came as 316i, 318i, 318is, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325td, 325tds, 328i and 328tds. The touring, or wagon, model featured the 316i, 318i, 318tds, 320i, 323i, 328i and the 325tds. The coupe featured the 316i, 318i, 318is, 320i, 323i, 325i and 328i. The convertible had the 318i, 320i, 325i and 328i. The "3" identified the model as a 3 Series and the last two numbers the engine size. The "i" denoted fuel injection. The "td" was turbo diesel and "tds" stood for turbo diesel sport.
E36 Details
The E36 models were larger than the E30 versions and featured the rear Z-axle multi-link suspension system lifted from the E31 850CSi model to give it sure-footed handling on the curves and a smoother ride. It sat on a 106.3-inch wheelbase and measured a tidy 165.7 inches long. The three primary engines were the 318i, 325i and the 328i. The 318i equipped with a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine developed 134 horsepower and 138 foot-pounds of torque to allow it to clock 0 to 60 mph in 11.3 seconds. The 325i's six-cylinder engine displaced 2.5 liters, and generated 189 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque to reach 60 in 7.6 seconds. The 328i's six-cylinder power plant had a 2.8-liter displacement, and wielded 193 horsepower and 196 foot-pounds of torque. It hit 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
E36 M3
The first European performance E36 M3 in 1992 featured a 3-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. Its in-house designation was S50B30 and it produced 286 horsepower. By 1996, the E36 M3's engine received an upgrade to 3.2 liters and a jump in output to 321 horsepower. The M3 shared its larger braking system and six-speed manual transmission with the BMW M5 performance car. For exports to North America, BMW diluted the E36 M3 with the 3-liter straight-six to just 240 horsepower. Yet its off-the-line clocking to 60 mph was an impressive 6.2 seconds. A CSL version, or coupe sports lightweight, enhanced the performance of the U.S. imports with a 3.23-to-1 rear gear ratio instead of the standard 3.15-to-1 version.
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