Bmw 3 Series Engines Set Standards

As cars go, the BMW 3 Series is legendary. The great performance, sporty handling, and trademark grill are all things drivers expect from one of Germanys consistently top rated vehicles. Ask any car journalist or BMW enthusiast what makes a 3 series great and youll get a myriad of answers. One undisputedly exceptional feature of BMWs compact roadster has been its engine. Over the years, the 3 series engine has evolved frequently usually leading other automotive manufacturers to attempt to match BMWs unparalleled innovation.

The First Generation

1975 heralded the beginning of a new era as BMW released the very first 3 Series. Interestingly enough, things started humbly for the highly regarded automobile. At that time the 3 Series which included the 316, 318, 320, and 320i, were all offered with compact inline-four cylinder engines. As most car aficionados know, the denegation of i to any BMW model number indicates fuel injection technology which could be first seen in the 3 Series with the 320i. Commonly considered by many in Europe to be the worlds best sedan at the time, the 320i had 125 horsepower to back its slick handling and stingy gas usage.

By the time 1977 rolled around, the 3 Series had already upgraded to a pair of inline-six engines with improved power. The two models, the 320/6 and the 323i, both impressed drivers with their outstandingly smooth driving characteristics. With a whopping 143 horsepower and an electric ignition, the 323i wowed enthusiasts by delivering the same great performance as its predecessors.

The Second Generation

Europe welcomed BMWs second batch of 3 Series in 1982 including the 316 with 90 ponies and a four cylinder engine. Building off the success of the late seventies, the 323i and other models were still available with inline-sixes and plenty of punch. Other developments during the eighties were encouraged by the interest in gaining maximum fuel economy like the eta six-cylinder (with 28 mpg) and BMWs first diesel engine 3 Series. The 324d as it was known cranked out 34 mpg and had 86 horsepower. By far the most intriguing of BMWs forays in this era was the debut of the M3 which promised to deliver ultra high performance. With 200 horsepower, this 2.3 liter inline four cylinder engine quickly became the envy of the automotive world.

The Third and Fourth Generations

In the nineties, BMW flourished with new improvements like four-valve cylinder heads and dual-overhead camshaft designs. Another new feature, BMWs VANOS technology, began showing up in the 3 Series at this time. This variable valve timing boosted the performance of the 328i, which contained a hefty 193 horses. Continuing with the diesel trend, the 325td and 325tds both achieved relative success.

Direct injection was introduced into the fourth generation of 3 Series with the 320d which had all kinds of power for a four cylinder at 136 horsepower combined with a top speed of 128 miles per hour. Surprising still is the fact that the 320d also got an incredible 41 mpg. Ultimately the top diesel to grace the nineties was the 330d which wheeled-n-dealed 184 horsepower and 35 mpg.

The Fifth Generation

Fast forward to the early twenty first century and BMW was still doing big things with its 3 Series line. In this the fifth generation, the 320i, 325i, 330i, and 320d were all given upgrades. When BMW introduced Valvetronic, which eliminated throttle body and changes the openings of intake valves, the 330i was increased to 258 horsepower. More recently in 2007 the 335i coupe was given a huge 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine which supplied 306 horsepower which is more than enough for any conventional driver.

While the 3 Series has enjoyed ongoing success in almost every market worldwide, the future still has more to hold for this legendary sedan. So much can be said for Germanys most innovative car manufacturer and this article has only captured but a small portion of the engineering integrity produced by the folks at BMW.