BMW Celebrates 50 Years of the 3 Series

It’s anniversary time at The Amelia, as BMW marks 50 years since the debut of the 3 Series.

In the five decades since, more than 20 million have been sold across seven different generations, making it the world’s favorite Ultimate Driving Machine.

Pay a visit to the putting green at the Golf Club of Amelia Island at the weekend and you’ll find seven examples on show, from an early 320i to the latest 2025 M340i xDrive. Amongst them are race winners, including the 2001 Petit Le Mans victor and the 2011 M3 GT ALMS, which won that series’ championship, along with a pair of 12 hours of Sebring titles.

Joining Cars & Caffeine on the main show field there’ll be a further 50 3 Series cars owned by members of the BMW Car Club of America.

The famous Florida car show will be 3 Series central from March 6-9, but whether you can make it in person or just join in the fun online, here’s a closer look at each era that’s being celebrated.

1975-1982 E21

The 3-Series arrived to replace the charming 2002 and followed the familiar format as an engaging two-door sedan. Designed by Paul Bracq, and with the novel choice of a pair of inline six-cylinder engines to go with a trio of four-pots (the U.S. market had to make do with the four-cylinders), it made BMW ownership even more aspirational—and buyers just couldn’t get enough. In 1981, sales hit the one million mark, a feat that its predecessor never achieved in 11 years. On a smaller scale, the coachbuilt Baur Top Cabriolet allowed almost 5000 buyers to experience open-air motoring in their 3 Series.

1982-1991 E30

Success breeds success, and the second-generation E30 saw a massive expansion in the 3 Series line-up. First, a four-door was added in 1983, along with another Baur cabriolet, followed by a full convertible in 1985, then came the Touring wagon in 1988. A six-cylinder diesel added extra frugality, while the 325iX was BMW’s first passenger car to feature all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, BMW’s motorsports arm were working behind the scenes on a homologation special built for road, track and rally—the legendary M3 was born.

1991-1998 E36

For the E36, BMW grew the range even further, adding the compact 318ti, which was a full nine inches shorter than the two-door coupe. It was the new, more affordable entry point to BMW ownership. Other highlights of this third act of the 3 Series included the sporty middle-ground 328is and the M3’s move from limited edition to full series production, including a four-door version and a convertible.

1998-2005 E46

The late ’90s and early 2000s were peak 3 Series, at least when it came to sales. With almost 3.3 million sold, the E46 was (and still is) the best-selling BMW in history. M3 aside, the three-liter 330 was arguably the best of the E46, providing the smooth I-6 torque delivery and handling for which the brand had become famous. As for the flagship, BMW elevated the M3 experience with lightweight CSL and pushed the boundaries even further with just ten GTRs, built to homologate the company’s new V-8.

2005-2015 E90

So far BMW hadn’t set a foot wrong, but the Chris Bangle-designed E90 proved that even the meticulous Germans could make mistakes. The fifth iteration was bigger and heavier than ever, and introduced somewhat clunky i-Drive controls to the interior. Although, looking back, they were still better than a touchscreen. Remember that V-8 tested in the E46? It found its way into the M3 and endowed it with over 400 hp for the first time. A limited run of 67 Carbon Racing Technology M3s was 150 pounds lighter than even the track-ready GTS version and therefore the most sought-after of this era.

2012-2018 F30

Lessons were learned, and the F30 evolved Bangle’s design into something a little more subtle, while the flagship V-8 engine was also axed. Turbos were the name of the game, with the whole range getting forced induction and marking the end of a nomenclature where numbers denoted engine capacity. The 330i, for example, was actually a two-liter and the 340i had a three-liter six. Confused? You’re not the only one. The F30 also brought along a new body style, the fastback Gran Turismo, as well as the first hybrid 3 Series. Meanwhile, the coupe was now known as the 4 Series, meaning that the M3 only came with four doors.

2019 G20

The G20 made its debut in 2019 as a sedan and Touring (in Europe) only. Hybridization was carried on with the 320e and 330e arriving with plugs in some markets, but the U.S. sticking with pure gasoline power in the 330i and 340i. The M3 now hits over 500 hp in Competition guise and, for the very first time the M-car is available in the long-roof Touring body. Or at least it is outside of the U.S.A. It’s due to be replaced by the Neue Klasse in 2026.