TIME JUST SEEMS TO FLY BY, and it comes as a shock when a car you still think of as young reaches a milestone like its 50^th anniversary.

Hard to believe, but the BMW 3 Series has been around for 50 years, and to mark the occasion, BMW Australia today announced the launch of a special edition model.

The 3 Series 50 Jahre Edition, in the M340i xDrive variant, includes specification unique to the Australian and New Zealand markets. This includes BMW Individual Anthracite Metallic exterior paint – a classic hue in the history of the BMW 3 Series paint palette – and a special edition build plate located on the centre console.

Power comes from the famed 285kW BMW M TwinPower Turbo straight-six engine, coupled to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and xDrive.

Other elements include 19-inch M light alloy wheels finished in jet black, the M Sport Package Pro – which includes M Sport brakes in red high-gloss, M Lights Shadow Line, M seat belts, and the M rear spoiler finished in Black Sapphire paint – and carbon-fibre interior trim.

Just 50 examples of the 3 Series 50 Jahre Edition will be available in Australia, with pricing at $127,600 (plus on road costs) and customer deliveries expected in Q4 this year.

A spectacular history 

The BMW 3 Series has a long and successful history in Australia.

It has achieved an array of both overall and class victories in Car of the Year competitions, including the Carsales’ Car of the Year title in 2019 for the current, seventh-generation 3 Series.

It also remains the highest selling BMW in the country, with more than 191,000 registrations recorded since official VFACTS records began. It holds its number one spot even with the surge in popularity of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs) such as the BMW X5 and BMW X3 in the past two decades.

Seven exciting generations 

The BMW 3 Series is one of the reasons BMW has maintained its status as the leading manufacturer of premium vehicles, such is the influence it has had on the company and the industry.

E21: The foundations of a legend (1975-1983)

Engines: 1.6–2.3-litre (55–105kW), 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4355mm/1610mm/1380mm

The storied tale of the BMW 3 Series commenced with the E21, which was introduced in 1975 as a replacement for the 2002 (itself already a legend and now much sought after).

It was first shown to the world at the 1975 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt and immediately made an impression with its crisp, clean lines.

The design, overseen by Paul Bracq, BMW Director of Design from 1970 to 1974, included a range of iconic touches that have appeared in subsequent BMWs across other model series, such as the twin headlamps, double-kidney grille and what became a BMW trademark, the Hofmeister kink at the C-pillar.

It matched its distinctive styling with an engaging drive – brought about by sophisticated suspension, precise steering that was free of torque steer and powerful brakes – and a range of responsive engines. In 1977, the 3 Series became the first car in its class to feature six-cylinder engines. Constant technical progress followed over the years, with introduction of advanced fuel injection and engine management systems, as well as potent diesels and use of lightweight materials, including aluminium and magnesium.

As well as delighting drivers on the road, the first-generation BMW 3 Series was also a force on racetracks, including in Australia. Here, it sported liveries such as the fabled black and gold of John Player Special and competed in in various national championships – battling at the front with the heavyweights of Australian motorsport – and with legendary drivers at the helm. Success in racing truly demonstrated the dynamic talents of the 3 Series and it was only a taste of what was to come. 

• The E21 was the first BMW to feature a dashboard angled towards the driver – an element that not only signalled its driver-focused dynamics – but which also became a standard feature on all BMWs to follow.

• The first 3 Series variants comprised a two-door sedan and an open top. The work to convert the 3 Series into the ‘Baur Topcabriolet’ (or, simply, ‘Baur’) in 1977 was the responsibility of Stuttgart-based Baur, with more than 4,500 3 Series convertibles produced. It featured a fixed roof frame and rollover bar.  

E30: Style, versatility and new heights of racing success (1982-1994)

Engines: 1.6-3.2-litre (55-175kW), 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4360mm/1680mm/1380mm 

Morocco played host for the global debut of what some consider the most iconic and recognisable BMW 3 Series of all time – the E30. Its versatility broadened significantly for the second generation, with seven variants on offer and a four-door sedan launching by late 1983.

Iconic twin headlights were now a mainstay, appearing on every E30 variant, including the convertible, which appeared by the mid-eighties.

This was also the time that the first M3 broke cover – a high-performance coupé boasting 175-plus kilowatts. This model became a worldwide phenomenon not only for enthusiasts, but also for BMW motorsport as a giant-killer in competition.

Factory-supported race efforts in Australia included an Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) victory for the BMW M3 in 1987 with Jim Richards at the wheel.

• The first BMW 3 Series Touring variant, debuting in 1987, has a colourful background. BMW employee and bodywork engineer Max Reisböck, having discovered that the boot space was insufficient for a holiday driving trip with his family and their luggage, cut the C-column of sedan and shifted it to the rear. And thus, the first 3 Series wagon was born.

• The BMW 325ix rolled off the production line in 1985 as the first series-produced BMW with a four-wheel-drive system.

• A total of 2.34 million BMW E30s were produced at the Munich and Regensburg plants.

E36: Major advances across the board, and even broader appeal (1990-2000)

Engines: 1.6-3.2-litre (60-245kW), 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4433mm/1710mm/1393mm

The third-generation BMW 3 Series debuted at the start of a new decade, the 1990s, and brought a major step forward in its design.

Its styling direction was more coupé-focused, featuring dramatically sloping A- and C-lines with a downward sloping roof. At the front, the twin headlights – now synonymous with the 3 Series – were installed beneath a glass cover. Its interior also raised the level of comfort, quality and appointments while also delivering even better impact protection.

The E36 3 Series offered the widest range of body styles of any model generation launched to date, comprising the Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring and Compact. The new and more powerful M3 was available in Sedan, Coupé and Convertible body styles, too. 

• Participation of the 3 Series in Australian motorsport expanded as the local landscape shifted, with the E36 having a presence – and prospering – in multiple national championships. A BMW 320i, in the hands of Geoff Brabham and David Brabham, won the 1997 Bathurst 1000 endurance race at Mount Panorama.

• The BMW 3 Series Compact represented a new, entry-level offering for customers upon launch in 1994 (Australian market debut in 1995), with a three-door, hatchback configuration. It featured the same front design as the other models but was 22.5cm shorter than the Coupé.

E46: Breakthroughs in capability, safety and efficiency (1997-2006)

Engines: 1.6-3.2-litre (77-265kW), 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4492mm/1780mm/1434mm

The fourth-generation BMW 3 Series took similar strides forward in design that the E36 did while adding further polish and individual character.

Its three-box design – where the bonnet, passenger cell and boot have clearly separate, delineated areas – continued as before. However, the ‘greenhouse’ – comprising the windscreen, rear and side windows, pillars and roof – was redesigned, providing both a new curved design aspect when viewed in profile while enhancing the car’s practicality by adding more headroom for rear occupants.

The E46 was again offered in Sedan, Coupé, Convertible, Touring and Compact, while the M3 was offered in Coupé and Convertible configurations. The motorsport-honed, CSL version of the E46 M3 is considered an all-time great.

The design differences between all variants were now more pronounced, providing each with strong, individual character.

• The new 3 Series for the new millennium featured a greater level of safety than before, on both an active and passive level. It was fitted as standard with ABS and six airbags. 

• Otto-cycle engines with variable valve control (Valvetronic) featured in E46 3 Series variants at this time, enhancing fuel efficiency by 10 percent. 

• The M54 six-cylinder engine family for the E46 3 Series was the first to use all-aluminium construction for the cylinder head and block – a significant step forward from the cast iron construction of previous generation units. These powerplants were renowned, featuring on Ward’s 10 Best Engines list from 2001 to 2003.  

E90-E93: Embracing modernity (2005-2013)

Engines: 1.6-4.0-litre (90-309kW), 4-, 6- & 8-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4580mm/1817mm/1421mm

Generation five of the BMW 3 Series which broke cover at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, had grown in length by five centimetres compared with the E46 but without any sacrifice to its sporting intent.

That the 3 Series was still at the top of its game was confirmed when it was later crowned World Car of the Year.

Its elegant design, crafted under the stewardship of BMW Group Head of Design Chris Bangle, ensured the 3 Series continued to have a strong identity and character of its own.

Inside, the cabin of each E90 3 Series featured a major lift in technology thanks to inclusion of iDrive – an on-board control system that had earlier debuted on the BMW 7 Series.

It enabled the user to toggle navigation, infotainment and numerous vehicle control systems with a circular controller, in combination with a centre-mounted display. Various generations of iDrive have appeared in every BMW 3 Series since.

• The E92 335i was the first series-produced BMW 3 Series to feature a turbocharged petrol engine. It was a three-litre inline six with twin turbochargers and developed a considerable 225kW and 400Nm. 

• The new BMW M3 Sedan incorporated two design influences from the main series models – a front section based on that of the 3 Series Coupé – and a rear inspired by that of the Sedan. As with its Coupé sibling, it was also the first – and quite possibly last – series-production M3 to feature a V8 engine.
• The BMW M division, as it had for the E30 generation car, produced a fully-functioning pick-up – or ‘ute’ in Australian parlance – version of the M3. Neither went into production but were rather used for transporting goods between workshops and generally showcasing what could be done. 

F30-F34: Electrification, personalisation and a model restructuring (2011-2018)

Engines: 1.5-3.0-litre (100-338 kW), 3-, 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4753mm/1877mm/1455mm

The F30-line of BMW 3 Series arrived at a time when BMW was gearing up for and launching its new range of fully electric and electrified vehicles, including the groundbreaking i3 and i8. The new 3 Series benefited from this powertrain technology revolution, with hybrid options featuring for the first time via the ActiveHybrid 3 and 330e iPerformance variants.

All engines at the time were also turbocharged, increasing response and efficiency.

The styling package of the sixth-generation BMW 3 Series evoked that of the contemporary 5 Series, bringing a new level of elegance to the compact sports sedan’s profile.

The headlamp units connected directly to the BMW kidney grille in a styling feature that distinguished the F30 clearly from the E90 3 Series.

In addition to new generation design aspects, the BMW 3 Series was now more configurable than ever before. Customers could individualise the vehicle to their tastes and preferences, with ability to choose from an array of colours, trims and materials. New trim levels were also available, from M Sport to Luxury line.

• The sixth-generation saw a significant change in the model and variant line-up to provide clearer and distinct model lines that focused on different properties. In 2013, the Coupé, Gran Coupé and Convertible models were spun off to form their own model family – the BMW 4 Series.

• For the first time in 3 Series history, the BMW M3 was given a different model code to the main series line models and dubbed the F80.
  Its all-new two door cousin, the M4 Coupé, received the F82 designation. Both were powered, for the first time, by a turbocharged engine via a three-litre, straight six power unit producing 317kW.

• With its increase in size, the sixth-generation BMW 3 Series lent itself to having new variants with enhanced practicality. This led to development of the 3 Series Gran Turismo, which had a longer wheelbase to provide rear passengers with greater leg and headroom.

G20: Epitome of design, refinement and powertrain diversity (2018- )

Engines: 2.0–3.0-litre (110–285 kW), 4- & 6-cylinder
Length/width/height: 4713–4714 mm/1827mm/1440–1445mm

The G20 3 Series immediately made a mark with a sophisticated design that integrated signature styling elements that had characterised its predecessors – such as short overhangs and twin headlights – while featuring increased performance and digital elements.

As well as delivering a captivating drive, the G20 3 Series also led the segment, and continues to lead, in powertrain diversity.

Selections include petrol and diesel engines featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, a powerful six-cylinder option for the M Performance model, plug-in hybrid technology and the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

On-board technology has also been at the leading-edge, incorporating elements such as the BMW Curved Display with touch control and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Integration of Operating System 8.5 at a model update in 2024 enabled even more intuitive operation of vehicle systems.

The Carsales’ Car of the Year victory for the G20 3 Series in 2019, against a raft of top-class competitors, underlined the all-round brilliance of the seventh-generation 3 Series.

And, as we await the arrival of the eighth generation BMW 3 Series in the coming years, it will continue to serve as a pillar of the BMW product line-up and the embodiment of honing the sports sedan’s craft over the past five decades.