The Best BMW 3 Series Ever Made

3 is the Magic Number it's official

Happy Birthday BMW 3 Series. It is 50 years since it made the roads look much better and if you were lucky enough to get behind the wheel, then it was of course, ‘the ultimate driving machine’. I know this because I still remember 1975 as if it was 50 years ago. Not surprisingly BMW want to bring this to everyone’s attention. So there’s a press release...

“On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series, the press kit “40 Years of BMW 3 Series” from 2015 was comprehensively revised, supplemented and updated.”

They could have asked someone like me to re-write it, but I really would lose a lot of interest after the E46. Anyway, I could cut and paste that to fill up the space and give all the tech details, but I’ll give you a link instead.

https://www.freecarmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/50-years-of-bmw-3-series.pdf

I must say though BMW did include a few decent pictures to accompany the press release, especially for the European market and our cover shot is the three best 3 series of all time and I don’t think anyone can make a cogent argument otherwise.

Once you are back from reading what BMW had to say lets explain what the 3 Series was all about and when it really came into focus.

The 1980s had it all. Decent music, hairspray assisted hairstyles and the 3 Series BMW. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and even luckier get a 316 as my first demonstrator. That may not sound like much, but back in 1983 no salesmen had them, they were too busy flogging the things. Compared to the British rubbish and assorted Eurotrash I’d been used to it was a revelation. No wonder everyone wanted one.

It may be hard now to realise just what a giant leap in automotive technology, brand building and all round automotive awesomeness the E30 was. I mean it actually handled. The doors shut with a reassuring gerthud. Nothing ever rattled. Sitting in a BMW 3 Series made you feel confident. Driving one turned you into a demigod. Not owning a brand new BMW 3 Series was not an option and I was there to help.

The customers came in all shapes and sizes as BMW developed the compact executive car to the point where absolutely everyone wanted a 3. The Yuppies may have been the early adopters, but there were also company car buyers who would dump their user chooser Sierra Ghia in a heartbeat for a chance to pilot a boggo spec, three door 316 in Henna Red.

The brilliant thing about all German cars was that everything was an extra. What made me smile was ‘radio preparation’, that’s fifty quid. For that you got a couple of speakers a few wires and a manual ariel. Yes it was all about the extras. That’s because it was all about profit. We were not playing the park ‘em deep, discount them cheap’ like Henry Ford. More profit in the deal meant more money in my double breasted suit. Some dealers did discount, but we never did. It was pretty much a sackable offence. Indeed, it was our job to raise the retail bar and it was easy to get it comfortably over £20K without trying too hard.

All I needed was a customer with a 323i and a sense of adventure. A dog leg close ratio gearbox, limited slip, alloys, air con and all the technical wonders that Bavaria could provide. But there was more. Much more.we were well ahead of the customisation curve at Park Lane because we had the facilities to do anything to make a 3 Series look a lot less like your mate’s on the foreign exchange floor. This may have been a good thing for my bank balance, but it did lead to some aesthetically challenging bodykits, colours and leather trim.

A 3 Series needed the right spec and we always pre-ordered stock with a sunroof and central locking as the bare miniumum. I did have one customer who insisted on keeping the tin top on the grounds that someone would dive through the suroof and onto his daughter for whom he was buying the car. I explained that it would knock resale for six. He went ahead and ordered a 320i without a roof. He needed to worry less about resale and sunroof divers and more about the salesman doing the hand over.

Yes, there was nothing else like the 3 Series around. Nothing. Well, Mercedes tried with the 190. We got a left hand drive part exchange and drove it around the Mayfair block. It was no 3 Series, though clearly accountants would love it. No, the appeal of the 3 Series widened with the introduction of each model, Baur Convertible, Convertible, Tourer. This is where BMW began to mine multiple niches’.

The 1980s was the birth of the best 3 Series and the rebirth of BMW.

Now here’s something I am not at all keen on doing and that’s looking at used 3 Series available in the classified ads. Not all models just some. The thing is I’ll only ending up wanting one of these again, regret selling the ones I loved and get myself in all sorts of trouble.

E21

Don’t forget about the original 3. Many do and that is a mistake. Here is the 3 Series in its purest form. I would heartily recommend a 316 on steel wheels. At least it won’t kill you. A 323i just might and can have you facing the wrong way on a roundabout. Sitting on some Alpina spokes though it looks absolutely stunning. Rust has been killing all early 3s for some time and that’s what you need to worry about. Unless that is you see an advert on Autoscout 24 go to a dealer in the Netherlands AMV Wenting, to find a fully restored BMW 323i converted to an Alpina C1 2.3. A bit of a weird one really, but I like the fact that all the rust has been edited out of the equation. Love the colour and let’s embrace the attention grabbing Alpina stickers. Very strangely the 3 Series still needs some minor attention, such as connecting the headlights (eh?), installing the original Alpina front bumper, and fitting the window frames. I mean this a car dealer you can get that sorted and round the asking Euro price to €27,999. Otherwise that’s about right for a rebuilt body, engine and gearbox classic. Yours for €27,500 and Slog gives it four stars but docks one for being a made up Alpina. Needs Alpina alloys too.

E30

The classic 3 Series that is modern enough to still be taken seriously as a proper driving machine. But which one? Like the E21 it is worth finding some standard cars that haven’t been mucked about with. Six cylinders are worth the effort and a 320i is underrated. There are some one family owner examples out there and some real rubbish. Yet again I amgoing to the Netherland to bag a 1990 325 ix touring automatic with 141000 km at £16,200. Seems to have lived in Switzerland. Has M-Tech II leather sports steering wheel, manual sliding roof. A go anywhere 3 so that’s four Slogs right there despite the dealer (Only Cabrios) claiming 2016 is a recent cambelt change.

E36

Early examples weren’t that great when it came to build quality, but it got better and became what most people think the 3 Series should be.

This generation has been the most abused of the lot when they trickled down to all the wrong owners. Plus there is a whole heap of M3s to choose from, coupe’, cabriolet and saloon. The saloon and I would tip that as the model to tick the future collectable boxes.

Here on Car & Classic is a fantastically honest 1992 320i for £1300. Some wear and tear, faded paint, but everything works. Spare garaged car apparently I love this. Five slogs all day long. I don’t like e36s, but this is the exception, has some old tyres to change, minor dents, some sagging headlining, recent exhaust and alternator.

E46

For some, that’s me, this is the last time that the 3 Series looked proper and there are loads of lovely things to choose from. Indeed, as I pointed out a few weeks back, I bought a coupe which I should buff up. The big engined six cylinder petrols are the place to be.

Here’s 2002 BMW 3 Series E46 330Ci Convertible manual Individual for £11,995. Velvet blue metallic, blue power roof, 18 inch MV1 alloys, electric folding mirrors, park distance control, remote locking, unmarked grey leather sports interior, maple wood interior trim, electric memory seats, Harmon kardon cd stereo, air con, digital climate control, multi function sport steering wheel, cruise control. Only 35k, full service history and recently serviced, private plate included. Four Slogs.

E90

Here is the Chris Bangleised one which has yet to find itself a place in the heart of the dieheard 3 Series fan and it has been under full frontal attack by the lithe 1-Series which is effectively the E30 reborn. The great news is that it leaves us some great value models to go for. Here is a great big family friendly car that we can pick and choose from.

Oddly enough a mate of mine is currently cocking up the purchase of a 330Ci that’s a grand which is a bereavement sale, so been garaged for bit. Everything works, needs a service, but he won’t pay for the MOT. He’s nuts. Anyway here’s a 2008 2.0 320i SE with 77,000 miles at £1,500. Cheap because it has a misfire. I know someone who can fix that. Three Slogs because it has an issue. Worth a punt surely?

See you next time.

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