subject: The Evolution Of The Bmw 3 Series
[print this page] When you think of influential cars that have made an impact over the last twenty years, the BMW 3 series is a car that will spring to mind. It has evolved from a sporty, fast, rear wheel drive monsters into one of the most popular family saloon cars on the market today.
The brand has managed to establish itself as the leader in a very competitive market competing against the likes of Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi as the premier car manufacturer for comfortable, sporty touring cars and the BMW 3 series has always managed to lead that impressive range.
The original BMW 3 series didn't boast the same seductive and impressive lines that the current model has today, but it was none the less an innovative car and paved the way for the highly impressive E30 which is when the series undoubtedly shot to fame.
The BMW 3 series E30 managed to take the 1988 British Touring Car Championship in the hands of Frank Sytner, who managed to outscore the highly talented Andy Rouse in his Class A Ford Sierra Cosworth. It managed to launch the car on many fronts and it had now become the hot saloon to own for both sales representative and speed demons around the world.
The E30 went on to claim many prizes for its looks, styling and performance but the BMW 3 series was not prepared to sit back and relax. Instead the designers came up with the E36 which took the car in a new direction. Although it appeared that the car had lost some of its sleekness with the re-design, the car was a huge hit, providing the ultimate rep-mobile, whilst managing to maintain a sense of comfort and build quality that family's had come to depend upon.
With the economy boosted by the upturn in fortunes at the start of 1990, the age of the BMW 3 series M range really took off, business men where more prepared to spend their sales bonuses on the break neck speed and performance that the 3.2 litre engine provided. The body kit for the car might have been slightly expensive; with door mirrors cost upwards of 600 pounds for a pair, but the styling was sublime.
The E36 was probably the model that really helped to establish the BMW 3 series, but the company wasn't worried about tampering with the formula and in 1998 they released the E46, which helped to refine the distinctive lines of the nineties version.
In 2010 the car is set to undergo another facelift, which fans of the series will hope will be minimal. Sometimes car manufacturers can change too much when they already have the perfect formula. Let's hope that BMW don't undo the great work that they have already done over the last 30 years in 2010.
