BMW E46
This was the fourth generation of BMW 3 series produced from 1998 to the end of 2005. The saloon was introduced in 1998 and replaced the ever improving BMW E36 saloon car series. The initial in-line 6 cylinder engines available were the 2.5 litre 323 and 2.8 litre 328 and same as with the 323/325 scenario, the 323 badge did not match engine displacement of motor package on offer.
The touring car and coupe models appeared in 1999 with BMW's newly designed steptronic-manumatic-transmission gearbox, and the convertible and M3 which came to the arena early in the year 2000. The year 2000 saw the lineup of the E46 BMW cars which received a significant engine improvement when the new M54 coded engines appeared for the first time in 2001 replacing the M52TU coded engines with the new 3.0 litre, 330 which replaced the 328 and the 2.5 litre 325 which in turn replaced the 323i respectively. Additionally a 2.2 litre engine was introduced into the 320 chassis. Outside of the engine there were very few changes to the appearance of the cars.
In the year 2001, the E46 lineup expanded to include the new M3 Coupe. The M3 power package only came in a coupe and convertible until the end of the year 2002 and this model offered the buyers a 6 speed manual or SMG transmission gearbox alternative.
BMW’s E46 M3 shared very few parts with the standard 3 series BMW. The interior of the M3 was styled with an M-Style steering wheel, M-Styled front and rear leather seats, M-Styled rear view mirror, and instrument clusters were all uniquely branded with M-Style.
The exteriors of the two cars only shared the doors, roof, and boot lid. The exterior of the M3 had M-style mirrors, M-fashioned and styled out front spoiler and rear bumper, uniquely designed side skirts, wider fenders and a protruding front bonnet, and the new tradition of M-marked fashioned grilles on the front fenders and four prominent exhaust pipes to finish it off in style.
The first major facelift occurred when the E46 saloon had its cosmetic changes in September 2001. The bumpers and spoiler was re-designed together with the new-look headlights and a stiffer chassis and suspension upgrades while the 316i and 318i models were fitted with upgraded engines which produced respectably more horse power and better torque curves.
March 2003 saw the coupe and convertible models receive a facelift which again included new headlight designs, spoiler and front and rear bumpers and redesigned sidemarker lights and LED tail lights on the rear end of the car. In mid-2005 the E46 saloons were phased out with the introduction of the new E90 saloon cars.
The E46 touring car was also replaced later that year with the BMW E91 series. The E46 remained in production as a coupé and convertible and M3 until the E92 coupé and E93 convertible was revealed in late 2006.
The record year for the E46 was 2002, when BMW managed to round up 561,249 buyers for vehicles that were sold worldwide for that single year.
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