BMW 3-Series

When contemplating the engineering brilliance and marketing triumph of the BMW 3-Series range, it is difficult to believe that in 1959 BMW was practically bankrupt, on the verge of a bargain basement takeover by Daimler Benz. In 1992, the company produced over half a million cars and by far the most saleable items in the BMW canon of fours, sixes and V12s were the 3-Series cars. Jeremy Walton sets the scene with a roundup of the 3-Series precursors, highlighting the versatility of the '02' cars and their honourable competition record. During this period, BMW produced the first turbo racing saloon and the first production turbo (the 2002 in 1973). The engine is the heart of any BMW, and the fabled four cylinder, about which the 3-Series would evolve, was also the basis for competition units, including the 1000 horsepower turbo which took the 1983 F1 Championship for Nelson Piquet. The first generation of four cylinder 3-Series cars arrived in 1975. The body dimensions were deliberately designed so that six cylinders would fit at a later date. Into competition, and some memorable and intriguing names crop up — Hans Stuck, Steve Soper, Ronnie Peterson. The M3 road car in its first racing season (1987) won national titles all over the world. The author reviews the myriad factory and custom bodywork and transmission variations of the Series, both for its first incarnation and for the 1990s relaunch. What distinguishes Jeremy Walton's approach to the subject is his ability to communicate the driving experience: his own and that of some very distinguished pilots, such as Ferrari and McLaren ace Gerhard Berger, an avid 3-Series driver. With appendices covering production figures 1975-1983, specification changes and performance figures, and given full cooperation with the company, and with revealing, sometimes dramatic illustrations, he has produced a fascinating portrait of an automotive phenomenon.