BMW 3 Series Saloon (1975-1983)

The BMW 3 Series came along in 1975 and this has remained the best-selling BMW model to this day and the epitome of a sports saloon.

1975: The first generation.

With the presentation of the first BMW 3 Series in July 1975, BMW opened a new chapter in the history of the automobile. Right from the start, the two-door sedan with compact dimensions and a sporty character has its very own distinctiveness. The kidney grille dominates the front end and with a length of 4355 mm, a width of 1610 mm and a height of 1380 mm, the new car has a compact but at the same time ‘grown-up’ appearance. Track widths of 1364 mm at the front and 1377 mm at the rear provide the car with a powerful look. This is complemented by state-of-the-art, sporty suspension technology with a McPherson front axle as well as independent wheel suspension on trailing arms and spring struts at the rear.

The car is powered by four-cylinder engines with a displacement of 1573, 1766 and 1990 cc respectively. The model designations are 316, 318, 320 and 320i. With the exception of the fuel-injected engine, all power units are designed to run on regular petrol.

An absolute novelty is the interior design with a cockpit inclined towards the driver, this remaining a typical feature of the BMW interior for many years.

Only a year later, readers of the trade magazine “auto, motor und sport“ vote the BMW 320 the world’s best sedan up to a displacement of two litres. In 1977, the BMW 3 Series features the segment’s first six-cylinder engine, the models 320 and 323i being fitted with disc brakes all round especially for this purpose.

The BMW 323i in particular soon gains a reputation as a supreme, athletic model, which – with a power output of 105 kW/143 bhp – accelerates effortlessly to a speed of 190 km/h. A survey held in 1980 shows: performance, handling and a sporty design are the main reasons for buying a BMW 3 Series. Four out of five customers would buy the car again. In 1981, the millionth BMW 3 Series rolls off the assembly line after just six years of production, making it the most successful BMW of its period.

 

BMW 315

After BMW had adopted a new system of model names with the first 5 Series in 1972, the first cars in the 3 Series were introduced in 1975. With the BMW 316, 318, 320 and 320i were four models available at first, based on the 02 Series engines. In 1977, 3 Series models with six-cylinder engines became available. At the end of its production run, the BMW 315 was an entry-level model giving particularly good value for money and powered by a 1.6-litre engine with 75 bhp.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1981 – 1983
No. of Units…………………………….107,838
Price……………………………………..DM 15,850

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1573
Power Output………………………….55 kW/75 bhp at 5800 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..160 km/h (99 mph)
Dimensions………………………………4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1050

 

BMW 316

The BMW 316 was one of the most popular models in the first BMW 3 Series. The car celebrated its debut together with the 4-cylinder models BMW 318, 320 and 320i in the year 1975. Starting in 1980, the revised 1.8 litre engine with carburettor and generating 90 hp was installed with the same model designation. This gave the BMW 316 a powerful engine and a guarantee for the driving pleasure so typical of BMW.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1975 – 1983
No. of Units…………………………….341,354
Price……………………………………..DM 13,600

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1573
Power Output…………………………..66 kW/90 bhp at 6000 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..160 (100 mph)
Dimensions……………………………..4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1040 (from 1980, 1060)
Type of body:………………………….BMW 316 Baur Topcabriolet

 

BMW 318

After BMW had adopted a new system of model names with the first 5 Series in 1972, the first cars in the 3 Series were introduced in 1975. With the BMW 316, 318, 320 and 320i were four models available at first, based on the 02 Series engines. In 1977, 3 Series models with six-cylinder engines became available. The BMW 318 with carburettor engine and 98 bhp was manufactured until 1980 and was replaced by the BMW 318i from 1979.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1975 – 1980
No. of Units…………………………….93,209
Price……………………………………..DM 14,420

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1766
Power Output…………………………..72kW/98 bhp at 5800 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..168 km/h (104 mph)
Dimensions……………………………..4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1040
Type of body:………………………….Saloon BMW 318 Baur Topcabriolet. Special bodies:BMW 318 Baur Topcabriolet

 

BMW 318i

The 4-cylinder engines in the first BMW 3 Series were revised for the model year 1980 so as to provide better coverage in the gap opened up by the new 6-cylinder models. Specifically the 1.8 litre engine was given a significant upgrade and now generated 98 hp as a carburettor version installed in the BMW 316, and 105 hp as an injection version installed in the new BMW 318i. The BMW 318i remained in the range until 1983 and users were enthusiastic about the good balance between power and fuel efficiency.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1979 – 1983
No. of Units…………………………….192,564
Price……………………………………..DM 19,100

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1766
Power Output…………………………..77 kW/105 bhp at 5800 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..175 km/h (109 mph)
Dimensions………………………………4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1070
Type of body:………………………….BMW 318i Baur Top Cabriolet

 

1975 BMW 320 4-cyl.

Even when the first BMW 3 Series debuted in 1975, the BMW 320 and 320i provided exceptionally powerful models for the 2 litre class in the range. However, the BMW 320 was in the shadow of the more powerful 320i injection model right from the start and production was therefore discontinued as early as 1977 when the new 6-cylinder engines were introduced.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1975 – 1979
No. of Units
Price

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1990
Power Output…………………………..80 kW/109 bhp at 5800 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..173 km/h (108 mph)
Dimensions……………………………..4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1060
Type of body:………………………….Saloon, BMW 320 Baur Top Cabriolet. Special bodies:BMW 320 Baur Topcabriolet

 

BMW 320 6-cyl.

BMW attributed a pioneering role to the BMW 3 Series and installed a six-cylinder engine under the bonnet. It was the first car in its class to have this feature. The two new models 320 six-cylinder and 323i were launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1977 and the centre of interest for BMW enthusiasts. The combination of the sporty chassis, the car’s agility and the powerful engine was unique among the competition. Until 1982, the BMW 320 was one of most numerously manufactured models in the first BMW 3 Series.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1977 – 1982
No. of Units…………………………….221,948
Price

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Six-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1990
Power Output………………………….90kW/122 bhp at 6000 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..183 km/h (114 mph)
Dimensions……………………………..4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1150
Type of body: …………………………Saloon, BMW 320 Baur Top Cabriolet, Special bodies:BMW 320 Baur Top cabriolet

 

BMW 320i

Even when the first BMW 3 Series debuted in 1975, the BMW 320 and 320i provided exceptionally powerful models for the 2 litre class in the range. An output of 125 hp gave the BMW 320i a special position among the 4-cylinder models of the BMW 3 Series and enthused its owners with particularly sporty driving performances.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1975 – 1977
No. of Units…………………………….98,899
Price……………………………………..DM 17,400

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Four-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..1977
Power Output…………………………..92 kW/125 bhp at 5700 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..182 km/h (113 mph)
Dimensions……………………………..4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1080
Type of body:………………………….Saloon BMW 320i Baur Top Cabriolet

 

BMW 323i

The first BMW 3 Series with a four-cylinder engine, which was produced from 1975, was a runaway success, and was followed in 1977 by the first 3 Series model with a six-cylinder carburettor engine. Production of the top-of-the-range BMW 3 Series model, the 323i with a 143 bhp injection engine, started in early 1978. Its agility made this compact sports saloon delightfully reminiscent of the nimble and powerful BMW 02 models built in the 1970s.

General Data
Model Year……………………………..1978 – 1982
No. of Units…………………………….137,107
Price……………………………………..DM 20,350

Technical Data
Type of Engine…………………………Six-cylinder in-line engine
capacity in ccm………………………..2315
Power Output…………………………..105 kW/143 bhp at 5800 rpm
Top speed:……………………………..190 km/h (118 mph)
Dimensions………………………………4355x1610x1380
Empty Weight (kg)…………………….1135
Type of body:………………………….Saloon BMW 323i Baur Top Cabriolet
Special bodies:…………………………BMW 323i Baur Topcabriolet

 

Technical Data (All Models)