The BMW E36 3 Series cars were central to the motoring scene in the 1990s. They were launched into a market that expected them to improve on the technology and prestige of their E30 predecessors, and they went on to become BMW’s most successful range of cars yet.
From the beginning, a four-door Saloon was planned as the centrepiece of the range. Its siblings were to be a sporty two-door Coupé, a luxurious and fashionable Convertible, and a stylish but not very spacious Touring estate. Later, as BMW decided to investigate the booming market for small hatchbacks, the E36 would be adapted to provide a Compact model as well.
The huge success of the M3 high-performance variant of the E30 had left BMW with no option but to follow it with an M3 derivative of the E36 range. The E36 M3 arrived in 1992 and was initially based on the Coupé bodyshell. Later, the range would be expanded to include Convertible and Saloon versions of the M3, too, and then a second-generation model, the M3 Evolution, took centre stage.
By the time of the E36 range, the BMW name stood not only for high performance, but for high quality as well. The marque’s strengths were particularly rooted in its engines, and the E36 range showcased a wide variety of technologically impressive types. The mainstream cars had 4- and 6-cylinder types in both petrol and diesel forms, and there were even experiments with engines adapted to run on natural gas.
Today, the much-admired E36 has earned its place as an automotive icon, appreciated not only by enthusiasts but also by anyone interested in great design, engineering progress and driving culture. This book is a fascinating exploration of the model’s evolutionary changes and technical advances so, whether you are already a fan or someone who may one day consider owning an E36, you will find a wealth of valuable information and entertainment between these covers.
