1975: the first generation - premiere as a two-door sedan with high-output four-cylinder engines.
The presentation of the first BMW 3 Series in July 1975 saw BMW write a new chapter into the automotive history books. The two-door sedan wasted no time in leaving its own distinctive stamp on the mid-size segment, with its compact dimensions and sporting character. The front end was dominated by the kidney grille and, at 4,355 millimetres long, 1,610 millimetres wide and 1,380 millimetres tall, the new arrival looked at once compact and grown up. Track widths of 1,364 millimetres at the front and 1,377 millimetres at the rear lent the car a powerful stance. All of which was very much in keeping with the state-of-the-art, sporty suspension - a MacPherson construction at the front and independent suspension with semi-trailing arms and spring struts at the rear.
Power was provided by four-cylinder engines with 1,573, 1,766 and 1,990 cc displacement, and the model variants would be christened 316, 318, 320 and 320i. With the exception of the fuel-injected engine, all the units were designed to run on standard petrol. In a dramatic break from convention, the design of the new model’s interior was centred around a concept that was to become a hallmark of BMW cars for many years - a driver-focused cockpit. A year later, readers of German motoring magazine "auto, motor und sport" voted the BMW 320 the world’s best sedan with up to two-litre displacement. In 1977 the BMW 3 Series welcomed the arrival of the first six-cylinder engine in the segment, the 320 and 323i models gaining disc brakes all round in preparation. The BMW 323i, in particular, quickly earned itself a reputation as a consummate athlete, using its 105 kW/143 hp to power effortlessly to a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). Performance, agility and sporty looks as the key reasons for buying a BMW 3 Series, and four out of five customers would purchase one again. The one-millionth BMW 3 Series rolled off the assembly line in 1981, after just six years in production.
1982: the second generation - four-door, Convertible, Touring and BMW M3, plus the first diesel engine for the sports sedan.
The new BMW 3 Series oozed progress and variety out of every pore, as its fresh new design, optimised aerodynamics, improved space and comfort, higher output and additional body and engine variants confirmed. BMW had consistently expanded the reach of its most successful model range and shown an unerring sense for what its customers wanted. This generation saw the arrival of a four-door family version (1983), the BMW 3 Series Convertible and the sporting BMW M3 (both 1985). Today the first BMW 3 Series Convertible is a prized "recent classic" among many fans of the brand. With the attractively styled Touring (launched in 1987), BMW showed that driving pleasure and practicality, and space and functionality need not be mutually exclusive in the sporty mid-size segment either. Moreover, the first diesel and first all-wheel-drive models were introduced into the BMW 3 Series range. It was a successful strategy: the second-generation car sold over 2.3 million units - one million more than its predecessor.
The introduction of the eta six-cylinder engine in 1984 heralded the development of a new economy-led concept. The 325e was powerful but also frugal and clean; this was the first BMW 3 Series model to be offered only with a catalytic converter. The powers-that-be in Munich also demonstrated considerable courage with the 324d, the first sporty diesel sedan in the 3 Series line-up. It was accompanied by the hugely powerful 325i, which came with permanent all-wheel drive in 325iX guise. The transfer case with viscous clutch allowed the use of ABS, which was duly fitted as standard on both models. 1989 saw the arrival of the 318is and with it the first volume-produced BMW four-cylinder engine with four-valve cylinder head.
1990: the third generation - premiere of the BMW 3 Series Coupé and BMW 3 Series Compact, new six-cylinder petrol and turbodiesel engines.
1990 saw the introduction of the third-generation 3 Series, the four-door Sedan taking to the stage on a wave of elegance and new technology. On top of this, the dimensions of the body and the space inside the car had both grown considerably. A two-door variant followed in 1992, and this time it was every inch the graceful coupé. Just a few months later BMW unveiled two more sparkling additions to the line-up: the new Convertible and new BMW M3. The developers came up with another fresh concept innovation in 1994 with the introduction of the BMW 3 Series Compact. It was welcomed by drivers looking primarily for greater economy, but without the need to compromise on dynamic performance and comfort.
The new six-cylinder engines had two camshafts and four valves per cylinder. In the Coupé the powerplants featured VANOS variable camshaft control. This new technology improved torque development and reduced fuel consumption and emissions, and allowed the engineers to increase the engine’s compression ratio. Two other newcomers to the range were the 325tds, powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger and intercooler, and the first four-cylinder turbodiesel under the bonnet of the 318tds. The turn of the year 1994/95 also brought a lighter aluminium crankcase for the six-cylinder units.
1998: the fourth generation - common rail direct injection, VALVETRONIC and BMW xDrive.
The fourth-generation BMW 3 Series generation was launched in May 1998 and brought with it another hike in output, comfort and safety. The new model was four centimetres (approx. 1.5 in.) longer and wider than its predecessor, and its interior had also grown accordingly. By the end of 1999 the BMW 3 Series had risen to third place in Germany’s registration lists, an unprecedented achievement for a car in this class.
The 320d gave a debut to the brand’s first direct-injection diesel engine, while the 318i was now fitted with two balancer shafts. The most technically noteworthy development among the six-cylinder petrol engines was the introduction of Double-Vanos. The continuously variable and fully automatic adjustment of both the intake and exhaust camshaft gave the engines more abundant torque and further reduced emissions. The high-output 330d diesel saw common rail injection take over fuel supply to the cylinders for the first time. In 2001 BMW presented the throttle butterfly-free load control system VALVETRONIC. This technology allows variable lift of the intake valves and boosts output while lowering fuel consumption and emissions. It wasn’t long before VALVETRONIC was introduced into series production.
BMW also presented a new all-wheel-drive system for the Sedan and Touring variants. BMW xDrive uses automatic brake inputs on a particular wheel or wheels to mimic the effect of conventional locks. Another new development came with the ability to distribute power fully variably between the driven front and rear wheels. The pioneering fourth-generation line-up also included the BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, which were now available with diesel engines and cleverly combined the qualities of driving pleasure, styling and good sense.2005: the fifth generation - BMW EfficientDynamics, High Precision Injection, TwinPower Turbo technology and a new CO2-beater.
The fifth, outgoing generation of the BMW 3 Series range celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The new combination of powerful engines, dynamic and refined driving characteristics, striking design and innovative equipment was met with resounding approval around the world. Since 2007, the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy has shown how the driving pleasure of the BMW 3 Series can be blended harmoniously with exceptionally low fuel consumption and emissions.
All petrol engines now came with the direct injection system High Precision Injection, which brought a fuel-saving lean-burn approach to both the 330i and 325i six-cylinder models and the four-cylinder 320i and 318i. In the BMW 335i, meanwhile, the injection system teamed up with TwinPower Turbo technology, two turbochargers and Double-Vanos. To keep weight as low as possible, BMW introduced a crankcase made from aluminium or an even lighter magnesium/aluminium composite.
By model year 2010 all the engines met the EU5 exhaust standard. For its part, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition was the most efficient car in the mid-size segment - with something to spare. The third-generation common rail direct injection unit developed 120 kW/163 hp, and fuel consumption in the EU driving cycle was just 4.1 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres (68.9 mpg imp). Over the past 36 years BMW has consistently expanded its leading position in the sporty mid-size segment. The BMW 3 Series range showcases its sporting roots - across a variety of model variants and output classes with greater conviction than any other car in its class. This has led to BMW repeatedly taking on the mantle of innovative trendsetter and leader, both in the development of engine and drive system technology and beyond.Watch the video here
Article courtesy of: http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/632519/video-history-of-the-bmw-3-series-from-e21-to-f30/
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
History of the BMW 3 Series
Monday, July 9, 2012
BMW Uses Their Technology to Train Olympians
We’ll see if this software proves successful for USA athletes like Janet Evans and Bryan Clay who are both enjoying the latest technology from BMW! Are you excited for the Olympics?!
In addition to providing transportation vehicles during the Games -- 4,000 of them -- as well as financial backing to 150 Olympians and Paralympians (11 from the U.S.; the nation most represented by BMW sponsorship is the U.K.), the company has developed new motion-tracking camera software for USA Swimming and velocity-measuring tools for USA Track & Field.
Janet Evans, an American swimmer and one of BMW's athletes, says, "This is the first corporate sponsor I've seen that really cares about what the athletes need." The German automaker, which has an R&D lab in Silicon Valley, approached athletes nearly a year ago and asked them what could make them better. "Their attitude was, 'Here's what we're good at, so tell us what you need and how we can help you,'" says Bryan Clay, American decathlete and defending Gold champion.
The technology BMW came up with allows athletes like Clay and Evans - the latter jokes that the partnership works because, "We are like fine-tuned machines; they want to go fast down the road, I want to go fast in the pool" -- get a more comprehensive look at exactly what they need to tweak for their next lap, run, or jump.
Evans recalls that in the past, to watch the replay of a lap, she'd have to sit on the side with a handheld camera and push pause at just the right moment, constantly hitting rewind and fast-forward in frustration. Clay says he would end up in a similar position after his practice runs, even as recently as the last Summer Games in Beijing. Now, Clay says, "The sky's the limit with this technology. It could change the world of sports."
If it sounds surprising that a German luxury carmaker is offering its sponsored athletes new camera technology, Willisch insists that it shouldn't be. "We're an engineering company," he says. "We're in this for the long-term; we'll be doing this until at least 2016." Indeed, BMW's biggest media buy ever in North America will air during the London Games.
Read more: http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/05/31/bmw-olympics-training/
Monday, July 2, 2012
Olympic Ride and Drive Event at Laurel BMW
Well,it sure was a HOT one here at Laurel BMW! But what a fantastic way to start the holiday weekend; outside driving the new BMW 3 series models to support our USA Olympic and Paralympic teams. We couldn't have asked for a better turn out and we thank everyone who was able to attend Friday! LET'S GO USA!
Friday, June 29, 2012
When Should You Fill Up Your Tank?
When do you wait to fill up your gas tank? Do you constantly keep it full, half empty, riding close to 'E'? One blogger writes about what she thinks the advantages and disadvantages are of different fuel levels.
Kristy Welsh writes:
There has recently been a lot of talk on how you can get better gas mileage by driving when your tank is half full to empty or making sure you fill up when your tank is half full. Which is correct – or does either method hold any water?
The fill ‘er up when it’s half full foks proclaim that if you leave the gas tank empty, the gas will be evaporating in the empty space of the tank. Gas tanks are designed to force out all those gas fumes from the tank into the atmosphere and this gas is wasted. Yes, it’s true, but how much gas are you actually losing? To tackle this one, I woke up the engineering part of my brain (I used to be one) and looked at a paper published by the Environmental Protection Agency and their analysis of gasoline storage tanks and the evaporation rates.
At 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a gallon of vehicular gasoline weighs about 6.15 pounds. In the above paper on page 87 (if you want to chew through it), they go over what the gasoline vapor losses are for large storage tanks. For a 8400 gallon tank the total loss is 48 lbs (or about 8 gallons) a year.
Read more: http://www.creditinfocenter.com/wordpress/2008/07/24/increase-mileage-gas-tank-full-or-half-empty/
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Car Driver’s Guide to Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents
With Thunder in the Valley currently running check out these tips on how to avoid an accident with a motorcycle:
Five good habits to keep include:
- Always look twice – It’s easy to miss a motorcycle with a quick glance to your blind spot. Always make sure to look twice when changing lanes and turning to avoid pulling out in front of or changing lanes into one.
- Signal lane changes and turns – To hedge your bets with crash avoidance, be sure to always signal your movements at least a few seconds before making them. This gives the motorcyclist a heads up so that they can avoid your car.
- Avoid letting motorcycles stay in your blind spot – While any motorcycle rider should know better than to stay in a car’s blind spot, if you find one hovering in yours, try to speed up or slow down to get them into a more visible location. It can be easy to forget that they’re there when you’re changing lanes.
- Leave room – When you’re behind a motorcycle on the road, always leave extra room between your car and their vehicle. Motorcycles are much more agile than cars, and you will want to be sure that you have enough time to stop.
- Be aware of potential “danger zones” – Some roads make it more difficult to drive with motorcycles, but if you note these areas ahead of time and take extra precautions, you can reduce risk.
Information courtesy of: http://barbaslaw.com
Friday, June 15, 2012
Do You Have The Ugliest Car in America?
Do You Have The Ugliest Car in America? You could win an all-expenses-paid trip to the year’s most exclusive automotive event, the Monterey Classic Car Week in California’s tony Pebble Beach!
We’ve all seen the rusted out, dinged up lemons, paint peeling, bumpers missing and bumpers hanging on with a bungee cord. But which of these is really America’s ugliest automobile? That’s what the folks from Hagerty Insurance want to find out – and the winner among those losers could be in for a sweet surprise as part of the second annual “Search for America’s Sweetest Lemons.”
The winning car will come along for the ride, there to be celebrated alongside rarities like a Bugatti Royale and some equally rare gems. Appropriately, the winner of the Sweetest Lemons contest
“We believe all cars are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “This is an opportunity to showcase these eccentric, quirky and weird vehicles. Many cars that were once viewed as hopeless now enjoy an enthusiastic, cult-like following.”
Whether the winners of the contest will develop their own cult – complete with car groupies or not – remains to be seen, but there’s a growing counter-culture following for truly awful automobiles, as demonstrated by the growing success of what is now the Tour of Lemons.
will serve as Grand Marshal of the Concours d’LeMons, now being renamed Hagerty’s Tour of Lemons.
The event is a mock race that requires entrants to come up with the cheapest, rudest and crudest junkers they can find. Simply having the car survive the race is generally considered a certain degree of victory.
Anyone who wants to risk going up against America’s other great lemons can submit a photo of their car and a brief description of why it deserves to be christened “America’s Sweetest Lemon.” Submissions can be sent to SweetestLemon@Hagerty.com by Sunday, July 8. The top ten candidates will be posted for public voting from July 11 – 20 at the Hagerty website.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Join us June 29th for BMW Drive for Team USA event at Laurel BMW!
Join us for the BMW Drive for Team USA event at Laurel BMW on June 29th beginning at 11 AM.
Get behind the wheel of the all-new 3 Series Sedan. Then compare it against competitive models from automotive brands like Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Lexus. You'll see for yourself that BMW comes out on top. In addition, BMW will also make a donation to the U.S. Olympic team for every participant who test drives a vehicle at the event. And, after registering and attending, you'll be eligible for an exclusive sales incentive.
To reserve your spot visit www.bmwusa.com/driveforteamusa or call 1-800-956-4BMW
