Autoblog Night Watch: BMW 3-Series retrospective
The BMW 3-series has been the benchmark sports sedan for over three decades. We're not obsessive Bimmer-philes, but we know a good thing when we drive it and it's a rare occasion when we're let down by BMW's smallest sedan. This 22 minute PR-ified exploration of the 3-series, traces its origins, beginning with the beloved 2002, all the way through the current E90 series. Well worth the watch, but do take certain BMW talking head commentaries with a grain of salt.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DPC car videos 1:00AM (9/08/2006)
One of my all time favorite cars, I did own one for a brief period of time. A true classic.
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bgdc 1:08AM (9/08/2006)
Sad how far bmw has strayed from the spirit of the original 3. I had a 2003 e46 330i and felt it was too big and heavy but still the performance package made it lively, raw and fun enough i could overlook the bloat. I currently own a 2006 330i and the car is flat out massive. It's big, it's quiet and it's in no way athletic, fun or visceral. If someone stole it, i'd be delighted as I could easily move to something smaller. Unless BMW releases a 1/2 series in the USA soon, they've lost me as a customer with their bland Buick clones.
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Whydrive 1:51AM (9/08/2006)
The successor to the BMW 3 is the 2007 Toyota Camry. Test drive one today!
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Fooman 2:33AM (9/08/2006)
Is it me or was there no shots of the e46?
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Peter 3:18AM (9/08/2006)
My favorite part was the notion that BMW race cars have always been based on production street cars. You know, like the V12 LMR, the BMW Williams F1, and the V8 M3 GTR.
I feel like the video could have been so much better if they had turned down the PR a couple of notches and turned up the cars instead. I mean, they really are good -- so let's see more of them tearing around tracks and less of marketing people talking.
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Fooman 3:50AM (9/08/2006)
#5...
He did say in the US all the race cars where built on production platforms.
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Viking 7:30AM (9/08/2006)
#6...
5's comment on the race cars was definitely sarcastic...
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Richard Warren 8:18AM (9/08/2006)
The last great BMW was the 2002, what a ride.
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Zo 8:44AM (9/08/2006)
#2
Safety regulations and demand for creature comforts have made all cars bloat. If you recall, in the video they mention when Lexus came to market. It was at that time that people started to demand more creature comforts and it was also at that time the regs for front, rear and side impact also came to be. A lot of cars have bloated because of American fat asses as well. Many people need a big cabin to fit their big butts. If you look at the new legislation that is coming down the pipe for roll over protection and side air bags and roll over sensors, all cars are going to bloat even more. According the NHTSA, each new sensor package that is mandated adds between 20lbs to 90lbs to the weight of the car.
You are a driving enthusiasts and/or a fanboy -- neither of those groups are important any more be it video games, electronics or cars. The fanboys/enthusiasts do not make companies enough money.
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G. Snyder 10:08AM (9/08/2006)
#2 - the E46 is/was one of the lighter cars in its class? You are confusing me. You should go look up the specifications for it.
And for whoever said the last great BMW was the 2002 ... I think you are very confused/ignorant. The 2002 was such a departure from other cars at the time that it is notable - and is the car that seriously put BMW on the map in the US, but it was a complete rust bucket. If the 2002 was the last great BMW, what is your explaination for: E28 M5, E30 M3, E30 325is, E30 318is, 635csi/M6, E36 M3, E34 M5, E46 M3, E46 330 ZHP, BMW M Coupe/ Z3 Coupe 3.0, Z8 .....
I am sure you thought you had a nice clever comment, but you sound like a fool.
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jordan 10:13AM (9/08/2006)
Re: Al Eisensteinium
Be happy he doesn't start saying "deets" like the Engadget bloggers have when they put out details about new cars. :/
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verdegrrl 12:54PM (9/09/2006)
Arguably the first sports sedan in the vein of the 2002, was the Alfa 1900 built in the 1950s. It was advertised as the family sedan that wins races - which it did.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_1900
BMW's fiercest competitor was the Alfa Giulia Ti Super. Both introduced within a year of one another, and often seen on the track. They continue that rivalry to this day - although BMW does a far better job of marketing itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ukusumKavs
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jg 3:45PM (9/08/2006)
'The successor to the BMW 3 is the 2007 Toyota Camry. Test drive one today!
'
Not a chance in hell would a Camry replace a 3 series, not even my old 1986 325e.
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Steve 2:03PM (9/08/2006)
I'm pretty sure this video is available to download from BMW's website.
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rwdmtparkingonly 3:59PM (9/08/2006)
BMW came here with rear wheel drive, manual transmissions, and kind of crappy interiors. The toyota camry is a succesor to that in no way; some people will be complete idoits to be shocking.
The 1-series is the true sucessor to the 2002, with a nice interior to boot, but unfortunately BMW is too established here to sell it. Hopefully a more desparate company, GM, will re-introduce the 2002 with a kappa hardtop coupe. GM even has the turbo ecotech to continue in the spirit of the 2002tii Turbo.
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jg 5:26PM (9/08/2006)
The 1 series will be here as a 2007 model. It'll be as a coupe and convertible, not a hatchback.
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Jon 7:40PM (9/08/2006)
BMW needs to do a spiritual successor to the 2002.Maybe the upcoming 1 series 2 door coupe (with trunk).Or they could always add a trunk to the existing mini cooper.Seems to me the 3 series is way too upmarket to get some kids dreaming about their 1st beemer.
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jg 8:25PM (9/08/2006)
'Seems to me the 3 series is way too upmarket to get some kids dreaming about their 1st beemer.'
Bimmer, not beemer or beamer. Bimmer is a car, beamer is a motorcycle.
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John 5:35AM (9/09/2006)
I own a 2001 E46, M/T, Leatherette (Sp?; looks very sharp w/o the maintenance of real leather), and I enjoy it very, very much. When the E90 was coming to market, I received an invitation from my dealer to test drive a new 330, and I couldn't be happier with my 325i. My car gives me the best of both worlds; comfort on a long cruise, and agility and speed on winding roads. Just about the only complaint I have about the E46, is the placement of the cupholders, behind the shifter. :- Well, I'm off to enjoy a newly resurfaced windy road.
Auf Wiedersehen!
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