BMW has hit a massive milestone with its iconic 3 Series. The sedan has now been in production for 50 years, with over 18 million models manufactured since 1975. The 3 Series helped establish the compact luxury sedan segment after the larger 5 Series arrived on the scene a few years prior. The car soon came to be associated with sporty driving dynamics, especially once the E30 generation went on sale. Today, the X3 and X5 SUVs easily outsell the 3 Series, but the sedan remains a core product within BMW’s lineup.
Munich Production Base Eventually Expanded to 13 Countries
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
Although the BMW Group Plant in Munich has been the center of 3 Series production since 1975, the popularity of the sedan necessitated expanding production to other parts of the globe. Eventually, the sedan came to be manufactured at 18 plaints across 13 countries, spanning four continents.
BMW
Many of the production advances made by BMW through the decades were pioneered by the hot-selling 3 Series, such as the fully-automated body shop introduced in Munich back in 1982. Taking BMW production international was spearheaded by the sedan, with new production lines in the United States (from 1994) and South Africa (from 1984) ensuring BMW could meet global demand.
Now in its seventh generation, the 3 Series sedan spawned numerous other body styles and variants, including coupes, convertibles, wagons, and the high-performance M models.
What’s The Best-Selling 3 Series?
BMW
According to BMW, the E46 3 Series—the fourth generation of the sedan—sold 3,266,885 units globally, making it the top-selling model from the brand ever. The E46 is often regarded as peak 3 Series. Back then, it was still a truly compact sedan, so it felt more engaging to drive than today’s model. It was flawlessly built, a manual was still widely available, and it was the last 3 Series generation to be widely available with the brand’s iconic naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engines. It is arguably the prettiest 3 Series ever, too.
BMW
The preceding E36 and more modern E90 also sold strongly, but the growth of SUVs began eating into 3 Series sales after that. Today’s G20 remains a benchmark, but it has grown to the extent that it’s roughly the size of an E39 5 Series. It grips and goes harder than ever, but the delicacy and feel of older, smaller 3 Series sedans has eroded somewhat.
What Lies Ahead For The Sedan?
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Soon, the eighth-generation of the 3 Series will arrive, with a fully electric version called the i3 expected to go into production in the second half of 2026. It will be the next Neue Klasse model after the recently launched iX3 SUV, so will usher in BMW’s new design language and control interface.
Codenamed the G50, the next 3 Series won’t completely abandon gas power. We expect a return of both four- and six-cylinder engines, but likely with increased outputs. There will also be a new, fully electric M3, which will be the first true M model from the Neue Klasse generation.
As it always has, the next 3 Series will adapt with the times, and we hope the sedan gets to see another 50 years.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog