" The 8 Series BMW never really took off, but we're not sure why. Aimed at a more aspirational, higher-end market than the 6 series, its design, without the 'B' pillar and with that unusually raked front end with popups was slippery and "
What’s your favourite BMW 3 Series?
as BMW's everyman classic turns 40, pick your fave...
It all began in 1975.
Like many trends in the motoring industry of that era, the 1973 oil crisis made demand for a small, light, efficient car that could claim the middle ground and make a new benchmark for BMW in terms of sales and efficiency.
It worked. In the subsequent four decades the BMW 3 series has become the best selling best seller – accounting for more than 30% of all BMW sales and proving a ubiquitous success in all markets BMW operates in.
What’s really clever is how, from the bog standard four door sedans through to the special edition, high-powered, lightweight coupés that bear the talismanic M3 badge – they have maintained a clearly identifiable ‘go-to’ car for a huge variety of customers.
My favourite would be an E46 CSL. What’s yours?
E21: 1975-1983
E30: 1983-1991
E36: 1991-2000
E46: 1998-2006
E90-93: 2005-present
F30-F80: 2012-present
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