BODY STYLES:	2-door coupe  2-door convertible  4-door sedan  4-door station wagon
LAYOUT:	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
PLATFORM:	BMW E90
ENGINES:	2.5 L 184 hp (137 kW) I6  3.0 L 215 hp (160 kW) I6  3.0 L 230 hp (172 kW) I6  3.0 L 255 hp (190 kW) I6  3.0 L 300 hp (220 kW) I6
TRASMISSIONS:	5-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed manual
WHEELBASE:	108.7 in (2761 mm)
LENGTH:	Wagon: 178.2 in (4526 mm)  Convertible: 180.6 in (4587 mm)  Coupe: 180.3 in (4580 mm)  Sedan: 178.2 in (4526 mm)
WIDTH:	Wagon: 71.5 in (1816 mm)  Convertible & Coupe: 70.2 in (1783 mm)
HEIGHT:	Wagon: 57.3 in (1455 mm)  Convertible: 54.5 in (1384 mm)  328i Coupe: 54.1 in (1374 mm)  328xi Coupe: 54.9 in (1394 mm)  335i Coupe: 54.2 in (1377 mm)  i Sedan: 55.9 in (1420 mm)  xi Sedan: 56.1 in (1425 mm)
FUEL CAPACITY:	16.6 US Gallons

Main: BMW E90

The E90 is the new body style available from MY2006 to present, and is available as the sport sedan (E90), sport wagon (E91), sport coupe (E92), and sport coupe convertible (E93). The E90 series is completely re-engineered from the E46, including changes to motor choices, transmission, the passenger compartment comfort, suspension technology, as well as a host of High-Tech features and options.

Currently, four engine options are offered, two being part of the new 'N' series of BMW inline engines featuring a host of new technologies. Technological innovations such as lightweight magnesium/aluminum construction, electric water pump, Valvetronic (steplessly variable valve lift), and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing all contribute to produce a lighter and more powerful motor than its predecessor, but yield a 15% increase in fuel economy. The E90 also marks BMW's return to Turbo Technology with the introduction of the E92 coupe. The N54 engine produces 300 bhp (220 kW) and 300 lb·ft (410 N·m) torque.

The E90 series also marks another first for BMW -- a retractable hard top convertible.

Sales of the E90 have been very strong in Britain. In 2007, a record total of more than 58,000 examples were sold and it was the seventh most popular car in Britain. [1]

For the US market, the MY 2006 325i and 330i are both powered by the same 3.0 L N52 engine, but the 330i features revised engine software and improved intake and exhaust systems to produce an additional 40 hp (255 vs. 215). MY2007 marks a motor change to increase the power from the motors, therefore a change to the badging of the vehicles. Canada also gets a 323i model which has a detuned 2.5 L gasoline-injected inline-six producing 200 hp (149 kW). The new 335i uses a twin-turbo powerplant, also seen on the 5 series models.

The 3-Series is manufactured at plants in South Africa and Germany.

Engines:

            316i - 1.6 L I4, 122 PS (120 hp/90 kW)

            318i - 2.0 L I4, 129 PS (127 hp/95 kW), from 2008 143 PS (141 hp/105 kW)

            320i - 2.0 L I4, 150 PS (148 hp/110 kW), from 2008 170 PS (168 hp/125 kW)

            320si - 2.0 L I4, 173 PS (171 hp/127 kW), production limited to 2600 units

            323i - 2.5 L I6, 174 PS (172 hp/128 kW), exclusive for Australia, Canada and South Africa, from 2008 190 PS (187 hp/140 kW)

            325i - 2.5 L I6, 218 PS (215 hp/160 kW), in US (and in Europe from 2008) 3.0 L I6

            328i - 3.0 L I6, 233 PS (230 hp/171 kW), not available in Europe

            330i - 3.0 L I6, 258 PS (254 hp/190 kW), in Coupé (and sedan from 2008) 272 PS (268 hp/200 kW)

            335i - 3.0 L twin-turbo I6, 306 PS (302 hp/225 kW)

            318d - 2.0 L turbo diesel I4, 122 PS (120 hp/90 kW), from 2008 143 PS (141 hp/105 kW)

            320d - 2.0 L turbo diesel I4, 163 PS (161 hp/120 kW), from 2008 177 PS (175 hp/130 kW)

            325d - 3.0 L turbo diesel I6, 197 PS (194 hp/145 kW)

            330d - 3.0 L turbo diesel I6, 231 PS (228 hp/170 kW)

            335d - 3.0 L twin-turbo diesel I6, 272 PS (268 hp/200 kW), from 2008 286 PS (282 hp/210 kW)

 Awards

The 3 Series has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list 17 times, from 1992 through 2008, making it the longest running entry in the list [2]. The E90 was named "Best New Sports Sedan" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards. Also, it was awarded the World Car of the Year at the New York Auto Show in 2006.

 Racing

The E36 320d won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 1998.

The E46 3-Series is the car that won Andy Priaulx and BMW Team UK the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2005. The E90 3-series repeated this feat in 2006. This is a highly advertised achievement of BMW. The WTCC is one of the FIA's three World Championships (along with Formula One and the World Rally Championship). The 3-Series' rear-wheel drive layout and its proven dynamics have both been attributed to its victory, though in Touring Car Racing, as almost every other motor sport, much of the skill is with the driver and their team tactics.

Andy Priaulx's BMW 320si (E90) during the 2006 World Touring Car Championship season.

Most of the time, the 3-Series cars in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and other touring car championships have been penalised for being rear wheel drive and thus having better grip. However in the middle of the 2002 European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) season, FIA decided to make new rules to add an extra 15 kg ballast to front-wheel drive cars (such as the Alfa Romeo 156) and the ballast in rear-wheel drive cars (including BMW) was reduced by 15 kg.^[4] The 320si has been penalised in the WTCC for this reason to keep the sport competitive with the rest of the grid (Ford Focus, Chevrolet Lacetti, SEAT Leon, Alfa Romeo 156) being front-wheel drive. Despite these ballast weight penalties, the 320si's of the British, German and Italian/Spanish teams continually win races and points with their skilled drivers. Today the WTCC series has a rolling start to eliminate the benefit of better grip that rear-wheel drive cars have from a standing start.

The BMW 3-Series is currently used in both the SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Car Series and the Grand American Road Racing Series. In the final 2006 Grand Am standings, BMW finished second in the manufacturer's standings in both the Grand Sport and Street Tuner classes, and Turner Motorsport prepped E46 BMWs won the driver's and team championships.

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