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Make: BMW
Model: E90 3 Series
May 2005 Release date:
February 2012End date:
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BRANDISHING all-new ‘flame surfacing’ styling that defined BMWs in the 2000s, the fifth-generation 3 Series sedan grew in every department compared to its popular E46 predecessor.
It also introduced the company’s controversial iDrive system to the long-lived range.
Six-speed gearboxes prevailed, even in the base 320i (110kW/200Nm).
There was the 160kW/250Nm 2.5-litre in-line six-cylinder 325i (joined later by a detuned 130kW/230Nm 323i version), as well as the 190kW/300Nm 330i – until a 225kW/400Nm 335i twin-turbo six-cylinder range-topper arrived.
For the first time, a diesel 3 Series was released in 2006 (115kW/330Nm 320d).
Along with a raft of changes, that was uprated to 125kW/340Nm during 2008, as was the 320i (to 115kW).
A powerful 180kW/520Nm 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel was added in 2009 (330d), but the performance flagship was the 309kW/400Nm 4.0-litre V8-powered M3 – the first in Australian in four-door sedan guise.
There was also the E91 Touring wagon (from 2006) and E92/E93 Coupe/Convertible variants.
Minor trim and visual changes were introduced during 2010 and 2011.
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