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Generation history

BMW 3 Series generations and next redesign.

The BMW 3 Series has been through 7 generations, starting in 1975, 1982, 1990, 1998, 2004, 2011 and 2018. The gaps were 7, 8, 8, 6, 7, 7 years, an average of 7.2. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2018. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2024 through 2026, centered on 2025. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2018. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the BMW 3 Series model page.

Every generation

The BMW 3 Series, generation by generation.

GenerationCodeYearsWhat changed
First generationE211975–1982The E21 was launched in 1975 and replaced the 02 Series, borrowing the naming convention first introduced with the first generation E12 5 Series.
Second generationE301982–1990On its introduction in 1982, the E30 was produced solely as a 2-door sedan.
Third generationE361990–1998The E36 arrived in 1990 and was sold in an enlarged variety of models: a sedan, coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as a "Compact").
Fourth generationE461998–2004At the turn of 1998, the E46 was launched as a sedan, with later coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as "3 Series Compact") models being added.
Fifth generationE90/E91/E92/E932004–2011The E9x was first made available in 2004; produced in the sedan, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), coupé and cabriolet body styles.
Sixth generationF30/F31/F34/F352011–2018The F30/F31/F35 has been produced in the sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon and 5-door hatchback ("Gran Turismo") body styles.
Seventh generationG20/G21/G282018–presentThe BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2018.

The BMW 3 Series spent 7.2 years per generation on average. The current one is 8 years old. Treat 2024 to 2026 as a range, not a date.

Source: BMW 3 Series (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.

Open the BMW 3 Series model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.

In more detail

What each BMW 3 Series generation changed.

First generation, 1975 to 1982

The E21 was launched in 1975 and replaced the 02 Series, borrowing the naming convention first introduced with the first generation E12 5 Series. The body style was designed by Paul Bracq and was initially available as a 2-door saloon, with a convertible version made available through collaboration with Karosserie Baur. At launch, all models used carburetted 4-cylinder M10 engines; with fuel-injected models introduced in late 1975 and 6-cylinder engines powered by the all-new M20 were added in 1977; which were unavailable in the North American market.

Second generation, 1982 to 1990

On its introduction in 1982, the E30 was produced solely as a 2-door sedan. Four-door sedan models were introduced in 1983, convertibles were introduced in 1985 and estate ("Touring") models were introduced in 1987. The E30 was the first 3 Series to be available in wagon and 4-door sedan body styles. It was also the first 3 Series to offer a diesel engine, and all-wheel drive was introduced to the 3 Series range with the 325iX model.

Third generation, 1990 to 1998

The E36 arrived in 1990 and was sold in an enlarged variety of models: a sedan, coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as a "Compact"). The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered a 6-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a 5-speed automatic transmission, a four-cylinder diesel engine and to be available with stability control (ASC). The E36 was also the first of only two generations to be sold with the Compact nameplate.

Fourth generation, 1998 to 2004

At the turn of 1998, the E46 was launched as a sedan, with later coupé, convertible, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), and hatchback (marketed as "3 Series Compact") models being added. The E46 generation introduced various electronic features to the 3 Series, including the CANBUS protocol, satellite navigation, DSC, rain-sensing wipers, LED tail-lights, and Xenon headlights. All-wheel drive, last available in the E30 3 Series, was reintroduced for the E46 as the 325xi and 330xi sedan/wagon models.

Fifth generation, 2004 to 2011

The E9x was first made available in 2004; produced in the sedan, wagon (marketed as "Touring"), coupé and cabriolet body styles. Due to the separate model codes for each body style, the term "E9x" is sometimes used to describe this generation of the 3 Series. In 2006, the 335i became the first 3 Series model to be sold with a turbocharged gasoline engine. The E90 also saw the introduction of run-flat tires to the 3 Series range.

Sixth generation, 2011 to 2018

The F30/F31/F35 has been produced in the sedan, coupé, convertible, station wagon and 5-door hatchback ("Gran Turismo") body styles. A long-wheelbase sedan is also available in China. For the F30/F31/F34 series, the coupe and convertible models were produced from the 2013 year until 2014 when they were split from the 3 Series, redesigned, and sold as the BMW 4 Series. A new body style was introduced into the 3 Series range: the 3 Series Gran Turismo, a long-wheelbase hatchback.

Seventh generation, 2018 to today

The BMW 3 Series (G20) was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show on 2 October 2018. The official images of the vehicle were revealed a day prior to its unveiling. The seventh generation of the 3 Series is also offered as a station wagon. The more powerful M3 and M3 Competition variants were delivered globally starting in 2021.

Generation notes adapted from BMW 3 Series (Wikipedia).

Today's BMW 3 Series

What the current generation is, and how it has held up.

BMW 3 Series at a glance

Production
1975–2026
Class
Compact executive car (D)
Predecessor
BMW 02 Series