1997 BMW 3 Series (E46) Photos, engines & full specs

Some said BMW rushed a little when it launched the fourth generation of the 3 Series in November 1997, but its fans considered it about the right time.

With the fourth generation of the 3 Series, known as the E46 in factory coding, BMW made a significant step forward in the sports sedan compact executive segment. It was already a benchmark for its competitors and tried to stay there as long as possible but to achieve that, the carmaker had to adapt. And that’s precisely what it did with the E46. While some criticized the vehicle for not being as communicative to the driver as the E36, others praised it for its comfortable drive. It was an excellent mix between these two factors, and anyone could find the version most suitable for them. Furthermore, the introduction of highly efficient turbodiesel engines transformed the car into a long-range runner that could cover over 1,000 km (620 miles) on a single tank. In terms of design, it was not such a significant step forward.

With styling signed by the American designer Chris Bangle, the fourth generation of the 3 Series came with a revised front fascia that wasn’t as revolutionary as the previous generation. But still, the headlights featured more rounded lines, including a double curvature on their lower area. Like its predecessor, it featured corner-mounted turn signals that looked like they were part of the main headlamp unit, even though they weren’t. Between them, the car sported the already famous kidney grille, which was integrated into a 3 Series in the hood for the first time, not as a separate piece. Lower, on the apron, the automaker added a broad air intake placed in the apron, while a set of fog lamps were available and mounted above it, on the sides.

From its profile, the organic shapes of the 3 Series continued the bio-design trend, which was about to fade away from the industry. But still, it was a composed look, with the model’s specific long hood, a cabin pushed to the back, and a short deck behind it, like its predecessors. But still, there were more curved lines and shaved corners than on the E36. To make the car look more upscale, BMW introduced the body-colored door handles across the range. It also sat on bigger alloy wheels for the upper grades. All versions received aerodynamic side sills, contributing to the vehicle’s good fuel efficiency. At the back, the new corner-mounted taillights were taller and were extended on the trunk’s lid. Finally, on the lower side, the automaker installed a wrapped-around plastic bumper fitted with a rubber stripe that adorned it and protected it against small bumps.

Inside, even the base versions had features and amenities previously offered only as options, such as air conditioning. Drivers fronted a dashboard covered with soft-touch, high-quality materials, and the instrument cluster kept the half-circular visor above it, like on the E36, albeit more refined. BMW continued the tradition of creating a driver-oriented center stack, allowing better and easier control of the buttons. Starting with this generation, the 3 Series had the readings from the onboard computer shown in the instrument panel on a tiny display below the large dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Legroom was even better in the back than on the E36, but the thick front seats took some part of it.

From a technical point of view, the 1998 BMW 3 Series sedan (E46) was an important step forward. While the E36 was the first to feature an independent rear suspension, the fourth generation of this nameplate was available with more versions fitted with all-wheel drive systems. Under the hood, the automaker installed an unusually wide engine range, paired with either five- or six-speed manuals or five-speed automatics. In addition, depending on the version, the car had more nannies to keep the vehicle on the road than any of its predecessors, including a cornering braking system, a three-channel ABS, and stability control plus traction (ASC+T).