2001 BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) Photos, engines & full specs

BMW refreshed the E46 model in late 2001 for the 2002 model year, and besides some exterior updates, it also improved the interior and the drivetrain of the best-selling lineup in the company’s history to that date.

In December 1997, the German automaker unveiled the fourth generation of the 3 Series, known as the E46, in factory coding. Depending on the country, the market launch started in early 1998. As expected, it started with the sedan and the station wagon, or the Touring, and continued with the coupe and the convertible. The Compact version was also added, albeit it was mostly a hybrid between parts carried over from previous BMW 3 Series models. By 2001, the car had already started showing wrinkles, and new emission regulations forced the automaker to improve its engine’ range. So, instead of just replacing the powerplants with updated ones, it refreshed the entire vehicle. Among the first to receive the life cycle impulse (BMW’s term for facelift) treatment was the Touring version, a sought-after vehicle for families.

At the front, the 2002 BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) had a revised look. It retained the double curvature on the lower side of the headlights, albeit wider than those from the non-facelifted version. Furthermore, the car had Bi-Xenon lights, which improved the night-time driving experience. The E46 also received a new hood sporting wider kidney grilles. On the bumper, the automaker ditched the rectangular fog lamps in favor of smaller, round ones placed above the slim, trapezoidal-shaped air intake. Its predecessor sported angled-up outer edges for that.

From its profile, the 2002 BMW 3 Series Touring was available with new 16-inch alloy wheels fitted as standard and a few options for 17-inch ones. There were no noticeable changes on the car’s profile, and for selected markets, it became available with chromed details, which gave the vehicle a posher look. For the back of the car, BMW worked extensively and created several different stylings according to specific countries. In some, the taillights sported clear lenses for the turn signal lamps, while in others, these were kept amber. In the back, the car kept the independent window opening for the tailgate, which was one of the Touring’s strong points. Below, the automaker installed a new bumper featuring a broad black trim, which could integrate the parking sensors.

Inside, though, the automaker’s design team had to work closely with the engineering department. At first sight, the dashboards of both models looked identical, but at a second look, there were some differences, depending on the options. The driver fronted the same oval-shaped instrument cluster featuring three LCDs on the lower side instead of LED-based ones as on the previous model. On the center stack, the automaker offered an option for a wider color screen for the navigation system, which replaced the previous one that showed only arrows for directions to follow. Furthermore, the center console received a new design, featuring a storage compartment with a retractable cover. For seating, basic versions had mild-bolstered front seats and a split-folding bench seat in the back with cloth upholstery. As an option, BMW offered a leather-wrapped interior.

Under its skin, the car received a major upgrade. There were new engines in the lineup with inline-four and inline six units, like its predecessor. However, these were new and provided more power and improved fuel efficiency. In addition, more versions were available with all-wheel drive systems, including turbodiesel engines. Depending on the powerplant, BMW installed a five- or six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission.