The BMW E90/E91/E92/E93 series is the fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars, and was produced from 2004 to 2013. The body styles of the range are:
- 4-door sedan/saloon (E90 model code)
- estate/wagon (E91 model code, marketed as "Touring")
- coupé (E92 model code)
- cabriolet (E93 model code)
Due to the separate model codes for each body style, the term "E9X" is sometimes used to describe this generation of the 3 Series.
The range was introduced in 2004 with the sedan and estate body styles. The coupe was introduced in 2006 and the cabriolet was introduced in 2007. In 2012, the E90/E91 sedans and wagons were replaced by the BMW F30/F31 models. However, the E92/E93 coupes and cabriolets remained in production until 2013, when they were replaced by the BMW F32/F33 models.
In 2006, the 335i became the first 3 Series model to be sold with a turbocharged petrol engine. The E90 was also saw the introduction of run-flat tyres to the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run-flats are not equipped with a spare tyre.
The E90/E92/E93 M3 was powered by the BMW S65 v8 engine. It was released in 2007 and was produced in sedan, coupe and cabriolet body styles.
Sedan (E90)
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2005 as a 2006 model, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models. Later, the 3 Series lineup received an engine boost with the debuts of the 2007 328i/xi and 335i/xi models, the 335i/xi receiving the new 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine.
The Canadian 3 Series followed the US very closely, and also had an additional trim in the 323i RWD sedan. As the base model, the 323i does not have available or optional; Xenon headlamps, fog lamps, automatic climate control, power-adjustable seats, satellite navigation, premium audio, and Dakota leather upholstery. Amenities like a glass sunroof, heated front seats, Bluetooth, and USB input are options on the 323i that are standard on the more expensive 3 Series trims. In 2011, the BMW 323i Luxury Edition was released, which included an automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric front seats, Bluetooth and USB compatibility, and an electric glass sunroof.
The E91 wagon body style is known as the 3 Series Touring or Sports Wagon. Optional equipment included a panoramic sunroof, which extends to the rear passenger area.
Trim levels typically were similar to the E90 sedan, however there was no M3 variant of the E91. As per the E90, powertrains used a range of petrol and diesel I-6 and I-4 engines, paired with RWD and/or xDrive AWD. Markets such as the United States and Canada, however, offered but a small subset of their already limited E90 trims. In these two markets, only the 325xi with AWD was available prior to 2007, and only the 328i in RWD and xDrive AWD forms was offered from 2007 onwards.
Coupé (E92)
The two-door iteration of the 3-Series became available in August 2006 as a 2007 model, being released one year after the saloon. The E92 is available in the 316i, 318i, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335is, 335xi, 320d, 320xd, 325d, 330d, 330xd, 335d, M3, and M3 GTS.
The interior shares the same dashboard, center console, and front bucket seats as the saloon. A small metallic strip outlines the steering wheel. Metallic materials of the door handle, steering wheel trim, radio knob bezels, air con vents, and automatic transmission shift levers are chrome in the coupé as opposed to aluminium in the saloon. The door panels are much longer, it seats two passengers in the rear instead of the three-person bench, and also includes a rear centre console tray. A "Creamy" Beige leather interior with a much lighter tone is offered in the coupé instead of the standard Beige color as seen in the saloon.
The coupé also features frameless doors like its E46 predecessor. There are also retractable arms that extend from the B-pillar to hand the seat belt to the driver and/or passenger when the key fob is in the ignition and the door is closed. Coupe models have more standard features than sedans, such as Xenon HID head lamps.
Cabriolet (E93)
The 3 Series cabriolet is the first model in BMW's lineup with a 3-piece folding aluminium hard-top roof, instead of the cloth roof used by previous models. The "Comfort Access" option allows the roof to be raised and lowered using the key fob. Overall visibility is up 38 percent, thanks to the side windows which are 30 percent larger, compared to the E46 3 Series Cabriolet.
At the time of release, E93 was one of few retractable hardtops in its price range. Other manufacturers have since produced similar retractable hardtop convertibles, such as the Lexus IS C and Infiniti G37 convertible, to compete with the BMW 3 Series.
Although the BMW 3 Series convertible is considerably more expensive than its direct rivals, it has been considered by reviewers to be better engineered, in regards to passenger/boot space (even with the roof down) and driving dynamics (particularly weight and chassis rigidity).
Suspension
At the front, aluminium MacPherson struts are used. The rear suspension is a steel 5-link Multi-link suspension.
Safety
The Euro NCAP noted the poor pedestrian protection awarding 4 points out of 36, reporting the 3-series was "very disappointing" in this measure.
IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 3-series a "Good" overall rating in both the frontal and side impact crash tests. The 3-series received "Good" marks in all six of the frontal crash test categories, and "Good" marks in six of the nine categories in the side impact test. The IIHS also gave the 3-series the Top Safety Pick award. The convertible is rated "Marginal" in side impacts, making the 3-series convertible the lowest rated vehicle currently sold in its class in IIHS tests.
Production
In 2002, Norbert Reithofer and Development Chief Burkhard Goeschel started an initiative to halve the time it took to reach full production of the next generation 3-series from six months to three.
First marketed in March 2005, the car quickly became BMW Group's best-selling motorcar worldwide, and by the end of the year 229.900 vehicles had been delivered.
The BMW E90 series was the best-selling luxury car in Canada and the United States. The 2006 E90 marked the 15th consecutive year that the 3-series was named Car and Driver's 10Best.
The E90 had broad appeal, and was BMW's highest selling model of the time and the highest selling luxury car in the US and Canada.
Production period
- Saloon (E90): December 2004 - April 2009
- M3 Saloon (E90): January 2008 - September 2008
- Saloon (E90) LCI: September 2008 - October 2011
- Touring (E91): September 2005 - September 2008
- Touring (E91) LCI: from September 2008 - January 2012
- Coupé (E92): June 2006 - March 2010
- M3 Coupé (E92): September 2007 - March 2010
- Coupé (E92) LCI: from March 2010
- M3 Coupé (E92) LCI: from March 2010 - November 2012
- M3 GTS (E92): April 2010 - December 2011
- M3 CRT (E90): June 2011 - October 2011
- Convertible (E93): December 2006 - March 2010
- M3 Convertible (E93): March 2008 - March 2010
- Convertible (E93) LCI: from March 2010
- M3 Convertible (E93) LCI: from March 2010 - July 2013
320si (2005-2006)
To satisfy homologation requirements for the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), BMW built 2600 units of the 320si.
BMW WTCC works driver Andy Priaulx won two of his three consecutive World Championships in the 320si E90 as well as four other drivers achieving over 35 wins in the championship since the cars release. The BMW 320si is used by a few teams in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Colin Turkington won the 2009 BTCC Drivers championship using the BMW 320si.
