Performance Figures 1975 - 2000

BMW is conservative in its performance claims, referring to urban consumption statistics in Europe for its fuel consumption claims whenever independent figures are not available. Figures for the US feature all domestic measurements, including the US gallon. Figures for European specifications have been converted to UK Imperial measurement, which is divided by a factor of 1.2 to equal US mpg.

Taking the European figures generation by generation, we find that the original 3 Series only had enough straight-line performance to compare with its 2002 predecessors in European 323i guise. Then, it was at the cost of sub-20-mpg six-cylinder consumption.

The four-cylinders of the original series offer a better balance of fuel consumption to performance, and the 320i/4 also received plaudits for its 200,000-mile durability during our research. However, the American E21 and E30 four-cylinders were not notable performers; and it says a lot for the loyalty of US Bimmer owners (and the quality of the product) that they stayed with the Roundel when more tempting alternatives lurked in many rival showrooms. BMW owner loyalty, shown by repeat purchasing, is at its highest in the six-cylinder ranges worldwide in 1999.

Of the second (E30) edition, the performance interest will naturally center on the M3 and its various Evolutionary descendants. Still, we've noticed how quick the 325i was versus some M3 derivatives. Unfortunately, we still do not have figures from the 238 bhp/2.5-liter M3.

The European and American E36 325i/328i series, whether in coupe or sedan form, could be as fast as an original M3, according to some independent testers in the US. And they returned about the same mpg overall and had a similar maximum speed to all but the previous E30 Evolution/220-bhp M3. Yet the 325i or 328i of the 1990s did all this a lot more smoothly than an E30 M3 could ever do: that is true automotive progress.

The author is glad to acknowledge the weekly British magazine, Autocar (formerly Autocar & Motor) and Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. for providing us with 1975 - 99 statistics. Top European speeds come from two sources: those defined as ?best? by Autocar or those that the author obtained at private test tracks when testing with electronic or fifth-wheel devices for Motor Sport or Performance Car.

European fuel consumption figures include those from the test track; the average driver is unlikely to obtain worse consumption. Weights are those quoted as ?curb.? All the European figures quoted using Autocar's internationally respected test procedures are subject to copyright. In the US, we have averaged figures mostly from Automobile, Road & Track, and Car & Driver. We gratefully acknowledge the high standards of those three magazines in performing the independent tests that most US and UK magazines avoid. There were, however, such wide variations in US test results that averaging seemed the only fair way to give potential buyers an idea of anticipated performance.

US E21/E30 4-cylinder models, 1976 - 1983

Model	320i/E21	318i/E30
Quoted bhp	110@5,800rpm	101@5,800rpm
0-30 mph (sec)	3.5	3.4
0-60 mph (sec)	10.5	11.6
0-80 mph (sec)	19.5	?
0-90 mph (sec)	29.8	32.0
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	17.6/77.4	18.3/74.0
Maximum mph	110 (4th)	111 (5th)
US mpg	22.5/27	26
Curb weight (lbs)	2,600	2,460
Quoted cost/date	$9,085/1978	$16,430/1983

US E30 6-cylinder models, 1984 - 1991

Model	325e	325i/rear-drive	325iX/4x4
Quoted bhp	121 @ 5,800 rpm	168 @ 5,800 rpm	168 @ 5,800 rpm
0 - 30 mph (sec)	2.6	2.4	2.7
0 - 60 mph (sec)	9.5*	7.6	8.0
0 - 90 mph (sec)	21.3	16.9	17.4
0 - 100 mph (sec)	30.0	22.8	23.0
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	16.8/81.5	15.8/86	16.0/?
Maximum mph	115	128	128
US mpg	25/26	21/23	19/21
Curb weight(lbs)	2,780	2,830	2,980
Quoted cost/date	$20,970/1984	$26,990/1987	$33,290/1988

*11.5 sec with automatic transmission

E30 Performance specials: US, UK, & South Africa

Model	M3/4-cyl	333i/6-cyl*	Alpina B6/6-cyl**
Quoted bhp	192 @ 6,750 rpm	197 @ 5,500 rpm	260 @ 6,000 rpm
0 - 30 mph (sec)	2.6	3.7 (0 - 37 mph)	2.1
0 - 60 mph (sec)	7.5	7.2 (62 mph)	6.0
0 - 90 mph (sec)	14.5	?	12.2
0 - 100 mph (sec)	18.0	?	15.8
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	16.1/88	28.1 (1 km or 0.62 mile)/115.6	14.4/96.3
Maximum mph	140 (estimated)	143.5	152
US/UK mpg	22/24 US	27.2 UK @ 75 mph	20.8 UK
Curb weight (lbs)	2,740	2,763	3,000
Quoted cost/date	$34,000/1987	Rand 41,300/1986	£35,000/1989

*South African 3.2-liter transplant factory special tested courtesy of Car South Africa Magazine. Ex-733i and 633Csi injection motor, Getrag 5-speed developed by BMW SA and Alpina **Anglo-German Alpina RHD model assembled in Britain around upgraded 3.4-liter (ex 635Csi /735i) & standard M3 gearbox. Sold by Frank Sytner Ltd, Nottingham, and tested by now-defunct Performance Car.

US E36, 1991 - 97*

Model	318is/4-cyl	325is/6-cyl	328i/6-cyl
Quoted bhp	138 @ 6,000 rpm	189 @ 5,900 rpm	168 @ 5,800 rpm
0 - 30 mph (sec)	3.0	2.8	2.5
0 - 60 mph (sec)	9.5	8.5	7.2
0 - 90 mph (sec)	22.0	17.0	?
0 - 100 mph (sec)	28.0	?	?
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	17.0/82	16.0/87	15.0/94
Maximum mph	123	128 (estimated)	128 (estimated)
US mpg	23/28	20/23.5	20/22
Curb weight (lbs)	2,900	3,100	3,120
Quoted cost/date	$23,975/1992	$29,100/1992	$32,900/1997

*US 6-cyl 3.0-liter and 3.2-liter M3s are listed in following chart

E36 M3s at work in US & Europe: 1993 - 1997*

Model	European 3.0-liter M3	US 3.0-liter M3	3.2-liter M3 Evo	US 3.2-liter M3	3.2-liter Lightweight
Quoted bhp	286	240	321	240	240
Maximum mph	155**	137	158	137	137
0 - 30 mph (sec)	2.5	2.3	2.2	?	?
0 - 60 mph (sec)	5.6	6.4***	5.3	5.9	5.3
0 - 100 mph (sec)	13.5	16.0***	12.0	15.5	14.0
0 - 120 mph (sec)	20.0	?	18.5	?	?
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	14.0/101	14.6/97	13.8/104	14.5/98	13.9/100
Overall mpg	24/26 Imp	24/25 US	23/25 Imp	22/24 US	21/23 US
Curb weight (lbs/kg)	3,344/1,520	3,230/1,468	3,236/1,471	3,170/1,441	2,950/1,341

*Average of independent magazine sources. US residents, multiply by 1.2 if you want to convert an Imperial mpg result into US mpg. **Famously timed by Autocar at 162 mph with European 155-mph speed-limiter obviously inoperative! ***Car & Driver ran both their routine and extended (35,000) mile 3-liter M3s through their test procedures and returned much quicker results than the rest of the American hack pack. The average figures quoted are fairer for the private buyer's expectations today, but for the record, C&D recorded 0 - 60 mph in 5.5 seconds in both sessions. They recorded 0 - 100 mph in a staggering 14.6 seconds and went an unsurprising 14.2 seconds at 98- or 99-mph terminal speeds for the standing 1/4 miles. Car & Driver was the only magazine we could find that ran an automatic-transmission 3-liter M3 through the strip procedures and returned 0 - 30 mph in 2.6 seconds, 0 - 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, 0 - 100 mph in 17.1 seconds, and a 15.3-sec/95-mph ;-mile pass. Both top speed (137 mph) and average fuel consumption (24 US mpg) were reportedly unaffected. Curb weight was up 72 lbs, at a reported 3,304 lbs.

European BMW E21 3 Series, 1975 - 1982

Model	316	320/4-cyl	320i	320/6-cyl	323i
Quoted bhp	90	109	125	122	143
Maximum mph	102	109	114	114	126
0 - 30 mph (sec)	3.8	3.1	3.2	3.3	2.6
0 - 40 mph (sec)	6.3	5.0	5.3	5.3	4.3
0 - 50 mph (sec)	8.8	6.9	7.3	7.3	6.2
0 - 60 mph (sec)	12.9	10.2	9.6	9.8	8.3
0 - 70 mph (sec)	18.1	13.6	13.6	13.9	11.8
0 - 80 mph (sec)	24.4	18.3	17.6	18.5	15.7
0 - 90 mph (sec)	37.1	25.7	23.1	24.6	20.2
0 - 100 mph (sec)	N/A	36.8	33.2	37.3	28.1
0 - 110 mph (sec)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	41.6
Standing 1/4 mile/400 m (sec)	19.0	17.3	17.3	17.4	16.7
50 - 70 mph, top (sec)	13.3	8.5	10.1	13.7	9.3
Overall mpg	23.2	21.2	25.0	24.5	19.7
Curb weight (kg)	1,036	1,036	1,051	1,090	1,190
Data publication date	1/76	9/75	9/76	11/77	5/78

European BMW E30 3 Series, 1983 - 90

Model	316i 4-dr	318i 2-dr	320i 2-dr	325i 2-dr *	325i Touring 5-dr	325i A Convertible	M3 Convertible	M3 Sedan	Evolution I
Quoted bhp	102	115	125	171	170	171	200	200	220
Maximum mph	114	116	116	132	132	135	146	140	148
0 - 30 mph (sec)	3.1	3.0	2.7	2.6	2.9	2.7	2.1	2.8	2.5
0 - 40 mph (sec)	4.8	4.6	4.4	3.9	3.9	4.2	2.9	3.9	3.6
0 - 50 mph (sec)	7.1	6.6	6.2	5.3	5.7	5.8	4.7	5.5	5.1
0 - 60 mph (sec)	10.1	9.3	8.0	7.4	7.6	8.1	6.0	7.1	6.6
0 - 70 mph (sec)	13.8	12.4	11.4	9.6	9.9	10.7	8.0	9.5	8.8
0 - 80 mph (sec)	18.5	16.9	14.6	12.1	12.7	13.4	10.7	11.9	11.0
0 - 90 mph (sec)	25.3	22.4	18.6	15.8	16.4	17.6	12.0	15.2	13.9
0 - 100 mph (sec)	38.6	31.9	25.2	19.9	20.7	22.3	16.6	19.0	17.8
0 - 110 mph (sec)	N/A	N/A	36.5	25.7	26.4	28.2	22.5	23.7	21.9
0 - 120 mph (sec)	N/A	N/A	N/A	37.3	N/A	38.9	28.3	29.8	N/A
1/4 mile (sec)	17.4	16.9	16.4	15.4	15.9	16.1	15.8	15.7	15.2
50 - 70 mph, 5th (sec)	16.0	12.7	15.7	10.2	10.1	1.6	9.5	9.4	9.8
Overall mpg	25.3	27.4	26.0	24.6	24.1	26.5	22.2	20.3	26.0
Quoted curb weight (kg)	1,109	1,085	1,103	1,048	1,258	1,169	1,411	1,252	1,274
Data publication date	3/89	12/87	2/83	10/85	5/88	9/86	2/89	4/87	9/88

*The UK 325i Sport, including CR gearbox, LSD, and 7 x 15-inch wheels, recorded 0 - 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, 1/4 mile in 15.7 seconds, 0 - 100 mph in 18.8 seconds, 132 mph top speed, and 22.4 mpg in a brief test published by Autocar & Motor on February 25, 1987.

European BMW E36 3 Series, 1990-95

Model	318i	320i	325i	325i coupe	328i sedan
Quoted bhp	113	150	192	192	193
Maximum mph	123	133	141	144	146
0-30 mph (sec)	3.2	3.0	2.6	2.6	2.8
0-40 mph (sec)	5.0	4.7	3.9	3.8	3.5
0-50 mph (sec)	7.4	6.6	5.3	5.4	5.2
0-60 mph (sec)	10.2	8.9	7.3	7.2	7.2
0-70 mph (sec)	13.1	12.3	9.5	9.5	8.3
0-80 mph (sec)	17.7	15.5	12.0	12.0	11.3
0-90 mph (sec)	23.0	20.2	15.3	15.2	?
0-100 mph (sec)	30.5	25.9	19.2	19.2	?
<0-110 mph (sec)	?	34.0	24.0	23.8	?
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	17.5/80	16.9/83	15.7/93	15.8/91	?
Overall mpg	27.6	23.5	24	22.7	26.5
Curb weight (kg)	1,260	?	1,346	1,380	1,400 (estimate)
Data publication date	4/91	8/91	11/91	4/92	1996*

*328i sedan 4-dr published 1996 by Complete Car using German auto motor and sport figures, with incorrect weight replaced by author's data.

European BMW E46 3 Series, 1998-2000

Model	318i SE	323i SE	328is	320d	330d
Quoted bhp	118	170	193	136	184
Maximum mph	125	141	148	128	141
0-30 mph (sec)	3.7	3.2	3.1	?	2.7
0-60 mph (sec)	9.6	7.8	7.4	9.5	7.9
0-100 mph (sec)	36.0	30.5	18.5	?	22.5
50-70 mph, top gear (sec)	10.7	8.1	7.9*	?	7.6
1/4 mile (sec/mph)	18.2/76	17.5/80	15.8/94	18.7/83	16.1/87
Overall mpg	27.8	23/28	22/27*	39/46	37/43
Curb weight (kg)	?	?	1,471	1,346	1,520
Data publication date	7/98	11/98	9/99	?/99	5/00

*Averaged with figure for mechanically identical Sedan