BMW E90

BMW E90 range

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	2005–present
Predecessor	BMW E46
Class	Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car
Body style(s)	2-door coupé 2-door coupé cabriolet 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Platform	FR/RWD or AWD
Engine(s)	Otto and diesel engines I4, I6 1.6-3.0 L, 85-225 kW
Transmission(s)	6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2760 mm
Length	4520 mm
Width	1817 mm
Height	1421 mm
Curb weight	1,425 to 1,775 kg (320si and 330xd touring respectively)

The BMW E90 automobile platform is the fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of entry-level luxury/compact executive cars. The car is also available as a station wagon/estate (designated as E91), coupé (E92) and coupé cabriolet (E93). It is the successor to the E46 platform, and was launched in March 2005.

In 2002, Head of Production Norbert Reithofer and Development Chief Burkhard Goeschel halved the standard BMW time it took to reach full production of the E90 from six months to three.^[1] First marketed in March 2005, it had quickly become BMW Group's best selling automobile worldwide by the end of the year with 229,900 vehicles delivered.^[2]

E46 comparison

The E90 sedan is 49 mm longer, 78 mm wider and 9 mm taller than its predecessor. The wheelbase is longer by 35 mm. Large amounts of aluminium were used in the body work and suspension in an attempt to keep the weight close to previous models; however the E90 weighs between 50 and 150 lbs more than comparable older models. The N54B30 engine is made of aluminum, while the N51 and N52 engines largely consist of magnesium. The piston sleeves are steel.

The E90 also introduced run-flat tires to the 3 Series range. Consequently, cars with run-flats are not equipped with a spare tire.

Engines

318i 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve I4; 129 bhp (95 kW); top speed: 208 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 10.0 s 2005-2007
318i 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve I4; 143 bhp (105 kW); top speed: 210 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 9.1 s 2008-
320i 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve I4; 150 bhp (110 kW); top speed: 220 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 9.0 s 2005-2007
320i 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve I4; 170 bhp (125 kW); top speed: 228 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 8.2 s 2008-
320si 2.0 L (1997 cc) 16-valve I4; 173 bhp (127 kW); top speed: 225 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 8.1 s 2006-2006
323i 2.5 L (2497 cc) 24-valve I6; 177 bhp
325i 2.5 L (2497 cc) 24-valve I6; 218 bhp (160 kW); top speed: 245 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 7.0 s 2005-2007
330i 3.0 L (2996 cc) 24-valve I6; 258 bhp (190 kW); top speed: 250 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 6.3 s 2005-2007
330i 3.0 L (2996 cc) 24-valve I6; 272 bhp
335i 3.0 L (2979 cc) 24-valve T I6; 300 bhp (225 kW); top speed: 250 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 5.6 s 2006-
M3 4.0 L (3999 cc) 32-valve V8; 420 bhp (309 kW); top speed: 250 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 4.8 s 2007-
318d 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve TD I4; 122 bhp (90 kW); top speed: 206 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 10.6 s 2005-2007
318d 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve TD I4; 143 bhp
320d 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve TD I4; 163 bhp (120 kW); top speed: 225 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 8.3 s 2005-2007
320d 2.0 L (1995 cc) 16-valve TD I4; 177 bhp
325d 3.0 L (2993 cc) 24-valve TD I6; 197 bhp (145 kW); top speed: 235 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 7.4 s 2006-
330d 3.0 L (2993 cc) 24-valve TD I6; 231 bhp (170 kW); top speed: 250 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 6.7 s 2005-
335d 3.0 L (2993 cc) 24-valve TD I6; 286 bhp (210 kW); top speed: 250 km/h; 0-100 km/h; 6.4 s 2006-

2008

For the 2008 model year, the US Spec E90 and E91 come equipped with a redesigned set of 16 inch standard wheels.

3 Series Body Styles and Models

Touring (E91)

The station wagon model of the 3-Series is available with both rear-wheel drive and xDrive AWD.

Coupé (E92)

The two-door coupé model of the 3-Series became available in August 2006. It is also the first BMW coupé offered with xDrive. All E92s also come standard with Xenon HID headlights and "retractable seatbelt helpers" that extend from the B pillar to hand you the seatbelt when the key fob is in the ignition and the door is closed. Interestingly enough, the coupé is longer and narrower than its E90 counterpart. The E92 comes with 320i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 330d, 335d and 330xd models (availability of certain models depends on region; diesels not available to the US market until 2008).

Coupé-cabriolet (E93)

For the first time for BMW, the popular 3 Series convertible is no longer availiable with a folding soft top. Instead, the traditional fabric has been replaced with a 3 piece folding metal hardtop roof. The new Coupé-cabriolet is also the center of many new technological advancements for BMW as well as the recipient of many existing safety and performance technologies that have been inmproved upon for the new model. The new 3 Series convertible improves upon BMWs "Comfort Access" option, by allowing the user to completly raise and lower the folding roof by simply pressing and holding the repective buttons on the key fob.

2006 325Xi wagon (E91)

2007 335i coupé (E92)

335i convertible (E93)

Andy Priaulx's BMW 320si WTCC.

Special edition

The 320si is a special homologation version, built in order to qualify the car for the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).^[1] It was released in 2006 and limited to 2,600 units. The 320si uses a modified 4 cylinder engine (N45) different from the standard 320i (N46). Modifications include an increased redline to 7,300 rpm, a shortened stroke (by 2 mm), an increased bore (by 1 mm) and a higher compression ratio (11,0:1). The engine is mostly hand built and does not have Valvetronic, decreasing the number of moving parts. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) takes 8.1 seconds and acceleration in fouth gear from 80 to 120 km/h takes 7.7 seconds compared with a standard 320i which achieves 9.0 and 9.1 seconds respectively. Fourth gear acceleration is comparable to that of the 325i which achieves the 80 to 120 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds.

Awards

In April 2006, the E90 was awarded the World Car of the Year title by a jury of 46 international automotive journalists. The car was praised for its balance between performance and practicality, as well as between style and seriousness. The jury also praised the new diesel engines and the all wheel drive variants.^[2]
Car and Driver magazine listed the E90 3-series on their Ten Best list for the 16th time in 24 years of the list's publication.
The E90 was named "Best New Sports Sedan" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards.
Top Gear voted it as the ugliest car in 2005.