BMW3 Series Sedan (E36) 1991 - 1998

　　It was hard to replace such a success story as the BMW 3-Series E30 that moved the company on top of the heights in the compact premium-car market. But it had to be done and, in 1991, the replacement was shown.

　　When the second generation of the 3-Series was launched, the straight and simple lines were trendy. But that was more like the '70s design language and in the early '90s it was already considered as obsolete. New technologies were discovered and new trends followed.

　　The design looked like it was a scaled-down 5-Series. It was longer, wider and taller than its predecessor. With a front fascia covered by the headlights and the widened “BMW kidney” grille, the car was more aerodynamic than its predecessor. It featured a drag coefficient of 0.29, compared with the previous 3-Series that had a 0.33. The longer engine compartment allowed a much bigger space for the engines and a crumple zone. In 1993, the car received a mid-life cycle refresh that changed some of the engines and brought some others.

　　Inside, the legroom was better than the one offered by the E30. It now featured standard power steering and brakes for all the range. The interior featured optional amenities such as four power windows, air-conditioning or climate control, on-board computer, airbags for the driver and front passenger, sunroof, and a premium audio system.

　　Under the hood there was a wide range of engines starting with a 1.6-liter unit and up to a 3.2-liter for the M3. For the diesel versions, there was a 1.8-liter and a 2.5-liter unit, both turbocharged.