BMW E46

The 'E46' automobile platform is the fourth generation of BMW's highly successful 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. It was introduced in 1998 and replaced the E36 sedans the same year. The touring and coupé models appeared in 2000, and the M3 later in 2001. The E46 compact, a 3-door compact hatchback, was revealed in 2001. Despite being introduced last, the E46 compact was the first to be replaced when 1 Series was launched in September 2004.
The E46 sedan underwent a facelift in 2002, which included re-designed headlights, new bumpers and a stiffer chassis. Also, the 316i and 318i models received new, more powerful engines. Then in 2004 the coupe and convertible had a facelift which included new headlights, new fenders and bumpers, new selections in exterior color, and redesigned sidemarker lights and tail lights. The M3s did not get a facelift, however.
In mid-2005 the E46 sedans were phased out in favour of the new E90. The E46 touring was also replaced later that year with E91. The E46 remained in production as coupé, convertible and M3 until the E92 coupé and E93 convertible was revealed in late 2006. The new M3 coupé concept was later unveiled in March 2007 during Geneva Motor Show.
The E46 experienced enormous success in all markets and was widely considered the performance benchmark of its class. The record year for the E46 was 2002, when 561,249 vehicles were sold worldwide.^[1]
As a credit to the E46 platform, it was chosen for Car and Driver Magazine's "10 Best Cars" every year of its production. See Car and Driver Ten Best.

Contents

Engines

Petrol

Diesel

ZHP Performance Package

Gallery

Notes

External links

Engines

Petrol

Model[2]	Engine	Production[3]	Volume cm³	Type[4]	Power kW (HP)	Torque Nm (ft·lbf)	0-100 km/h[5]
316i	M43B16	1998-2001	1596	I4, 8v	77 (105)	165 (122)	12,4 s
316i/ti	N42B18	2001-2004	1796	I4, 16v	85 (115)	175 (129)	10,9 s
	N46B18	2004-2005
318i	M43TUB19	1998-2001	1895	I4, 8v	87 (118)	180 (133)	10,4 s
318i/Ci/ti	N42B20	2002-2003	1995	I4, 16v	105 (143)	200 (147)	9,3 s
	N46B20	2004-2005
318Ci		2005-2007			110 (150)		9,2 s
320i	M52TUB20	1998-2000	1991	I6, 24v	110 (150)	190 (140)	9,9 s
320i/Ci	M52B22/M54B22	2001-2007	2171	I6, 24v	125 (170)	210 (155)	8,2 s
323i/Ci	M52TUB25	1998-2000	2494	I6, 24v	125 (170)	245 (181)	8,0 s
325i/xi/Ci/ti	M54B25	2001-2007	2494	I6, 24v	141 (192)	245 (181)	7,2 s
328i/Ci	M52TUB28	1998-2000	2793	I6, 24v	141 (192)	275 (203)	7,0 s
330i/xi/Ci	M54B30	2001-2007	2979	I6, 24v	170 (231)	300 (221)	6,5 s
M3	S54B32	2001-2006	3246	I6, 24v	252 (333)	355 (262)	4,8 s
M3 CSL		2003-2004			265 (360)	370 (274)	4,6 s

Diesel

Model	Engine	Production	Volume cm³	Type	Power kW (PS)	Torque Nm (ft·lbf)	0-100 km/h
318d/td	M47D20	2001-2005	1951	I4, 16v	85 (115)	265 (195)	10,7 s
320d	M47D20	1999-2001	1951	I4, 16v	100 (136)	280 (207)	9,9 s
320d/cd/td	M47TUD20	2001-2007	1995	I4, 16v	110 (150)	330 (229)	8,9 s
330d/xd/cd	M57D30	1999-2003	2926	I6, 24v	135 (184)	390 (288)	7,8 s
	M57TUD30	2004-2007	2993		150 (204)	410 (302)	7,2 s

ZHP Performance Package

In January 2003, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, BMW of North America introduced the 330i Performance Package, order code ZHP. This was a trim level upgrade that included engine modifications for an increase of 10 HP and 8 LB-FT of torque and a redline increase to 6,800 RPM (from 6,500 in the regular 330i). The ZHP option also provided a 6-speed short-throw manual transmission, a higher final drive ratio and speed limiter setting, a suspension tuned for better handling, and various BMW M exterior trim elements as well as an interior similar to that of the M3.
Specific details on the order package include:

- Sport suspension

- Double Spoke (Styling 135M) cast alloy wheels, 18 x 8.0 front, 18 x 8.5 rear;,225/40R-18 front, 255/35R-18 rear performance tires

- M Aerodynamic package

- Matte stainless steel, 35mm dual exhaust pipes

- High-gloss shadowline trim

- 8-way power front sport seats with 2-way manual headrests and thigh support; 3-driver memory for exterior mirror and seat positions; automatic tilt-down of passenger’s side-view mirror when vehicle is shifted into reverse gear

- Alcantara/cloth upholstery

- Anthracite interior headliner

- M 3-spoke Alcantara-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel with fingertip cruise, audio and accessory phone controls

- Aluminum “black cube” interior trim

- Tachometer with 300 rpm-higher redline and red needle

- Short, sport gearshift lever

- 3.07 gears in rear differential

- .5 degrees camber all around

- No 128mph governor (155mph top speed).
The ZHP package was available on mid-2003 330i sedans, all 2004-2005 330i sedans, and mid 2004-2005 330Ci coupes & convertibles. It has become a highly sought-after model due to its unique modifications. ''Car and Driver'' magazine track-tested the car, which returned a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds and passed through the 1/4 mile in 14.2 seconds.

Gallery

Notes

1. Successful 2003 Financial Year for the BMW Group
2. An i indicates either sedan or touring (The i was originally used to indicated fuel injected rather than a carburated engine but all modern models are fuel injected.) A d stands for diesel, t is the 3-door hatchback (compact) and Ci stands for coupé or convertible. An x means all-wheel drive (xDrive).
3. Model year production.
4. The I indicates an Inline/Straight engine, followed by the number of cylinders and the total amount of valves.
5. Figures are for sedans/coupes with manual transmission. Acceleration may be slightly faster for compacts (ca. -0,1 s) and slower for tourings ca. +0,2 s, convertibles ca. +0,4-1 s, automatics ca. +0,2-1 s and all-wheel drives ca. +0,2-0,5 s.

External links

★ Nederlands E46 Forum

★ Official BMW 3 Series

★

★ Video:Making of an BMW E46

★ Bimmerfest E46 Wiki

★ Bimmerfest E46 Forum