Carmaker1
Quattro Commander
Not sure how well I can execute this, but I am creating this thread for anyone to contribute or discuss gestation histories of every/any generation of the BMW Dreier/3-Series. Unlike the 7er thread, I haven't fully compiled my information for submission yet. However, I will try and start with simple summaries (no details), but lack of photos. Forgive me if some of this stuff is repeated later, but in more detail.
The 3-Series as most of us know, was championed by BMW shareholder Herbert Quandt, as a replacement for the BMW 2002 circa 1970 under the code E21. By 1972, a final design for the E21 was signed-off. In June 1975, production of the E21 Dreier or 3-Series commenced. In July 1975, the car was unveiled to the public and launched a few months later.
Nine months after 3er reveal, industrial designer Claus Luthe joined BMW's staff as design director in April 1976. Starting in July 1976, a successor to the new E21 Dreier/3-Series began development under the code E30. By 1978, a final design choice was made by Luthe and executive board, with a design freeze by the end of 1979. The E30 coupe went on sale at the end of November 1982 in Europe and other territories in 1983 and sedan as well.
Parallel to all of this, BMW entered a major product development onslaught in July of 1981. Amongst many of those projects, was unusually early development of another generation of 3er. Codename for this vehicle was E36. By the end of 1986/early 1987, a final design was championed by Luthe and approved by the board of management. In 1988 this design was frozen, scheduled for a 1990 launch. In October 1990, the revolutionary E36 sedan went on sale.
In 1993, BMW began development of new model generation under the code E46. New design chief Christopher Bangle led the process from 1993 up until final selection of clay models in 1995, which was absorbed by product development director Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle. In the spring of 1995, a final design was approved and frozen in late 1995. In 1997, a new 3er was unveiled and entered series production, for late April 1998 launch.
In 1999, while in the midst of launching E46 variants and ending production of E36 variants, development of the E90 began at the FIZ. In 2000, development was briefly halted to shift resources to the E87 programme, a model positioned under 3er on the same platform. In late 2001 development resumed and design was approved in March 2002, being frozen that September. In late 2004, the car was revealed and production commenced that December, in advance of March 5, 2005 launch (my dad's birthday lol).
In 2006, development began at the FIZ on the 7th generation 3er under the code F30. Starting 2007, designers went to work in competition. On March 2, 2009, a final design by Christopher Weil was chosen by management. Several months later, the design was frozen in mid-2009 and prototypes were spotted by November. In October 2011, the F30 was unveiled and entered production on the 28th, launching in February 2012.
In 2013, the next generation 3-Series development programme commenced under chassis code G20. In November 2015, a final design was chosen and frozen for production by mid-2016. In late 2018, the new G20 will be presented and launched in the spring of 2019. Prototype testing is still ongoing, soon to enter FEP phase.
I hope to expand on this in the coming week, but just wanted to open this thread as soon as possible.
The 3-Series as most of us know, was championed by BMW shareholder Herbert Quandt, as a replacement for the BMW 2002 circa 1970 under the code E21. By 1972, a final design for the E21 was signed-off. In June 1975, production of the E21 Dreier or 3-Series commenced. In July 1975, the car was unveiled to the public and launched a few months later.
Nine months after 3er reveal, industrial designer Claus Luthe joined BMW's staff as design director in April 1976. Starting in July 1976, a successor to the new E21 Dreier/3-Series began development under the code E30. By 1978, a final design choice was made by Luthe and executive board, with a design freeze by the end of 1979. The E30 coupe went on sale at the end of November 1982 in Europe and other territories in 1983 and sedan as well.
Parallel to all of this, BMW entered a major product development onslaught in July of 1981. Amongst many of those projects, was unusually early development of another generation of 3er. Codename for this vehicle was E36. By the end of 1986/early 1987, a final design was championed by Luthe and approved by the board of management. In 1988 this design was frozen, scheduled for a 1990 launch. In October 1990, the revolutionary E36 sedan went on sale.
In 1993, BMW began development of new model generation under the code E46. New design chief Christopher Bangle led the process from 1993 up until final selection of clay models in 1995, which was absorbed by product development director Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle. In the spring of 1995, a final design was approved and frozen in late 1995. In 1997, a new 3er was unveiled and entered series production, for late April 1998 launch.
In 1999, while in the midst of launching E46 variants and ending production of E36 variants, development of the E90 began at the FIZ. In 2000, development was briefly halted to shift resources to the E87 programme, a model positioned under 3er on the same platform. In late 2001 development resumed and design was approved in March 2002, being frozen that September. In late 2004, the car was revealed and production commenced that December, in advance of March 5, 2005 launch (my dad's birthday lol).
In 2006, development began at the FIZ on the 7th generation 3er under the code F30. Starting 2007, designers went to work in competition. On March 2, 2009, a final design by Christopher Weil was chosen by management. Several months later, the design was frozen in mid-2009 and prototypes were spotted by November. In October 2011, the F30 was unveiled and entered production on the 28th, launching in February 2012.
In 2013, the next generation 3-Series development programme commenced under chassis code G20. In November 2015, a final design was chosen and frozen for production by mid-2016. In late 2018, the new G20 will be presented and launched in the spring of 2019. Prototype testing is still ongoing, soon to enter FEP phase.
I hope to expand on this in the coming week, but just wanted to open this thread as soon as possible.
