BMW 3 Series E21 (1975–1983)
The first 3 Series, a two-door rear-wheel-drive model offered with four- and six-cylinder engines.
Overview
BMW introduced the E21 in 1975 as the replacement for the 02 Series and the first generation to use the 3 Series name. It carried the marque’s compact two-door saloon into a more formal model hierarchy already established by the larger 5 Series.
The E21 retained a longitudinal front engine and rear-wheel drive. Its shape combined a low, forward-leaning nose with the twin-kidney grille, a strong shoulder line and the Hofmeister kink at the base of the rear pillar. Inside, the centre section of the dashboard was angled towards the driver, an arrangement that became a recurring BMW design feature.
Engines and chassis
The launch range comprised the four-cylinder 316, 318, 320 and fuel-injected 320i. Engine capacities ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 litres, giving buyers a choice from relatively economical models to the more sporting injected version.
BMW added straight-six power in 1977 with the carburettor-fed 320/6 and fuel-injected 323i. These smooth six-cylinder versions extended the E21 beyond the role of a basic compact saloon, while the 323i’s twin exhaust outlets provided an easy visual distinction. All versions used independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a rear-wheel-drive layout.
Body and development
BMW manufactured the E21 solely as a two-door saloon. Stuttgart coachbuilder Baur produced an officially approved TopCabriolet conversion with a fixed window surround, central roll bar, removable roof panel and folding rear hood.
A programme of detail revisions kept the generation in production into the early 1980s. Updates included revised exterior trim and interior equipment, while the 315 introduced in 1981 provided a lower-priced entry model late in the E21’s life. The E30 successor appeared in 1982, and remaining E21 production concluded in 1983.
Key milestones
- 1975: The E21 is introduced as the first BMW 3 Series.
- 1977: Six-cylinder 320/6 and 323i models join the range.
- 1978: Baur begins offering its open-roof TopCabriolet conversion.
- 1981: The 315 becomes the new entry-level version.
- 1982: The second-generation E30 is introduced.
- 1983: E21 production ends.