BMW 3 series is a compact executive car developed and produced to add to bimmer lovers another success. The fourth generation 3 series, the E46 was produced from 1998 and produced until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2006. The E46 was released in 1998 to worldwide markets ( exception the United States) in the sedan body style. In 1999, a coupé and touring body style(e46) became available to all markets, and the sedan was released in the United States. A convertible and compact body style was released in 2000. The E46 experienced enormous success in all markets and was widely considered the performance benchmark of its class. The record selling year for the E46 chassis was 2002, when 561,249 vehicles were sold worldwide.

In 1999 the first of the newly restyled E46 3 Series rolled off the line, being that the E36 was introduced one model at a time the E46 did the same starting with the 323i and 328i saloons. How was the E46 changed. well it came by way of an entirely new front end, a rounded roof line and nice wide wheel arches. On the front end the headlights received a new treatment featuring cutouts beneath the lenses, letting the traditional four headlight design shine through from past 3 series.  

Following in the same footsteps as the E36 grew in size to the E30, E46 was made larger as well, increasing it's wheelbase to 107.3″ with an overall of 176″. As the E36 had grown in size in comparison to the E30, so grew the E46. Even though the E46 grew in size making it larger than the previous E36's it was still comfortable and small.

Finally, BMW M GmbH produced a high performance variant of the E46 chassis, designated the M3. This version had a larger, more powerful engine, sportier suspension, a limited slip differential, and various aesthetic modifications. The M3 was released in 2001 and was available only in the coupé and convertible body style. It was offered with two transmissions; a standard 6 speed manual, or an optional sequential manual gearbox.

Petrol engines body type for e46 and e36:

  • ·      ·      ·      316i/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      316i/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      316i/ti
  • ·      ·      ·      318i/Ci/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      318i/Ci/ti
  • ·      ·      ·      318Ci
  • ·      ·      ·      320i/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      320i/Ci
  • ·      ·      ·      323i/Ci/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      325i/xi/Ci/ti (US)
  • ·      ·      ·      325i/Ci SULEV (US)
  • ·      ·      ·      325i/xi/Ci/ti (EUR)
  • ·      ·      ·      328i/Ci/ e36
  • ·      ·      ·      330i/xi/Ci
  • ·      ·      ·      330i/Ci ZHP (US Only)
  • ·      ·      ·      M3 (US)
  • ·      ·      ·      M3 (EUR)
  • ·      ·      ·      M3 CSL
  • ·      ·      ·      M3 GTR (Street)  
  • ·      ·      ·      M3 GTR (Race)

 E36 body type always attracted me e36 is a good beginning.