E36 (1990 to 2000)

Produced from 1990 to 2000, the BMW E36 (non-M) marked a major leap forward for the 3 Series, introducing a more rigid chassis, improved safety, and a shift toward refinement while retaining BMW’s trademark rear-wheel-drive balance. Offered in a wide range of body styles—sedan, coupe, convertible, Touring (wagon), and Compact—the non-M E36 lineup featured inline-four and inline-six engines, with models such as the 323i, 325i, 328i, and later 320i/323i/328i earning a reputation for smooth power delivery and excellent handling. Total E36 production exceeded approximately 2.7 million units worldwide, the vast majority being non-M cars. In the Australian market, the E36 was officially sold and became a premium staple throughout the 1990s; today, values are strongest for six-cylinder variants, manual gearboxes, coupes and wagons, factory sport trims, and original, well-maintained examples, as enthusiasts increasingly view the E36 non-M as a sweet spot of analogue BMW engineering.