Car Series - BMW E36

The BMW E36 series is the third generation of the BMW 3 Series range of entry-level luxury cars, and was produced from 1990 to 2000. The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered in a hatchback body style. These models, called the BMW 3 Series Compact, were popular in Europe but largely unsuccessful in North America. It was also the first 3 Series to be available with a 6-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a 5-speed automatic transmission and a four-cylinder diesel engine. The multi-link rear suspension was also a significant upgrade compared with previous generations of 3 Series.