The BMW 3 Series in the 2003 Model Year

1. The BMW 3 Series Entering the 2003 Model Year: New BMW Coupé and Convertible. (Short Story) 2. Another BMW World-First Achievement: The 3 Series Coupé Diesel. 3. BMW's Top-of-the-Range Coupé: The BMW 330Ci Master Athlete. 4. BMW 3 Series Convertible: Open-Air Motoring of the Highest Standard. 5. BMW 3 Series Saloon and touring: Entering the New Model Year with New Momentum. 6. BMW 3 Series compact: Exactly the Right Size. 7. Specifications. 8. Output and Torque Diagrams. 9. Exterior and Interior Dimensions.

1. The BMW 3 Series Entering the 2003 Model Year.
New BMW Coupé and Convertible.
(Short Story)

Munich. This certainly is a world-first achievement by BMW never seen before: a
diesel powering a - BMW - coupé! Quite inconceivable until recently, this new
concept is now becoming reality in the new 3 Series coupé, with the new
3.0-litre straight-six diesel providing superior power in the BMW 330Cd.

The result of this symbiosis is truly impressive: Developing maximum output of
150 kW/204 bhp at 4,000 rpm, the new diesel engine offers outstanding
performance combined with huge muscle throughout the entire speed range.
Simply because maximum torque of 410 Newton-metres (302 lb-ft) is available
from just 1,500 rpm, consistently remaining at this high level at engine speeds
of up to 3,000 rpm. And in combination with the six-speed manual gearbox, this
superior power and performance is further optimised by supreme running
refinement and all-round economy.

The diesel coupé -
combining sporting performance and economic motoring all in one:

The 330Cd offers diesel power on the motorway, on country roads and winding
Alpine passes in truly superior style, making this new model the absolute
benchmark in terms in both driving dynamics and sporting performance. This is
clearly borne out by the car's performance data, with acceleration to 100 km/h
coming in 7.2 seconds and with a top speed of 242 km/h or 150 mph.
Acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h is even more impressive, providing all the
power the driver needs when overtaking in a typical situation on the road,
where the diesel coupé takes only 6.1 seconds to reach the 120 km/h mark. And
despite this superiority in road traffic, fuel consumption in the New European
Driving Cycle (NEDC) is just 6.6 litres of diesel fuel/100 km or 42.8 mpg Imp.

Six gears for supreme driving pleasure and fuel economy.

So far only very few, truly exclusive BMWs have been fitted with a six-speed
manual gearbox - now the diesel coupé also offers this superior technology.
This allows the driver, first, to benefit from superior torque at virtually
every engine and road speed and, second, to drive his coupé smoothly and
efficiently, hardly shifting gears but still enjoying the car's superior
agility on the road. First gear is laid out for superior power and pulling
force, improving acceleration from a standstill and at low speeds. The
following five gears - with the 330Cd reaching its top speed in sixth gear -
consistently give the driver exactly the right transmission ratio matched
precisely to his road or engine speed.

BMW 330Cd -
a synthesis of beauty and common sense never seen before:

Last but certainly not least, this impressive muscle machine comes in a
beautifully styled body: The 330Cd looks like a coupé should look, drives like
a BMW must drive, and at the same time offers all the benefits a
state-of-the-art diesel must provide. As a result, the BMW 330Cd meets all the
expectations of both "traditional" and new aficionados of such an outstanding
coupé. Particularly in the rapidly growing European diesel market, this new
diesel coupé sets the standard in terms of driving pleasure, design and common
sense.

BMW 330Ci - the born athlete in the coupé segment:

The top-of-the-range 330Ci coupé with its spark-ignition engine offers power
and performance of the highest standard: Maximum output of this straight-six
is 170 kW/231 bhp, making it one of the most powerful engines in its class.
Featuring BMW's six-speed manual gearbox, just like the diesel coupé and 325Ci,
the 330Ci (and the 2.5-litre spark-ignition engine in the 325Ci) is now
available for the first time with six-speed SMG transmission. This Sequential
Manual Gearbox (SMG) enables the driver to shift gears within split seconds via
the shift lever on the centre console or by means of two paddles on the
steering wheel. Accordingly, the driver can concentrate fully on traffic
conditions, leaving his hands on the steering wheel even when shifting gears.
With its absolutely precise and consistent gearshift, the SMG transmission
makes the process of shifting gears a genuine pleasure particularly for the
sporting, ambitious driver, taking only 150 milliseconds to move from one gear
to another. Clearly, ther

e is no longer a clutch pedal.

Even more dynamic in design:

A coupé should be elegant and sporting - and that is what it should look like.
Introducing the new 3 Series coupé, BMW's designers are underlining the
exceptional power and performance of this outstanding car. Discreet
enhancement of the car's design gives even greater emphasis to its sporting and
dynamic performance, clearly bringing out the specific strengths so typical of
the BMW brand. From the front the coupé, with its new headlight units, the
wider kidney grille, the modified powerdome and the larger front air dam, has
even greater presence and conveys a feeling of even greater power. The rear end
is upgraded by the wider grab handle on the rear lid, new rear lights in LED
technology, and the new rear air dam. Perhaps the most beautiful perspective
when considering the BMW coupé, finally, is the car's silhouette from the side
with the direction indicators now positioned even higher up and the muscular,
flared side panels clearly emphasizing the dynamic power and character of this
athlete on four whee

ls with its new 17-inch star-spoke rims.

Focusing on safety:

The dynamic performance, agility and sporting character of the 3 Series coupé
all rest on the sporting chassis and suspension of the 3 Series now modified
and further improved for even better handling. The coupé also benefits from
harmonious axle load distribution combining smooth and well-balanced driving
behaviour with high speeds even in tight bends. With rear-wheel drive being
absolutely ideal under such conditions, the direct steering remains free of any
adverse influence of drive power, giving the driver superior steering precision
and clear feedback from the steering. The 3 Series coupé comes with all the
safety features typical of the BMW 3 Series, including ABS, CBC and the latest
DSC II driving stability system with traction aid, an electronic differential
lock and electronic recognition of emergency brake action.

Considering all these features, it is fair to say that the BMW 3 Series coupé
is the most sporting version of the 3 Series in terms of its looks and
technical features - and precisely this is how it handles on the road: The
coupé takes even winding roads even faster, more safely and more smoothly than
any other model within the range. So that driving the new 3 Series coupé you
will feel like a sprinter becoming faster all the time and leaving everybody
else far behind - fast and dynamic on the one hand, aesthetic and elegant on
the other.

The BMW convertible: simply the best!

The BMW convertible now looks back at almost 20 years of consistent success in
the market, success borne out by a clear and straightforward message - a car
which is simply the best! This applies to its design, with the roof open or
closed. It applies to the car's technical performance with all the dynamic
power and muscle so typical of a BMW. And it applies to the convertible's
everyday driving qualities you will enjoy 365 days a year. More sporting and
innovative than ever before, the upgraded BMW convertible offers the best in
every respect.

Desirable from every angle:

The BMW convertible has also gained presence and class you will acknowledge at
very first sight when considering the car from the front. Viewed from the
side, in turn, the convertible looks even more sporting, sleek and stretched
out than ever before thanks to its low, almost flat windscreen. With the roof
closed and remaining firmly in position, the cloth structure with the small
side windows at the rear emphasizes the coupé-like, wide C-pillar and
accentuates the muscular rear end. And considered from behind, finally, the new
LED tail lights make it quite clear that the car you are admiring is the new
BMW convertible.

Innovations make the BMW convertible even better than before:

Major innovations are keeping the new BMW convertible state-of-the-art also in
terms of its technology features: Like the coupé, the 330Ci top-of-the-range
BMW convertible now comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. And as an option it
may be fitted with BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) also available on the
325Ci convertible.

The soft roof now opens and closes fully automatically from the driver's
cockpit on all 3 Series convertibles as an improvement in style and equipment
which comes together with remote-control opening of the roof from the car's
key.

Adaptive headlights optional in both the coupé and convertible:

Introducing intelligent adaptive headlights, BMW is revolutionising the world
of headlights technology: As if they were guided by the hand of a magician,
the headlights show the driver the right way round a bend and significantly
increase traffic safety in the process. The 3 Series coupé and convertible are
indeed the first BMW models to benefit from this revolutionary innovation.

The adaptive headlights introduce a variable headlight control system geared to
your specific situation on the road. This anticipative illumination of the
road ahead is based on a system of sensors and computers, the adaptive
headlights directing two bi-xenon headlight modules geared to the steering to
the ongoing course of the road and thus offering the driver a better and safer
outlook at the road ahead both in front of and in bends.

LED rear lights with fast-action brake lights:

Two other brand-new features on both the coupé and convertible are the rear
lights and the third brake light in innovative, brilliant LED 3D technology.
The big advantage of these light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is that they are not
subject to any wear and tear and do not require any maintenance. And since
electronic control and operation of the lights is faster than with conventional
bulbs, the brake lights respond more quickly, telling motorists following from
behind even more quickly that the driver is applying the brakes.

This LED technology enhances the active safety of both the coupé and
convertible, the dynamic two-stage brake lights changing in size and intensity
as a function of vehicle deceleration and thus informing drivers following from
behind that the driver is, say, applying the brakes all-out. The big advantage
for all road users is that this further minimises the risk of bumper-to-bumper
collisions. These new two-stage brake lights will first be featured in the US
versions of the coupé and convertible, then entering other markets after
receiving homologation in each respective country.

Giving the saloon, touring and compact new power and momentum:

Six out of every 10 BMWs sold are 3 Series. So certainly this is a good time,
together with the update and enhancement of the coupé and convertible, to boost
this entire best-selling model series into the 2003 model year with additional
power and momentum. This new thrust is borne out by the Edition Packages on
the saloon and touring, whilst the compact range comes with new engines and
enhanced design features. And all models now benefit from a number of
innovations in technology.

Introducing the Lifestyle and Exclusive Edition Packages, BMW now offers the
customers two new paintwork colours: Either Mystic Blue, a deep, dark bluish
colour, or Silver Grey Metallic, a matt silver grey, in addition to the
existing colour range. Chiaretto Red, in turn, is reserved exclusively for the
edition models and two new rim design options help to give the saloon and
touring even more individual style. The inner trim on the doors in both
edition models comes either in BMW?s new Moon Grey finish or, as an option, in
myrtle wood or aluminium. And whilst the seats of the Lifestyle edition models
come in Black Grey or Mystic Grey fabric and leather, the even more
sophisticated Exclusive models have leather seats in Chameleon. A further
feature on all four- and six-cylinder models is the chrome surrounds on all
cockpit instruments as well as the leather gaiters on both the gearshift and
handbrake levers. The optional armrest is finished in leather. The leather
steering wheel is included in the Edit

ion Package. The door trim is in chrome, with chrome trim also on the window
shaft covers. The Sports Edition of the saloon and touring, finally, largely
comes with the well-known M sports package now enhanced to an even higher
standard together with additional options and features.

To reflect the latest benchmark in technology, both the saloon and touring are
equipped with the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard in the 330i and
330d (including their four-wheel-drive versions) and in the 320d. Six-speed SMG
transmission, in turn, is reserved to the 325i and 330i. All models are fitted
with BMW's new LED rear lights incorporating two-stage brake lights (initially
available only in the USA).

The compact fastback saloon launched in spring 2001 in its latest generation is
being enhanced to an even higher standard by the introduction of the 318td
entry-level diesel model, enlarging the range to five different versions. The
driver of the top-end 325ti, incidentally, will benefit from now on from a
six-speed manual gearbox. On the rear lights the clear glass covers are being
replaced by tinted glass now incorporating the direction indicators when
activated in yellow and otherwise remaining in red. An additional contour line
and the wider, stretched grab handle on the rear lid like on the coupé add a
new touch to the rear view of the compact, new sills at the side rounding off
the compact in every respect.