Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Premium Coupe
Production years: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
The first generation of the 3-Series was introduced in 1975 and came after the successful BMW 02 Series, a car that wrote history in the German car company. And the first 3-Series was the most successful BMW series.
The motorsport industry in the early '70s was crowded with Italian, British, French and German cars. Swedish brands also had something to offer with. But while some car-manufacturers were more concerned about large coupes, grand-touring cars and supercars, BMW focused on light vehicles that could serve as daily drivers and also be able to offer some satisfaction on the tracks.
The first generation of the 3-Series featured the so-called “shark-nose” with a rearward angled front grille. The first models featured two rounded headlights. The 2.0-liter and above engines were fitted with twin-headlights design while the other featured just two round headlights. The three-box design vehicle was offered only with two doors and it was available in a top-cabriolet version that was built by the custom coach-builder Baur.
Inside, there was room for four passengers and, depending on the engine option, the instrument cluster featured a tachometer or an analog clock. The dashboard was tilted toward the driver position.
The car was offered with a standard 4 or 5-speed manual transmission and some engine options were offered also with a 3-speed automatic. The top-model was the 323i version that featured a mechanical fuel injection system developed by Bosch. The 323 was offered with a choice of three different manual gearboxes, one with 4 and two with 5-speed, one with a dog-leg pattern.
ENGINE SPECS - 315 4MT RWD (75 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1573 cm3 |
Power: | 55 KW @ 5800 RPM 75 HP @ 5800 RPM 74 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 81 lb-ft @ 3200 RPM 110 Nm @ 3200 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 95.7 mph (154 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 14.8 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 165 SR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2226.7 lbs (1010 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3174.6 lbs (1440 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 22.4 mpg US (10.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 26.1 mpg US (9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26.7 mpg US (8.8 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 316 4MT RWD (90 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1573 cm3 |
Power: | 66.2 KW @ 6000 RPM 90 HP @ 6000 RPM 89 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 92 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 125 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 99.4 mph (160 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13.8 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 165 SR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2248.7 lbs (1020 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3174.6 lbs (1440 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 318 3AT RWD (98 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1766 cm3 |
Power: | 72.1 KW @ 5800 RPM 98 HP @ 5800 RPM 97 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 105 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 142 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 99 mph (159 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2271 lbs (1030 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3175 lbs (1440 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 19.6 mpg US (12 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 318 4MT RWD (98 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1766 cm3 |
Power: | 72.1 KW @ 5800 RPM 98 HP @ 5800 RPM 97 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 105 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 142 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 103 mph (166 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2249 lbs (1020 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3175 lbs (1440 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24 mpg US (9.8 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 318i 3AT RWD (105 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1766 cm3 |
Power: | 77.3 KW @ 5800 RPM 105 HP @ 5800 RPM 104 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 107 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 145 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 103 mph (166 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 13.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 165 SR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2293 lbs (1040 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3219 lbs (1460 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 25.3 mpg US (9.3 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 23.8 mpg US (9.9 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26.4 mpg US (8.9 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 318i 4MT RWD (105 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1766 cm3 |
Power: | 77.3 KW @ 5800 RPM 105 HP @ 5800 RPM 104 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 107 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 145 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 106 mph (171 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 165 SR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2271 lbs (1030 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3219 lbs (1460 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 22.6 mpg US (10.4 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 25.8 mpg US (9.1 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26.4 mpg US (8.9 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 320 3AT RWD (122 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 1990 cm3 |
Power: | 90 KW @ 6000 RPM 122 HP @ 6000 RPM 121 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 118 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 160 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 109 mph (175 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 12.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2480 lbs (1125 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3417 lbs (1550 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 18.4 mpg US (12.8 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 320 4MT RWD (122 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 1990 cm3 |
Power: | 90 KW @ 6000 RPM 122 HP @ 6000 RPM 121 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 118 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 160 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 112.4 mph (181 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2458 lbs (1115 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3417 lbs (1550 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24.8 mpg US (9.5 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 320i 3AT RWD (125 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1990 cm3 |
Power: | 91.9 KW @ 5800 RPM 125 HP @ 5800 RPM 123 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 127 lb-ft @ 4300 RPM 172 Nm @ 4300 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 109 mph (175 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 11.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2359 lbs (1070 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3219 lbs (1460 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 21.4 mpg US (11 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 320i 4MT RWD (125 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1990 cm3 |
Power: | 91.9 KW @ 5800 RPM 125 HP @ 5800 RPM 123 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 127 lb-ft @ 4300 RPM 172 Nm @ 4300 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 113 mph (182 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2315 lbs (1050 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3219 lbs (1460 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 25 mpg US (9.4 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 323i 3AT RWD (143 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2316 cm3 |
Power: | 105.2 KW @ 5800 RPM 143 HP @ 5800 RPM 141 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 140 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM 190 Nm @ 4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 3-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2546 lbs (1155 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3461 lbs (1570 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 19.6 mpg US (12 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 323i 4MT RWD (143 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L6 |
Displacement: | 2316 cm3 |
Power: | 105.2 KW @ 5800 RPM 143 HP @ 5800 RPM 141 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 140 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM 190 Nm @ 4500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 15.3 gallons (57.9 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 118 mph (190 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.5 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 185/70 HR13 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 171.6 in (4359 mm) |
Width: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Height: | 54.3 in (1379 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 53.9/54.3 in (1,369/1,379 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 100.8 in (2560 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.7 in (145 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 16.2 cuFT (459 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.47 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2502 lbs (1135 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3461 lbs (1570 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 25.6 mpg US (9.2 L/100Km) |