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BMW celebrates 50 years of the 3 Series with 50 Jahre special models
It all began in 1975, when BMW took centre stage at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt to unveil the very first 3 Series sedan, a model that would go on to become truly special and a cornerstone of the brand’s Rosslyn plant, where five generations were produced.
Fast forward 50 years, and the 3 Series has been through seven generations, each leaving its mark with style and character, often earning its own nickname along the way.
Take the E30, for instance, famously called The Gusheshe for its spinning and drifting abilities. Then came the third-generation E36, affectionately known as The Dolphin, due to its smooth, streamlined shape.
The fourth generation, E46, earned the quirky nickname The G-String. While it may sound provocative, it actually refers to the distinctive shape of the steering wheel and the sleek, appealing design of the cabin, a name that is used by fans to this day.
BMW's fifth-gen E90 had a few nicknames. Some called it The Tweezer, referring to its angular, tweezer-like headlights. Others dubbed it Schabir Shaik, after the South African businessman famously spotted driving a BMW after being released from jail on medical parole. Interestingly, it wasn’t actually an E90 he drove, but the nickname stuck thanks to the model’s popularity at the time.
The sixth and seventh generations don’t seem to have gained a single widely recognised nickname like their predecessors. Yet, along with the generations built at Rosslyn, the 3 Series has remained a beloved sedan with a deep connection to the local automotive scene.
Globally, the 3 Series has been a success story, with more than 20 million units built since 1975. To celebrate 50 years of the iconic sedan, BMW is introducing special-edition 320i and M340i xDrive models, and only 50 units are set aside for the local market.
To match their special character, the two models are finished in iconic shades drawn from past 3 Series generations: Aegean Blue and British Racing Green from the E36, Straus Grey from the E46, and Lime Rock Grey from the F30. Owners will also have a choice of 19-inch wheels, while standard features include Comfort Access, Park Assist Plus, Adaptive M Suspension, Driving Assist Professional, and a Harman/Kardon sound system.
Called the 50 Jahre Edition, the 320i gets the same unchanged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine with 135kW and 300Nm. The same applied to the M340i xDrive, which ships with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol in-line-six engine with 285kW and 500Nm. Both models use an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard.
On the pricing front, the 320i 50 Jahre is tagged at R1,067,730, while the M340i xDrive 50 Jahre commands R1,422,607. That’s roughly R100k and R58k more than the standard 320i M Sport and M340i xDrive, respectively. In other words, there is indeed a premium to pay for exclusivity. Looking back, we’ve all grown up knowing exactly what the 3 Series represents, and even today, this writer can’t help but still dream of driving an E30. It goes to show just how deeply the 3 Series has been woven into our lives and our automotive culture.
