01 · Überblick
The Coupé — basis for everything fast
The E92 arrived in June 2006, a good year after the Sedan, and was built exclusively in Regensburg. At 4,580 millimetres, it is about 60 longer than the Sedan and, at 1,395 millimetres, 26 lower; on the 335i and 335d, the height even drops to 1,375 millimetres.
The significance of the Coupé lies in what is built on it: the M3 with the S65 V8, BMW’s first series-production model with a standard carbon-fibre roof; the M3 GTS with 4.4 litres of displacement; the M3 GT2, which won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2010; the customer racing M3 GT4; and the M3 DTM, with which BMW returned to the DTM in 2012 after twenty years and won all three titles straight away.
However, one widespread claim cannot be verified: that the Coupé does not share a single body panel with the Sedan. BMW states only that the Coupé has close technical ties to the Sedan but is distinct in its design details. Nor is the width of the Coupé given in any BMW or Wikipedia source — the often-cited claim that it is wider than the Sedan therefore stands unsubstantiated.
02 · Historie
Seven years of the Coupé
- 2006 Production begins in June. For the US market launch, BMW names the 335i as the first inline six-cylinder with two turbochargers and the 328i with 230 hp.
- 2007 In autumn the M3 launches with the S65 V8 — 420 PS at 8,300 rpm, with a carbon-fibre roof as standard.
- 2008 From April and May respectively, the M3 is available with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission M-DKG with eleven driving programs.
- 2010 Facelift with sales launch on 20 March: white LED corona rings, new bumpers (the car grows by 29 mm at the front and 3 mm at the rear), N55 in the 335i, 320d with 184 PS. Deliveries of the M3 GTS begin in May.
- 2012 In April, BMW returns to the DTM with the M3 DTM and wins all three titles at the end of the season.
- 2013 End of production on 5 July. The Coupé thus ran longer than the Sedan and beyond the market launch of the successor F30.
03 · Modellübersicht
The engines of the model line
In addition, the Coupé was available with the M3 with the S65 V8 (420 PS) and, in North America only, the 335is with 320 hp.
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Bauzeit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 318i | N46B20, ab 09/2007 N43B20 | 1.995 cm³ | 129 PS (95 kW), ab 09/2007 143 PS (105 kW) | 2005–2011 |
| 320i | N46B20, ab 09/2007 N43B20 | 1.995 cm³ | 150 PS (110 kW) | 03/2005–10/2011 |
| 325i | N52B25 | 2.497 cm³ | 218 PS (160 kW) | 03/2005–09/2007 |
| 325i | N53B30UL | 2.996 cm³ | 218 PS (160 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 330i | N52B30 | 2.996 cm³ | 258 PS (190 kW) | 03/2005–09/2007 |
| 330i | N53B30 | 2.996 cm³ | 272 PS (200 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 335i | N54B30 | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW), 400 Nm from 1,300 rpm | 2006–03/2010 |
| 335i | N55B30 | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW), 400 Nm from 1,200 rpm | ab 03/2010 |
| 318d | N47D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 143 PS (105 kW) | ab 09/2007 |
| 320d | M47TU2D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 163 PS (120 kW) | 03/2005–2007 |
| 320d | N47D20 | 1.995 cm³ | 177 PS (130 kW), ab 03/2010 184 PS (135 kW) | ab 2007 |
| 325d | M57TU2D30 UL | 2.993 cm³ | 197 PS (145 kW) | 2006–03/2010 |
| 325d | N57D30UL | 2.993 cm³ | 204 PS (150 kW) | ab 03/2010 |
| 330d | M57TU2D30 OL | 2.993 cm³ | 231 PS (170 kW) | 2005–09/2008 |
| 330d | N57D30OL | 2.993 cm³ | 245 PS (180 kW) | ab 09/2008 |
| 335d | M57TU2D30 TOP | 2.993 cm³ | 286 PS (210 kW), automatic only | 2006–2011 |
| 335is (USA/Canada only) | N54B30 | 2.979 cm³ | 320 hp (235 kW), overboost up to 502 Nm | from spring 2010 |
| M3 | S65B40 | 3.999 cm³ | 420 PS (309 kW) at 8,300 rpm | 09/2007–07/2013 |
04 · Karosserievarianten
Karosserievarianten
Two-door Coupé
4,580 mm long, 1,395 mm high (335i and 335d: 1,375 mm), wheelbase 2,760 mm. From March 2010, 29 mm longer at the front and 3 mm at the rear due to the new bumpers. B-pillars reinforced with a tubular structure, high-strength steels in critical areas. On the M3, a carbon-fibre roof and an aluminium bonnet are added.
05 · Motoren
The engines in detail
N54B30 · 2,979 cm³ · 306 PS — 335i until 2010 geprüft
BMW's first inline six-cylinder engine with two turbochargers and direct injection. 400 Nm from 1,300 rpm. It made the 335i an unofficial M3 substitute and is at the same time the engine with the longest list of defects in the model line — high-pressure pump, injectors, wastegates.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 306 PS (225 kW) at 5,800 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 400 Nm at 1,300–5,000 rpm |
| Getriebe | Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, seven-speed DKG from 2008 |
BMW PressClub, Wikipedia — BMW N54
N55B30 · 2.979 cm³ · 306 PS — 335i ab 2010 geprüft
Replaced at the facelift in March 2010: a single twin-scroll turbocharger instead of two, together with the first combination of a single turbo, Valvetronic and High Precision Injection. Same output, around eight percent lower consumption, torque plateau from 1,200 instead of 1,300 rpm.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 306 PS (225 kW) at 5,800 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 400 Nm at 1,200–5,000 rpm |
| Besonderheit | first combination of turbo, Valvetronic and direct injection |
BMW PressClub T0076998EN_GB
M57TU2D30 TOP · 2,993 cm³ · 286 PS — 335d geprüft
The most powerful diesel in the model line, available exclusively with the six-speed automatic. 580 Nm from three litres. A note for research: the German Wikipedia page on the E90 lists the 335d as an N57S with 560 Nm — this is incorrect; the same Wikipedia's own M57 article correctly lists it under M57TÜ2D30 TOP with 580 Nm.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.993 cm³ |
| Leistung | 286 PS (210 kW) at 4,400 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 580 Nm |
| Getriebe | six-speed automatic only |
Wikipedia — BMW M57, BMW PressClub UK
N57D30OL · 2.993 cm³ · 245 PS — 330d ab 2008 geprüft
Arrived with the facelift in September 2008 and replaced the M57 in the 330d: 245 PS and 520 Nm compared to the previous 231 PS and 500 Nm. The N57 is considered the more mature of the two six-cylinder diesels.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.993 cm³ |
| Leistung | 245 PS (180 kW) at 4,000 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 520 Nm at 1,750–3,000 rpm |
BMW PressClub T0020081EN_GB
S65B40 · 3.999 cm³ · 420 PS — M3 geprüft
A naturally aspirated V8 with individual throttle bodies and double VANOS, 420 PS at 8,300 rpm, 400 Nm at 3,900. At 202 kilograms, it is 15 kilograms lighter than its six-cylinder predecessor, the S54. It won its class from 3.0 to 4.0 litres at the International Engine of the Year Award five times. Sources differ on the rev limit: Wikipedia states 8,400, BMW M states 8,300 rpm.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 3.999 cm³ |
| Bore × stroke | 92,0 × 75,2 mm |
| Leistung | 420 PS (309 kW) at 8,300 rpm |
| Drehmoment | 400 Nm at 3,900 rpm, 340 Nm from as low as 2,000 |
| Verdichtung | 12,0:1 |
| Motorgewicht | 202 kg |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.6 s with M-DKG, 4.8 s with manual transmission |
| Vmax | 250 km/h, 280 km/h with M Drivers Package |
BMW M, BMW PressClub T0143468EN
06 · Schwachstellen
Known weak points
- Timing chain of the N47 diesels (318d, 320d). The chain sits on the transmission side, which means the engine has to be removed to replace it. BMW modified the gears, chain and chain tensioner several times and extended the goodwill programme to eight years and 200,000 kilometres in early 2014. No BMW source exists that acknowledges the defect.
- High-pressure pump, injectors and wastegates of the N54 (335i until March 2010). In October 2010, BMW recalled around 130,000 vehicles from the 2007 to 2010 model years and extended the warranty on several of these components in the US. The warranty extensions applied explicitly only to the US market.
- Blower control unit. In January 2021, BMW recalled around 430,000 vehicles in Germany and over 500,000 worldwide due to corrosion of the blower control unit and the resulting risk of short circuit and fire. All four body variants of the model line are affected.
07 · Technik
Technik
The carbon-fibre roof of the M3
How to identify the facelift
What could not be verified
The 335is was a US model
08 · Motorsport
Motorsport
The E92 is the basis for three racing cars: the M3 GT2 (2009 to 2012, overall win at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2010, five titles in the American Le Mans Series), the customer racing M3 GT4 (available from February 2009 for €120,000 net), and the M3 DTM, with which BMW returned in 2012 after twenty years and won the drivers’, teams’ and manufacturers’ titles in its first year. All three have their own pages.
09 · Kaufberatung
What to look out for when buying
In addition to the model line’s known issues, the M3 raises the question of the S65’s maintenance history.
We have not found any solid basis in BMW or Wikipedia sources regarding the much-discussed S65 connecting rod bearing shells. The topic is therefore not presented here as fact — which does not mean one should forgo checking the maintenance history on an M3.
10 · Die Konkurrenz
Die Konkurrenz
Audi A5 Coupé
From 2007 the direct rival — formally more distinctive, but without rear-wheel drive as the basic layout.
Mercedes-Benz CLK / E-Class Coupé
The predecessor CLK ran until 2009, the E-Class Coupé followed in 2009 based on the C-Class.
Infiniti G37 Coupé
The Japanese counter-design with a 3.7-litre naturally aspirated V6 and rear-wheel drive.
11 · Galerie
Galerie
12 · Quellen
Belege & Literatur
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series (T0048254EN)
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, 09/2008 (T0020081EN_GB)
- BMW PressClub — The new BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, 03/2010 (T0076998EN_GB)
- Wikipedia — BMW E90 (production periods, plants, production figures)
- Wikipedia — BMW M57 and BMW N57 (correction of diesel engine assignment)
- BMW PressClub — 30 Years of BMW M3 (T0143468EN), production figures and motorsport record