BMW sells 2 millionth 3-series and We Don't Make a Yuppie Joke

E30 is the best. Best looking, best feeling.

The e30 is pretty sweet but my vote is for the e46. The 46 had the best choice of engines and body styles. I think the e46 M3 is the ultimate 3 model ever.

Perfect 3series would be a E36 body with E46 running gear. Something about that blocky body does it for me.

1999-2005 E46 is the best looking. I've not driven one so I can't comment on how it drives.

Having driven the last four generations, my vote is for the E46.

The E30 and E36 are still my favourites.

E46 all the way.

I like they keep getting bigger and bigger. What a cool photo.

Since my brother had a model of a racing version of the E30, I'll vote for that.

Good point! That E90 looks like the size of a 7-series in '77 (if they existed then, idk).

E36. None of the blocky 80s styling, but just the pure essence of BMW driving dynamics without the weight and Lexus-ness of the later cars.

Did you intentionally use a photo of an E90 instead of an E92, Dan? :o)

I'd say, E46 > E90/E91/E92 > E36, although the E30 M3 alone is amazing.

E46

E46 ftw

E36. I feel it had the best balance between, performance, overall weight, power and tactility. E36's M3's are my favorite!

E30
e46
e36
e9x (really not worth mentioning)

I don't know if I could claim that the 320i is the pinnacle of the 3-series but I can say that I was offered one for free. It had just been sitting in a driveway, rotting under a tree. To bad I was 16 and had no place to keep it.

E36, with the E46 in hot pursuit

I like different things about all of them, but just the coupes. I don't care for the sedan styling of any of the generations.

I prefer the E46 overall, though I like certain things about each of the others. The E46 and E92 have the sleekest shape, and best refinement. I like the lighter weight and nimbleness of the E30, E36 and E21, but it's funny now how blocky and upright they look now. And I also like the slanting forward front end look of the E21, as it's from the era when I first started noticing BMWs and learned what they were about. They had that tough look to them, which BMW has mostly maintained, until the last few years. Of the recent designs by Bangle, only the E92 still looks pretty good.

E46, E36 a close second.

I know the E92 is a better car, but man, it's ugly.

E46 is the best compromise of looks & performance in the range.

Ooops I meant E30 not E36. I never loved the E36, I dunno why. Too angular or something.

"And I also like the slanting forward front end look of the E21, as it's from the era when I first started noticing BMWs and learned what they were about."

CWC1, I also liked the slanting front end as it somehow gave the impression of forward motion. Fortunately, BMW's new sDrive35i brings back that BMW styling tradition as that cars front end is visually exiting and slats forward.

BMW is the king of evolutionary design. This car has always been and will always be recognizable as a 3 series.I guess that can be good when you've got an icon, but its starting to get a little dated on me. In a few years, the C-class might just look better. It's time for at least a sportier shape.

And the E30 is clearly the model that started the 3 series craze.

My vote is for the E30 and the E46.

I think the E36s are ugly, and really missing the E30s had. And i think the E46 are better looking, and had much better cars than the E36. E90 is so blah. Its the closest to having a BMW appliance.

"BMW is the king of evolutionary design. This car has always been and will always be recognizable as a 3 series.I guess that can be good when you've got an icon, but its starting to get a little dated on me. In a few years, the C-class might just look better. It's time for at least a sportier shape."

I dunno, the e90 sedan looks like a Buick to me and the e92 coupe reminds me of the Solara. Both cars lost the sexy class and athletic appeal of the e46.

FWIW, I own an e90. My e46 was infinitely better looking (and more fun to drive).

"BMW is the king of evolutionary design."

BMW may be the 1st runner up. Porsche is clearly the king of evolutionary design as the 911 has had the same silhoutte bascially since the original. Its shape is an icon.

"In a few years, the C-class might just look better."

I actually like the looks of the C better as its a bit more detailed and timeless vs the E90. A C300/350 Sport with the AMG 18's is a damn nice looking car. However, the 335i's stance is menacing.

"I dunno, the e90 sedan looks like a Buick to me and the e92 coupe reminds me of the Solara."

I know styling is purely subjective however ...a Buick and a Solara? Thats quite a bit of a stretch. I didnt like the E90 sedan at first as its rear looked like an economy car. The updated rear didnt do it any favors either, and both versions of the E90 sedan look a bit down market (not necessarily cheap) compared to the better detailed E46 sedans cripser, athletic styling. The ZHP E46 sedan and M3 coupe are clearly the best E46 styling packages.

The E90's overall proportions and stance (Sport package) give the car a aggressive look that I really like.

As for the E92 vs E46 coupes, I never cared for the E46 coupe, M3 being the exception. The basic E46 coupes just didnt do anything for me but the E46 sedan and convertible looked much better.

The E92 coupe however I love. I love the rear horizontal lights that make the car visually wider and they are a better match with the cars design vs the sedans rear. It looks so much more sleek and timeless next to the sedan and it doesnt look down market. The E92 coupe will definately age better vs the E90 sedan.

Oh I think the E90 is an improvement over the last design, and the only good thing BMW has going for it right now. Everything else is either dated (5 and 6) or BMW has simply lost their minds (ugly 7 series and 5 series GT?!). And yes, the C350 w AMG package is an awesome looking car.

I like the 30 for its simplicity.

I like the 36 because it completely dominated in the 90s.

I like the 46 because IMO it is by far the best-looking design. And yes - I own one.

And while I think the 90 is ugly inside and out (especially that rear end!), I looooove the 335 engine. It is the best engine I've EVER had the pleasure of driving.

The e92 already looks dated and bloated. It reminds me of teen who grew too fast and it's all mismatched proportions and awkwardness. The e46 (coupe and sedan) had tight lines and subtle curves (the fender flares match the chiseled features perfectly). The e46 seemed feline and ready for action. The e92 - (beyond looking like a Solara) - doesn't hint at athleticism. It just seems blobby with a big, flat wide front, a long wheelbase and a ridiculously long rear overhang.

The e90 - just a car with no character. Every morning I walk out to it and wonder what BMW was thinking. It's just so plain looking inside and out. Fun to drive but that's about it.

I tried to find every possible magazine article, picture or poster I could when the E36 came out. I was absolutely in love with that car back in the day. I almost bought a little 318ti for my first car, but the price was just a little too steep for my grocery store paycheck.

Now though I think the E46 has the most perfect proportions, lines and character, something that I don't think BMW will ever recapture 100%.