BMW 3 Series: Enthusiast's Companion

by Jeremy Walton

Walton chronologically explores the series, with details on every 3 Series platform, including the E21, E30, E36, and E46. The engineering of each platform is described and evaluated. The book also... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0837602203
• ISBN13: 9780837602202
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Bentley Publishers
• Length: 365 Pages
• Weight: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.2" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Revised in 2005

This title has now been extensively revised by the author and the editorial expertise of Robert Bentley Publishers. Unfortunately major pagination changes were not possible, but over 100 man editorial hours in the USA and UK went into an unannounced overhaul--still not acknowledged in the printing history-- which concentrated on factual revisions. Most changes were sourced via BMW insiders on the design staff and correcting literals, typos and nonsense references to pages that did not exist, or had been dropped in a late 2-chapter massacre prior to original publication in 2001. An extensive analysis of performance and gasoline economy figures,omitted originally, is now found on the Robert Bentley website to support both new and old versions of the title. The title is improved--could still be better organised--but looks identical aside from fewer front straplines for the latest edition, which was shipped to US customers from November 2005 onward. Jeremy Walton UK, filed January 2006

Success through diversity. Sheer joy. Total protection.

Enthusiasm for new ideas has always been part of the company's success. More than 30 years ago, BMW created the original compact, sports sedan. Today's BMW 3 Series continues this tradition in outstanding fashion Agile, powerful and refined, the BMW 3 Series Coupé is an irresistible blend of pure excitement and sophisticated technology. Its powerful engines and superbly balanced chassis deliver a driving experience that will quicken the pulse of any keen driver, while its muscular looks alone will set the heart racing. What's more, with the remarkable new 330Cd, you can now enjoy excitement combined with the outstanding fuel efficiency of a diesel. Total consumption (EU) from 5.7 to 9.6 ltr/100 km CO2 emissions from 153 to 230 g/km Further information on the official fuel consumption and on the official specific CO2 emissions of new automobiles can be found in the guidelines on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of new automobiles which are available free of charge at all retail outlets and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Helmut-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, Germany. You might not be able to see the safety features of the BMW 3 Series Coupé, but it's reassuring to know they are there. In an emergency, these complementary systems combine to provide maximum protection. The seat belt tensioners, belt force limiters and intelligent airbag system, for example, work in harmony with each other and react according to the severity and direction of an impact. To further enhance active safety at night, the 3 Series Coupé is now also available with optional Adaptive Headlights that illuminate the line of an approaching bend more clearly.

BMW rules the road!!!

This book has tons of great info which merits 5 easy stars. BUT, if the editor had done a little better job with lining up the material and not constantly repeating some of the facts it could have been even better

detailed but lacking organization

There are few things that really stand out about this book, for one it seems to be exhaustively researched. The Author seems to know every minute detail about every 3 series produced. As 3-series owner, this was a great to book to get a sense of the history of the car and a partial history of the company itself. My only problem with this book is that the chapters don't seem to blend together, but it's worth the purchase price for the research alone.

American 3'er Lore

BMW's bestselling 3 series gets a detailled insider look with an American perspective, something that other 3 Series titles [mostly originating in UK] fail to supply.Roundel magazine columnist Jeremy Walton takes us through 5 generations of small BMWs [the company now count the legendary 02 line as the start point for 3 series]. For American buyers are there are massive fact files on pricing and equipment, including a year-by-year specification guyide prepared by BMW CCA president Phil Marx. There are also chapters to cover all generations of the exhilarating M3 models from 1985-2000, American and European specifications. Plus heavily researched racing chapters with exclusive pictures from Klaus Schnitzer taken at the PTG M3 racing facility in Virginia. Walton has previously written a number of BMW titles that have won American IAMC awards, including Unbeatable BMW and BMW 6 Series, so this title has pedigree.