BMW 330Cd Coupe
The BMW E46 is a compact executive car that was manufactured by BMW from 1998 to 2007. It arrived on the scene in May 1998 as a sedan, and later saw the addition of a coupe, touring, convertible, and hatchback in its lineup, the latter being available only in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The E90 sedan replaced the E46 in late 2004, while the coupe and convertible models kept rolling off the production line until 2007.
All-wheel drive ("xDrive") was also reintroduced in the 3 Series for the 325xi and 330xi sedan/wagon models. Throughout its lifespan, the E46 was renowned for its excellent performance, and its record selling year was 2002 when it sold a staggering 561,249 units worldwide. The main competitors of the BMW E46 included the Alfa Romeo 156, Audi A4, Lexus IS/Toyota Altezza, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Saab 9-3, and Volvo S60.
In terms of style, the E46 is an evolutionary version of its predecessor, the E36. The design of the exterior was led by Erik Goplen and approved in 1995. Production development for the sedan body style then took 24 months, while Goplen designed the production coupe and estate from 1996-1997. Design patents were filed in Germany on July 16, 1997 and the U.S. on January 16, 1998.
The M3 version of the E46 featured the BMW S54 straight-six engine. It made its debut in 2001, and was available as a coupe and a convertible. Customers were offered the choice between a 6-speed manual and 6-speed SMG-II sequential manual gearbox.
The interior of the E46 came with a very flexible automotive computer system. This allowed BMW to easily upgrade all models with its newest technologies including Bluetooth, DVD-based navigation, and MP3-playing CD changers.
BMW put an emphasis on reducing unsprung weight and increasing structural rigidity when designing and producing the E46. The highest displacement model at launch, the E46 328, had only three more horsepower than the E36 328. To counter this, the body shell of the E46 was claimed to be 70% more rigid than the E36's, and weight was taken off by incorporating the use of aluminum suspension components. While the curb weight of the E46 328ci was 55 kilograms (121 lbs.) heavier than the E36 equivalent, it retained a 50/50 weight distribution, beneficial for optimal handling.
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