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BMW E21

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Performance parts for your BMW E21.

Produced in 1,354,961 units between 1975 and 1983, the BMW E21 foreshadowed a new BMW era from its release.

 This first generation of the ''3 series'', replacement for the BMW 1502, 1602, 1802 and 2002 (E10/E20) produced until then, is a compact executive designed by Paul Bracq, BMW Design Director from 1970 to 1974 .

Innovative in many areas, the first three models of this coupe/2-door, with a design copying the E12 5 Series, are offered with the M10 4-cylinder engine :

  • 316 (1.6-litre)
  • 318 (1.8-litre)
  • 320 (2.0-litre)
To visually differentiate the 320, it has a 4-headlight grille (compared to 2 headlights for the 316 and 318).

The car's interior also marks the arrival of innovative concepts, such as the first-ever driver-oriented center console and dashboard, a feature that would remain a key element of BMW interior design for years to come. In terms of passive safety, all interior elements feature rounded corners.

Quickly establishing itself as the benchmark for compact sedans, new 6-cylinder in-line engines, 2.0l with carburetor and 2.3l with injection (e21 323i) appeared as early as 1977 and a convertible version by Baur was produced from 1978 to 1981.
The first in the range, the BMW E21 316, was offered from 1975 to 1981, with the 1.6 M10 4-cylinder engine producing 98 hp, giving it a top speed of 160 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 14 seconds. In 1980, the 316 received the 1.8 engine, improving its performance.

The 318 and 318i are the mid-range models. The 318 reaches 165km/h and 0 to 100 in 12 seconds with its carbureted M10 ( Zenith 2B4 ), while its successor, the 318i launched in 1980 and equipped with an injection system, reaches 173km/h.
(Note that in Sweden, the 318i is badged as 320i and offered with 4-headlight grilles!!!)
 

The 320: The M10 4-cylinder engine equipped with the Solex 2-barrel carburetor provides reasonable acceleration (11.5s from 0 to 100) and a respectable top speed of 170 km/h, but things get serious with the 320i.

The switch to Bosch K-Jetronic injection at the end of 1975 to replace the carburetors made it possible to reach a top speed of 180km/h and 0 to 100 close to 10 seconds.

In 1977, the 320 received a new engine, the BMW M20 inline 6-cylinder. This 320/6 uses a Solex 4A1 carburetor .

The BMW E21 range will not receive an M3 model, but numerous limited editions are produced based on its top-of-the-range model, the BMW E21 323i . Equipped with an inline 6-cylinder engine and Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 200 km/h.

The BMW E21 was replaced by the E30 series in 1982.