BMW E46 Coupé: BMW's Ultimate Styling Icon? TOP5 & WORST5 3-Series Designs Ever! (Controversial picks inside)

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Ultimate BMW 3 Series Style Showdown: Ranking the Best and Worst Designs Ever

Top 5 Best Designs:

1. E46 Coupé (1999-2006)

Sleek, pillarless design
Perfect proportions
Elegant yet sporty profile
Iconic kidney grille and quad headlamps

The E46 Coupé epitomises BMW's design philosophy, offering a perfect blend of sportiness and luxury in a two-door package.

2. E30 Touring (1987-1994)

Practical yet stylish estate design
Retains the E30's iconic boxy silhouette
Unique rear window design
Perfect balance of form and function

The E30 Touring successfully adapted the classic E30 design into a practical estate format without losing its sporty character.

3. E93 Convertible (2007-2013)

Elegant hardtop convertible design
Sleek profile with the hood up or down
Well-proportioned body
Sophisticated appearance

The E93 Convertible offers a harmonious design that looks great whether the hardtop is up or down, a challenging feat for many convertibles.

4. F80 M3 Saloon (2014-2018)

Aggressive, muscular stance
Widened wings and distinctive power dome
Perfect blend of elegance and sportiness
Modern interpretation of classic M3 design cues

The F80 M3 successfully translated the 3 Series' design language into a high-performance variant, with just the right amount of aggression.

5. E21 Baur TopCabriolet (1977-1982)

Unique targa-style convertible design
Retains the E21's classic lines
Rare and distinctive appearance
Combines coupé and convertible aesthetics

While the standard E21 might not be a design standout, the Baur TopCabriolet version adds a unique and charming twist to the first-generation 3 Series.

Worst 5 Designs:

1. G42 2 Series Coupé (2021-present)

Controversial front-end design
Awkward proportions compared to predecessors
Loss of classic BMW coupé elegance
Over-styled details

While not technically a 3 Series, the G42 2 Series (which replaced the 3 Series Coupé in the lineup) represents a controversial departure from BMW's traditional coupé design language.

2. F34 3 Series Gran Turismo (2013-2020)

Awkward, hunchback-like silhouette
Compromised proportions
Neither a proper saloon nor an estate
Controversial styling choices

The 3 Series GT attempted to blend saloon, hatchback, and estate elements, resulting in a design that many found ungainly and poorly proportioned.

3. E36 Compact (1994-2000)

Truncated rear end design
Awkward proportions
Less premium appearance than other E36 variants
Dated 90s design elements

The E36 Compact's attempt to create a shorter 3 Series resulted in awkward proportions and a design that lacked the elegance of its siblings.

4. G20 Saloon (2018-present)

Oversized kidney grille
Busy front fascia design
Loss of classic BMW proportions
Controversial styling choices

The current G20 generation has been criticised for its departure from traditional BMW design cues, particularly its large grille and complex surfacing.

5. E36/5 318ti Compact (1994-2001)

Awkward hatchback proportions
Mismatched front and rear designs
Lacks the premium feel of other 3 Series models
Compromised rear visibility

The US-market E36/5 318ti Compact, while practical, suffered from an ungainly design that failed to capture the essence of the 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series range has seen a wide variety of designs across different body styles and generations. While some models like the E46 Coupé and E30 Touring have achieved iconic status, others like the 3 Series GT and various Compact models have struggled to find acceptance. The recent shift in BMW's design language continues to divide opinion, highlighting the challenges of evolving a beloved design while maintaining brand identity.