The cars can be equipped with any of six engines, starting with the economical 4-cylinder for the 316i Sedan (maximum speed 200 km/h), the same 1.8-liter and ending with 6-cylinder 2.0, 2.3 and 2.8-liter, with the Vanos gas distribution system, and a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission.
All engines are longitudinally mounted in the engine compartment and drive the rear wheels.
Later, the 320d model appeared (turbodiesel), accelerating to 100 km/h in 9.9 s. Thanks to the increased track by 60 mm and the wheelbase by 30 mm, the Sedan is very stable, but this entailed the modernization of the suspension. The interior has also been updated, which is equipped with six auxiliary airbags.
A year later, the two-door Coupe 323 Ci and 328 Ci debuted. The designers managed to visually lighten the initially rather massive body, while retaining the "thin" middle pillars. The door windows are designed in the American manner - without frames. The rear side windows do not lower, but only rotate slightly. The rear seats can be folded to increase the trunk space, the steering wheel and gearshift lever are covered with leather. The top of the 3-series model range is the M3 Coupe with an engine of 342 hp.
At the end of 1999, following the Sedan, Station Wagon and Coupe of the third series, the concern prepared a convertible for production. The "treshka" with a soft top is made on the basis of the Coupe, but the doors, rear wings and rear panel of the body acquired different plasticity - the convertible looks more rapid, dynamic. The folding top is removed into a special container, and if desired (for example, in winter) this container can be easily removed and a hard roof can be installed, which is available at an additional cost.
Extended maintenance intervals help reduce operating costs. For example, the oil change interval can be up to 30,000 km, depending on the vehicle's usage.
Various electronic systems increase passenger comfort. Such systems include, for example, the memory of individual equipment and key settings. The first one allows the car owner to set the basic functions of the single lock, interior and exterior lighting, and air conditioning. The key memory allows you to save the settings of four car drivers who have their own key. Thanks to this, it is possible to automatically adjust the seat position when opening the single lock. In addition, the single lock can be programmed so that the doors are automatically locked after moving off.
There is a wide choice of other comfort systems available as optional equipment: xenon headlights, automatically dimming rearview mirror, air conditioning, continuous tire pressure monitoring, rain sensor windshield wipers, navigation system and TV.
Air conditioning is standard on 6-cylinder models.
Driving safety is increased by the presence of ABS. During sharp braking on turns, the control system improves the controllability and stability of the car. As a special addition, there is a dynamic stability control system DSC, which reacts to the beginning of the car skidding and counteracts it by braking certain wheels.
On models with all-wheel drive (325xi, 330xi, 330xd) the torque of the wheels is distributed between the front and rear wheels in a constant proportion of 38% and 62% by means of an interaxle differential and an automatic differential braking system ADB.