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BMW, officially known as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Bavarian Motor Works), is a well-known manufacturer of high-performance and luxury automobiles. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, BMW was founded in 1917 as an aviation engine manufacturer. This explains the design of their famous blue and white circular logo, a white airplane propeller spinning against the blue sky. BMW also produces vehicles carrying the Mini brand and is parent to Rolls-Royce.

Scores of new BMW models have been manufactured since the first, the Dixi DA 1, a four-cylinder, 15-horsepower touring car, came off the line in 1928. The company has long been known for producing well-engineered, top-performing vehicles. There are currently 30 models available, spanning an entire range from smaller compacts to large, luxury sedans, SUVs, hybrids, wagons and sports cars.

BMW 3 Series

BMW cars are typically designated within a particular "Series," denoting a model's body style. The 1 Series refers to their line of smaller family cars, while the 7 Series is made up of full-sized luxury cars and the 5 Series contains mid-size executive models. The popular 3 Series, of which the E46 is a member, is the designation given to the BMW line of compact executive cars. First produced in 1975 and still in production today, the 3 Series remains the carmaker's top-selling model, responsible for approximately 30 percent of the company's annual automobile sales.

The 3 Series is currently in its sixth generation and has been produced in a total of five body styles. The E46 was the fourth generation offering, manufactured from May 1998 (for the 1999 model year) through 2005. This compact executive car was initially released as a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-door sedan, although other body styles and all-wheel drive were soon added to the options lineup. Eventually, a total of five body styles became available, including:

· Two-door Coupe

· Two-door Convertible

· Four-door Sedan

· Five-door Station Wagon

· Three-door Hatchback (available in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa only)

The E46 experienced huge market success and was commonly considered as the top car in its class. 2002 was the model's best selling year, with more than 560,000 units being sold globally. It was available with a total of 13 different engines, ranging in size from a 1.8-liter, 16-valve inline four-cylinder up to a 4.0-liter, 32-valve V-8. It also featured seven different transmissions, including a five-speed and six-speed manual and four-, five- and six-speed automatics.

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