The BMW Series 3 turns 50 in excellent shape and with a great future ahead

In 1975, production of the BMW Series 3 began at the Munich plant. Since then, this plant has become one of the pillars of the brand, thanks to the technological innovations installed in it. There is a lot to say about the cars that have come out of this plant. In fact, 18 million units have been produced across 13 plants spread around the world. All of them have been modernised and prepared to manufacture this and other models of the German brand.

The airborne transport systems and free-programmable welders were pioneers in their time. In 1982, an automated bodywork shop was installed in Munich to help shape the second generation of the BMW Series 3. Industrial robots made it possible to reach an automation rate of over 90%. With flexible shift systems and modified working-hour models, production capacity increased.

The modernisation extended to other areas of industry, such as the powder-coating area and engine production controlled by computers. This kept them constantly at the forefront of technology. Today, the plant features digitalisation applications and quality systems assisted by artificial intelligence. The BMW Series 3 has always been one of the foundations of the technological development of the Group’s production.

The BMW Series 3 moved from being produced at the main plant in Munich to the Dingolfing plant, and in 1986 it reached the Regensburg plant. It was during that decade that other production sites were established in other parts of the world. The BMW Series 3 began to be produced in Rosslyn, South Africa, in 1984, as well as in Spartanburg, United States, where it arrived in 1994.

Thanks to these new locations, supply to the markets where the production plants were located improved considerably and global distribution increased significantly. In fact, several plants of the Group BMW started out producing the BMW Series 3. Its presence in almost all of the group’s plants has made it possible to experiment with and launch various versions and variants over the years.

In 2025, the seventh generation of the BMW Series 3 is being produced in Munich, Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico), and at the company’s regional plants in Chennai (India), Rayong (Thailand) and Araquari (Brazil). In addition, the model is manufactured at partner plants in other countries.

As for the eighth generation of this model, it will include an electric version, which will start production at the Munich plant in the second half of 2026. It will be part of the NEUE KLASSE and will then move on to the plants in China and Mexico. The Dingolfing plant will also produce the BMW Series 3, so its rollout will be as comprehensive as that of its predecessors, and even more so.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanBMW Serie 318 versions · from 50,200 €