[tim330i]

We've compiled the complete specifications for the sixth generation BMW 3 series sedan, chassis code F30. The F30 328i and 335i, which will be the two main 3 series sold in the US are stacked up against the out going fifth generation 3 series sedan, chassis code E90 and the forth generation 3 series sedan, chassis code E46. This gives you a good idea how much the 3 series has changed over the last 14 years. Most details are from the official BMW F30 press release, for more details on the F30 give it a read.

Weight Manual / Automatic

• E46 325i - 3307
• E46 330i - 3362
• E90 328i - 3362 / 3428
• E90 335i - 3582 / 3605
• F30 328i - 3406 / 3461
• F30 335i - 3571 / 3594

Drag coefficient

• E46 325i - .31
• E46 330i - .31
• E90 328i - .29
• E90 335i - .30
• F30 328i - .29
• F30 335i - .30

Height

• E46 sedan - 55.1"
• E90 sedan - 55.9"
• F30 sedan - 56.3"

Width

• E46 sedan - 68.5 w/o mirrors
• E90 sedan - 71.5 w/o mirrors / 79.3 w/ mirrors
• F30 sedan - 71.3 w/o mirrors / 80.0 w/ mirrors

Length

• E46 sedan - 176.0
• E90 sedan - 178.2
• F30 sedan - 182.0

Shoulder room - Front/rear

• E46 sedan - 54.4/54.2
• E90 sedan - 55.4/55.1
• F30 sedan - 55.1/55.1

Elbow room - Front/rear

• E46 sedan - N/A
• E90 sedan - 57.5/57.2
• F30 sedan - 57.1/57.4

Headroom with moonroof - Front/rear

• E46 sedan - 37.0/37.4
• E90 sedan - 37.4/37.1
• F30 sedan - 39.1/37.4

Headroom without moonroof - Front/rear

• E46 sedan - N/A
• E90 sedan - 38.5/37.5
• F30 sedan - 40.3/37.7

Leg room - Front/rear

• E46 sedan - 41.4/34.6
• E90 sedan - 41.5/34.6
• F30 sedan - 42.0/35.1

Passenger compartment volume in cubic feet

• E46 sedan - 90.8
• E90 sedan - 93.0
• F30 sedan - TBD

Cargo volume - liters / cubic feet

• E46 sedan - NA / 10.7
• E90 sedan - 460 / 16.1
• F30 sedan - 480 / 16.95

Fuel Capacity - US Gallons

• E46 sedan - NA
• E90 sedan - 16.1
• F30 sedan - 15.8

Fuel economy - city/highway

• E46 325i - 18/27 manual
• E46 330i - 18/27 manual
• E90 328i - 18/28 manual / 19/28 auto
• E90 335i - 17/26 manual / 17/28 auto
• F30 328i - 23/34 manual | 24/36 highway auto
• F30 335i - 20/30 highway manual | 23/33 highway auto

Stock wheel/tires sizes

• E90 328i - 16x7" 205/55/16
• E90 335i - 17x8" 225/45/17
• F30 328i - 17x7.5" 225/50/17
• F30 335i - 17x7.5" 225/50/17

Note - These are the stock F30 wheel sizes without a line. See our Complete F30 wheel thread for more F30 BMW wheel details.

Brake rotor sizes - front/rear

• E46 325i - F 11.8 / R 11.6
• E46 330i - F 12.8 / R 12.6
• E90 328i - F 12.3" / R 11.8"
• E90 335i - F 13.7" / R 13.2"
• F30 328i - F 12.3" / R 11.8" | M Sport - F 13.4" / R 13.6"
• F30 335i - F 13.4 / TBD | M Sport F 14.6" / 13.6"

Top Speed

• E90 328i sedan - 130 mph - increased to150 mph with sport package (electronically limited)
• E90 335i sedan - 130mph - increased to150 mph with sport package (electronically limited)
• F30 328i sedan - 155 (electronically limited)
• F30 335i sedan - 155 (electronically limited)

0-60 mph speed

• E90 328i sedan - 6.3 manual / 6.9 auto
• E90 335i sedan - 5.4 manual / 5.6 auto
• F30 328i sedan - 5.7 manual / 5.9 auto
• F30 335i sedan - 5.4 manual / 5.4 auto

0-100 km/h speed

• E90 328i sedan - 6.7 manual
• E90 335i sedan - 5.6 manual
• F30 328i sedan - 5.9 manual and auto
• F30 335i sedan - 5.5 manual / 5.3 auto

Engine Details

• E46 325i - 2.5 liter inline 6 cylinder / 184 horsepower at 6000 RPMs / 175lb-ft torque at 3500 RPMs / engine code M52
• E46 330 - 3.0 liter inline 6 / 225 horsepower at 5900 RPMs / 214lb-ft torque at 3500 RPMs / engine code M54
• E90 328i - 3.0 liter inline 6 / 230 horsepower at 6500 RPMs / 200lb-ft torque at 2750 RPMs / weight 357lbs / 10.7:1 compression ratio / engine code N52
• E90 335i - 3.0 liter inline I6 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 300 horsepower at 5800 RPMs / 300lb-ft torque at 1200 RPMs / weight 427lbs / 10.2:1 compression / engine code N55 (2010 and older 335i were fitted with N54 twin turbo engines)
• F30 328i - 2.0 liter inline 4 / 245 horsepower at 5000 RPMS / 258lb-ft torque at 1250 RPMs /10.0:1 compression ratio / engine code N20
• F30 335i - 3.0 liter inline I6 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 306 horsepower at 5800 RPMs / 295lb-ft torque at 1200 RPMs / weight 427lbs / 10.2:1 compression ratio / engine code N55

Horsepower / Torque

• E46 325i - 184 / 175
• E46 330i - 225 / 214
• E90 328i - 230 / 200
• E90 335i - 300 / 300
• F30 328i - 245 / 258
• F30 335i - 306 / 295

Power to weight (lbs/hp)

• E46 325i -3307/184 = 17.9 lbs per HP
• E46 330i - 3362/225 = 14.9 lbs per HP
• E90 328i - 3362/ 230 = 14.6 lbs per HP
• E90 335i - 3582/300 = 11.94 lbs per HP
• F30 328i - 3406/245 = 13.9 lbs per HP
• F30 335i - 3571/306 = 11.9 lbs per HP

View over 100 photos of the 2012 3 series sedan

 

[pix335i]

As we have been figuring, it keeps on getting bigger. Lots of numbers to go through...the one that sticks out the most to me off the top is that it does not appear to be a big drop off in performance between the 328 and 335. 0 - 62 F30 328i sedan - 5.9 manual and auto F30 335i sedan - 5.5 manual / 5.3 auto....but you get a lot better fuel mileage with the 328.

I think this just makes choosing one harder!

 

[Inline Sixer]

Weight

• E46 325i - 3307
• E46 330i - 3362
• E90 328i - 3362
• E90 335i - 3593
• F30 328i - 3318
• F30 335i - 3494

Wow, that's the first time I've seen they made a new model lighter.

 

[jmnbmw]

I live it, except of the headlights touching the grills.

 

[pix335i]

It is bigger and it loses weight. I was expecting the bigger part but was definitely surprised by it shedding some weight!

 

[TMQ]

Cargo volume in cubic feet
E46 sedan - 10.7
E90 sedan - 12.0
F30 sedan - 16.95

that's a huge trunk - or does it actually include the space where a spare could have been?

 

[tim330i]

I don't believe that includes that space. The spare tire well area is much smaller as well because of the dual exhausts.

Tim

 

[Gjm127]

Would these rims fit on an F30?

Front: 235/35/19 Offset 34 Bolt pattern: 5*120
Back: 275/30/19 Offset 20 Bolt pattern: 5*120

 

[Robert A]

The weight deltas seem rather odd.

The 328i loses 44 pounds while taking on a lighter motor. The 335i loses 99 pounds but doesn't change motors at all. Doesn't make sense.

E90 328i - 3362 - F30 328i - 3318 = 44 pounds lighter
E90 335i - 3593 - F30 335i - 3494 = 99 pounds lighter

 

[dtc100]

The weight deltas seem rather odd.

The 328i loses 44 pounds while taking on a lighter motor. The 335i loses 99 pounds but doesn't change motors at all. Doesn't make sense.

E90 328i - 3362 - F30 328i - 3318 = 44 pounds lighter
E90 335i - 3593 - F30 335i - 3494 = 99 pounds lighter

I think it is intentional, if the 328i loses 150 pounds, its 0-60 could drop from 5.7 to 5.5, how are they going to justify the 335i at 5.3? Now it is just a matter of finding that paper weight somewhere and remove it

 

[Robert A]

That doesn't quite make sense. If BMW was able to shed a certain amount of weight with the new chassis, they would not then intentionally handicap one model by throwing extra weight at it.

I think it is intentional, if the 328i loses 150 pounds, its 0-60 could drop from 5.7 to 5.5, how are they going to justify the 335i at 5.3? Now it is just a matter of finding that paper weight somewhere and remove it

 

[dtc100]

That doesn't quite make sense. If BMW was able to shed a certain amount of weight with the new chassis, they would not then intentionally handicap one model by throwing extra weight at it.

Then how do you suppose they can sell the 335i? It would have about the same 0-60 time, much higher cost and much worse MPG.

 

[Robert A]

It has 60 more hp, more than enough to compensate for any weight penalty.

Then how do you suppose they can sell the 335i? It would have about the same 0-60 time, much higher cost and much worse MPG.

 

[Gjm127]

is there DCT? With X-drive? They didn't mention anything about the X-drive...

 

[pix335i]

It does not sound like DCT is making it in as of now. They mentioned the new 8 speed auto about a million times in the press release. I think they are really excited about it on the sedan.

 

[tim330i]

is there DCT? With X-drive? They didn't mention anything about the X-drive...

xDrive is coming in the summer of 2012. Details here - http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574805

 

[Weaselboy]

Tim>> Unless I am misreading the catalogue PDF, the 328i and 335i both come standard with 18" wheels.

Really nice work laying out all the stats. Thanks

 

[TMQ]

Tim>> Unless I am misreading the catalogue PDF, the 328i and 335i both come standard with 18" wheels...

Only if you order the optional BMW Lines with them.

 

[Weaselboy]

Only if you order the optional BMW Lines with them.

Ah, I see what you mean. I was thinking you would have to pick from one of the three lines, but it appears you can get a base without selecting a "line" like ordering without premium package on the E90. I suspect there will be close to zero cars on the lot that are base without a BMW Line package of some sort.

 

[Nobrandfanboy]

The weight or 0-62 doesn't make sense. Either it is heavier than indicated or faster than the 0-62 times indicate. Current E90 weighs more but has the same time or faster with the same hp. So why the f30 have the same 0-62 time as the e90 and weighs less.