Munich Vorsprung durch Technik - the first BMW 323i

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Munich Vorsprung durch Technik - the first BMW 323i

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Created on April 19, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv BMW AG

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Archiv

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BMW 323i (1982) - 143 hp is enough for a lot of driving pleasure

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BMW 323i (1982) - pleasing functional design without frippery

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BMW 323i (1982) - the rear-view mirrors integrated in the mirror triangle were only available from model year 1980 onwards

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BMW 323i (1982) - the twin headlights were also available on the 320

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BMW 323i (1982) - was the stag on the roads in the late seventies

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BMW 323i (1982) - a lot of overtaking prestige was thus given

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BMW 323i (1982) - the protective strips ran all around the car

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BMW 323i (1982) - the top model of the 3-series E21

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BMW 323i (1982) - there was also chrome on the bodywork

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BMW 323i (1982) - but there wasn't much room for the occupants, especially not for those sitting in the back

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BMW 323i (1982) - short front overhang, long rear, that's how cars were built back then

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BMW 323i (1982) - only the 323i had the exhaust tailpipes on both sides

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BMW 323i (1982) - large windows guarantee optimum all-round visibility

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BMW 323i (1982) - well protected against small bumps thanks to rubber pads on the bumpers

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BMW 323i (1982) - the alloy wheels were subject to an extra charge

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BMW 323i (1982) - the "i" stands for Einspritzung or new German Injection

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BMW 323i (1982) - the hood opens forwards

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BMW 323i (1982) - the six-cylinder in-line engine is installed longitudinally

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BMW 323i (1982) - the mixture preparation is taken over by a Bosch K-Jetronic

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BMW 323i (1982) - elegant guided intake side

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BMW 323i (1982) - Fuse box - everything nicely arranged and labeled

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BMW 323i (1982) - beautifully designed and practical cockpit

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BMW 323i (1982) - Power steering cost extra

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BMW 323i (1982) - the green area indicates fuel economy

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BMW 323i (1982) - the straight-six can be revved above 6,500 rpm

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BMW 323i (1982) - beautifully designed round instruments

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BMW 323i (1982) - twin headlights and top model lettering

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BMW 323i (1982) - anyone who had this type plate on the rear of their car was lucky

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BMW 323i (1982) - BMW sign on the trunk lid

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BMW 323i (1982) - a skillful mix of curves and straight lines

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BMW 323i (1982) - integrated rear-view mirrors in contrast to the chrome-plated and lower-mounted variants up to model year 1979

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BMW 323i (1982) - classically beautiful door openers

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BMW 1600 (1966) - elegant, compact and safe to drive - this is how BMW saw it

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BMW 2002 ti (1970) - even more powerful with twin carburetors

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BMW 1600 ti (1967) - more powerful engine thanks to two twin carburetors, good for a top speed of 175 km/h

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BMW 2002 tii (1972) - handling of a real sports car and comfort of a family sedan

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BMW 320 (1978) - the two-liter also had a six-cylinder engine from 1977 onwards

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BMW 320 (1978) - externally, the two six-cylinder 320 and 323i could only be distinguished by details

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BMW 320 (1978) - the 320 models still had carburetor equipment

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BMW 323i (1978) - the "323i" signet on the radiator indicates the additional power capacity

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BMW 323i (1978) - front view with the famous double-eyed face

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BMW 323i (1978) - elegantly parked for an advertising shot

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BMW 323i (1981) - practically only recognizable by the lettering in the radiator reserved for this type

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BMW 323i (1980) - from model year 1980 with new rear-view mirrors

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BMW 323i (1979) - the early models had chrome-colored filigree rear-view mirrors

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BMW 323i (1979) - at that time, however, the three-wheelers were not said to have great winter capabilities

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BMW 323i (1979) - It's the angle that counts

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BMW 323i (1978) - the building blocks of the in-line six-cylinder engine

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BMW 323i (1978) - Sectional drawing of the engine

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BMW 320 (1978) - the in-line six-cylinder engine with carburetors was not available for the 320 right from the start

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BMW 323i (1978) - the fuel-injected engine in a test car

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BMW 323i (1978) - View of the fuel-injected in-line six-cylinder engine with 143 hp

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BMW 323i (1978) - only the fastest model had two exhaust pipes at the rear

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BMW 323i (1978) - comfortable seats even in the fastest BMW 3 Series

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BMW 323i (1978) - View into the trunk of a test car

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BMW 323i (1978) - practical fuel filler cap holder

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BMW 320 Baur (1978) - the Baur convertible as an innovation

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BMW 323i Baur (1981) - safety convertible, as was common in the eighties

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BMW 323i Baur (1981) - from 1981 there was also a convertible from Baur

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BMW 323i Baur (1981) - the beautiful engine sound comes into its own even better when open

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BMW 325i (1988) - the second generation of the three-series - 1983-1990

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BMW 328i (1996) - the third generation of the three-series - from 1990 to 1998

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BMW 323i (1982) - die im Spiegeldreieck integrierten Rückspiegel gab es erst ab Baujahr 1980

BMW 323i (1982) - die Doppelscheinwerfer gab es auch beim 320

BMW 323i (1982) - war der Hirsch auf den Strassen der späten Siebzigerjahre

BMW 323i (1982) - viel Überholprestige war damit gegeben

BMW 323i (1982) - die Schutzleisten liefen um das ganze Auto herum

BMW 323i (1982) - das Topmodell der 3-er-Reihe E21

Summary

Between 1975 and 1982, BMW built the first three-series, known internally as the E21. Almost 1.4 million units produced speak for themselves. From 1977, the top model was the 323i, which, with 143 hp from 2.3 liters, could also be a threat to sports cars of the time. In this report, we travel thirty years into the past and let ourselves be enchanted by the turbine-like running of the BMW in-line six-cylinder engine in its most powerful form. Many old and current pictures as well as an extensive sales brochure complete the journey through time.

This article contains the following chapters

The difficult successor
Bigger, but also heavier
New six-cylinder engines
Acclaimed engine
Criticism of driving behavior
Long list of surcharges
Thirty years later at the wheel of the Bavarian rocket
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

A good 30 years ago, three digits and one letter were enough to make the mouths of young and old alike water. The character string "323i" denoted the top-of-the-range engine of the BMW three-series, internally known as the E21. A BMW 323i promised sports car-like performance that was otherwise not common in this class. However, for most admirers, the purchase of a BMW 323i was no more likely than a rendez-vous with Cat People actress Nastassia Kinski. A 323i was as unattainable as a house on the Cöte d'Azure in the days when leasing was hardly known or common. And so people dreamed of it, imagined the almost unearthly performance and devoured every line that could be found in test reports and presentations in the relevant car magazines. People read about the turbine-like running of the engine, the typical BMW driving characteristics and the performance that placed the 323i among the really fast saloons.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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Images of this article

BMW 323i (1982) - die im Spiegeldreieck integrierten Rückspiegel gab es erst ab Baujahr 1980

BMW 323i (1982) - die Doppelscheinwerfer gab es auch beim 320

BMW 323i (1982) - war der Hirsch auf den Strassen der späten Siebzigerjahre

BMW 323i (1982) - viel Überholprestige war damit gegeben

BMW 323i (1982) - die Schutzleisten liefen um das ganze Auto herum

BMW 323i (1982) - das Topmodell der 3-er-Reihe E21

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