Free BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) VIN Decoder
Look up available BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) vehicle details and compare engine, transmission and body variants. The results depend on the VIN and market; the catalog does not confirm a car’s exact factory equipment. 9 listed variants. Free, no registration.
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BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) specs by variant
All 9 listed variants, grouped by fuel and gearbox. Open a group and compare the listed years, engine, power and emissions. On a small screen, scroll the table sideways.
Petrol · AUTOMATIC 3 variants
| Variant | Listed years | Fuel | Engine | Power | Gearbox | Drive | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325ti 5AT RWD (192 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 2.5 L | 189 bhp | AUTOMATIC 5sp | RWD | — |
| 318ti 5AT RWD (143 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 2.0 L | 141 bhp | AUTOMATIC 5sp | RWD | — |
| 316ti 5AT RWD (116 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 1.8 L | 114 bhp | AUTOMATIC 5sp | RWD | — |
Petrol · MANUAL 3 variants
| Variant | Listed years | Fuel | Engine | Power | Gearbox | Drive | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325ti 5MT RWD (192 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 2.5 L | 189 bhp | MANUAL 5sp | RWD | — |
| 318ti 5MT RWD (143 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 2.0 L | 141 bhp | MANUAL 5sp | RWD | — |
| 316ti 5MT RWD (116 HP) | 2001–? | Petrol | 1.8 L | 114 bhp | MANUAL 5sp | RWD | — |
Diesel · AUTOMATIC 1 variant
| Variant | Listed years | Fuel | Engine | Power | Gearbox | Drive | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320td 5AT RWD (150 HP) | 2001–? | Diesel | 2.0 L | 148 bhp | AUTOMATIC 5sp | RWD | — |
Diesel · MANUAL 2 variants
| Variant | Listed years | Fuel | Engine | Power | Gearbox | Drive | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320td 5MT RWD (150 HP) | 2001–? | Diesel | 2.0 L | 148 bhp | MANUAL 5sp | RWD | — |
| 318td 5MT RWD (116 HP) | 2001–? | Diesel | 2.0 L | 114 bhp | MANUAL 5sp | RWD | — |
Specification reference from cardata.wiki. A question mark means a year boundary is missing from the source, not that production continues. An empty field means the source did not provide that value. Confirm the fitted engine, transmission and equipment against the car’s documents. How specification matching works.
Reading your BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) result
These model-code examples apply to BMW VINs beginning WBA, WBS, WBX or WBY. Other formats are checked against the available source data.
A model code can identify a family
For the supported European BMW format, characters 4–5 identify a model family in our decoder. Some codes also narrow the chassis generation. A family match does not identify every engine, gearbox or factory option.
A generation is not a build year
Our decoder does not read position 10 as a year for WBA, WBS, WBX and WBY VINs. If the exact year is missing, use the registration document or build label to select the right year in Refine. North American formats, including 5UX, use a different year rule.
Check the body style before choosing specifications
A 3 Series sedan, Touring and Gran Turismo can share a model-family name while using different bodies and specifications. Match the chassis and body to your car before using a variant from the catalog. The listed variants are alternatives, not your vehicle’s equipment list.
| Code | Model family | Mapped generation |
|---|---|---|
| AL | 3 Series | E46 |
These are supported pattern examples, not a complete list of VIN formats or a manufacturer build record. A matching model family does not confirm an individual car’s trim.
How we match sources and handle missing data. For US-market vehicles, compare NHTSA’s VIN decoder and VIN-specific recall lookup. For other markets, confirm campaigns with the manufacturer or an authorised repairer.
Using the BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) specifications
Start with the car’s year, body and engine, then compare the matching row. Several variants may share a model name while differing in power, transmission or drive layout. If the advert conflicts with the registration or manufacturer documents, resolve the mismatch before relying on the specifications. A VIN lookup can help narrow the comparison, but does not replace a build record or inspection.
Other 3 Series Compact generations and versions
The same nameplate across body styles and chassis generations.
Other BMW models
Compare another model, or see all BMW models.
BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) VIN FAQ
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Look up your BMW 3 Series Compact (E46/5) VIN
Find available details for a supported 17-character VIN. Free, no registration.
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