Date: 30 Apr 1997 15:50:09 -0400
From: Shawn Collins <shawn_at_geejeffery.com> Subject: Fwd: News on 1998 323s!

This was posted on the BMW Digest. I figure we're worthy of the update, so I forwarded it along...

I have a sneaking suspicion that we might see a 323ti. If the E46 arrives next year, but the 318ti is supposed to retain the E36 body style a year longer (this info I've read in the past), BMW is going to have to do something interesting to the car to get it off of the showroom floor. Even with the E46 coming, an E36 323ti would get me in the showroom without hesitation (I'd even take a loss on my car for this).

Regards,
Shawn

Yesterday, the BMW dealer I work for received a fax from BMW NA. The fax stated some information about the 323s. To put it in a nutshell, here's what
the fax said:

The new 323 will be introduced as a '98 model, coming along in a few months.
The engine will only be introduced in Convertibles and Coupes, the 318i (4 door) and 318ti (hatchback) will still have the 138hp 1.9 liter 4 cylinder.
The 323 will have a "small six", producing 168hp. The 323iS (coupe) and 323iC (convertible) will take the place of the 318iS and 318iC. To tell you the truth, I think this makes NO marketing sense. I guess they still wanna sell out the 328 4 doors. Nobody really wants coupes anymore, why not put the engine into a 4 door? From what I understand, the new E46 4 doors will have both the 2.3 6 cylinder and 2.8 6 cylinder, no 4 cylinder. (Thank God!)
My question to BMW is, why couldn't you have given us the 323iS in '92?????? Here's the way the lineup will look for '98 3 Series (E36) models will look:

318ti (hatchback)
318i (4 door)
323iS (2 door coupe)
323iC (Convertible)
328i (4 Door)
328iS (Coupe)
328iC (Convertible)
M3/4 (4 door M3)
M3 (Coupe)

BEMRBOY
'92 E36 318iS