BMW 3 Series (E21)

1975–1983

Showing 3 photos

Showing 6 elements

7 generations · 1975–present

4 facts · 2 sources

No photos of the controls yet. Add a photo

Photo credits (3)

Photo credits (7)

BMW 3 Series (E21)Cockpit · “BMW E21. (07/2015)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (E30)Cockpit · “BMW E30. (07/2015)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (E36)Cockpit · “BMW E36. (07/2015)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (E46)Cockpit · “BMW E46 Coupé. (07/2015)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (E90/E91/E92/E93)Cockpit · “BMW E90. (07/2015)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (F30)Cockpit · “New BMW 3 Series: Cockpit standard version (10/2011)” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom
BMW 3 Series (G20)Cockpit · “The all-new BMW 3 Series Sedan - BMW M340i xDrive (11/2018).” (opens in a new tab) · © BMW AG · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · BMW Group Newsroom

Summary

The first 3 Series, and the car that introduced BMW's driver-oriented cockpit, a layout the maker kept for decades.

Years: 1975–19831970s: cars launched in the 1970s
Chassis code: E21
Instrument cluster: Analog dials: cars with this instrument cluster
Input: Physical buttons
Climate: Physical controls
Physical buttons and knobs: About 15, dash and consoleCounted from this photo Button Census
Successor: BMW 3 Series (E30), 1982–1994

Four instruments in one binnacle: fuel gauge, speedometer, rev counter and coolant temperature gauge, from left to right.

Heating and ventilation are set with sliders on early cars and with rotary knobs after the 1979 update.

The centre console and the middle of the dashboard are angled toward the driver, forming an arc around the driver's seat.[1][2]
The left-to-right instrument order goes back to the 1936 BMW 328.[1]
The 1979 update reworked the centre of the dashboard and replaced the analog clock with a digital one below the instruments.[1]
Interior edges and switchgear have rounded, padded finishes.[1]