Celebrating 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series with a Rare Tourmaline Violet E46 Convertible

The BMW 3 Series turns 50 this year, and throughout Europe the anniversary is being marked not simply with traditional icons, however with private tales—particular person automobiles that outline what the three Sequence means to actual house owners. Within the Netherlands, a kind of standout automobiles belongs to Dirk Fraterman, who has spent the previous decade driving and preserving a 2002 BMW 318Ci Convertible completed in one of many rarest manufacturing unit colours of its period: Tourmaline Violet Pearl Impact. It’s a automobile that catches the attention instantly, however for Dirk, the story begins lengthy earlier than he noticed this E46 at a neighborhood dealership. His connection to BMW is one thing of a household custom.

A Household Story Rooted in BMW Heritage

Dirk grew up surrounded by BMWs. His grandparents have been early adopters of the model within the Netherlands, and his grandfather—a businessman—was a loyal buyer who usually performed golf along with his BMW vendor. “One factor led to a different,” Dirk remembers. “First an E36 Touring for my grandmother, then a number of 5 Sequence and seven Sequence fashions for my grandparents. By the point I used to be born, each my dad and mom have been already driving BMWs. You’ll be able to guess how that turned out,” he provides with a smile.

It’s no shock, then, that a long time later, he would add his personal chapter to the household’s BMW story.

A Dream Automobile Discovered by Likelihood

Practically ten years in the past, Dirk got here throughout a BMW 318Ci Convertible at a small native dealership—nonetheless lined in transport mud, freshly arrived from Germany. Somebody had tipped him off about it, and he wasted no time getting there. “The second I noticed it, even unwashed, I believed it was stunning,” Dirk says. “Tourmaline Violet Metallic was by no means widespread within the Netherlands, but it surely had a little bit of a following in Germany, the place this automobile was first registered.”

A single check drive confirmed what he already suspected: this was the automobile he’d been dreaming about. And in contrast to many long-imagined dream-car experiences that finish in disappointment, this one lived as much as the expectation. The acquisition was finalized rapidly.

A Particular E46 for a Particular Anniversary

As a part of the fiftieth anniversary of the three Sequence, BMW Netherlands has been highlighting distinctive, characterful examples from the mannequin’s historical past. As an alternative of focusing solely on high-performance variants, the highlight has turned towards automobiles that inform a richer, extra private story.

Dirk’s 318Ci Convertible matches that transient completely. Its deep violet paint nonetheless turns heads at this time and serves as a reminder that daring BMW colours—now celebrated via BMW Particular person—have deep roots. Tourmaline Violet Pearl Impact (shade code 897) not seems even within the in depth BMW Particular person Visualizer, but it surely was as soon as accessible via particular order, making automobiles like Dirk’s more and more uncommon.

The Forgotten Engine: BMW’s N42

Behind the modest E46 kidney grille lies a powertrain that hardly ever will get the headlines. Whereas lovers are inclined to gravitate towards the E46 M3 or the 330Ci, Dirk’s automobile makes use of BMW’s N42 engine—a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 143 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. By trendy requirements, the numbers are humble. Even again in 2002, the 0–100 km/h time of 10.2 seconds (11.1 seconds with an computerized) didn’t draw consideration. Its DIN curb weight of 1,540 kilograms made it unexpectedly heavy in comparison with its sedan and coupé siblings.

However for Dirk, the driving expertise is strictly what he needs from an open-top E46.

“As a pupil again then, I appreciated that it didn’t use an excessive amount of gasoline,” he explains. “Over time, I’ve come to like the character of the four-cylinder much more. This automobile is made for relaxed cruising. I dwell in a wonderful, hilly space, and Germany is simply across the nook. A fantastic drive is at all times close by.”

A Convertible for Truthful Climate Solely

At this time, Dirk not makes use of the 318Ci as his day by day driver. That responsibility goes to an E38 735i—one other household nod, as his grandfather as soon as owned the identical mannequin. The E46 Convertible, in the meantime, leads a pampered life. “My Convertible sleeps indoors,” Dirk says. “It retains the automobile in nice situation. It solely comes out on sunny days.”

When it does, fellow lovers at all times discover. Just lately, somebody driving a high-end British automobile stopped to supply a stream of compliments. “When this mannequin got here out, it was already particular,” Dirk says. “Now that they’ve grow to be rarer, they stand out much more—particularly after they’re unique and nicely cared for. The proper mixture of traditional and trendy. And no, I’m by no means promoting it.”

You’ll be able to watch the video here.

[Photos: BMW Netherlands]