One letter summed up the 3-series for 1997: M. Fans of high-performance sedans had cause for great merriment with the addition of the M3 four-door sedan to the BMW lineup. With its 3.2-liter/240-horse DOHC straight-six, this would be one of the world’s great sport sedans. Meanwhile, all 3-Series cars reaped the stylistic benefits of a new front-end treatment and steering wheel. Equipment lists were juggled a bit, but a full range of coupes, sedans, and convertibles were still available, with an affordable four-cylinder and two smooth sixes generating the power.