BMW E36

The success of the E36 in addition to the "quality" and "fun to drive" aspects of the platform gave BMW a strong market identity and presence for many. Buttons are measured in lignes or lines, with 40 lignes equal to 1 inch. Against other competititors, the E36 would repeatedly beat out the competition and won many awards from major car magazines.
. Sales for 3 Series coupes, sedans, and convertibles were at all time highs in North America and Europe. Functional buttons for clothing became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting clothing in 13th and 14th century Europe. Among most BMW enthusiasts, the E36 platform was among the most popular of BMW design of the past 20 years. Buttons and button-like objects used as ornaments rather than fasteners have been discovered in the ancient Indus Valley (circa 2800-2600 BC), Bronze Age sites in China (circa 2000-1500 BC), and are attested in Ancient Rome.

A modified version of the E36 platform (sometimes called the E36/7) was used for the BMW Z3 roadster. . Ostensibly due to slow US sales of the E36/5 Compact, the E46 Compact was not sold in the United States.
. In the United States market the car was sold as the 318ti and was equipped with a 1.8 L, 139 bhp M44B19 engine and was priced at USD23,000. Buttons may be manufactured from an extremely broad variety of materials, including horn, shell, bone and antler, ivory, metal, plastic, celluloid, glass, thread, and wood. This platform is often referred to as the E36/5. Functional buttons work by slipping the buttons through a fabric or thread loop, or by sliding the button through a slit called a buttonhole.

BMW made an entry level version of the E36 called the 3 Series Compact, a three-door hatchback. A button is small disc- or knob-shaped object attached to cloth or an article of clothing in order to secure an opening, or for ornamentation. Each model is followed by its particular engine. A bar is a row of perpendicular hand or machine stitching to reinforce the ends of a buttonhole. . A keyhole buttonhole is a worked or machine-made buttonhole with a round hole at the end of the slit to accommodate the button's shank without distorting the fabric; keyhole buttonholes are most often found on tailored coats and jackets. E36 is considered the performance benchmark in its class. A bound buttonhole's raw edges are encased in a piece of fabric or trim.

It laid strong foundation to the success BMW E46 experienced in subsequent years. A machine-made buttonhole is usually sewn with two parallel rows of machine sewing in a narrow zig-zag stitch, with the ends finished in a broader zig-zag stitch. E36 experienced enormous success in the market. A worked buttonhole has raw (cut) edges finished with hand sewing, usually in a buttonhole stitch. The M3 was produced as an E36 from 1995-1999 in the US, and 1993-1999 in the European market. Pairs of mandarin buttons worn as cuff links are called silk knots. It is the sucessor of the BMW E30 in 1992 but was officially replaced by the BMW E46 in 1999. Mandarin buttons are a key element in Mandarin dress (Qi Pao in Chinese), where they are closed with loops.

The E36 automobile platform was the basis for the 1992 through 1999 BMW 3 Series models. Mandarin buttons are knobs made of intricately knotted strings. M3 (1995-1998; convertible and sedan added to lineup 1997) M50B30. Worked or cloth buttons are created by embroidering or crocheting tight stitches (usually with linen thread) over a knob or ring called a form. 328i, 328is, 328ic (1996-1998) M52B28. Flat buttons may be attached by sewing machine rather than by hand, and may be used with heavy fabrics by working a thread shank to extend the height of the button above the fabric. 325i, 325is, 325ic (1992-1995) M50B25. Flat or sew-through buttons have two or four holes punched through the button through which the thread is sewn to attach the button.

323i, 323is, 323ic (1996-1998) M52B25. Covered buttons are fabric-covered forms with a separate back piece that secures the fabric over the knob. 318ti (1996-1998) M44B19. Shank buttons have a small ring or a bar with a hole called the shank protruding from the back of the button, through which thread is sewn to attach the button. 318ti (1994-1996) M42B18. 318i, 318is, 318ic (1992-1995) M42B18.

325ti (1996-1998) M52B25. 318ti (1996-1998) M44B19. 318ti (1994-1996) M42B18. 318tds (1995-1998) M41D17.

316ti (1994-1998) M43B16. 328iT (1995-1998) M52B28. 325tds (1995-1998) M51S. 325iT (1996-1998) M52B25.

320iT (1995-1998) M52B20. 318tds (1995-1998) M41D17. 318iT (1995-1998) M43B18. 316iT (1998) M43B16.

M3 (1996-1998) S52B30. M3 (1994-1996) S50B30. 328ic (1995-1998) M52B28. 320ic (1994-1998) M52B20.

320ic (1993-1994) M50B20. 318ic (1994-1998) M43B18. M3 (1992-1995) S50. 328is (1995-1998) M52B28.

328i (1995-1998) M52B28. 325i (1992-1995) M50B25. 323i (1995-1998) M52B25. 320i (1992-1998) M52B20.

320i (1992) M50B20. 318is (1996-1998) M44B19. 318is (1992-1996) M42B18. 316i (1993-1998) M43B16.

M3 (1995-1998) S52B30. M3 (1994-1995) S50B30. 328i (1994-1998) M52B28. 325tds (1993-1998) M51S.

325td (1991-1998) M51D25. 325i (1996-1998) M52B25. 320i (1994-1998) M52B20. 320i (1991-1994) M50B20.

318tds (1994-1998) M41D17. 318iS (1996-1998) M44B19. 318iS (1992-1996) M42B18. 318i (1993-1998) M43B18.

318i (1990-1993) M40B18. 316i (1993-1998) M43B16. 316i (1990-1993) M40B16.